Tips for visiting a display suite or display village

Making time to visit a display to clap eyes on built form and inclusions is the best way to fine tune your vision before you embark on constructing your own home.

Most developers have a range of presentations from display suites, display villages and display homes to help you determine exactly what you’re after.

But there are some important things to consider before you embark on your journey towards building your new home:

What is the difference between a display suite, a display village and a display home?

New home displays can take shape in several forms, including a display suite, display village or a display home.

Metricon’s sales general manager Drew Glascott said it’s important to understand the differences between each set-up before you venture out and do some basic research first.

Display suite

A display suite isn’t the complete home, but a section of it, constructed within a larger space, to give buyers a sense of what certain parts of the new home could look like.

“A display suite is essentially a section of a sales centre to give prospective buyers an insight as to how their apartment will look when construction is completed,” Mr Glascott said.

A display suite isn’t the whole finished product, rather, it’s an example of certain key parts of what the finished home may look like. Picture: Eugene Hyland

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Display homes and display villages

Display homes and display villages are a much more literal showing of what the finished home will look like, in that they’re a real-life example of the finished product.

You can walk from room to room and get a real feeling for what the home will feel like once it’s finished. Often they’ll be staged with furniture so you can tell how much room is left over once it’s filled with your belongings.

“A display home is simply a new home design that is being displayed to the public by a builder. This could be in a new estate area, or as a standalone home in a built-up residential area,” Mr Glascott said.

On a larger scale, a display village is typically an area within a new land estate where many display homes from a range of builders will be located. “This provides the best opportunity to see a range of different home designs and builder options,” Mr Glascott said.

Display villages will give you a feel for what living in the home as well as the community will be like. Picture: Stockland

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What are some tips for visiting a display suite?

If you are considering buying an apartment off the plan, one of the best ways to experience what your home will look and feel like is to visit a display suite.

1. Remember it’s not the real thing

It’s important to keep in mind that display suites are not exact replicas of the apartment you may be seeking to buy and there may be variations in floorplans and features. It may take some imagination to sense what the finished product will be like to live in.

Often the display suite will be constructed within a much larger warehouse space with higher ceilings and more light, giving a sense that they’re bigger and brighter that what the reality may be.

Once you know the size of what the dwelling will be, try and visit a space of a similar size before you sign any contract. This way you’ll really know what you’re buying.

2. The fittings may be top tier

They may also be fitted with the top-level inclusions, which could be above your budget.

Be sure to ask to see examples of what is included within your budget range so you get a realistic sense of what your place will be like.

3. They could be subject to change

There may be some variability within the plans that could occur before you get your keys once construction is finished. Make sure the salesperson knows you need to be kept abreast of anything that changes and know your rights when it comes to what you’re willing to accept.

Stockland co-head of design Sophie Pickett-Heaps said visiting display suites was still a worthwhile venture.

“They enable you to get a sense of what your life might be like living in the unit, while also giving you the chance to interrogate the quality of the building and the finishes,” she said.

Ask whether the fittings and fixtures on display are the ones that come within your budget. Picture: Metricon

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What are some tips for visiting a display home or display village?

Once you step into a display home or display village it’s easy to get swept up in the excitement and possibility, but it pays to keep a level head.

Here are our top tips:

1. Research as much as possible before you go

Research is key before embarking on a trip to a display home, said Mr Glascott.

“Do as much research as you can before you start the process. The more you understand about your budget, needs and wants, the smoother the process will be,” he said.

Most developers and builders have 3D virtual tours of display homes on their websites that would be worth viewing prior to an in-person inspection.

2. Limit the number of homes you see in one day

If you’re visiting a display village there may be many homes to visit, all with different sizes, designs and aspects. There’s always a temptation to pack as much as you can into a display village visit, but Mr Glascott believes this can be counter-productive.

“Limiting yourself to four display homes in a village is a good idea to ensure you see a good variety of homes but can also spend plenty of time looking at those individual homes,” he said.

Don’t try and see all the homes in the display village in one go. Picture: Stockland

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3. Keep your budget in mind at all times

It’s easy to get swept up in the available inclusions but these costs will quickly spiral if you’re not careful.

“Knowing your budget and being mindful of this when choosing which homes to visit can also make the process much simpler,” said Mr Glascott.

