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Model homes are a relatively recent arrival in the UK’s home-buying ‘space’. Though there have been example flats and first-build homes on new developments for some time, the model home has traditionally been something of an American prospect – but with more and more new-build developments cropping up across the country, we’ve taken to the idea as an easy way of showing prospective buyers what they’re getting into with a new home.
This is a particularly important provision today, as different financial approaches to new-build ownership continue to take root. With incentives for early adopters, and hybrid shared-ownerGot questions about diabetes? Get reliable answers, understand treatment options, and find the best doctors near you for proper care.ship agreements providing a partial on-ramp to the property ladder, it’s more important than ever that you’re able to see the proverbial sausage before it’s made. If you’re in a position where you may be getting a new build on an upcoming development, and you’re booked in for a viewing, what are the questions you should be asking – both to them, and to yourself?
Research, Research, Research!
First and foremost, you need to have done the research – and that doesn’t just mean poring over the brochure and prospective floor plan, either. A good start would be to research the builders, and their reputation with respect to previous projects. How experienced are they, and how positive have others been about their domestic builds before? Also, are there any potential small-print causes for concern, relating to building warranty or ownership of the freehold?
Naturally, this research needs to concur with your research of the neighbourhood, and your own preferences. Does the location and its potential match your new-home must-haves and nice-to-haves?
What to Look for During the Tour
Usually, home viewings are an opportunity for you to measure up the cumulative impact of time on a given property – that is to say, that they’re a chance for you to evaluate the condition of the home and ensure you’re able to meet its needs, just as much as a chance for you to measure the home’s ‘nice-ness’. When you’re viewing new homes on ongoing developments, the same isn’t quite true.
New homes won’t have a patina of time and age for you to try looking past – though there may be some build-quality concerns you’d do well to quash! During your viewing, make a note of finishing touches like the caulk on the windowsills, and sealant around the bath and sink; you’ll find attention to detail here, and hence an at-a-glance confirmation the house has been built to a good standard.
Visualising Yourself in the Space
After this, what matters is how you feel about the space. Does the flow of the home work for you? Are the spaces functional, and sizable enough? What about natural light? All of this goes towards you properly visualising yourself in the space. Luckily, this is easy with new builds too, as model homes are often austerely furnished and sparsely decorated to give you a good blank page onto which to imagine furnishing possibilities and personal touches.
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