Take a look around

Looking at photos of beautifully styled homes in magazines and browsing home builders’ online design galleries is an important first step when choosing a home design. It shows you what’s on-trend, what kind of inclusions you can have, helps you refine your list of must-haves, and gives you an opportunity to decide what style of home most appeals.

Websites are a valuable resource, no doubt. They provide all the floor plan options for the home designs that take your fancy and in some cases, you can even take a virtual tour of your favourite display homes. However, there is no substitute for walking around a display home and trying it on for size — and the more display homes you visit, the better you’ll be able to compare and contrast designs, finishes, floor plans and builders.

“Online resources can assist in narrowing