Building a new home is a truly exciting milestone in someone’s life but it can also be daunting with all of the considerations around design, style, amenities, features, budget, builder and everything in between. Visiting a display home or several can be an enormously useful experience, taking you out of the conceptual world of 2D plans and photos into the physical realm where you can see your vision come to life.
With ABN Group display homes located all over our regions, from Bendigo to Busselton, we’ve put together some expert tips to maximise the value of your visit.
Start with a clear vision
Before you explore display homes, take some time to consider what matters most to you. What’s your lifestyle? Do you work from home? Do you like open-plan living? Are you an entertainer? Is cooking a passion for you? How big is your family?
Highlight floor plans you like and make a list prioritising the aspects that suit your ideal life, not just now but in the future. Shortlist builders with homes that match your style and budget.
Remember, display homes often showcase premium upgrades so take note of what’s included as standard and what’s an optional extra. Clarity here will set you up for success.
Start with a clear vision
Before you explore display homes, take some time to consider what matters most to you. What’s your lifestyle? Do you work from home? Do you like open-plan living? Are you an entertainer? Is cooking a passion for you? How big is your family?
Highlight floor plans you like and make a list prioritising the aspects that suit your ideal life, not just now but in the future. Shortlist builders with homes that match your style and budget.
Remember, display homes often showcase premium upgrades so take note of what’s included as standard and what’s an optional extra. Clarity here will set you up for success.
Know your budget
Understanding your budget upfront empowers you to explore with confidence.
Speak with a broker to get a clear picture of your borrowing capacity. While it might not be the most exciting part of the journey, it makes sure you’ll focus on homes that suit your financial plans.
You want to be able to dream big but with realism, avoiding any heartache over designs that don’t align with your plans.
Come prepared
Having the right tools at your fingertips will help make make the most of your time visiting display homes. It’ll make sure you have everything you need for comparing homes later.
- Smartphone: Take photos of design elements you love so you can refer back to them later.
- Notebook and pen: Jot down key details about layouts, finishes and features you like.
- Tape measure: Room dimensions can look different in person. Measuring will help you visualise how your furniture will fit.
- Water and snacks: It’s important to stay refreshed, especially if you have a full day of visiting display homes planned.
Come prepared
Having the right tools at your fingertips will help make make the most of your time visiting display homes. It’ll make sure you have everything you need for comparing homes later.
- Smartphone: Take photos of design elements you love so you can refer back to them later.
- Notebook and pen: Jot down key details about layouts, finishes and features you like.
- Tape measure: Room dimensions can look different in person. Measuring will help you visualise how your furniture will fit.
- Water and snacks: It’s important to stay refreshed, especially if you have a full day of visiting display homes planned.
Ask lots of questions
Display home visits are the perfect opportunity to tap into expert advice about the home and the build journey. Don’t be afraid to ask New Home Consultants about what’s included and what’s extra.
Other valuable questions to ask include if there are any current promotions or upcoming cost changes, the pricing for the display home, the cost of house and land packages for the area and whether the floor plan can be modified to better suit your lifestyle.
No question is too smallYour future home deserves thorough consideration.
Explore the neighbourhood
A home is more than its walls — it’s the community around it.
If you’re visiting a display home in an estate or community you’re considering building in, we recommend not just visiting the display but the neighbourhood as a whole. Take a walk through the surrounding streets. Is it close to schools, parks, shops and transport links?
Consider not only how the neighbourhood feels today but how it might grow and evolve in the years to come. Taking the time to assess the surroundings will help you make an informed decision on the location of your future home.
Explore the neighbourhood
A home is more than its walls — it’s the community around it.
If you’re visiting a display home in an estate or community you’re considering building in, we recommend not just visiting the display but the neighbourhood as a whole. Take a walk through the surrounding streets. Is it close to schools, parks, shops and transport links?
Consider not only how the neighbourhood feels today but how it might grow and evolve in the years to come. Taking the time to assess the surroundings will help you make an informed decision on the location of your future home.
Reflect and review
Display home visits are exciting but also often overwhelming. After your visit, take time to review your notes and impressions. Go through your notes, brochures and your photos, comparing each display against your original wishlist.
Talk about the pro and cons of each home. Did any stand out? What stood out to you? Did any home truly feel like ‘you’? Even if none of the homes are the ‘one’, you’re still a step forward and you know more about what you do and don’t want.
If you still have questions, reach out to a New Homes Consultant and ask the extra questions now to help guide your decisions.
Ready to find your dream home?
We have many display homes open across WA and Victoria to suit an incredible range of budgets, styles and lifestyle preferences.
Check out our different brands and their display homes to experience firsthand the quality, design and features that could be part of your new home.
