Writing a proper offer for your new home build is extremely important to ensure that you get everything you expect from your new build and that all of the details are covered. We have over thirty years of experience working in residential construction and understand the spec sheets that builders use, and help you understand what’s included on the sheet and make any changes that are needed.
Remember, not everything on the spec sheet is set in stone – the sheet is what the builder prefers to use, but there are changes that can be made to make sure you get exactly what you’re looking for. We represent you as the buyer, and will recommend and negotiate alternatives to make sure your new home meets with your specifications. You need to put every detail in writing to make sure you know what you’re getting and to protect yourself, and we will make sure that’s taken care of by working with you to write a proper offer.
We have seen countless examples over the years of situations where buyers believed they were getting one thing in their new home, only to end up with something different. For example, the builder might tile the shower 4 ft. high, but you could want it tiled to the ceiling as it was in the model home. There can be numerous areas where what comes standard could deviate from what was shown in the model home, and we will help you identify what comes standard and what is considered an “upgrade” so there is no confusion or unpleasant surprises.
We know the price of materials and can advise you if the builder is overcharging and if something would be worth it to do it yourself after closing rather than through the builder. For example, a back cement patio could be more cost-effective to have done after the fact rather than by the homebuilder if it doesn’t come standard with the house. We will also go over allowances in the home with you. Builders make allowances for certain things, such as light fixtures, flooring, cabinets, and more. We make buyers aware that allowances rarely cover what you would see in a model home, and it’s very easy to go over that amount. We want you to understand what you are spending money on what is covered so you don’t wind up with an unexpected overage in the cost of your home.
We will also work to educate you about draws. When building a new home, the builder requires payment draws. Usually, a draw is required at the foundation stage, roof stage, and drywall stage. Usually these draws are around $40,000 in total, but many buyers are surprised by this requirement. We will work to educate you not only about this process, but also about which banks give draws and which ones don’t.
In your offer, we will also add a condition to check the house throughout the process. It is smart to have a walkthrough after big stages are completed, such as when the shell is done, after the drywall is done, and a final walkthrough at the end.
Covering all of these areas in your offer is just one of the ways we want to make sure that your new home build experience is the best it can be. For more details on how we can guide you through the entire process of getting a new home build, including writing a proper offer, contact us today. We would love the opportunity to put our new builds experience to work for you.
