It's fun to imagine yourself living in splendour when touring show homes like this classic interior by Milne Homes, but remember you have serious work to do when you're doing your walk-through.

Checking out show homes on a quiet Sunday afternoon can be a relaxing pastime.

As many new-home sales consultants can tell you, a large percentage of Sunday show-home patrons are only there to steal design ideas or kill time after church. And why not -- you can explore their spectacular homes freely, looking to adopt and adapt their clever design ideas.

Or you can imagine yourself as the owner of the $425,000 mansion, picturing your servants bringing you peeled grapes and caviar as you lounge in front of the 50-inch HDTV in the great-great room.

However, if you're searching for a builder who can match your tastes and budget, you'll have to keep your mind focused on several key elements.

Show homes, by definition, are built to show off the best the builder has to offer. You'll likely see every conceivable bell and whistle during your walk-throughs.

Bear in mind that, unless you're the owner of a lucrative grow-op or a recent lottery winner, you may not be able to load up on all of the luxurious options when it comes time to build.

Try not to get blinded by the goodies. It's best to focus on the floor plan and the finishing during your circuit of the home.

Ask yourself how the layout of the home makes you feel. Are you compelled to slip off your shoes and make for the cozy great room with a coffee and The Sun? Flow is very important in a new home. You should be drawn to a focal point -- usually the main entertaining area.

The trend seems to be the great room/kitchen/eating area combo. Because most people congregate in those areas when entertaining, it makes sense for there to be a connection between them. It's also an easy and inexpensive way to make your plan seem bigger.

Once you've determined whether the floor plan floats your boat, it's time to become a quality-control expert.

While it's easy for a builder to throw in a lot of splashy paint and funky interior design elements, it's difficult to disguise deficiencies in finish.

Look down the length of a wall lit with natural light -- can you see drywall screw holes? Can you still see patching from drywall compound through the paint? Do the walls look wavy from corner to corner?

Another litmus test for quality involves the trim work. Look closely at the baseboards where they meet the wall. If the baseboards have been lacquered, make sure the finishers have caulked the gaps. Do the same around doors and windows.

Structural problems

If the trim doesn't quite line up, or the corners have come apart after only a few months, there may be structural problems at work.

As you're walking through the home, see if there is any bounce in the flooring. If you hear creaking or feel major movement, there may be problems with the floor joists or subfloor.

It's a good idea to check out the basement. Here, you'll find the mechanical components in action. Inspect the furnace, hot water tank and electrical panel so you can compare them to the builder next door. Examine the floor joists and plumbing apparatus while you're there.

Once you've completed your walk-through, chat up the salesperson if they haven't already chatted with you.

The key questions to ask are: What is the base price of this home? What is the list price including lot and upgrades? What is the square-footage? And what is your standard spec, and can I have a copy? You'll need this info in order to get an accurate comparison when going from home to home.

Now get out there and enjoy that new-home smell.