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The New Model Home

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The New Model Home

Use decor and furnishings tailored to your buyers' budget.

Use simple furnishings in a model home — as The Olson Company in San Diego has done with this model — to help buyers imagine themselves living in it.

Changing economic conditions are starting to alter the look of model homes, according to Lorena Gaxiola, president of Kuatro Design, a San Diego-based firm that provides interior design services for model homes. At the peak of the housing boom, Gaxiola says many builders tried to differentiate themselves by creating dream model homes with pricey decor and furniture meant to appeal to buyers’ imaginations. But a cooling market and more cost-conscious buyers have led a number of builders to take a different approach. "Some builders are [using their model homes] to show how it’s possible to beautifully decorate a home in an affordable manner," says Gaxiola.

One Kuatro client that has embraced this approach is The Olson Company, which builds homes in and around San Diego, Calif. "Many builders [use their models to] showcase everything a buyer might aspire to without considering whether the market can support it," says Marcie Little, vice president of sales and marketing at The Olson Company, "but in some markets you don’t want a home buyer to fall in love with a model home … they can’t afford. That would start you off on a bad note."

Gaxiola has heard from other builders’ salespeople who agree that it’s becoming more important to tailor models to the target market. "The salespeople are telling us not to include certain features that may be hard to sell in their market."

The trick is finding ways to dress up a model on a budget, and one easy way to do this is with color. Bright colors are an obvious choice. "Play with paint, add splashes of color throughout the house, and don’t be afraid to use colorful carpets," Gaxiola advises. She finds that buyers respond well to dark colors used to add contrast. "The most popular contrast is white walls with chocolate trim to mimic the look of high-end wood trim."

Furniture pillows, lamps and other accessories can be used to compliment paint schemes and provide a coordinated richness that doesn’t cost much, according to Little. "Buying at stores where the target market shops will help potential homeowners feel they can achieve a similar elegance at an affordable price."

Careful appliance choices can also reinforce the look of elegant affordability. "Many people associate high-quality kitchens with stainless steel, but you don’t need Wolf or Subzero matching appliances to get that look," says Gaxiola. "GE and other manufacturers have stainless appliances that provide a similar appearance at a much lower cost." She also suggests accenting the big-ticket appliances with countertop appliances and utensils that match in color, material or texture. It’s this type of thoughtful coordination that provides an attainable elegance.

Gaxiola offers free advice to home buyers who call with questions about recreating the look of a model home, a service her firm offers to The Olson Company and other clients. Little says that this seemingly small courtesy has helped create customer loyalty. In fact, it’s a big deal to home buyers looking to attain a designer look at an affordable price.

In February, we asked where you look first when you want to save money on a specific project?

Over 41% answered changing floor plans and designs as the number one choice.

Results are:

Changing floor plans and designs
Appliances and fixtures
Building materials and lumber
Labor (either staff or subcontractors)
Sales and marketing

Thank you for participating in our online poll.


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