Constructing a property from scratch is entirely different from walking in on a built real estate and deciding to purchase it. With the latter, the process ends when the agreement is made and finalized. Your agent will handle all the papers, and you’ll be ready to move in as soon as escrow closes. If you’re buying a lot and building a custom home from scratch, that’s just the beginning. You have to deal with everything from permits to builders, and if that’s too tedious for you, you enlist the help of a real estate agent.
Should I Hire an Agent?
It’s not absolutely necessary to hire an agent, as states have varying laws on whether you need an agent assigned to project or not. Most states will leave it up to the buyer’s discretion. The question is not whether you need one or not. It’s whether you’re better off working with one or not, and in most cases, it can benefit you to work with an agent.
Brokering Deals
In some cases, you can use the seller’s agent to help you broker a deal with builders. His commission comes out of the seller, so it costs you nothing. That set-up seldom works though because the agent does not have the incentive to broker the best deal for you. If you really want to get prime service from an agent, hire your own, one who will have your best interest as a priority.
Prioritize Your Interests
Generally, if you don’t have an agent you will have to work with a builder representative. You will discuss your vision for the project, your timeline, budget and other pertinent details. You can also work directly with the custom builders, but an agent can help represent you in the land sale.
Handle The Paperwork
Agents have the skills and experience to negotiate on your behalf, and that’s important because not all builders are credible. They’re also skilled at sorting out the documentation of projects like this, from inspection to contracts and permits. Although, when you choose a company with experience, they can also advise you on these items. There are a lot of tasks that can be very technical, especially for first-time homeowners, so if you’re not confident doing those, it would be in your best interest to hire an agent.
If you want to know whether you should find an agent, reach out to one of our professionals at Cogdill Home Builders of Florida. We can help get you started on the right path, and put you in touch with the best team possible.
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