Universal 1 Credit Union’s HomeWorld
Where:: Dayton Airport Expo Center, 3900 McCauley Drive, Vandalia
When: This weekend and next weekend: 4 to 8 p.m. Fridays, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturdays, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sundays
Cost: $7, free for children 12 and younger. Bring a canned good donation for $2 off admission. Parking is free.
More info: (937) 333-4700 or visit www.mvhomeworld.com
Whether you’ve earmarked your tax refund for major home updates, or you’re simply plotting a minor spring diversion to wash away the winter blues, Universal 1 Credit Union’s HomeWorld could be just the show to help you realize those dreams.
“As soon as people get their W2’s, in many cases they’re already planning how much of a return they’re going to get,” said Josh Mandich, strategic events media consultant for Cox Media Group Ohio, one of the main sponsors, along with Universal 1 Credit Union. “A lot of times that turns into a home remodeling project.”
The annual event, cosponsored by Aqua Falls and Bath Fitter, returns to the Dayton Airport Expo Center, 3900 McCauley Drive, in Vandalia for two consecutive weekends beginning at 4 p.m. Friday, Feb. 3. HomeWorld runs through Sunday, Feb. 12.
“Quite frankly, the home market is nowhere near what it was five or 10 years ago, so people are planning on staying in their place longer,” Mandich said. “It’s less about saving up money to buy that newer, better house. It’s more about, ‘OK, we’ve got this house. What can we do with it?’
“The other side of it is, people have usually been stuck in their homes,” Mandich said. “This winter has been very mild, but you’re usually not out and about in the winter. You spend a lot of time in the house. When it’s not cold, it’s still rainy and you’re staring at that kitchen, bathroom or whatever the project is.”
HomeWorld features more than 170 exhibitors, displaying everything from windows and siding to specialized items.
“We’ve got everything you’d typically expect to see at a home show, but there’s also heating and air, pools, saunas and hot tubs, and the landscapers are there in full blast,” Mandich said. “There’s bathroom and kitchen remodeling, of course. We have companies that will even do major additions to your house, whether it’s single rooms or another whole section of a house.
“There’s home security, furniture, flooring and people who do patio rooms,” he said. “Green energy and energy-saving systems are really a big deal right now. We have a fireplace dealer or two, painting services and we even have a garage storage system company to help get that man cave squared away.”
Experts will be on hand each day to answer questions, as well as preside over how-to workshops, cooking demonstrations and other programs.
Contact contributing arts and music writer Don Thrasher at donaldthrasher8@aol.com.
About the Author