Realtors provide valuable help to new home purchasers. Generally speaking the builders pay our fees and our assistance is provided at no cost to the consumer. To help you with you new home purchase the realtor has to go with you on your first visit to the developer. Otherwise the builder will not pay our fees.
Why take a realtor to look at new homes with you? There are a number o reasons:
- Most Realtors are familiar with the new home developments and know where the bargains are.
- Realtors will know the reputation of the builder and how responsive they are to consumer issues and problems. With my background in Risk Management and construction defect I am very aware and sensitive to the differences in the builder’s quality and reputations.
- Buying a new home is like buying a new car, there is a lot of hidden cost. There are also a number of incentives the Realtor can help you locate and take advantage of.
Every time I have taken a client to a new home development the agent for the builder gets my information and then tries to separate me from my client. Advising me they can help them from that point on. I like to stay with my client, advising them as they go through the purchase process and making the purchase decision. If I leave my client they might feel that the no longer have options. I have taken clients to look at new homes and after comparing they have decided they can get more for their money by purchasing an existing home.
Realtors are more than “sales people,” our goal is to help the consumer obtain the right home for them and the best price. This includes shopping for new homes.