Visiting Display Homes is quite exciting! It’s really the start of your building journey. But if you haven’t built before it can also be quite confusing. Builders seem to WOW you with their stunning features and huge spaces, but what is standard? How do you check for quality? Here are some tips and tricks for helping you decide which builder is right for you!

Do Your Homework 

You can save a lot of time by doing some online research before your visit. Researching the reputation of a builder seems obvious, but for many gets overlooked. From there make a shortlist of the display homes you’d like to view it will help the actual viewing, as seeing too many homes at once can be confusing and muddle your thinking.

Have An Understanding Of Inclusions VS Upgrades

A display home will often have a ‘base price’ and an ‘as-displayed’ price to reflect all the included upgrades. When you find a model home you’re interested in, have the salesperson walk you through each room and explain what finishes are standard and which cost extra. Upgrades can raise the budget substantially, so it’s important to know your options.

Take Key Measurements And Details With You

These include:

• Your land details – to know what size home will best suit your block, and to see what size site cut is needed.

• Measurements of existing furniture – a measuring tape will be able to give you and idea in the space

One Size Does Not Fit All

• Think about how many bedrooms and living areas you need now and in the future.

• Think about your lifestyle needs. Do you like to entertain? If so, you might like to consider an open-plan living and dining area, or perhaps an alfresco dining area. Do you love to cook? If so, the layout of your kitchen will be very important to you.

• Make sure you have a mix of open and private spaces. And establish the amount of privacy you would like in your home – you might want a private home office if you work from home, or a kids’ playroom away from the main living area.

Don’t Be Fooled By WOW

• Don’t get drawn in by the over-the-top visual design. Focus on the actual house.

• Spend some time in the home to get a feel for the space and to picture yourself living there. Ask yourself if the home will suit your needs or what you would change. A good builder should custom design the house to the client.

Ask The Right Questions

• What’s included in the price of your homes versus what’s seen in the display home?

• What are the additional costs to see the house complete on my land?

• What inclusions do you provide? What is additional?

Look For Signs Of Quality

Framing – Timber has a high structural efficiency, is extremely versatile and has a wide variety of important uses. As opposed to the relative rigidity of steel, timber frames are more flexible and resistant to the trauma of extreme weather conditions. Timber also deals better with temperature changes than steel does.

Brickwork – Take a close look at brick joints and beds – including around windows and door – for signs of quality work.

Tiling & Paintwork – Take a close look at bathroom tiling and interior paintwork for quality.

Inclusions – Look at the quality of their standard inclusions, or research them online.

Time It Right

Research exactly which homes you are interested in in advance, to narrow down your visiting time. It’s also worth booking an appointment with a sales consultant so you can be guaranteed of having all your questions answered.

Some Things Are Worth Paying Extra For

When it comes to items you touch every day, it’s worth buying the best you can afford. These include tapware, kitchen appliances, shower screens and the entrance set on your front door.

Now that you’ve got the know-how, why not visit our display this weekend. Built for first home buyers, it features all of our standard inclusions! At Hurst Homes we pride ourselves by giving our clients a full detailed quote with no hidden extras. Just another reason why we are Wagga’s Best Builder. So pop into 49 Paradise Drive in Gobbagombalin this Saturday for 12-3pm. Or contact a friendly member of our team today and we can organisation a one-on-one meeting with you at the display home at a time that suits you!

For more tips from the Houzz experts visit Houzz.com