About 69% of Homebuyers Prioritize Visiting Model Homes. Top Checkpoints Are "Floor Plan and Traffic Flow" and "Home Performance"

When buying a house, what was the first thing you researched?

Purchasing a home is one of the biggest financial decisions for most people.

That's why there are numerous factors to confirm in advance—such as floor plans, pricing, and home performance.

In today's information-rich era, many people may feel uncertain about "where to start researching" or "who to consult."

To address this, NEXER Inc. and Cuore Home Co., Ltd. jointly conducted a survey on "Information Gathering and Consultation When Buying a Home," targeting 241 men and women across Japan who indicated in a preliminary survey that they were either considering or had experience purchasing a home.

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Survey Overview: "Survey on Information Gathering and Consultation When Buying a Home"

Method: Online questionnaire

Survey Period: June 18, 2026 – June 22, 2026

Respondents: Men and women across Japan who responded in a preliminary survey that they were considering or had experience purchasing a home

Valid Responses: 241 samples

Survey Questions:

Question 1: When you first started considering buying a home, how did you begin gathering information?

Question 2: Please explain your reason.

Question 3: Do you prioritize visiting housing exhibition sites or model homes?

Question 4: What points do you especially want to confirm during your visit? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 5: When consulting about homebuilding, have you ever felt that your questions or concerns were not adequately addressed?

Question 6: What specific concerns remained unresolved? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 7: Have you ever attended a "homebuilding seminar" or "study session"?

Question 8: What kind of seminar or study session content would you find helpful? (Multiple answers allowed)

Question 9: Is there anything related to home purchasing or building that you wish you had known more about or learned in advance?

※ Percentages are rounded to one decimal place; therefore, totals may not sum to exactly 100%.

35.3% of respondents began information gathering by visiting "housing exhibition sites or model homes"

First, we asked how people began gathering information when they started considering home purchase.

The most common response was "housing exhibition sites or model homes" at 35.3%.

This was followed by "internet search" at 14.9% and "consulting real estate companies" at 13.3%.

Factors such as room size, material textures, and indoor ambiance are difficult to judge from photos or numerical data alone.

The preference for visiting model homes may reflect a desire to visualize daily life in a real home environment.

Below are some selected reasons provided by respondents:

Respondents who chose "housing exhibition sites or model homes":

・ I wanted to see things in person. (Female, 20s)

・ I thought visiting would be faster. (Female, 30s)

・ I can imagine how various items would work in my own home by seeing an actual house. (Female, 40s)

Respondents who chose "internet search":

・ It's the quickest method. (Male, 30s)

・ I gathered information by comparing multiple websites. (Female, 40s)

・ I first researched in detail online to learn what homebuilders were available. (Male, 40s)

Respondents who chose "consulting real estate companies":

・ I saw properties being sold locally. (Male, 40s)

・ They are deeply rooted in the local area. (Male, 50s)

・ They provide a sense of security regarding the area where I want to live. (Female, 60s)

Those who chose housing exhibition sites or model homes tended to want to experience space, size, and equipment firsthand to visualize their future lifestyle.

In contrast, those who chose internet search primarily wanted to easily gather information on homebuilders and properties and compare multiple options. Respondents who consulted real estate companies emphasized the reliability of locally grounded information and the ability to discuss their preferred area.

This suggests that when buying a home, it's important to clarify your priorities and gather information through methods that align with your goals.

69.3% of respondents said they "prioritize" visiting housing exhibition sites or model homes

Next, we asked how much importance people place on visiting housing exhibition sites or model homes.

The results showed that 41.9% "somewhat prioritize" and 27.4% "strongly prioritize" such visits.

Combined, this means 69.3%—nearly 7 in 10 people—place importance on visiting model homes.

On the other hand, 24.1% said they "do not prioritize much," and 6.6% said they "do not prioritize at all."

This aligns with the earlier finding that visiting model homes was the most common initial information-gathering method.

It appears that experiencing space, atmosphere, and usability of equipment firsthand plays a significant role in the home-buying decision process.

67.1% of respondents want to confirm "floor plan and traffic flow" and "home performance" during visits

Next, we asked those who prioritize visiting model homes what specific points they want to check during their visit.

The top responses were "floor plan and traffic flow" and "home performance (thermal insulation, earthquake resistance, etc.)"—both at 67.1%. This was followed by "price and budget" at 56.3%, "design and interior" at 46.7%, and "ease of use of equipment" at 44.9%.

"Floor plans" directly affect livability, while "home performance" impacts safety and comfort.

