It’s common for buyers to assume it’s not necessary to use a realtor when their plan is to build.  Time and time again I’ll get asked whether or not there’s any purpose to using an agent, and my answer is always a big, fat yes!  For some reason, buyers are convinced that by visiting a new building site and purposely divulging their lack of affiliation with a realtor that they’ll get a better deal, but that couldn’t be further from the truth.

Without an agent to represent and keep your best interests in mind, more than likely, you’re not going to get much of a deal at all!  The base prices of homes in a development are set with commissions included.  You will not get a reduction in price or receive more in upgrades.  You just lose your advocate that works to get you the best possible price on your new home.

Buyers, please talk to an agent about representation before going into a community.  When a new home community utilizes a sales representative,they’re there to make a sale for the builder.

That means the representative is employed and paid by the builder to get them the highest possible price and upsell as many options as they can.  Who’s working on your behalf?  No one, without Buyer representation from a realtor!  On the outside, it may not seem like a big deal, but there are a few things you should consider.  How educated are you about market resale values?  Have you weighed your options between new construction and resale before visiting a builder?  Do you know what sort of questions to ask to make sure you build the home of your dreams?  Unfortunately, representatives are not interested in educating buyers on the market.

Before I became a realtor, my husband and I built our home in a new subdivision.  Only after the home was built did the builder tell us we could have had a side entry garage.  Our lot was large enough to accommodate one, but since we thought it wasn’t possible, we didn’t even ask!  This is just one real-life example of lost communication between buyers and builders.  As realtors, we’re there to ask the questions and to make sure you understand what you’re buying before you sign on the dotted line.  We’ve seen so many houses and been through countless deals.  Plus, we understand what most buyers look for in a home.  We’re a wealth of real estate knowledge, and we’re more than willing to share.