Berkley Home Improvement Expo Comes to Town

You and your family would love a new home, but you just can't sell yours in this market. So, you thought: Why not update the house we have? Or, maybe you're new in the neighborhood, having paid a bargain basement price for a home that needs more than a little work.

Either way, you'll find a bounty of resources Saturday at the fifth annual Berkley Home Improvement Expo at the gym. Dozens of contractors and home improvement experts will be on hand from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m. to offer ideas and information about permits, financing and more.

The event is put on by the city of Berkley and the . Vendors pay $125 each to participate in the self-funding expo, which is free for visitors.

The show aims to encourage families to fix up homes and stay in the Berkley School District, as well as to help promote businesses that are based in the city or do work here, said Board of Education Treasurer Randy Travis, who owns Huntington Woods-based .

In addition to an "Ask the Architect" feature, the Berkley Environmental Advisory Committee will provide tips on environmentally friendly home and yard care and the Building Department and Tree Board will answer questions, Travis said. The city also will conduct a workshop on energy conservation, he said.

Not to be forgotten are the Girl Scouts, who will be selling cookies, Travis said.

"You know which is the most popular booth," he joked.

Vendors who are interested in snagging a last-minute table can stop by on Friday for more information, Travis said.