6 Tips for Buying a New Construction Home: Build Your Dream House

Buying any type of home is a big investment that shouldn’t be made lightly, but when it comes to purchasing a new construction home, there are additional steps to the process the buyer should consider making in order to make sure their new home is up to snuff. Here are 5 tips all home buyers should think about when purchasing new construction homes.

Work With an Agent

When looking to buy any home, whether it’s already been lived in or a new construction, it’s important to work with an experienced agent. The agent will be able to help make negotiations with the building company, make sure the home buyer is getting the best deal possible, and of course, purchase the home. Hiring a real estate agent is one of the best things a home buyer can do to make purchasing a new home run as smoothly as possible.

Research the Builder

It’s always a good idea to know just who is building the home a buyer is going to live in with their family for years to come. Go online and look for reviews and testimonials from other homeowners to find out if the builder has any good or bad trends. It’s also a good idea to ask a real estate agent if they’ve worked with or are familiar with the particular builder—they may have extra insight that other homeowners don’t.

Get All Agreements In Writing

If discussing something in person with the builders, such as changes to the blueprints or upgraded materials, be sure to get all agreements down on paper in case they aren’t delivered upon. This also goes for things like the completion date of the home. Having a real estate agent is invaluable for this step because they are experts at negotiating and writing out legal documents.

Plan For Delays

Prospective homeowners should always be prepared for potential delays in the building timeline. Building a home from the ground up is a multi-faceted process often involving various parties, from architects and builders to suppliers and inspectors. Each step is subject to variables that can push the completion date out further than initially anticipated. Material shortages, weather disruptions, contractor scheduling conflicts, or unexpected issues uncovered during construction are all common factors that can contribute to delays. While builders generally aim to stick to their projected timelines, it's prudent for buyers to account for the possibility of unexpected delays in order to mitigate stress and manage their own timelines effectively.

Have the Home Inspected

Many new home construction owners may feel like there’s no need to get a home inspection. After all, those are only necessary for older homes that have had time for parts to wear down, right? Unfortunately, new construction homes can also have problems. Most new homes are required to pass permit inspections before they can be sold, but it can be a good idea to get a second opinion from an independent inspector. In the event of a bad home inspection, they can be fixed before the sale of the home is official.

Get a Home Warranty (If Desired)

Not all homeowners will want to opt for a home warranty, especially on a new construction home, because home warranties are typically more useful in older homes with older appliances that are prone to breaking down. However, a home warranty can still provide peace of mind for homeowners just in case something does go wrong. Go ahead and purchase a home warranty if this sounds like a good idea, but don’t feel obligated to.

Buy Your New Construction Home With Confidence

These are just a few tips to keep in mind when purchasing a new construction home. For any questions or concerns, be sure to hire an experienced real estate agent so they can help with all the steps of purchasing a new home.