You’ll be looking at a lot of houses whether you’re thinking about buying a move-in ready home or building from the ground up. Looking at various builders’ websites and showhomes can reveal a lot about them. Keep an eye out for transparency and high-quality craftsmanship throughout the process.
If you’re looking for a move-in-ready home, you’ll be looking at the exact floor plan and finishes that home has. The disadvantage here is that you will have few options for making changes. When you look at brand-new showhomes, you’ll get a sense of the quality of the craftsmanship as well as the types of features the builder can include in your home. You’re looking at an example of the work in this case. Because you choose the floor plan and design details, your actual home will be unique.
Here, we detail some of the most important things to look for when searching for a new home.
Home showings will give you a taste of what you can get whether you’re buying a brand-new home or a new-to-you home. When you’re first starting out, it might be fun to go on home tours just to look. After all, you need to have a general idea of what’s available.
However, if you’re serious about buying, you should pay attention to the details when looking at houses.
Many people would have thought it was impossible to buy a home based solely on a virtual showing just two years ago. However, it is now actually feasible. 90% of home buyers begin their search on the internet. It allows you to look at homes on your own time, and virtual tours are a huge help for those who are buying a home from out of town.
The good news is that we’ve been upping our game in terms of developing tools that make it easier to virtually tour and take steps towards purchasing a home.
We still offer guided virtual tours via video chat, as well as the option for you to tour the home yourself with on-demand access. Of course, we have many virtual tours of our homes that you can view from the comfort of your own home. We’ve worked hard in each of our quick possession homes to provide you with more information about that specific home, such as the interior and exterior finishes, standard specifications, and additional upgrades we’ve included.
Of course, if you still want to come to see our showhomes, we are taking all possible precautions, such as wearing masks and ensuring that all high contact points are regularly sanitized.
Here are a few things to look at when visiting builders’ showhomes in person.
Quality construction. A builder’s showhome should be of high quality, but you should still pay attention. Are the doors properly closing or do they stick? Is there anything that appears rough or uneven? Is there already wear and tear on the house? Showhomes aren’t used as models for long, so if you notice signs of wear, it could be a sign that a home you buy from them won’t last long.
The floorplan of the home. When you visit a showhome, you are not looking at the exact home you will be purchasing (unless you choose to match it perfectly). For example, two homes may have the same general open-concept layout, but if the showhome you toured has 500 square feet more space than the model you ultimately purchase, you may be disappointed with how the rooms feel when you get your home. Check out showhomes that are similar in size and style to what you want to build.
Customization Options. Customization in new construction homes can be both beneficial and detrimental. On the one hand, it allows you to choose the design elements you want. On the other hand, small additions can add up, and your choices may result in the home costing more than you are willing to pay. Make certain you understand the pricing. A specific model may be advertised as starting in the low $400s, but the showhome you’re considering may have upgrades that push the price to $500,000 or higher. Inquire with the Area Manager about which features of the home are standard and which are optional.
In the end, whether you choose to build your home from the ground up or go with a move-in ready option Pacesetter Homes Saskatchewan has been working to make the process easier and more transparent for you!