How to Buy a New Construction Home
Purchasing a new home is exciting, especially if you’re buying a new construction home. In many cases, you’ve worked with the builder to design the details of the home, like flooring, countertops and paint colors. The home feels more like yours from the start.
It’s tempting to think that things will be perfect in a new construction home. Or, that you won’t need to schedule a home inspection before closing. Yet, problems or mistakes do occur with new construction. It’s best to find and resolve these issues before you close.
Tips to Protect Yourself When Buying a New Home
Most of the time people purchase new homes from a builder. The builder’s sales people work to find buyers and usually receive a sales commission for their efforts. The builders sales team works for the builder to protect the builder’s interests.
Here are a few tips to help protect your interests and help you make a good buying decision.
Hire a Real Estate Agent
Work with a real estate agent not affiliated with the builder. In fact, the builder will usually pay the commission fees for your real estate agent. This means it costs you nothing to gain the advantage of having a knowledgable professional on your side. They understand the industry and work on your behalf to ensure you get the home you want in the condition you expect.
Research the Builder
Some builders don’t have a good reputation. Take the time to research the builder, read reviews and call references. You want a home that’s built to last. Determine whether other communities they’ve developed have met the buyer’s expectations. Work with a builder with a strong reputation for quality results.
Understand the Upgrades
When you tour the community’s model home, you’re likely to see a home with all the bells and whistles. Model homes usually include lots of upgrades. Ask tons of questions to determine the standard features. Have the builder’s sales person identify every upgrade in the home. You want to know exactly what will be included in your new home.
Get Everything in Writing
Hiring a real estate agent helps ensure you receive all the right paperwork. As you move through the process to buy new construction, ask for everything in writing. This includes the completion date, specific features, the cost breakdown and more. Also, ask about the warranty and any other guarantees, and get those in writing too.
Schedule a Home Inspection
New construction homes need an inspection before closing. While the builder won’t usually recommend an inspection, it does protect your investment. We’ve found many issues over the years during new construction inspections. Just like when buying a pre-owned home, you can request changes or repairs based on the inspection report. We want to help you get the home of your dreams.
New Construction Inspections at Kenco Home Inspections
We’ve served Southeast Florida for over 15 years with reliable and detailed home inspections. Contact us today to schedule a home inspection before you close on your new home.