What to expect when visiting a display village
When you embark on a visit to a display village, it can be quite a momentous experience which will be impacted by where you go, what you see, when you decide to go and who you speak to during your day.
It doesn’t matter if you are just starting the process to get a few home building ideas or if you have narrowed down your preferences and want to confirm the finer details – it pays to be prepared for your visit.
To make the process as easy for you as possible, we have outlined what you should expect from your visit and a few handy hints to make the experience more enjoyable and worthwhile for you.
Building your new home should be one of the most exciting experiences of your life so try to approach your visit to every display home with an open mind.
1. Plan your day
Never visit display homes without devising a solid plan of attack prior to departure. You will probably want to visit multiple homes from multiple builders and they will be scattered throughout Perth. You need to be aware of locations and mindful of opening times.
Our display homes are open every Monday and Wednesday from 2-5pm, Saturdays from 1-5pm and Sundays from 12-5pm. We are also open on Public Holidays as well as every Tuesday, Thursday and Friday by appointment to make sure we can always offer a time to suit you!
It can take up to 45 minutes to browse a single display home (including question time) so don’t try to visit too many in one day. It is also smart to group your display homes together by geographical locations, so you are not travelling all over the countryside. It is 62kms from Clarkson to Southern River so don’t try and travel north to south in the same afternoon!
2. Bring the family
You might think it is easier to tackle the display village visits without the kids, but we encourage you to bring them. Kids are brutally honest, and you might be surprised to learn they hate the home you love. You will be able to see how they interact with different homes and it will help you picture your family together in the same space.
3. Arm yourself
Just like it is important to plan your trip, never leave the house without arming yourself with drinks, snacks, a jumper, hat, umbrella, sun cream, nappies, wipes – or anything else you think you will need to get you and your family through the day.
It is also a good idea to pack a measuring tape, notebook and pen. You want to make sure your favourite couch will fit or if it is time to buy a new one!
4. Expect to be wowed
The very point of every display is to showcase the home at its absolute best and it’s not just the home that should knock your socks off – you should be wowed by the entire experience including the quality of construction, the layout, attention to detail and level of customer service from the New Homes Consultant.
So, if you aren’t being wowed in every sense of the word – it’s time to walk out the door and find something else! Never compromise on your dream home, the right home is waiting for you!
5. Don’t be shy
If you are simply there to browse and get ideas – the New Homes Consultant should respect your privacy and let you stroll around the home in peace. Conversely, if you have a million and one questions, don’t be afraid to ask them!
At Dale Alcock Homes, our New Homes Consultants pride themselves on offering as much or as little assistance as you need – with absolutely no obligation.
6. Snap some photos
If you are visiting multiple homes, by the end the day it is almost impossible to remember which home is what. The prices, features and locations tend to all melt together and you and your partner may have completely different recollections of your favourite homes. How did that happen?!
To avoid confusion, you are encouraged to take your phone (or camera) with you and take as many photos as you like to jog your memory. It is also a good idea to take a photo of the name of the home at the start of each visit to a new display, so you know which photos belong to what property.
7. Use your imagination
When walking through a display home, it may be furnished to perfection, but you are encouraged to use a little bit of imagination. Can you see your family living here? Can you imagine entertaining in the kitchen? Does the layout suit your needs? Is there enough room in the garden for the kids to play? Does it provide enough privacy? Picture what it would be like to live in the home and if it is practical for your needs – now and in the future.
8. Be practical
Just as it is important to use your imagination, it is important not to get swept up in the perfection of the display. Remember to think about the practicalities.
The kitchen looks beautiful but is it functional? Is there enough storage? Where do you need power points? Does the home meet your technological needs? What brands are the appliances, fixtures and fittings? Can you section off areas of the home for privacy, temperature or noise control?
It is also important to be aware that every display is designed to look its best and will be finished with all the bells and whistles. Make sure you understand what is standard and what is an upgrade. You need to know exactly what you will get for your money. You’d be surprised to learn just how much is included as standard in every Dale Alcock Home.
9. Think about the things you can’t see
When you walk through the display home the finished product may look impressive, but it is also important to focus on all the details you can’t see and the process you will need to go through to build the home.
Ask the New Homes Consultant about their customer service process, who you will be dealing with, how you will make your selections for the home, how you will be kept updated throughout the build process and what support you will receive once the home is built.
At Dale Alcock Homes, we can assist with finance or even help you to find the perfect block of land for your new house. Our selections centre at Dale Alcock Central is one of the biggest in the state and we will work with you every step of the way to ensure you receive your dream home! Dale Alcock Homes has been awarded with the HIA Excellence in Service Award for the past two years, so you know you will be in safe hands.
More importantly, once your home is complete, we offer an industry leading 12-month service warranty, so you can live in your home through the full range of seasons, plus we build our homes to last and offer a 25-year structural warranty to give you peace of mind.
10. Do it again!
The final piece of advice is don’t expect to tackle it all in one day. Visiting display homes and display villages is exciting, time-consuming and educational. It can also be inspiring. You might find some great ideas which were completely outside your original scope or you might find a very helpful New Homes Consultant who is able to find you an even better home for your block than what you thought was possible.
Rome wasn’t built in a day and you don’t need to have all your answers in a single day either. Visit your favourite display homes and then visit them again. Once you have narrowed down your selection it’s worth another visit to make sure.
At Dale Alcock Homes, we want to you feel ‘at home’ in our display homes and to see our points of difference. The door is always open, and you are always welcome so view our list of display home locations and come and see us today!