They invite you in to a beautiful home with perfect landscaping and impeccable interior decorating. It's not difficult to fall in love with everything, it's a model home! Even real estate agents use "Looks like a model home" in their advertisements because people love that look and feel.
If you want a brand new home, here are some things to consider:
You may think you don't need a buyer's agent since there is a sales manager at the community site. This is wrong. You need someone representing YOU and YOUR interests. The sales manager is representing the seller, not you. Just like buying a resale, you don't pay for your buyer agent, the seller does- so have one!
Having personally sold new construction for a builder, I know the right questions to ask and so do other agents who've worked with builders too. Such as; features included ("standard") with homes, upgrades you don't typically think of (i.e. light switch at top & bottom of the stairs may cost extra), lot premiums, understand their complex builder contracts, ect. In general, there are a lot of things to consider when buying "dirt" so it's important to take your time and make sure everything is explained thoroughly.
The process can be long. Some builders are giving a 12 month build time frame, others as little as 6 month. This will depend on builder, location and home. If you want new, it's important to start looking sooner than later.
Pros and Cons:
The biggest advantage, I feel, is you get to design the home to your taste. You choose your flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc to meet your style. Also, everything is new and yours! That can be very exciting!
Another important advantage is new homes are more energy efficient. This will keep your monthly utility costs low as well as your ongoing operating costs over the years.
However, a disadvantage for having all new things is it will result in a more expensive home. You're paying for all those features in the home and at builder cost.
Also, keep in mind when you're in a new development there will be construction for a while. So get use to the dirt and vehicles for a while.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that sometimes settlement gets delayed due to weather and vendor supplies. Don't plan your entire life around their "proposed" settlement date.
Important questions to ask the builder/sales rep:
If you want a brand new home, here are some things to consider:
You may think you don't need a buyer's agent since there is a sales manager at the community site. This is wrong. You need someone representing YOU and YOUR interests. The sales manager is representing the seller, not you. Just like buying a resale, you don't pay for your buyer agent, the seller does- so have one!
Having personally sold new construction for a builder, I know the right questions to ask and so do other agents who've worked with builders too. Such as; features included ("standard") with homes, upgrades you don't typically think of (i.e. light switch at top & bottom of the stairs may cost extra), lot premiums, understand their complex builder contracts, ect. In general, there are a lot of things to consider when buying "dirt" so it's important to take your time and make sure everything is explained thoroughly.
The process can be long. Some builders are giving a 12 month build time frame, others as little as 6 month. This will depend on builder, location and home. If you want new, it's important to start looking sooner than later.
Pros and Cons:
The biggest advantage, I feel, is you get to design the home to your taste. You choose your flooring, cabinets, countertops, etc to meet your style. Also, everything is new and yours! That can be very exciting!
Another important advantage is new homes are more energy efficient. This will keep your monthly utility costs low as well as your ongoing operating costs over the years.
However, a disadvantage for having all new things is it will result in a more expensive home. You're paying for all those features in the home and at builder cost.
Also, keep in mind when you're in a new development there will be construction for a while. So get use to the dirt and vehicles for a while.
Another important thing to keep in mind is that sometimes settlement gets delayed due to weather and vendor supplies. Don't plan your entire life around their "proposed" settlement date.
Important questions to ask the builder/sales rep:
How long have you been in
business?
In what areas have you built?
What sets you apart from
other builders?
What type of warranty program
do you offer?
What are your fees for
building a home (fixed price, costs plus management fee)?
How do you charge for extras?
Who supervises your
construction?
How long have your trade
people been working with you?
How often will we be updated
on the progress of the home?
How often, during the week,
are you at the job site? The
superintendent?
Who will I be dealing with
during construction?
Like all things, there are pros and cons and being educated helps determine what's best for you.
For more questions or information about buying new construction throughout Philadelphia area, contact me.
