How to get the most from the Homebuilding & Renovating Show 2019 – the complete guide.

Every year, more and more people become interested in self building. The government has ambitious plans to double the number of custom build and self build homes by 2020. The Housing White Paper (2017) aims to fix the broken British housing market by introducing a range of reforms. These reforms aim to improve the housing market and increase the supply of new homes.

It is clear that the self-build industry is growing dynamically and there are no indications that this trend will change. Therefore, it is of no surprise that the Homebuilding and Renovating Shows are returning bigger than ever for 2019.

Whether you are just starting to explore the self-build industry or have already started planning your dream home (or renovation project), these shows will provide you with vital knowledge and ideas. From advice on how to find your plot, to choosing the interiors for your bedroom, the HBR Shows give you a unique opportunity to get personalised advice and one-on-one consultations with industry experts.

Michael Holmes

One of the country’s leading property experts, presenter of multiple property TV Shows and the Chair of the NaCSBA – an organisation founded to support self-builders throughout the UK. His book Renovating for Profit, is the definitive guide to home renovations that makes a difference to the value of your property.

Sally Tagg

A planning expert with a successful track record of achieving planning permission for a wide variety of clients including individual self-builders and land owners seeking to unlock the development potential of their land. If you think your project may be challenging in terms of achieving planning approval, or are just looking for some general advice, then a consultation with Sally is recommended!

Jason Orme

Jason Orme was the long-time Editor of Homebuilding & Renovating magazine and is now Editorial Director. He is an expert on all aspects of building and renovating from construction systems and finding land, to energy efficiency and dealing with builders . In recent years he has advised the Government on ways to make self-building easier for everyone.

Tom McSherry

Tom has worked in the financial services industry for 27 years – 14 of these were spent specialising in self build mortgages and finance at BuildStore, providing expert advice to hundreds of customers embarking on major homebuilding projects whether to live in, let or sell. Tom has completed two major homebuilding projects himself, and is widely regarded as a self build finance expert.

Allan will deliver four seminars at the Homebuilding & Renovating Shows: ‘Beginners’ guide to creating a low-energy home, from Zero Carbon to Passivhaus’, ‘Home design: a step-by-step guide to designing your dream home’, ‘The Most Common Mistakes in Self Build and how to avoid them’ and ‘Design inspiration: How to add wow factor to your home’. The first three of these seminars are based on articles which are available to read on our Self Build Blog.

Allan will also be available for one to one consultations, and can answer any question relating to Architecture and Self Build at the Advice Centre. David, one of our Senior Technicians will be joining our friends on the SIPS Industries stand and will be available to answer any SIPS related questions.

TOP TIPS

* First and probably the most important piece of advice is to plan your time at the HBR show in advance. Do your research and have a look at the seminar schedule and the experts available for one-on-one consultations. Check opening hours and arrive at the Advice Centre as early as possible to book a slots with the expert of your choice. There is no need to book for seminars, however, if you want a seat, make sure to arrive some time before the talk.

* The owners of iOS and Android smartphones can download a free app and use it to create a personalised map of the exhibitors and receive alerts when shortlisted seminars and masterclasses are about to start. You can also add specific seminars to a personalised calendar and much more. It is a really useful tool to plan your HBR Show experience. You can download it here.

* Moreover, to make planning even easier, the HBR team have created six categories of projects, pick the project which matches yours and it will create a bespoke agenda for you. The six categories are: building your own home, renovating, extensions and conversions, Eco and Heating, Kitchens and Doors and Windows. You can find them on their website here. By using this you can guarantee you wont miss out on what is important for your project.

* If you are thinking of going to the show over a couple of days, you could spend one day taking in the seminars, and another could be used to meet the exhibitors – learning about specific products. Alternatively, if you are only going for one day, bring a partner, and split up to cover more ground in your limited time!

* It is definitely a good idea to bring a bag, as at the show you will probably get a lot of brochures and business cards from the exhibitors. Carrying everything in your hands is not the most comfortable! You may also consider preparing your own contact packs and hand them to architects and companies whose products or services you are interested in.

* Remember you will not only meet specialists at the Homebuilding and Renovating Shows, but this is also an opportunity to  meet thousands of other self-builders, to share your personal experience and learn from others.

The larger shows such as Birmingham and London will provide more opportunities, as a greater number of topics will be covered and there will be more experts in attendance. However, regardless of which show you choose to attend, you will boost your self-build knowledge significantly. This will help you to make informed decisions when choosing the best construction method and products for your project – thus avoiding mistakes and saving you money.

If you are planning to attend any of the 2019 shows, ACA is offering free tickets. To claim these, simply click the button below and fill in the form.