New home sales centre etiquette tips everyone should read

If you’re a first-time buyer, visiting a new home sales centre or presentation centre can be intimidating, especially if it’s a big opening and there’s a crowd. 

With that in mind, we want to share some sales centre etiquette. These aren’t just for first-time buyers. We’ve been to enough new home openings and experienced some rudeness from people who were definitely not first-timers, so these tips are for everyone! If everyone followed these tips, all new home opening experiences would be even more enjoyable. 

Be patient

If a lot of people showed up, there are likely more people in the sales centre than there are sales representatives. Everyone deserves to ask questions and browse comfortably without feeling rushed. Some builders will let people into the sales centre gradually and even assign numbers to ensure they are assisted on a first-come, first-served basis. Once you’re in the sales centre, be patient and browse until someone is available to help you. 

Some builders set up online appointment bookings for openings. If you’re lucky enough to get an appointment, arrive 15 minutes before your appointment. Some people still show up hours earlier than their appointment for some reason. Don’t be that person! 

Be prepared   

If you’re a serious buyer, you should be prepared to make a purchase. You don’t want to miss out on your lot or floor plan because you had to go home to get ID. Different builders can require different things at the time of signing your Agreement of Purchase and Sale, but it’s safe to assume you’ll need at least two forms of ID, personal cheques, and a letter of pre-approval from a major bank. 

Be mindful of your children

We love seeing buyers bring their kids to new home openings. It makes sense, you’re buying a home for your family, so the kids can definitely tag along! But, there’s not much for children to do at most sales centres, which results in boredom for some. This leads to running, crying, and yelling. When people are trying to make one of the largest financial decisions of their life, they shouldn’t be distracted by disruptive children. The ideal homebuying experience is pleasant and stress free. If you are going to bring your kids, remember to bring something to keep them entertained, or engage them in the home browsing process!

Be respectful of the space

Many new home sales centres have vignettes of interior spaces like a kitchen, living room, or bedroom. You would be surprised at how many times we’ve seen people sitting on a chair with their feet up on a cushion or dragging mud across an area rug. The space is set up to give you an idea of the interior features and finishes, not for you to lounge and wipe your feet. Hopefully you’re not doing this in your own home, so remember to treat the sample living spaces with respect! 

A few of these tips are just common courtesy, but people need to be reminded sometimes! We hope this post helps you feel more comfortable and confident heading to your first new home opening this busy spring season.