Display Home Villages - Our Tips for Planning Your Visits
Visiting a display home is an exciting step in the process of looking for your new home to build. It is where you can touch and feel the end product, and start to visualise how your dream home is going to look. The better prepared you are for this process, the more you will get out of your visit....
iBuildNew Editorial TeamApril 7, 20164 min read
Visiting a display home is an exciting step in the process of looking for your new home to build. It is where you can touch and feel the end product, and start to visualise how your dream home is going to look. The better prepared you are for this process, the more you will get out of your visit.
Before The Trip
The last thing you want to do is spend weekend after weekend traipsing around display home villages. The priority should be to narrow down your selection before you hit the road. Make use of the tools available online (like our comparison tool) to help decide on a shortlist of 4-5 builders and find out where they have displays available.The display homes that you want to visit may not necessarily be in the same area, so plot out a route on Google maps to get an idea of where they are. You should allow at least 30 mins per house for browsing, and another 20 mins for asking questions and debriefing with your family. You want to give each house your full attention, so don’t make the mistake of allocating too many visits on the same day.The Day Before
Get packing, here’s a list of what to bring:- Smartphone with camera
- Measuring tape
- Something to carry your brochures and stay organised
- Pen and notepad
- Plenty of food and water to keep you going for the whole day
- Most importantly, a list of features you look for in your ideal house design.
On The Day
Today is the day you get to touch and feel the finer details and start deciding exactly what your new dream home is going to look like. As you’re walking through the home, jot down notes on the brochures and floorplans you collect, take photos of fittings and fixtures, so when you get home you won't forget what you’ve seen. Take your time in each of the spaces and consider the following:- Sit, stand and move about the spaces as though you are living there. Do the rooms flow?
- Does the design suits your lifestyle needs? For example, can you watch your kids while cooking in the kitchen? Is there somewhere for guests to mingle while you cook?
- Are there spaces you can section off for noise and temperature control?
- How would you lay out your furniture in this given space?
- Is the home built using quality materials?
- What is the total cost of the house you are viewing?
- Can you show me examples of the standard fittings and fixtures that are included in the base price?
- What other choices of materials and finishes are available?
- Will this design suit my block of land? What are the better options?
- How much customisation is available?
After The Trip
It’s a good idea to write notes and debrief after each house you view while it’s still fresh in your mind (otherwise you risk mixing up your ‘Sienna’ with ‘Sierra’). Then rate the home design against the requirements you outlined in your home design brief. Once you think you have narrowed down your selection, it could be worth a second visit to confirm your decision. At this stage, it is worth going during the week when it’s quieter and you can take your time with the sales consultant to ask more questions if you need.Related Articles:
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iBuildNew Editorial Team
As the specialist voice of Australia’s largest new home building resource, the iBuildNew Editorial Team delivers deep-dive coverage into the house and land sector. From analysing new estate launches to highlighting the country’s leading home designs, we track the building journey to provide clarity for every buyer.
