So you are buying a new construction, and have many questions. If you do not have questions, you probably should have. Many people believe that buying a new home construction means buying a home in perfect condition, with no flaws or defects, but this is not true. You may be buying a new construction because you want a home built your way, or maybe a home that has never been lived in. You should use care and follow some basic advice when buying new construction and this will eliminate many problems and costs before they even start. The first tip is to always have your own agent if you are buying from a developer. Many people go to the development or contractor and take on the first agent they see, and this can be a big mistake. The agent used by the developer may act as an agent for both parties but you should not use them, because you want an agent to look out for your interests alone. Another tip is to disregard starting prices, and ask for the specific costs of the home you are interested in as it is shown, not the basic model with no extras. When you look through homes in the development, many of the homes you see will have a number of extra touches, and this is generally where the developer makes a profit. The starting price is a home version that is bare minimum.
Another step you should take when buying a new construction is to check out the contractor or developer very carefully. Check out references and ask for a list of completed projects. Find out how long the builder has been in business, and whether there have been any complaints or lawsuits against them. This can prevent you from making a critical mistake and choosing a builder that cuts corners and does not provide quality results. Because your new construction may not be finished, call the property tax division in your area and get an estimate for the finished value of the construction, to avoid costly surprises in the future. Make sure that a professional home inspection is done, and do not use the inspector that the builder does. This step may cost you a little, but will save you more than just money in the long run. City inspectors do not check for cosmetic flaws, and they usually do not catch defective installations or poor workmanship either. Many buyers of new construction assume that if the home passes the city inspections, it is perfect and should have no problems. Unfortunately this is not true. Hiring a professional building inspector will allow you to have a thorough inspection done, not one that just looks for code compliance.
home-inspection
