It’s a Wrap on Louisville 2018
MHVillage/Datacomp Appraisal had a team of six represent the company and put a wrap on Louisville 2018. We are among 3,000 MH Pros who will say it was a great year to be at the Kentucky Expo Center.
Attendance was up, according to Show Producer and Manager Dennis Hill, of Show Ways Unlimited. 2018 attendance surpassed the previous year at 10 a.m. on day 2, less than halfway through the event.
This alone shows the enthusiasm and upward trajectory of the industry!
Louisville 2018 gathered 3,188 manufactured housing professionals from 1,061 organizations.
“I think everybody would agree that this year’s show was a success. The degree of enthusiasm was most rewarding,” Hill said.
Homes, Homes, Homes
We walked the floor, talked to supplier exhibitors, and toured each of the nearly 60 new model homes on display. And boy did those exhibitors bring out the goods!
Many home builders said display homes were purchased on the spot, most often by community owners looking to fill empty spaces or replace older homes.
The show had single-section, multi-section and tiny homes galore. All the homes had compelling new materials, very livable floor plans, and awe inspiring features. Just to note a few of the trends:
Wrap on Louisville 2018 Trends
- Large tubs and open shower/tub combinations
- Mudrooms and lockers
- Hanging barn doors for interior transitions
- Distressed wood laminate flooring
- Distressed wood cabinetry and trim
- Enhanced/increased outdoor deck spaces
- Added square footage/emphasis on shared spaces
- Small office spaces
- Tray ceilings
- Chalkboard walls or chalkboard panels over utility access
- Video fireplaces
- Multi-color LED accent and backlighting
Probably the most fun and interesting new feature pays tribute to our furry friends. One new home now uses a pet-wash station installed in the rear laundry bay. This is evidence that makers really do put themselves in the shoes of the homeowners when they’re drawing out designs.
Seminars and Speakers Capture Attention in Louisville
Hundreds of attendees sat in the main hall for presentations on home buying, finance, marketing and a Friday finale that detailed home foundation types and related soil-type and ground density issues. We will detail this surprisingly interesting session in a future blog.
MHInsider Introduced in Louisville
The big development of the show for MHVillage was the introduction of the new MHInsider magazine, received in a rather celebratory fashion. The need for a new manufactured housing industry magazine became all the more apparent in Louisville. Especially relevant was the positive reaction from industry professionals who were profiled in the first edition, and others who want to be involved in upcoming issues.
