When developers are selling homes in a community, they go to great expense to build, furnish and landscape the model homes. Have you ever wondered why?

Real estate is all about art. Well, at least if you are selling a home. People selling homes cannot just stick up a sign and hope for the best. Nope. They need to develop the atmosphere necessary to move the home. This can include things such as putting in new landscaping, furniture, fixtures and so on.

Why would someone selling a home do this? They are trying to create the appearance of lifestyle. In particular, a lifestyle that you, me or anyone would want to live in. The classic example of this time tested real estate strategy is in the model home.

Model homes are the stuff of legend. The home is built out and then no expense is spared. Top landscapers are brought in. Top interior designers are brought in. The best home staging professionals are brought in. And what do they all do? They create the dream.

If you drive up to a model home in a community what is the first thing you notice? It is probably the lush landscaping around the home. You notice that everything is green, edged, pruned and perfect. You completely ignore the fact all the other homes in the development have dirt yards because you have to pay extra for the landscaping when you buy a non-model.

Once you walk in the home, the fluffy dream continues. The kitchen has elegant wine glasses, pots hanging, wine bottles in racks. The bedrooms have been painted various soft soothing colors that match beautiful bedroom furniture. The living room is opulent and the huge HD widescreen, triple turbo, universe altering television is the stuff to die for. There is only one problem. None of this stuff comes with the non-model home you will buy.

When buying a home, dont buy the fluff. Whether you are looking at a model home in a development or an older home, make sure you distinguish between what comes with the home and what doesnt. Otherwise, you run the risk of buying a home that will seem nothing like what you originally fell in love with. You probably dont want to do that.