Home & Outdoor Living Expo 2023

Welcome!

On behalf of the Home Builders Association of Midland County, we welcome you to the 2nd Annual, “NEW & IMPROVED” Home and Outdoor Living Expo here at Midland’s own, Dow Diamond!

Use this booklet as your tour guide, when exploring.

Don’t forget to…

• • •

Enter the Hourly Drawings and visit all our exhibitors.

Family Funday is Sunday, April 30 from 12:00p – 3:00p.

Check out our Shop Local vendor area in upper level.

Since 1961, the HBA has served as the leading not-for-profit trade organization dedicated to residential construction & remodeling in Midland County. The HBA of Midland works to protect every family’s right to home ownership.

Visit www.hbamidlandmi.com for additional Home & Outdoor Living Expo information or to find out more about our skilled members.

Dee Hall~ Premier Kitchen & Bath Gallery

Home and Outdoor Living Expo, Chair

KIDS STEM BUILDING ACTIVITIES

Thank You, Sponsors

Event Sponsors

grand grand prize prize

Winner receives:

Use of a Dow Diamond Suite

Up to 30 guests

$500 food & beverage voucher parking passes

Great Lakes Loons Game

MAY 3, 2023

Hourly y Drawings

989.835.7721

5915 Eastman Avenue Suite 100 Midland, MI 48640

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You can count on us to meet your needs and exceed your expectations. We provide quality service and support every step of the way. Give us a call today!

The Best Tips for a Successful Remodeling Project

Any remodeling project can seem overwhelming, but it's guaranteed to go more smoothly if you know a couple of insider tricks. Here are 18 home renovation tips from remodeling professionals.

1. Plan Ahead

Making product selections early can prevent delays later. Develop a plan that clearly defines the goal for your renovation. Your needs and wants for the project should be included in an outline of the work that needs to be completed. Proper planning can also help keep you on budget.

2. Set a Home Renovation Budget

Your home renovation budget should include the costs for building materials, labor, building permits, and decorative finishes. Start by determining the amount you want to spend and then finalize your financing. Remember to reserve at least 10% of your budget for unexpected costs. Request cost estimates from multiple contractors. If your cost estimates exceed your budget, eliminate project elements that are a lower priority.

3.

Consider the Best Way to Finance Home Improvements

A personal loan is one way to help fund your new renovation. First, choose a lender who will listen to your situation and do what's right for you and your family. Next, consider a fixed rate and flexible repayment terms, and set regular monthly payments to allow you to plan your finances.

4. Make a Home Renovation

Timeline

Begin planning by selecting a desired start date. You and your contractor will need to calculate the length of time needed for each portion of the project. Determine which part of the remodel needs to be completed first and which parts of the project can be completed concurrently. Make sure your renovation timeline allows time for shipping and delivery of materials as well as time for prepping the project area. The renovation completion date should be set with a few extra days in mind to address unexpected issues.

5. Remember the Big Picture

When taking on remodeling projects, it's important to remember the big picture. Long-term-maintenance, energy-loss, and repair expenses can add up quickly. Make sure you include them in your calculations when comparing prices. Remember to consider every element in your remodeling planning including your wall color, cabinet colors, flooring, and hardware, and how it all ties together.

6. Find Good Help

Hire contractors who have more than three years of experience, a good record with the Better Business Bureau, and positive customer references. Friends, relatives, coworkers, and neighbors who have completed similar remodeling projects are great resources, so ask them for their contractor recommendations. Contact your state's consumer protection agency, disciplinary boards, and local court records to make sure the recommended contractor doesn't have a history of disputes with clients or subcontractors. Most important, hire a remodeling contractor you trust.

7. Visit a Job Site

When evaluating a remodeling contractor, make sure you visit their current job sites. You'll gain extra insight into their professionalism. Observe how well the employees are working together and if you have a rapport with the renova tion team to ensure you can personally work with the company. The best contractors maintain clean and organized work sites, take precautionary measures to ensure safety, and know how to keep a low profile in a neighborhood.

8. Be a Good Boss

The most important thing you can do during a remodeling project, other than write checks, is to treat your remodeler well. "The perfect clients are easy to get along with, honest, and have an appreciation for what we do. Make sure you're available to supervise the remodeling project. Nothing beats seeing and touching your ongoing renovation in real life or speaking to your contractor in person.

9. Insist on a Detailed Contract

The contract needs the right address, a start date, a completion date, and a detail of what is and is not going to be done. You should understand the remodeling contract you'll be signing. The most common type of home remodeling contract is a fixed -price contract, which lists exactly how much a project will cost including all permits, building materials, and labor. This type of contract locks the costs into place, which prevents an unexpected increase in price at a later time.

10. Know What You’re Getting Into

Sure, remodeling is exciting. But there's also a lot of frustration as you encounter unexpected snags, delays, and the inevitable inconveniences that come from living in a construction zone. You'll handle the lows better if you know they're coming. A reputable remodeler will condition your expectations before a project begins.

11. Communicate Effectively

Remodelers can do some amazing things, but they can't read minds. Let the company supervisor or project lead person know if anything is unsatisfactory so they can deal with the issue. The contractor may not be aware that something is not OK with the owner. Before you start a project, you and your contractor should exchange phone numbers for calling or texting as well as email addresses. Keep in mind that you're probably not the contractor's only client, so calls and emails might not be returned within minutes.

12. Keep Resale in Mind

When it comes to remodeling, there's no shortage of great design advice. It’s important to design with resale in mind if you're planning to stay in your home five years or fewer and if you're planning to stay more than seven years, design your room for yourself because the look will be considered dated by the time you put the home on the market.

13. Connect Spaces

Looking for a home renovation project with a big impact? Opening up walls and hallways is one way to get the most from your remodel and create more livable spaces. To make open floor plans work, each area of your home should carry one or more style elements over into the next room. Paint all adjoining walls and architectural details the same color so as not to disrupt the visual flow.