Local home show features new displays, seminars

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Originally begun in 1954 with a charter from the National Association of Home Builders, the Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield has presented the HBA Home Show every year since 1981. |ret||ret||tab|

From its beginnings as a tabletop event at the Battlefield Mall to this year's 20th annual extravaganza at the University Plaza Trade Center, the show promises something for everyone.|ret||ret||tab|

The HBA Home Show will be from 1-9 p.m. Feb. 2, 10 a.m.- 8 p.m. Feb. 3, and 11 a.m.-5 p.m. Feb. 4. |ret||ret||tab|

Daily admission $4 for age 12 and up is three for $10 or $4 per person in advance at the HBA offices, $5 at the door or $6 for a three-day event pass.|ret||ret||tab|

Charlyce Ruth, office manager for the Springfield HBA, said, "Our biggest goal with the home show is to help educate consumers and make them aware of innovations and options in the market. Even with repeat displays, new details always become available. There is no selling people have ready access to information. We try to keep a low-pressure atmosphere; it makes people more apt to ask questions."|ret||ret||tab|

According to Ruth, the event's annual cost is roughly $60,000, with around 175 vendors participating. |ret||ret||tab|

She added, "Tabletops don't always sell out, but the booths have been a complete sellout for the past five years."|ret||ret||tab|

HBA member fees to take part in the show range from $300 for tabletop space to between $425 and $1,250 for booth space, depending on the size of the booth. |ret||ret||tab|

Fees for nonmembers range from $300 for tabletop space to between $550 and $1,475 for a booth.|ret||ret||tab|

Several seminars will be presented during the show. The HBA Remodelors Council will present "Remodeling Trends: What's Hot; What's New" at 3 p.m. Feb. 2; "Remodeling Costs vs. Value" at 1 p.m. Feb. 3; and "How to Select a Remodeler" at 2:30 p.m. Feb. 4. |ret||ret||tab|

B&G Drafting will present "Home Design: What's Hot & What's Not" at 7 p.m. Feb. 2 and 4 p.m. Feb. 3. |ret||ret||tab|

Debi Murray and Jack Rhoads of Murney Associates will present "Preparing Your House to Sell" at 3 p.m. Feb. 3. |ret||ret||tab|

HBA Professionals will present "Building Your Custom Home" at 6 p.m. Feb. 2 and 2 p.m. Feb. 3.|ret||ret||tab|

This year's first-time participants include Electrolux, Stereo One Inc. and Heartland Funding, a mortgage banker. |ret||ret||tab|

Tim Lung of Heartland cites the No. 1 reason for joining and participating as exposure to the general public and in the building community. |ret||ret||tab|

Directly endorsed by the Department of Housing and Urban Development, Lung said, "We thrive on the purchase market. Additionally HBA does many community oriented programs and fundraising, like Toys for Tots, and we like to be involved with the community and share fellowship with people sharing things in common."|ret||ret||tab|

Having joined HBA in January, Lung said, "It's an opportunity to build more strengths. My expectations are to make contacts with new builders and corporations, explain products to the realty profession to help build a consumer base, and meet prospective consumers." |ret||ret||tab|

Lung looks forward to informing show-goers about his company's services. |ret||ret||tab|

"We have a completely automated system, automated underwriting, with direct access to Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac through the Internet, and that electronic approval dramatically speeds up the process," he said. "We can do approvals from the field, at an open house, or at a kitchen table."|ret||ret||tab|

John Harp, of Acme Brick Company, has been chairman of the home show from 1985 to the present and was recently voted honorary lifetime HBA board member.|ret||ret||tab|

"This Home Show is the most comprehensive and thorough show in the region," Harp said. "Where else can you see 170-plus exhibitors in one space? What we have is a serious clientele, seeking to buy, build, or remodel. (National) representatives say it's the best quality show between Chicago and Dallas." |ret||ret||tab|

One reason for this prominence may be the displays by such participants as Acme and Kohler Fixtures, which will display their national tour exhibits.|ret||ret||tab|

Harp also noted the educational benefits of the show for consumers. |ret||ret||tab|

"With 69,000 square feet of space, it takes a three-day pass to see the whole show," Harp said. "The home builders (seminar) lasts two hours from beginning to end: from purchase of lots and building materials to financial information, it provides consumers with the tools to make effective choices."|ret||ret||tab|

Attendance is expected to reach 12,000 to 14,000 during the three-day show. |ret||ret||tab|

Harp said, "This is the ultimate exposure to clientele, who are more educated, smarter buyers."|ret||ret||tab|

The Home Builders Association of Greater Springfield will host its remodeling show Sept. 21-23. |ret||ret||tab|

For more information, contact Charlyce Ruth or Matt Morrow at 417-881-3711.|ret||ret||tab|

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