“It’s easy to get carried away when looking at the stunning display homes in a display village, but it’s important to be realistic so that you use your time efficiently and avoid disappointment by falling in love with a display that’s out of your budget.”

4. Take your own photos

The best way to trigger your memory when you’re trying to keep a rational mindset is to take your own photos. That way they’re easy to refer back to later down the track.

Mr Glascott said taking photographs of key features and designs that appealed to you was a good way to help compile a wish list or photo board to serve as inspiration when creating your new home. This could be a Pinterest board or a collection of images either printed out or kept digitally.

In that vein, Stockland has launched Dreamcatcher – an innovative online tool that combines inspirational design concepts with real-life images that prospective buyers can browse, share and pin onto intuitive style boards.

Ms Pickett-Heaps said this helped clients better visualise and experience what their future home could be like before they committed to building it.

“With some states still navigating the challenges of lockdowns and various restrictions, visiting a display property may not currently be possible,” Ms Pickett-Heaps said.

“Fortunately, there are a number of tools available to prospective homebuyers to help them experience a property without physically needing to be there.

“Based on Australia’s most popular interior design styles, buyers can navigate through Australian home design trends and immerse themselves in these spaces via 3D virtual home tours and guided videos.”

Take your own photos so you can remember the points of the home that are important to you. Picture: Metricon

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What questions should I ask when visiting a display?

Display homes, which are usually located in housing developments or master-planned communities, allow a developer or builder to showcase what an off-the-plan, single, freestanding property will look like once built.

Having done your research, arming yourself with a list of questions will put you in the best position to navigate taking the plunge into a new home.

“Prepare yourself with plenty of questions before you go into a display home,” Mr Glascott said.

“Our new home advisors are experts in the homebuilding process, so they’ll be able to guide you through every step of the way, so take advantage of their expertise and ask them any questions you have.

“There’s a whole range of questions that are good ones to ask. There isn’t a bad question when it comes to such an important process,” Mr Glascott said.

1. Is there flexibility with the floorplan?

It’s always good to get an idea of how much flexibility you could have with floorplans, facades and upgrades, and how much these would cost.

On the other hand, it’s important to understand what the rules are with how much a developer can change a floorplan after signing. Allowable changes will depend on the contract so it’s important to read it carefully before signing.

2. What is the process after signing the contract?

Knowing the timeframe for the build is integral when purchasing off the plan because it will affect how you go about getting finance as well as where you live up to and around the time of settlement.

“If you’re new to the process I would also recommend asking some basic questions around the build process, just to get familiar with important aspects such as build timeframes or any other part of the process you’re unsure about,” Mr Glascott said.

3. What is the land availability and how does that affect pricing?

Mr Glascott said asking about land availability and pricing was also important, depending on what sort of property you were looking to invest in; and new home advisors were knowledgeable about which blocks would most suit your needs.

Try not to have emotional blinkers on when deciding on the block and keep the decision based around the quality of the investment as much as possible.

Although buying a home is an emotional process, try to keep a level head. Picture: Caroline McCredie

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4. What’s the configuration of the key spaces I’m interested in?

Do you fancy yourself a masterchef? Or are you only interested in the size of the garage and man cave?

It’s important to remember a home also enables your lifestyle, so if the kitchen is your favourite zone then remember to press the salesperson on the exact configuration of the space so you know it’ll work for you. Do you want an entertainer’s kitchen? Or would you prefer to keep all the mess in its own space? Now is the time to decide.

The same goes for other areas of the home. Will the garage be big enough to hold all your power tools and allow you to get the projects done that you love working on? How much are you willing to compromise with the budget to get what you want?

Ms Pickett-Heaps said it was important for homebuyers to consider the configuration of key spaces, such as the kitchen, living and dining areas, and preferences for closed or open plan.

5. Exactly what is included in the price and what are the extra costs?

Don’t rely on the glossy brochures and sales pitches, if necessary take a notebook and write down exactly what the inclusions are or ask for a detailed list. Once you get your keys it’s too late to ask for the double-sink vanity in the ensuite so it’s best to be very clear from the beginning exactly what your money is buying.

“Once a homebuyer has narrowed the search for their preferred builder, they should look at what exactly is included in the price and what are extra costs, for example appliance packages or sustainability features,” Ms Pickett-Heaps said.

Now is the time to focus on exactly what you’re getting so don’t be shy in putting the salesperson through their paces with all your burning questions.