Model Homes Are Mandatory
Brian Hoffman, an executive with Northbrook, Ill.-based builder Red Seal Homes disagrees, saying builders still need to build and decorate model homes for buyers. “Buying a new home is the biggest purchase someone will ever make, and as builders, we need to offer every tool we can to help make that process easier and more comfortable,” he says. “We have been building homes for more than 80 years and while many things have changed, the need for a finished, decorated, show-ready home for your buyers hasn’t.”
Even for luxury buyers, who are likely to customize their homes, the model home serves as a good starting point, while also showcasing the finish options and overall quality of construction. “Nearly every one of our buyers will add their own customization to the home we build, so the decorated model isn’t about showing them what their final product will look like,” said Hoffman. “Rather, it gives buyers a better appreciation for 9- versus 10-foot ceilings, or how the floor plan flows with the addition of a butler’s pantry. Details that are just numbers and notations on a floor plan come to life when you walk into a great room that is complete with an inviting sofa and luxurious rug. It makes buyers feel at home, and that is important.”
The one pitfall of having model homes? “People want to buy them, and then we have to start all over,” when one is sold, says Hoffman, who also noted that is a good problem to have. “We had a buyer fall in love with our model home at Willow Lake in Lake Forest, Illinois, so we had to work out of a sales trailer for a few months. Once we had a new model ready showcase, buyers were very eager to check it out.”
