LISTINGS AND DESIGN specs will contain the basic info you need to know about a new home, but the best way to get a sense of a property is to step inside the front door.

If you’re considering buying a new build, you’ll most likely be viewing a showhome, meaning you’ll need to use some imagination to picture what the property you eventually end up purchasing might look like. 

Will the orientation be different, for example? Will the layout be identical or slightly different? Will the walls be painted as they are now – or will that job be up to you?

Caroline Foran of GAFF Interiors is well versed in helping new homeowners make their new property feel like home. Each week in our series, My New Place, she’ll be working through some of the biggest decisions you’ll tackle on the house hunting and buying journey.

This week: her three key tips for viewing a newly built showhome like a pro.

1. Remember that the styling is not set in stone

When you view a new build you need to realise that what you’re seeing is a curated idea of how the house can look and one that makes the best use of the space.

Remember that the showhome has been designed to appeal to a wide range of potential buyers. Where a lot of people fall down with house shopping is getting hung up on the existing decor, as though it’s something set in stone.

You might have completely different ideas of how your home should look and so it’s important to see past the current styling. What’s more, you might be thrilled with the decor of the showhouse and expect your own home to look exactly the same when what you’ll be getting is a blank canvas. Be mindful now to avoid any stress later.

Glenveagh Homes' Cois Glaisin in Navan. Glenveagh Homes Glenveagh Homes

2. One quick walk through won’t be enough

When you go to view a showhouse, feel free to spend as much time as you need in there and have a good look around. It’s not enough to do one quick walk through to really get a sense of the space and how it will lend itself to your way of living.

Open the kitchen presses to get an idea of storage. Sit down on the sofas and take in the size of the living room, imagining your own Saturday night in, watching the TV. Visualise the scenarios that will most likely play out in the house for you and your family.

It’s also important to remember that if the house is busy with other potential buyers, it’s going to feel an awful lot smaller than it really is. 

Glenveagh Homes' Holsteiner Park in Clonee. Glenveagh Homes Glenveagh Homes

3. Now is your chance to ask questions – so do it

The agent or seller is there not just to let you in but to answer your questions. Review the literature in advance, making note of any questions you think are important. For example, you might want to ask about customisation. Will each new build come with the very same kitchen or can you choose from different colours? Is flooring included or not? What’s the lead in time, if you’re buying off the plans?

It’s better to get all of those uncertainties ironed out now, so that the choice you make is as informed as it can be.

Glenveagh Homes understands that buying a home is possibly the biggest decision you will ever make in your life – but we want to make it your easiest. That’s why we produce high-quality homes in great areas at competitive prices. Click here to learn more and discover the Glenveagh home that’s right for you.