Waukesha County Home

HOMES PLUS FEBRUARY 2016 4 Children: Build Your Own Birdhouse or Toolbox at the Children's Construction Site Have your photo taken with the ABC Supply Indy Race Car! (Bring your own camera) If you're building or remodeling, this is a MUST attend event. Visit with 50+ LOCAL exhibitors and attend one of our many seminars. Admission: $5 Adults • $3 Seniors (60+) • Under 17 FREE Friday Senior (60+) Night FREE $2 discount Saturday with 2 non-perishable food items. Free Admission Sunday 12-4 with 2 non-perishable food items. Free Parking. Complimentary tickets available from vendors while supplies last. Call 262-334-5552 for complimentary tickets. WCBA 2016 HOME BUILDING & REMODELING E O P FEBRUARY 19, 20 & 21 Washington County Fair Park Pavilion Hwy. 45 to Hwy. PV • 3000 Pleasant Valley Road, West Bend Friday, February 19 • 4pm-8pm Saturday, February 20 • 10am-6pm Sunday, February 21 • 10am-4pm Gold Sponsor: Presenting Sponsor: 1111 East Commerce Blvd., Hwy 60 Slinger, WI Chrysler • Jeep • Dodge • Ram Silver Sponsor: Bronze Sponsor: Atlas Roofi ng Sponsored By: Meet Miss Wisconsin Rosalie Smith Friday 5-7pm Saturday 12-3pm Have your photo taken with her. All proceeds benefit the COLIN'S FUND (Centered On Loving In Need) which is used to support addiction rehabilitation. Bring in this coupon and receive $1.00 Off Schwai's Fish Fry on Friday evening. Limit1 coupon per attendee. Good on Friday, February 19, 2016 only. Beverages are additional. The 2016 WCBA Expo is catered by Schwai's Meats and Sausage. Enjoy their Famous Fish Fry on Friday evening. www.wcba-wi.org the scope of the work. "I have a wish list around my house and it never ends," Bedell said. "Obviously you're going to prioritize the things that are a priority for the safety and well-being of your house. So if you have evidence of water damage, you're going to do that first before you remodel the powder room," he said, adding there could be hid- den mold and other problems. He has a simple rule: "Necessity first and cosmetic changes second." If you'll soon sell your home, it's easy to decide where to put the money beyond health and safety. "Curb appeal is really important. The stuff that people are really going to notice is the front of the house, the entryway, the front door," Bedell said. "Make those upgrades so you get the curb appeal pop. "Then you focus on the rooms. Kitchens and bathrooms people say get the most impact, but that's because they're the most expensive." You need to get rid of the orange-flow- ered wallpaper and avocado green appli- ances, he said with a chuckle. "Then the rest is cosmetic — paint and molding." When buyers check comparable homes in a neighborhood, move-in ready will stand out, Bedell said. As for prospective homebuyers, he said they need to know "what's going on behind the walls." When buyers narrow their search down to two or three homes, he urged they get a copy of the home inspection report or hire their own licensed home inspector. "They're going to check the plumbing and the roof and the electrical," Bedell said of inspectors. "The things that can be the ticking time bombs." The report will provide a good idea of the home's true cost, he added. When Bedell watches his own show he said it's clear the devastating impact a bad contractor can have on people, to the point that they're down to their last dollar or their marriage is on the rocks. "The ones we help on our show is so rewarding, I can't even tell you. They're in tears," he said. "We give them back their families and their lives." The importance of a person's home, including an apartment, is also witnessed by the networks offering home improve- ment shows around the clock, he said. "It gets the people in our industry — the designers, architects, builders — more in touch with the public," the third-genera- tion contractor said. "The consumer is get- ting so many resources. "By educating people and watching these shows, they can go to a Home Depot or a Lowe's and they get ideas," said Bedell, who acknowledges he spends a lot of time at Home Depot. It's where he met his wife six years ago. "It's been a full-on love story ever since," said Bedell, who's been married five years. Continued from Page 1 Contractor: Catching a keeper WEST ALLIS — Milwaukee NARI's Spring Home Improvement Show at State Fair Park will feature celebrity presenters. The lineup, Friday through Sun- day: ■ Grillologists Mad Dog & Mer- rill, hosts of the TV series "Mad Dog & Merrill's Midwest Grill'n," will demonstrate grilling at 11 a.m. and 3 p.m. Friday, noon, 2 p.m. and 5 p.m. Saturday, and 11:30 a.m. and 1:30 p.m. Sunday on the Culinary Stage spon- sored by Meijer. ■ "Mr. Fix-It," Tom Feiza, a pro- fessional engineer, writer, construc- tion consultant, speaker and local radio host, will be on the Presenta- tion Stage at 2 p.m. Friday, 1 p.m. Sat- urday and 12:30 p.m. Sunday. ■ Melinda Myers, "The Plant Doctor," author of more than 20 gar- dening books and host of "Melinda's Garden Moment," will share her expertise at 5:30 p.m. Friday at the Presentation Stage. ■ Maribel Alchin, a Meijer Healthy Living adviser and per- sonal chef, will provide easy, afford- able and healthy meal solutions at 1 p.m. Friday on the Culinary Stage. ■ Kayleen McCabe of DIY Net- work's "Rescue Renovation" will be on the Presentation Stage at 4 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. and 6 p.m. Satur- day. She is a contractor, builder and carpenter. ■ Skip Bedell of Spike TV's "Catch a Contractor," who special- izes in interior and exterior remod- els, will take the Presentation Stage from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Sunday. He will talk about what to look for in a reputable contractor. He said he'd be available for photos and to chat with fans. For more information, visit www. milwaukeenari.org. Local, national celebrity presenters at NARI Home Improvement Show

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