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.
It is hard not to get distracted by special offers and enticing upgrades at the display home village. Having this list will help you focus on what you truly need. You can also use it to seek recommendations from sales consultants for alternatives. If you’re not sure what sort of home best suits your lifestyle, use our guide to help you write your new home brief.
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?
Keep in mind that display homes are built to impress prospective homebuyers, so what you see may not necessarily reflect the standard inclusions. If you were to replicate the exact fittings and fixtures on display, there will be a considerable amount of additional costs to the base price. Don’t be afraid to raise questions with the sales consultant. Talking to them will allow you to get a sense of their service and depth of knowledge. We share what you should know during your visit here.
- 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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Let us do the legwork for you.
- We’ll ask the right questions to better understand your needs
- We’ll create a recommended shortlist ideally matched to you
- We’ll answer specific questions or concerns related to home building, land purchasing or financing
Zoe Langenberg
Zoe is passionate about coffee and interior design. You can find her most weekends exploring an art gallery or devouring a good book.
1800 184 284
