SHOULD I BUY A SHOW HOME?

DEVELOPERS will always sell the show home once they’ve finished using it for marketing purposes. The idea of buying a show home divides opinion, but for the right price (and with the right extras thrown in), it could be a smart move. Here are the pros and

THE ADVANTAGES

You can fully inspect the finished home before buying it.

The development will be close to completion, so you won’t have to live on a building site for too long.

Show homes usually have upgraded fixtures and fittings that aren’t on the standard homes. You could benefit from the best plot and a landscaped garden. You might be able to get the furniture thrown in.

...AND THE DISADVANTAGES

YOU could be overpaying for premium fixtures and fittings, and you can’t personalise these.

A show home is likely to have experienced plenty of wear and tear by the time it’s sold, so will need a thorough snagging survey.

Items in show homes sometimes get taken away and used in other homes on the development – so what you see on your viewing may not be what you get when you move in. You won’t be able to benefit from on-site aftercare.

Appliances will be used rather than new, and their warranties might have expired.

THE show home is often located next to the marketing suite car park, which developers will sometimes build a house on at the end of the project, so you could face disruption after moving in. For more property advice visit which.co.uk/money