What You Need To Know When Buying A New Home
When purchasing a new home there are many things you as a Buyer should know about what you are getting into. You may be asking yourself just why a REALTOR has information regarding new homes on their website. The answer is, we can save you money on a new home in negotiations just as we would for a used one. We are there for your benefit at absolutely NO COST TO YOU!!!

Why You Should Use a REALTOR to Buy a New Home Buying a home will be one of the biggest financial investments you will make. Unless you are experienced to know the local market, resalability of a home you purchase and the upgrades and features you choose, buying a new or resale home without proper representation could be a costly mistake.

Do You Need A REALTOR®?
A common misconception when shopping for new homes is that you, the buyer, do not need a REALTOR® because every new home builder has a staffed sales office with licensed REALTORS®. This may be true, but those REALTORS® that are employed by the new home builder are employees of that builder and represent the best interests of the builder and not yours! Their job will be to sell the homes that their employer has instructed them to “move,” and that sales person may even receive a huge bonus for doing so. It is a known fact that new home builders need to “move” their inventory because time is money. The longer their homes sit unsold on their lots, the more money it costs a builder. Plus, how well do you know the new home builder and what is their reputation throughout the real estate community? Do their homes receive higher resale values than other builders in the area? How does a specific homebuilder’s inventory, floor plans or price per square foot compare to other Valley builders? Which builders are offering the best incentives to home buyers? Did you know that different builders send out emails with special buyer incentives to REALTORS® each week that are not available to the general public? Your REALTOR® will know the answers to these questions or be able to perform the proper research to answer any or all of these questions on your behalf.

In order for you to receive your own outside representation, your REALTOR® is required to sign you in during your first visit. If you decide to preview a new home builder’s development without your REALTOR®, but intend to use a REALTOR®, you will be forfeiting your representation rights the minute you set foot into the sales office without your REALTOR® present. Many times home buyers think they can view the homes without being noticed and return later with their REALTOR®. Most developments employ only a few salespeople to work in the sales office and to greet every visitor. Therefore, the chances of you being able to “sneak a quick peek” without them being able to remember later on will be slim since you will most definitely come in contact again with that salesperson should you choose to purchase one of their homes.

13 Reasons The Sundin Group Should Represent You At A New Home Builder!
First and foremost, our job is to be an objective third party representing your interests and to make the sales process smooth and stress-free, but here are 13 other reasons:

• We Can Negotiate A Better Purchase Price!
  Did you know that REALTORS® have been known to write offers on new houses at the builder (just like we do for resales)? This is something that some builders allow, but do not want you to know because they typically will not negotiate prices with “walk-in” buyers and will pay substantial bonuses to their sales reps when you purchase a home without representation. However, most builders will negotiate pricing with REALTORS®.

• We Will Determine Future Resalability!
  A builder will not tell you if a certain floor plan has been undesirable with buyers. We will be able to identify pros and cons of every floor plan to assess their future resalability. New home builders will also not tell you their opinions of what features you should or shouldn’t choose (unless it will gain them more), but we will. Because we are representing you, we address these issues plus determine whether the builder’s asking price is fair because we know what similar homes are selling for in the surrounding areas.

• We Know Area Expansion Plans!
  Builders often know, but do not disclose, the negative impacts of what an areas future growth plans may be. Because we represent your interests, we will point out any future retail, commercial or freeway plans that may negatively impact your home’s value and be detrimental to future resalability.

• We Represent YOUR Interests And Work On YOUR Behalf!
  The salespeople in a builder’s office are EMPLOYEES OF THE BUILDER and only represent the builder’s interests…not your own. We will make sure that all the documents are in order and that you have copies of everything you’ve signed.

• We Can Provide Upgrade Selection Assistance!
  Knowing local housing trends, upgrade preferences and values appraisers have given for various upgrades, we will be able to assist you on determining which upgrades will benefit you the most personally and financially.

• We Can Negotiate On Upgrades!
  Most homebuilders will reduce the selling prices of their homes and increase their upgrade prices exponentially. To an inexperienced buyer, it may look as though you are getting a good deal at first glance, but builders will quickly up sell you on upgrades (because who wants Formica countertops anymore, even if they do come with the home?). We know what the going prices are to have many of the items upgraded after market and will guide you into making the right financial decisions. Even if this means introducing you to another new home builder who offers certain upgrades as part of their standard packages. Just because an initial sales price may be more, once the total cost is tabulated the bottom line price may be less. Many times we are also able to have upgrades included as part of the purchase price through strong negotiations.

• We Can Help You With Financing Options!
  Yes, it is true a builder typically gives a huge incentive to use their lenders. However, this may end up costing you in the long run with built-in junk fees, higher interest payments, or financing margins that the builder has built into the home’s purchase price making the price you pay for the home higher than the home’s true value.  We will help you determine if their lender is giving you the best deal, or if you should consider an alternate financing source. We do this so that your financial interests are always protected. Sometimes we are able to even get you the lender incentive being offered by the builder, but you are still able to use the lender YOU choose, not the one they have chosen for you.

• We Will Diligently Monitor Contract Dates!
  New homebuilders can get busy handling a lot of transactions and may forget pertinent contract dates. We will diligently monitor all important dates so that you don’t have to.

• We Will Provide Assistance On Inspections & The Building Process!
  Often, there are more problems identified through home inspections with new homes, than there are for resale homes, so it is important to have a home inspection performed before closing. Because we represent your interests, we will be there during inspections and help monitor the home’s building process. We will also be able to point out areas of concern or address any builder delays that have not already been identified to keep the process running smoothly.

• We Will Review Your Final Closing Statement!
  Many times we are able to identify incorrect fees being charged to the buyer at close of escrow. We know what the standard fees are and what amounts should be charged. We will make sure that you are not overpaying and that all fees being charged are what they should be.

• Continual Support Throughout The ENTIRE Process!
  Of course we can’t speak for other REALTORS®, but The Sundin Group accepts phone calls until midnight 7 days a week (except holidays) to answer any questions or concerns that you may have throughout the entire sales process. We understand the importance of peace of mind and want to answer your questions the moment you have them.

• Most Importantly - Our Services To You Are FREE!
  We are paid by the builder just as we are paid by a Seller with a resale home…but we work for YOU.

• We Can Answer These Questions!
  How well do you know the home builder and what is their reputation?
  Is the builder currently licensed?
  How long has the builder been in business?
  Which builder has higher resale values?
  What should I consider when comparing different builders?
  What builder is offering the best incentive
  

New Home Builders in the Valley
Wanna know what other people have to say about a specific builder? View a really good New Home Builders Blog HERE, where the voice of homeowners can be heard. If you want to research a builder even further, the RIP-OFF REPORT is a good place to start. Another good resource is the Arizona Registrar of Contractors. Here you will find whether or not there have been any complaints against a specific builder.