Buying a newbuild property is completely different from an existing property, because it isn’t physically built yet. With lots of newbuild townhouses on the market, it’s easy to get overwhelmed and overlook some of the important aspects of the property – including the floorplan.

What is a Floorplan?

A floorplan is a drawing that determines the layout and space between rooms and physical features in a property. They help you visualise how you’ll move throughout the home. When buying an off the plan property, it’s normally either in the process of getting Council consent, or under construction.

Because you won’t see the physical property straight away, it’s important to be able to distinguish the features and differences between floorplans. Small changes in a floorplan layout can have a big effect on everyday convenience.

Many off the plan townhouses share similar features – there will almost always be a kitchen, living area, bathroom (sometimes an extra guest bathroom) and bedroom/s. But there’s a couple of distinguishing factors in the layout that can make all the difference.

Some key things you can look out for:

• Does the kitchen have an island benchtop, or is it “L-shaped”?
• Is there an extra guest toilet or bathroom downstairs?
• Is there an allocated laundry area, or is it tied in with the kitchen?
• Is there an ensuite?

A lot of the time, differentiating features in a floorplan can come down to personal preference. For example, some people find it convenient to have a guest toilet downstairs, however other people don’t like the idea of it being so close to the kitchen or under the stairs. Some people will prefer to have their hot water cupboard or storage space under the stairs instead.

To some people, large wardrobe spaces in the bedrooms are essential. Others will prefer this space to be used to make the room larger.

Investing

There’s lots of things to consider when looking for an investment property, including how the property layout will impact the rentability. People will always prefer the home they’re living in to have a good use of space, which can make an investment property challenging to keep tenanted if the floorplan is inconvenient.

If you are looking for instant cashflow once your property is built, it’s good to know which units of a development are likely to be rented the fastest, especially in a time when lots of new townhouses are in the market. Of course other factors come into play as well including location and accessibility to public transport.

With the guidance of a new build specialist agent, we can help knuckle down exactly what is needed for you to get the best return on your investment. You can read more about our investing tips here!

Home Buying

Townhouses are essentially designed for easy care living. So, even if the floorplan is quite different from the current space you’re living in, it’s not necessarily a bad thing. Townhouses are designed for convenience and can be a great option whether you’re single, have a family, or wanting to live with friends.