“Do I really need a Realtor when buying new construction?” The short answer is, “Yes, you really do.” Why? Because the builder represents himself/herself and not you.
Of course you want things to get started on the right foot. You want this to be a positive experience and a win-win. And that means protecting your interests and being an informed buyer. Over the years I have reviewed many builder addendums and contracts. When prepared by the builder they are heavily weighted in favor of the builder. So before you begin the journey of building your dream home or buying new construction, get some advice from a knowledgeable person who can also help you along the way.
Here are just some of the things I do for you when considering the purchase of a new home:
- Show you new homes from multiple builders, not just one.
- Help you to compare the pros and cons of new construction vs. existing homes.
- Look out for your interests. Builders and their representative do not represent you.
- Make sure you see the full range of new and existing homes on the market. Builders are not obligated to show you every home they have for sale.
- Describe the workings of the building process, how it works, and what can go wrong so that you know what to expect.
- Help you understand how building schedules affect your financial obligations in the construction process.
- Help you sift through information and speed up decision making so you don’t lose out on opportunities.
- Review the builder’s contract with you, alert you when the builder’s deal seems one-sided, and advise when legal counsel is needed.
- Help you plan your move-in and timing for selling your existing home.
- Alert you to considerations that may not be provided for at closing, including title insurance and protection against mechanic’s liens.
- Obtain public subdivision reports on any subdivision you are interested in so you can be more fully informed about specific data.
- Help you research builders’ reputation and references.
- Obtain environmental hazards disclosures from the builder as well as other disclosures, such as Megan’s law and wood destroying insects.
- Provide referrals to lenders, title companies, and inspectors.
- Follow-up on punch list items.
You may think that you’re saving money by going directly to the builder. For practically all the new construction listed on this site and for the custom homes I have helped my clients build, I haven’t seen that happen. This really is too big a purchase not to have a knowledgeable agent represent you. If you have a “custom new build” project in mind or would like to purchase a lot or any of the new homes on www.HeleneKurtz.com, call me at (225) 772-8709 or contact me through this site.
