A model home visit is usually the first stop for prospective new home construction customers. Before we started building our dream custom home, my husband and I went on many model home visits and learned a lot along the way.
In the beginning, we gawked at all the beautiful homes, imagining our home would look the same. We didn’t realize that we were looking at homes packed full of upgrades that would significantly raise the “starting from” price of the home.
After consulting with a realtor, and doing our research, we learned how to distinguish an upgrade from a standard feature. We also learned to ask the sales agent the right questions and look beyond the upgrades to focus on the features that matter.
In this article, I will share with you the 7 best things we learned, that you should know before you visit a model home! You can also watch our YouTube video if you want to see videos and pictures of some of the model homes we visited.
7 Best Things You Must Know Before You Visit a Model Home
1. The model home is the builder’s showcase for 3 purposes:
- A . Structural floor plan designs – the builder shows off their structural upgrades such as high ceilings, double front doors, sunrooms, large patios, dramatic staircases, balconies, spa bathrooms, and chef’s kitchens.
- Interior design upgrades – the builder shows off their interior design upgrades such as ceiling treatments, feature walls, decorative tile, and tile patterns, paint, flooring, and lighting.
- Entice you to build a home by creating the dream home environment!
2. The builder may have enhanced the model home with things not offered as upgrades.
For instance, you might see a pool, patio deck, backyard lights, a screened-in porch, or leaf gutters on the model home. These are things that may not be offered to a customer but may have made enhancements to the model home that fall outside of what the builder offers to customers. You need to ask.
3. Model home floor plans may be discontinued.
This may happen because communities may open lots in phases, and the model home may have been there for a few years before your visit. This is less likely if you are doing a model home visit in a new or more recently built community. However, if you drove to a community other than where you plan to build to see a specific floor plan, be sure to ask if that floor plan is offered in the community where you are interested in building. Also, a custom builder may no longer work with the architect or designer of the model home. This shouldn’t prevent you from building that model, but if having that architect is important to you, you should ask.
4. The same builder may offer different upgrades in different communities.
This is less applicable to custom builders and more applicable to production and semi-custom builders. When you visit a model home, keep in mind that the builder may categorize communities by tiers. You need to ask for the tier level for the model home you visit. Standard features in a model home in a tier 3 community, may be upgrades if you are building in a tier 2 community.
5. Consult with a realtor before you visit a model home.
Whether building custom, semi-custom, or production, a real estate agent can save you time and money. The agent will usually be able to distinguish a standard feature from an upgrade. Also, you can learn from the realtor’s experience with former clients and certain builders. In addition, even if your realtor isn’t with you when you visit the model home, you should make notes from your realtor’s advice and take them with you to the model home visit.
6. Bring notes of your realtor’s advice and take notes.
Go room by room during your model home visit and write down what you see in each room and what the sales agent says is standard and take a picture or video. If there is no example in the model home, ask for a picture or any visual example. I created this checklist (see below) that you can download for free! Our Free Checklist covers almost all commonly offered standard features and upgrades. Just download it, and take it with you when you visit a model home or meet with a builder!
7. Watch model home tour videos and take notes.
Watch model home tour videos and take notes on what you see in each room. Train your eye to dissect what you see in a room to the smallest possible increment. Once you practice doing this you will learn to learn what a “builder grade” standard looks like, and distinguish a multiple-level upgrade when you see one.
