Visiting showflats is a common pastime in Singapore, but this leisure activity should be done carefully, especially before before considering any purchases.
Potential homebuyers should inspect every corner of the showflat and understand that they may not get everything they see. After all, showflats are done up by interior designers employed by developers to make them look as spacious or attractive as possible.
Nicholas Mak, a real estate lecturer from Ngee Ann Polytechnic, advises potential homebuyers to take note of “optical illusions” used to make the units look bigger.
For example, glass partitions are usually used to separate the living area from bedrooms, giving illusion of more space. Glass partitions are also thinner compared to actual walls, thus consume lesser space.
Homebuyers can do this for their own unit, but they may have to compromise on privacy.
Lim Yew Soon, managing director at EL Development, said that developers often remove the bedroom’s non-structural wall closer to the living area to make the unit appear bigger and give more space for visitors. “In such instances, buyers should ask whether the wall can actually be removed.”
“Another question they should ask is whether all the appliances – for instance, the non-standard ones like dishwashers and washing machines – are provided or are there for interior design purposes,” Mr. Lim added.
According to experts, wall mirrors are also used to achieve an illusion of spaciousness in the living area.
“The buyer can also use a wall mirror in his own home, but the key is where the best place to put it is. And that depends on the individual unit,” said Mr. William Ong, executive chairman of Axis ID. “Showflats do give you an indication of what you can put into the unit.”
“When you do up your own unit, you have to first think about how much furniture you need and how much storage you need,” he added.
Another expert warns that small projects may use very small customised furniture.
When checking out bedrooms, potential buyers should disregard the furnishings and imagine if they can comfortably fit in a queen-size, normal-size or single-size bed, a wardrobe and a desk, said Mr. Mak.
Experts also said that buyers need to consider the efficiency of the layout, with a rectangular- or square-shaped room being easier to manage.
For odd-shaped apartments, it may help to employ an interior designer who can help in maximising space.
“The smaller the apartment, the more you need expert help to help you maximise space,” said Mr. Ong.
One advantage of showflats is the fact that they are full of design ideas.
“Whatever developers show in the showflat is usually achievable. The ideas are there to make the space look bigger but they are doable ideas,” said Mr. Ong.