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Show home tricks

As new homes become increasingly smaller, house builders and their interior designers are getting ever more devious, using new ways to create the illusion of space and light in the predominantly small, dark new homes they have to offer. These tricks can influence potential buyers into believing the homes are lighter, larger and more luxurious than they actually are in reality, by creating a superficial "deceptively spacious" first impression.


Potential homebuyers should be sceptical when viewing a show home. Don't get taken in by the furnishings and the techniques used. In recent times, some people have become obsessed with lifestyles and developers are using this to their advantage.


New homes are small and dark. Below are some of the tricks used by house builders to fool potential buyers.


The great show home deception:





New homes Show homeShowhomes - Don't get taken in!
































Regulations to protect home buyers

The Consumer Protection from Unfair Trading Regulations 2008 and the Business Protection from Misleading Marketing Regulations 2008 have largely replaced the Property Misdescriptions Act 1992, making it a criminal offence to make false or misleading statements. However deception within a show home is a grey area. The more honest house builders do fit notices to highlight "this item is not fitted as standard."  But until the Office of Fair Trading use the courts to fully enforce the requirements of these consumer protection regulations, such deception will continue and buyers should realise they are not buying a show home!


The cost of the show house and sales centre comes out of the price buyers pay for their new homes. The "new home premium" as it is known includes all the extra costs associated with the show houses.


Finally a word of warning, do not be tempted to pinch that bottle of Channel No5 on the bedside table. It is often an empty bottle filled with urine!  Also be careful what you say, the show home may be bugged or have CCTV.


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