If you’re like many people who want to buy a new construction home in Scottsdale, you know that your process is going to be different from someone who buys an existing home – and if you’ve never purchased new construction before, this guide is here to help.
5 Essential Tips for Buying a New Construction Home in Scottsdale
Before you buy new construction, you should know that there are three types of newly built homes:-
Spec or production homes. These homes are pre-designed. You choose from one of a variety of floor plans and design models that the builder offers, purchase a lot and choose a few finishes and add-ons.
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Semi-custom homes. Semi-custom homes are generally in neighborhoods that a developer owns, and you’ll be able to make changes to pre-existing designs.
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Custom homes. Custom homes give you a say in nearly every aspect of planning. Generally, you hire a builder and architect, consult with everyone involved to make plans, and wait for your dream home to take shape.
When you buy a new construction home, you’ll need to keep these five tips in mind:
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Work with a real estate agent of your choosing.
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Do in-depth research on neighborhoods and builders.
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Review all your options.
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Negotiate with the builder and make your final choices.
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Hire a home inspector.
Here’s a closer look at each.
Tip #1 for Buying a New Construction Home: Work with a real estate agent of your choosing
You don’t have to work with the builder’s agent, who typically waits in one of a community’s model homes to talk to interested buyers. You can – and should – bring your own buyer’s agent to discuss your options with the builder’s agent. That’s because a buyer’s agent has a fiduciary duty to you (as the buyer) and will be there to negotiate on your behalf while working in your best interests. The builder’s agent has a fiduciary duty to the builder, and because of that, is there to ensure the builder makes as much as possible on each sale.
Tip #2 for Buying a New Construction Home: Do in-depth research on neighborhoods and builders
Before you settle on a neighborhood or a builder, you have a homework assignment. Builders in Scottsdale range from locally owned companies to huge national corporations, and what’s right for someone else may not be a good choice for you. Check online reviews, search for Better Business Bureau ratings, and avoid builders with a history of name changes, which can indicate that they’re running from poor reviews.
Tip #3 for Buying a New Construction Home: Review all your options
Different types of new construction homes (spec homes, semi-custom homes, and custom homes) will offer you different levels of choice when you build. Whether you’re buying a spec home or creating something from the ground up, it’s incredibly important that you think about the long term. We suggest thinking about what you’ll want in five or ten years not just now before you make decisions about your new construction home (including floor plan, size, and number of rooms).
Tip #4 for Buying a New Construction Home: Negotiate with the builder and make your final choices
Your Scottsdale REALTOR® will negotiate with the builder for you as you make your final choices on the home’s layout, upgrades, features, and more. Remember, every decision you make in your new home’s construction impacts the final price and as with any other home purchase, new construction is negotiable.
