Laura Dartez came to the 2013 Home Show with her family because she and her husband are looking to build a new home in a few years.

“This is a one-stop shop,” she said Sunday at the Civic Center. “You have the ability to visit with everyone at one time.”

The Home Builders Association of Southwest Louisiana hosted its 22nd annual Home Show this weekend. From indoors to outdoors, the Home Show had experts on appliances, doors, faucets, pools, landscaping and more.

There were even insurance and financing specialists available to discuss options.

More than 110 vendors were available for those interested in building a home or starting a new project around the house.

Ron Guidroz, owner of Creative Concrete by Ron, said as a small business owner, the home show is important to him.

“It gives us a lot of recognition. People can continually see me here,” Guidroz said. “Past clients come and know we’re still here and it is the best advertisement I can get.”

Don Veronie, owner of Heritage Builders and past president of the organization, said people are interested in getting homes done in a timely manner.

He said people asked him about outdoor kitchens and brick archways inside the homes.

“There are a lot of details people want to be sure to incorporate in their plans and designs,” Veronie said. “We see a lot of interest in people building homes and we’re excited about the potential growth in the area.”

“This year we’re getting a lot of people interested in building new homes, which is a good thing,” said Ken Robbins, with Moss Bluff Floors. “They’re wanting to know about different types of floors and which floors to use where in their homes.”

Linda Almond with Southwest Louisiana Lawn and Landscape said she’s gotten a lot of leads from the Home Show this year.

“I don’t have to go door to door and pass out pamphlets,” Almond said. “There has been a lot of traffic here today.”

Vicki Broussard, HBA executive officer, said it was a successful year.

“At the Home Show, you can meet the person that you trust who you want to do business with — that face-to-face conversation with the expert,” Broussard said. “It is a great for business owners as well to seek potential customers. They want to network and get new contacts and new leads.”

Online: www.hbaswla.org

Representatives of Kitchen Craft

Rick Hickman

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Rick Hickman