How To Make the Most of A Home Show
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How To Make the Most of Home Show At A Glance
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When you’re ready to make that dream log home a reality, you may want to consider attending a log home show. A few companies offer these shows and seminars around the United States, giving you a chance to meet log home producers or their local representative.
In an attempt to make your show experience as enjoyable and as productive as possible, the Log Homes Council has come up with some suggested strategies.
Give Yourself Plenty of Time
Buying and building a log home is likely to be one of the biggest investments of your life. So plan on arriving early and leaving late, since it’s worth your investment in time. If you are traveling some distance to attend the show, consider getting a hotel room so that you’ll be well rested. Take regular breaks from the show as well. This shouldn’t be a grueling marathon.
Make A Plan
Only by setting goals can you know if you’ve achieved them. That’s why we encourage you to make a plan of what you need to accomplish and why. This can include a list of questions you want to ask each producer you may want to do business with.
Do They Belong to the Log Homes Council?
Ask company representatives if they belong to the Log Homes Council. Those that do belong have adopted membership requirements that protect buyers during the buying and building process.
Gather Information
Once you have narrowed your search to those that belong to the Log Homes Council, visit with each of them and obtain their sales materials. The brochures, plan books, catalogs and videotapes should answer important questions and explain each company’s business philosophy.
Should You Bring Your Floor Plan?
If you have already purchased land, decided on lender, and have a completion date in mind, consider bringing your floor plan for gathering pricing information. Be certain to submit the same exact design and an extensive list of material specifications for finishes and fixtures to each log home producer you are considering
Be Flexible
Be open to design suggestions from builders and log home producers, who can often recommend designs that can cost less, but that can still achieve the affect you are after.
After The Show Strategies
After you have used this show to narrow the list of possibilities to three or four producers, then use the time after the show to narrow the field still more. Producers or builders will often hold open houses, log raising or construction classes soon after show. Use these opportunities to learn more about their building system and its advantages.
Also work toward finalizing your design. Generally, there are no charges for this at the initial stages and it is an excellent way for you to get to know the company and their personnel and see if you like working with them.