How to Tour a Model Home in Houston: Questions to Ask Before You Fall in Love With the Sales Center

A model home is designed to make you want to move in. The furniture is staged, the lighting is soft, and the finishes are often the best the builder offers. None of that is dishonest, but it means you are looking at the top of the range, not the price on the sign. A few good questions will help you see the home you would actually get.

Start with what you are standing in

• Which of these features are standard, and which are upgrades? Ask for a written list of upgrades in the model, such as flooring, cabinets, countertops, lighting, and any added windows or structural options.
• Is this the exact floor plan and elevation I am considering? Models are sometimes a different size or have optional rooms and extensions.
• What is the base price, and what do the furnished upgrades add? My article on design center sticker shock shows how quickly choices add up.

Look at the details, not the decor

Open the cabinets, look at the trim and the hardware, and check how doors close. Notice room sizes without the furniture, and think about where your own furniture would go. Look at the windows and where the sun will land at different times of day.

Ask about the lot and the neighborhood

• Which homesites are available, and what do the premiums cost?
• What is the monthly HOA fee, and what does it cover?
• Are there additional taxes such as a MUD, and what is the total tax rate?
• What is planned nearby, and who owns the land next to the community?

Ask about the process

• What are the construction timelines, and what happens if the build runs late?
• Are there incentives, and are they tied to the builder's preferred lender?
• What does the warranty cover and for how long?

Bring someone on your side

The sales team represents the builder. I hold open houses at a Marvida model home as an independent agent with Blair Realty Group, not as a builder employee. If you want me with you, tell the sales team on your first visit, because builders often expect buyers to register their agent at that point. Read about why new construction buyers need their own agent, and compare spec homes and to-be-built homes before you decide.

This article is general information, not legal or financial advice.