Has anyone bought a show home on a new development

[LoisLittsLover]

Dh and i are interested in purchasing a home on a new development (abbey homes), and for several reasons are considering buying the show home. However because this won't be available until next year when all houses have been sold, it hasn't been priced yet although we do know the prices for that model of house on the estate.

I was just wondering if anyone else has done similar, and how much extra the showhome was (either in money or as a % of the price) in light of the extras but also taking into account wear and tear.

Thanks

Are they holding back on the price because houses yet to be built/sold might be put on at a higher price due to house price rises in the area. So the price is dependent on that rather than extras.

My daughter has just bought a new house. I said I loved the show home and the sales rep told us they usually end up with a bidding war on the show hone apparently.

The hhouses that haven't been built yet don't have a price because yes house prices are likely to rise but also depends of exact size of garden etc. I'm just trying to get a rough idea of how much extra because it may make a difference to see if we go for one of the standard ones or the show home. Thanks for sharing your experiences :)

We bought a show home some years ago. I liked the fact that there were curtains and blinds, the rear garden was landscaped and there were light fittings (for which we paid)

Show homes are obviously the first to be completed, so they act as a magnet to draw in potential buyers and no one lives in them for quite some time. We discovered that the patio doors swelled and couldn’t be properly closed, there were no isolator switches in the integrated kitchen, the plumbing for the central heating was wrongly installed and the tiles in the bathrooms cracked because they had not put down marine ply underneath.

All of the faults were rectified without quibble and it was fine afterwards, but it was quite disruptive whilst it was put right. They are a reputable company and we have bought from them since and there is always snagging with any new build or any renovation.

It wouldn’t necessarily put me off, but I would check very carefully that everything works as it should.

I believe the show home in our complex was sold early on and then rented back to the developer for an agreed period of something like two years. Perhaps this may be a possibility for you?
But please note what PP said about checking things carefully - the house had not been connected up to the drains correctly when it was built and had sat like that for two years before anyone had realised because it wasn’t being lived in. The beautifully landscaped/established garden had to be dug up and it smelt bad for a while too.
Also, one of the days we visited the show home, the loft windows had been left open in very heavy rain and the master bedroom carpet was a swamp. The sales people were hardly interested when we told them. They basically said, oh again? We’ll get someone to come in and dry it out when it’s stopped raining next week.
I’m not sure I’d buy a show home after having witnessed all of that. It’s bad enough snagging a new build without buying a “second hand” new build that no-one has lived in, thought to snag properly or even look after. Honestly, I’d buy something else!

Thanks everyone - you've given me lots to think about and definitely going to think more about buying a non show home after your experience @beetle76

Sorry OP! I didn’t mean to pour sewage all over your hopes and dreams 🙈 Good luck! Last bit of advice if you go the new build route: keep meticulous records, follow up all verbal conversations with an email summary of anything agreed and visit the site often. Demand regular access to keep an eye on things - it is your home afterall!

You’re always better off buying off plan then trying to replicate the show home, if it’s done to your style. They always go for much more than the others and you won’t necessarily recoup that when you sell.

The show home tends to have the top range kitchen and fitted wardrobes so developers are looking to re coup those extra costs too.