Is a buyer's agent necessary for a new home to be built (Indian Trail: lease, transfer)

[searpr]

I'm looking into new construction in SW Charlotte, and I wondered the same thing, if you could have a professional inspector (MUST!) and a buyer's agent. I used to take a lot of depositions of people involved in construction defect litigation, and I have NO desire to deal with those headaches.

Can those two coordinate to get the home built properly while you're not in the state? That's what I'm after -- I want the inspector to inspect at critical parts of the building, and I want the buyer's agent to represent me and do what I would do if I were there, check out the site, look around, take pictures, take the inspector's reports and represent me for any problems the inspector finds, etc. Can this be done? It's really the only way I'd feel comfortable having it built while I'm not in town.

[Nspect]

Most new home buyers send the inspectors findings to the site superintendent. I have not heard of any agents getting involved in this part of it due to the liability and extra work.

The biggest problem with new construction is the lack of a good building agreement. The buyer should control the final draw so that the builder does not get fully paid until the house is finished.

[flyingscotsman]

Had the pre-drywall the other day.

My inspector had 4 very minor items, he also said in his report that that the workmanship & quality was above average.

[sche012]

Originally Posted by flyingscotsman

Had the pre-drywall the other day.

My inspector had 4 very minor items, he also said in his report that that the workmanship & quality was above average.

What are the minor items?

[flyingscotsman]

1 Wall at kitchen pantry is loose at bottom.
2 Water line at living room wall needs to be properly attached.
3 Plumbing straps in garage needs to be re-attached.
4 Front hall closet upper left brace needs to be secured.

1 & 4 where fixed there and then on the spot.
2 & 3 had been casued by the insulation guys not putting back everything they had moved for the insulation.

We went back after the builders had left for the day, and all 4 items had been fixed.

[searpr]

Originally Posted by flyingscotsman

Had the pre-drywall the other day.

My inspector had 4 very minor items, he also said in his report that that the workmanship & quality was above average.

Who is your builder?

[flyingscotsman]

M/I Homes @ Falcon Ridge

[niknaxx]

Originally Posted by emanon

Why would you need a buyers agent if you already found the property you rlooking to buy?. What you need is a construction inspector to act in your behalf to insure your new home is constructed properly. You can probably find one thru your attorney who will handle your closing.

Real estate agents are not trained in home construction. They know how to show people homes.
E

Why would you need a buyers' agent? When I called a certain builder to see what they had for inventory, they directed me to their website. Their prices were 10's of thousands of dollars higher than any of the prices our buyers' agent was given. She walked in there and was given a final price for a bunch of houses and that was it, take it our leave it. We had already decided on a house online but didn't think we could afford the development. Our buyers' agent got us into a development that we wanted to be in and for a good price when we didn't think we could afford it.

If you are good at reviewing contracts, negotiating, and you know the area well, maybe you don't need a buyers' agent. But when the builder pays the buyers' agents' commissions, why would you not have one? Why would you want to save the builder money and not protect yourself in the meantime? In our situation, I believe our buyers' agent saved us money and suggested a good investment.

I guess when we move into an area, we are moving across states and between different states, and we need to be able to resell the house quickly. I'm not making the biggest investments of my life without assistance. A buyers' agents lives and knows the area, an advantage that I don't have, not when I moved from Asheville, NC to Pembroke Pines, FL to Riverview, FL and then Huntersville, NC...

[flyingscotsman]

Originally Posted by niknaxx

I'm not making the biggest investments of my life without assistance. A buyers' agents lives and knows the area, an advantage that I don't have, not when I moved from Asheville, NC to Pembroke Pines, FL to Riverview, FL and then Huntersville, NC...

Regardless of what sort off buyers agent you use, what is said up above is very important, I decided to rent here before buying so straight away knew some areas that I would not have liked to live in.

We had our buyers agent email us listings before we even started looking to get an idea what was around, it was only once we really started to look that the buyers agent pointed us in the direction that we ended up buying in.

[sharonmg]

thanks again for the input. I appreciate all your comments