However, the process of buying a home or investment property off-the-plan without a structure to see, touch, feel and measure, leaves many buyers in the dark. People often struggle to understand the intricacies of the architect's plans or to imagine the view or aspect from a high-rise apartment.

With the current market congested with off-the-plan homes, developers are adopting various methods to educate buyers and help them towards a purchase.

One increasingly popular trend is to lure buyers with display suites.

Varying from a kitted-out demountable structure on a housing estate to fully furnished apartments with everything but the pet cat in place, display suites help prospective buyers understand how their new home might look and function.

Director of residential at selling agents CBRE Ben Stewart says people can imagine themselves living in an apartment if they have the opportunity to enter a fully set-up display suite.

At The Pelican Apartments in Surry Hills, the developer Stasia took the unusual step of setting up not one but four apartments to give buyers a sense of what is on offer.

The expense of the exercise paid off with 70 per cent of apartments selling at the launch of 13-storey building.

"Stasia has gone far and beyond with the finishes on the exterior and interior of The Pelican," says Stewart. "It's a really outstanding building. A lot of buyers have upgraded from nearby buildings."

Mr Stewart says a display unit showcases the types of finishes a developer is going to use. It also demonstrates the size of the rooms, the correct ceiling heights, the finishes and the feel. This is important for owner occupiers but also for investors who can gauge how attractive the apartment might be for tenants.

Turner architects are so convinced a display suite is integral to delivering a building to its clients it has a department dedicated to designing them.

Angus Henderson, studio leader of interior architecture at Turner, says his firm encourages their clients to use display suites.

"For existing clients who have already used them it's a no-brainer," says Henderson. "The really strong sales figures that are setting price records are being made in the display suites where the developer has put the money up front to create an atmosphere and an idea of what the clients are buying into."

Henderson says in the current crowded marketplace of new apartments, providing a display suite to show the market the product really sets it apart.

Director of CPM Realty, Sam Elbanna, who is selling a boutique complex in Baulkham Hills' The Jacob, has such confidence in the use of a display suite that he refuses to take on any project that isn't offering one.

"A prudent buyer would want at the least to inspect a display suite to get a thorough understanding of what they're buying," says Elbanna.

He adds that by including a display suite, the developer is showing off their product to the market. "It shows they're proud of their product," he says. "Be wary of the developer who doesn't offer a display suite."

At North Kellyville, the Sunland Group has included a two-storey display home to help family-focused buyers understand the quality and dimensions of their new Dahlia Residences project.

Nigel Napoli, divisional director of residential projects with Savills, says the display home was built to give buyers a good reference point as to the dimensions and proportions of rooms.

"It gives buyers a chance to walk through," says Napoli. "They can see if it will suit their lifestyle."

Sunland's focus on the architectural aesthetics of The Dahlia Residences has proved popular. The first four stages of have sold out. The fifth stage which includes 40 houses and duplexes launched last week.

"A display home assists buyers in making an informed decision," says Napoli. "Buyers aren't necessarily architects."

The Pelican - 23 Pelican Street, Surry Hills

There is no guess work in buying into this complex of 48 apartments; four display units in the newly completed building are open for buyers to inspect. There are 16 units remaining after 70 per cent sold on launch day. The 13-level development by Stasia is 200 metres from Hyde Park. For sale are one-bedroom units (55-66 square metres) from $790,000, two-beds (79-89 square metres) from $1,195,000 and penthouses with rooftop terraces and spas (193-195 square metres) from $2.5 million. Strata levies from $700 pq. Display suites open daily from noon-3pm. Phone CBRE, 1800 663 638. thepelican.com.au

Case study: One-stop property shop for city workers

Property entrepreneur Simon Symond saw an opportunity to showcase display suites for off-the-plan properties all in one convenient place. Last month, he opened The Property Display Centre in Sir Norman Foster's Lumiere tower in the city centre.

Symond, 62, had a vision to offer city workers a one-stop property shop to allow them to inspect the display suites from a range of off-the-plan apartments during their work day.

Rooms are fitted with the fixtures and finishes of a project and walls are covered with images of the views from the units.

"The prime object of PDC is to provide the highest level of presentation, accessibility and choices relating to city apartment living across Australia," says Symond.

Or try these:

The Jacob
11-33 Old Northern Road, Baulkham Hills

The Jacob is in the best position in the Hills district, according to Sam Elbanna, director of CPM Realty. "The Stockland shopping centre is across the road and the NorWest train station is nearby." Studios (44 square metres internal) from $549,000, one-beds (53-70 square metres) from $616,000, two-beds (61-112 square metres) from $659,000 and three-beds (102 square metres) from $850,000. Strata levies from $507 pq. Due for completion March 2017. Display suite on site open Sat and Sun, 10am-4pm and Thu, 6pm-8pm. Phone CPM Realty, 9247 1299. thejacob.com.au

Dahlia
42 Hezlett Road, North Kellyville

The tree-lined streets surrounding Dahlia Residences are minutes from Norwest Business Park and the NorWest Rail link as well as the Rouse Hill town centre, Castle Towers shops and Kellyville Plaza. The first four stages have sold out. Stage 5 offers three-bedroom freestanding houses (160 square metres internal) from $880,000, four-beds plus media room and five-bed houses (218 square metres) from $995,000 and three-bed duplexes from $750,000. Display suite open Sat and Sun, 11am-4pm. Phone Savills, 1800 559 978. sunlandgroup.com.au/dahlia