I watch way too many home improvement shows. I’m a big fan of both HGTV and the DIY network. I sing along with the theme songs, and let me tell you – a lot of those shows don’t have “songs” to speak of (*Who wants a clean house?*). I even went so far as to apply to let viewers “Run My Renovation” to get a free home makeover. Alas – competing with thousands of other viewers for one free makeover and sitting on my couch isn’t getting my basement any closer to being remodeled. So, I figured it’s time to call in the big guns. I headed to the Miami Vally Home World show at the Airport Expo Center for the experts.

Friday nights people get in for only $5 with a donation of a canned good, so I decided to save some cash. (Note: If you like their Facebook page and print out the coupon, you can get in for $5 on Sundays, so you only have to pay full price ($7) if you go Saturdays.) Here’s another hint – although it’s sponsored by a credit union – they don’t accept credit cards, so bring cash or plan to use the ATM outside the doors

I went with a couple pretty specific needs, so I didn’t stop at every booth; it took about an hour to walk by everything. In the back corner, they have a pretty nice set-up for presentations and demonstrations. As I expected, there’s a normal mix of HVAC, decks, window replacements, and kitchen/bath remodels, but there were also booths featuring cleaning systems, cooking, and bedding.

The negative of going to a home show is you’ve got to actually care about going. I admit – it’s not really a *fun* place if you don’t plan on some sort of home remodel or purchase in the future (even though there’s a food court with beer). But – if you are planning to work on your house, it’s a great way to talk to a few different contractors/businesses and get a few hundred bucks off (lots of companies offer discounts, coupons, and free estimates if you sign up at the home show).

So – if you’re planning on doing some work on your house in the near future, check out the Miami Valley Home Show to get to know a few different contractors, business, and see who might be the right fit. And register to win $10,000 toward your home remodel before you leave. The show runs weekends through February 13.