The results suggest that many people want to verify not just visual impressions, but also practical aspects of daily life and long-term peace of mind.

15.4% of respondents felt their "questions or concerns were not adequately resolved" during consultations

During the homebuilding process, people often consult homebuilders or real estate companies.

We asked whether they ever felt their questions or concerns were not adequately addressed during such consultations.

The results showed that 15.4% answered "yes," while 84.6% answered "no."

While most people were able to resolve their concerns through consultation, about 1 in 6 people proceeded with homebuilding without full confidence.

We then asked those who answered "yes" to specify which concerns remained unresolved.

The most common response was "financial planning and home loans" at 37.8%.

This was followed by "floor plan proposals" and "home performance"—both at 32.4%, "breakdown of construction costs" and "future maintenance costs"—both at 27.0%, and "land search" at 24.3%.

Topics related to finances—such as financial planning, home loans, construction cost breakdowns, and future maintenance costs—ranked highest.

Given the high cost and technical jargon involved in home purchasing, a single explanation may not be sufficient for full understanding. It's important to keep asking questions until satisfied and to review supporting documents as needed.

26.6% of respondents expressed interest in homebuilding "seminars or study sessions"

Next, we asked about experience with or interest in attending homebuilding seminars or study sessions.

The results showed that 4.6% had "attended before," while 22.0% had "not attended but are interested."

Combined, this means 26.6%—about 1 in 4 people—show interest in such events.

Meanwhile, 73.4% said they are "not interested."

While actual participation is low, the results indicate a certain level of demand for educational opportunities on homebuilding knowledge.

We further asked what kind of seminar or study session content would be helpful.

The most common response was "home performance (thermal insulation, earthquake resistance, etc.)" at 72.7%.

This was followed by "home loans and financial planning" at 63.6% and "tips for land search" at 45.5%.

Interest was particularly high in home performance, which affects comfort and safety.

Additionally, over 60% expressed interest in financial planning and home loans, indicating demand not only for performance-related knowledge but also for guidance on building a home within a realistic budget.

After purchase, many expressed regret over not knowing more about "total cost," "loans," and "performance"

Finally, we asked what aspects of home purchasing or building they wish they had known more about or learned in advance.

Examples of responses include:

・ How to wisely structure a home loan. (Male, 30s)

・ I wish I had known more about the total cost of home purchase and building. (Male, 30s)

・ Utility costs and maintenance expenses over roughly 30 years after construction. (Female, 30s)

・ I should have studied earthquake resistance and airtightness more. (Female, 30s)

・ I wish I had learned about exterior construction costs. (Female, 40s)

・ I should have studied the Building Standards Law. (Female, 40s)

Many responses focused on financial aspects—such as loan structuring, total purchase cost, and post-construction utility and maintenance expenses.

Additionally, people expressed regret about not learning earlier about home performance (e.g., earthquake resistance, airtightness), exterior costs, and legal regulations—factors that are often overlooked in the early stages of planning.

This suggests that minimizing regrets in homebuilding involves considering not just the base price and floor plan, but also ongoing costs, performance, exterior work, and regulatory aspects from the beginning.

Summary

This survey found that 35.3% of homebuyers began information gathering by visiting housing exhibition sites or model homes—the highest proportion—and about 70% prioritize such visits. The top points people want to confirm during visits are "floor plan and traffic flow" and "home performance," both at 67.1%.

Meanwhile, 15.4% of respondents felt their questions or concerns were not adequately resolved during consultations, particularly regarding financial planning and home loans.

To avoid regrets in homebuilding, it's essential to carefully examine not only visible aspects like floor plans and design, but also less visible elements such as costs and home performance—starting from the early stages.

Clarifying your priorities, gathering information accordingly, and continuing consultations until fully satisfied will lead to a more fulfilling homebuilding experience.

<Guidelines for Media Use>

・ Clearly state the source as "a survey by NEXER Inc. and Cuore Home Co., Ltd."

・ Include a link to Cuore Home Co., Ltd. (https://cuore-home.jp/)

・ Include a link to the relevant article (https://cuore-home.jp/column/survey6/)

【About Cuore Home Co., Ltd.】

Representative: Toshiaki Morimoto, President & CEO

Address: 170-5 Kurose, Toyama City, Toyama 939-8213

TEL: 0120-222-821

【About NEXER Inc.】

Head Office: 11F, Rize Arena Building, 4-5-2 Higashi-Ikebukuro, Toshima-ku, Tokyo 170-0013

Representative: Yuuya Miyata, President & CEO

URL: https://www.nexer.co.jp

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