When you want to create your new home in a way that is uniquely yours, building a home is the perfect option. There are many ways to accomplish this, but no matter which way you choose, make sure your needs and interests are represented with an agent. There is a shameful misconception that buyers don't need an agent when building a new home and this is false and can also be a costly mistake. 

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Myth 1 - The builder will make sure I know everything I need to know about the building process and will give me their best deal. First, you must understand that builders are a for-profit business and, while the vast majority are great people who do indeed care about their homeowners, their bottom line is still paramount. There are many ways to negotiate finer finishes, overall floor plan changes, and smaller details (ceiling fan rough ins versus installed ceiling fans, for example) that can add up to tens of thousands of dollars in savings for you. 

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Myth 2 - If I have a Buyer's Agent with a builder, don't I have to pay for them? Overwhelmingly, this answer is no. Most reputable builders understand that overall homeowner satisfaction starts with the first meeting and buyers who feel satisfied with the entire process, including the finished product, tend to rate their builder higher. Also, agents who know their clients' needs well can often help their buyers select a builder who can meet those needs, so there are many times agents actually are the ones who bring clients to the builders. Depending on their structured system, builders will often pay agents similarly to sellers paying agents with an existing home - 3% of the sale price or some function thereof. 

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Myth 3 - Builders don't like agents and thus will be less inclined to work and cooperate with me. The agent/sales rep you are working with in a new build works for the builder, not you. If you are working with a builder who doesn't want you to have a fiduciary working for your interests on your side, that should be a huge red flag. Enough said. 

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Myth 4 - New builds are completely different than existing homes, agents don't know enough to help me with this. This is partially true - new builds are a completely different process and product than an existing home. From the different loan types, the design process, construction process, and closing, a new build is different in almost every way. The general public usually knows less about this process than even the existing home purchase process, so all the more reason to have adequate representation on your side. 

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Overall, the takeaway here is it is always the best choice to have someone in your corner. Learn more.

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