Do I really need a realtor if I am buying a new construction home? Would you go into a court room without a lawyer to fight for you? Why go into the largest purchase of your life without someone to fight for you there too? Here are a few reasons why using a realtor is a good idea especially if you are looking at a new build. 1) That smiling sales agent on site at a model home represents the builder and the builder only. They are not there to “help” you, the consumer. They are there to get the builder the most money for their home. No matter how comfortable you are with your negotiating skills, I strongly recommend having a real estate professional represent you so they can help you through all phases of the process (i.e. contract, construction, walk-through, and closing). Sales price is not the only number to be negotiated in a home purchase. There are thousands of dollars worth of “fees” associated with a home purchase contract. Do you know what they are and who is paying them? Your REALTOR® will. I can help you negotiate fees, upgrade options, financing terms, closing costs, and much more. 2) Many buyers think they can pay less for a home if a REALTOR® commission is not involved. That is just not true and statistics prove the opposite to be true! Remember, the builder needs the price of their home to be consistent (with a REALTOR® involved or not) because these homes must appraise at full value in order for buyers to get mortgages. That commission is built into the price of the home whether a REALTOR® is involved or not. A REALTOR® will, in fact, save you money by helping to eliminate the hidden costs with purchasing this home! Many builders require that a sales agent accompany buyers on their first visit to their model homes. BEWARE: Going to just "look" at the models without being signed in by an agent can be consenting to not be able to use an agent! I am happy to meet clients at model homes anytime to register you with the builder, answer questions and give input. (I love to look at model homes too.) 3) Your REALTOR® will help you understand your contract and contractual obligations to ensure you do not miss out on important opportunities throughout the process such as when you may schedule construction inspections, to what point you can make changes in the construction process, etc. I can help you understand how contract clauses and upgrade options affect you and make sure you understand your obligations and needs before you sign on the dotted line. 4) A good REALTOR® knows the builders in the market. I can educate you on a builders reputations and reviews and help you ask the right questions to ensure you are selecting a quality builder in your market. 5) Your REALTOR® will fight for you and can have more pull with a builder than you. Issues OFTEN arise in construction of a new home and you may not get the answer you want if you are asking a builder to fix a concern. However, builders need to maintain their reputations with REALTOR®'s because we sell their homes… over and over again… and can quickly affect their sales numbers if our clients are not satisfied. We know building standards and how to represent you. 6) Just as I would with pre-owned homes, I will ensure you are comparing apples to apples when comparing new construction homes. There are a LOT of factors that go into building a home. Items to compare are: what appliances come standard (compare energy efficiency, stainless steel vs black, etc), what quality/level of flooring, what quality/level of counter tops, is is the home plumbed for a water softener, what is the standard size of the 2 car garage, is the cover over the back patio standard or an upgrade that you will have to pay for? The list goes on and on. 7) Don’t fall for the sales pitch! It is easy to get swept up in the excitement of touring a beautiful model home. However, it is important to have a REALTOR® bring you back to reality and ensure this home really does fit your needs. A builder’s sales representative is there to sell you on all the good points of the neighborhood but your REALTOR® will look out for your best interest when it comes to researching important points such as flood plains, property tax variances, potential for commercial construction in your “back yard”, changing school zones, resale values and much more! 8) Your REALTOR® will save you a LOT OF TIME! Signing the contract is just the start of the process of buying a new home. You need to compare financing options and terms, work with the title company to ensure a smooth, cost efficient, and timely closing, attend numerous inspections, and so much more throughout the construction process. Your REALTOR® will manage that process for you and save you hours upon hours of time and headache. I hope this information was helpful. If you have any questions about this process, would like me to represent you in purchasing your new home or to help you sell your existing home. Please contact me anytime!!
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