Visiting a Show Home: the 25-Point Checklist for the Appointment

Viewing a show house (Musterhaus) is one of the most enjoyable moments on the way to your own home — and at the same time one of the most deceptive. For what you see in the show-house parks of Fellbach, Wuppertal or Bad Vilbel is rarely the house you will later receive at the base price: high-quality floors, floor-to-ceiling windows, design staircases and smart home in every room often raise the real price by 20 to 40 percent. This 25-point checklist reveals what you should actually pay attention to in 2026, which questions belong to the consultant and how to compare several houses cleanly — so that enthusiasm turns into a well-founded purchase decision. How to plan an entire exhibition day is described in our guide to the show-house park visit.

Show-house viewing 2026: how to go in well prepared

Show-house parks such as those in Fellbach-Schmiden, Wuppertal, Bad Vilbel, Günzburg or Poing seem overwhelming at first glance: dozens of houses wall to wall, each flawlessly staged. Without a plan you quickly lose track and orient yourself by the looks instead of the facts. Therefore clarify in advance which three to five houses really suit your budget and plot. You will find an overview of the construction methods in the show-house guide, and how the entire journey to the house unfolds is explained in the house-building process guide. Still unsure about the type choice? The guide on which house type suits you helps to prepare the visit purposefully. Anyone who would rather first look for a show-house park nearby will find suitable locations in their region there.

• Fix your budget ceiling and maximum monthly rate in writing — including a buffer for special requests.
• Sketch the desired living area, number of rooms and room layout in order to classify floor plans.
• Bring plot data: size, orientation, slope, development plan — much of this shapes the later floor plan.
• Pack a tape measure, notepad or tablet and a camera to record dimensions and details immediately.
• Arrange the appointment in advance so that a specialist consultant has time for your questions and is not looking after several families at once.

What show houses gloss over: the optional-equipment trap

The size deceives too: many show houses, at 160 to 220 m², are considerably more generous than the average house of a family (around 130 to 150 m²). The emotional impression of spaciousness cannot be transferred to a smaller, cheaper model. Equally misleading: the perfect furnishing that shows every room in the best light, and the frequently missing depiction of the basement. Therefore, consistently check what is really included at the shown price.

Check group 1 – floor plan and spatial effect (points 1–5)

• 1. Measure the room sizes with the tape measure — does the room look larger than it is because of the furnishing?
• 2. Check the routing: are corridors, doors and transitions suitable for everyday life, or do bottlenecks arise?
• 3. Assess the lighting conditions — where does the sun stand in the morning and evening, which rooms stay dark?
• 4. Measure the ceiling height (standard 2.50 m, comfortable from 2.60 m) and compare it with your wish.
• 5. Clarify transferability to your plot: is the orientation right, or does the floor plan have to be mirrored?

Check group 2 – construction quality and equipment level (points 6–11)

• 6. Inspect the workmanship of the details: are joints, connections, doors and window frames clean and precisely fitted?
• 7. Ask about the wall construction and insulation — record the insulation thickness, U-values and vapour-permeable construction.
• 8. Check impact sound and room acoustics: how does it echo, how clearly can you hear footsteps on the upper floor?
• 9. Inspect the floor coverings and their quality — is the floor shown standard or a surcharge?
• 10. Check the sanitary and tile quality in the bathroom and compare it with the basic equipment.
• 11. Request the building and specification description and compare it item by item with what you have seen.

Check group 3 – technology, energy and smart home (questions 12–16)

• 12. Clarify the heating technology: heat pump (air- or brine-to-water) and which advantages and disadvantages in operation?
• 13. Check the ventilation: is a controlled residential ventilation with heat recovery included?
• 14. Ask about photovoltaics and storage — standard, optional or not provided at all?
• 15. Clarify the energy-efficiency standard (e.g. GEG-compliant, KfW level) and weigh it against the follow-up costs.
• 16. Note the scope of smart home: what is standard, what is a surcharge? Read the details in the smart-home guide.

With the topic of networking in particular, it is worth taking a close look: what runs as a matter of course via app in the show house is often merely prepared for in the base price. Which functions really pay off and what they cost can be read in the guide on smart home in the prefabricated house. Which statutory requirements apply to heating and insulation in 2026 is explained in the GEG guide 2026.

Check group 4 – the consultation and questions for the consultant (questions 17–21)

• 17. "Is that standard or optional equipment?" — follow up consistently on every detail you like.
• 18. "What does the house shown cost turnkey with this equipment?" — have it confirmed in writing.
• 19. "Is there a fixed-price guarantee and how long does it apply?" — decisive against later add-ons.
• 20. "How long does construction take and when is a start of construction possible?" — ask about the realistic construction time.
• 21. "Can I speak to reference houses or current builders?" — a reputable provider establishes contacts.

Check group 5 – price transparency and hidden costs (questions 22–25)

• 22. Base slab or basement – included or not? A basement costs roughly 30,000–60,000 € extra in 2026.
• 23. Clarify house connections, earthworks and construction power — often 8,000–20,000 € in ancillary costs.
• 24. Outdoor facilities, terrace, driveway and carport: almost never included in the house price.
• 25. Plan ancillary construction costs (notary, surveying, permit, building surveyor) at around 15 % of the house price.

Additionally include the plot — regionally it is the largest cost block. The guide on plot prices 2026 provides orientation. Also check which grants and loans reduce your own contribution — an overview can be found under funding. You can play through all items in the cost calculator before you sign an offer.

Follow-up: comparing several houses objectively

The most common mistake when comparing: placing different scopes of services side by side. Provider A quotes the turnkey price including the base slab, provider B the base price without anything — and promptly B appears cheaper, even though it may turn out more expensive in the end. Bring every offer to the same denominator: the same living area, the same equipment, the same scope of services. You will find a selection of current houses from various providers under houses. How to modernise an existing property instead is shown in the guide on modernising a prefabricated house. Before deciding, you should use our prefabricated house manufacturer comparison.