Visiting a Show Home?

Our top tips to make the most of your visit.

If you are thinking about buying a new build, visiting the show home is a great way to help you make a decision.  It is easy to get caught up in the interior design of a show home, with its’ carefully selected furniture, coordinating soft furnishings and accessories; they always have a positive reaction with visitors. Don’t get side-tracked by the shiny kitchen surfaces! Make sure you make the most of your visit and gather all the important information you need.

1. Make a wish list

Before you go, write down some basics that you’re looking for.  Number of bedrooms, garden, car parking, garage etc.  Which are essential and which are desirable?  Discuss this list with the sales advisor to help make sure you pick the right style of house from the available plots.

2. Ask Questions

An obvious point, but this is your big chance to grill the sales advisor.  Make sure you get the information you need and ask for a follow up call if there are any outstanding points.

3. Look at the space, not the furniture

Show homes should look their best.  The sofas will be inviting, the kitchen tops shiny and the beds neatly made, but you need to look beyond the sales home layout and see how you’d use the rooms. How would you make this space work for your own family and lifestyle?  You may need a study or a room to keep all the kids toys.

4. Bring everyone with you

It’s a big choice and another opinion will help you make the right decision.  You may be interested in the kitchen or bathrooms, whilst another family member is keen to check out the bedrooms or garden.  Everyone in the family will have slightly different priorities.

5. See beyond the interiors

As well as admiring the décor (and hopefully getting a few good ideas) you should consider the build quality of the house when you look around.  Does the house have energy saving features? Find out as much as you can about the boiler and other systems used. New homes are up to 50 per cent more energy efficient than older buildings.

 

Put your new skills to the test.  Our show home in Chesterhill Wood, at Edgehead, Midlothian is open Thurs-Mon 11am-5pm. Call 0131 459 2222.

Worktop Dilemmas. Wood? Granite? Laminate?

There are a wide variety of kitchen worktops; they vary hugely in their cost and properties.  A few ideas to consider:  

• Maintenance.  If you have a young family stay away from surfaces that mark easily, like glass and steel.
• Heat resistance. Using materials such as granite, you can put a hot saucepan directly onto the surface.
• Look. What colour and texture do you like, and what will compliment your choice of kitchen cabinets.
• Hygiene. Some materials such as Corian and Stainless Steel have anti-bacterial properties.
• Speed. Some worktops need to be templated, so can only be measured for their fitting once your kitchen units are in place. Others can be measured in advance, so tend to be the quicker and cheaper options.

Hardwood

Wood gives a natural warmth to any kitchen.  Traditional style kitchens will suit oak, maple and beech. Wenge and Iroko will give a modern feel but may be harder to source. The wood will require higher maintenance than other materials and you will normally need to oil it every 3 months.

Granite

This natural stone is a popular choice for keen cooks. It’s strong and durable and comes in a variety of colours. Each work surface is unique with its own individual colours and markings, so it will vary from any samples you've seen in the showrooms.

Corian

Corian is a man-made acrylic material which can provide a seamless finish to your kitchen. It also comes in many colours and can be bent and moulded to fit most shapes. It’s a very hygienic surface as there are no gaps or joins to collect crumbs and other nasties.

Laminate

A durable and affordable worktop that's easy to clean.  Available in a large range of colours and finishes that can accurately mimic other worktop materials (such as granite, slate and wood) so will suit modern and traditional schemes.

And a couple of other things to think about:

Mix and Match

Add interest and texture by mixing materials.  It can also help reduce the cost; a mix of granite and wood will be much more affordable than using granite on every surface.

Height

Try varying the height of your worktops; you’ll need to keep to the standard height for cooking and preparation, but why not break things up with a higher level surface with bar stools, or a lower level breakfasting area.