| If you're in the market for a new home, you | | | | using a buyer's agent to help you buy a new home. |
| probably do like a lot of people do: Drive around from | | | | Not just any buyer's agent, of course; it's important |
| builder to builder, talking to many different sales | | | | to use an agent who specializes in new homes and |
| representatives in each of the sales offices. I know. | | | | knows the local builders. Your agent's knowledge of |
| I've been there, done that, bought the t-shirt, and it's | | | | the many builders in your area is what will give you |
| no fun. But did you know that strategy may be | | | | the edge over the buyer walking into the model |
| costing you money? | | | | home or sales office off the street. |
| You actually are missing some golden opportunities in | | | | The reason it's so beneficial to have a buyer's |
| the negotiation process if you take the "go it alone" | | | | representative on your side is that the home builders |
| approach and hit the pavement yourself. Sure, you | | | | are in competition for your business. If you don't |
| get to fill up your gas tank a few times and get | | | | know the deals available down the street or across |
| frustrated hearing all the different sales pitches from | | | | town, you won't know to bring that up in your |
| each builder, but you can live with that. It's the | | | | negotiation. Besides, who really likes negotiating, |
| money you want to save, right? | | | | anyway? An agent who specializes in new homes |
| The problem is that buying directly from the builder | | | | and knows those builders will be aware of the |
| with no agent representing you means you don't | | | | buyers' incentives they offer and can help negotiate |
| have an advocate on your side who knows the | | | | one for you. |
| market and can potentially bring you better prices | | | | In addition, when you have a buyer's agent, they |
| and terms. If you use the sales agent assigned to | | | | have a legal fiduciary duty to advocate on your |
| you when you show up in the on-site sales office, | | | | behalf. A buyer's contract with an agent specializing in |
| they are not acting as your agent but as the builder's | | | | new home sales ensures that you'll get better |
| agent. They're job is to represent the builder, not | | | | advocacy at the negotiating table and the potential |
| you. | | | | for a sweetheart deal that only an agent who brings |
| Use a buyer's agent to purchase a new home | | | | the builders volume business could get. |
| On the other hand, there is a tremendous benefit to | | | | |