Any benefit to having a realtor when dealing with a builder?

My experience is that they don't help very much. I'd also say that not having one doesn't get you any extra discount either despite what you might expect.

If it's your first home, I would get one. Otherwise most people are likely more than capable of handling it without one IMO.

I'm not sure what a realtor would do with a new construction. Is the entire neighborhood being built by the same builder? Otherwise, shop builders. When I built I had several bids and the difference from highest to lowest was $40k.

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We are looking to build in a neighborhood pretty soon. So far we've just been speaking directly to the builders. Is there any benefit to having a realtor talk to the builders for us? Is there any sort of negotiations that can be done or is the price pretty much the price?

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Typically the price is the price whether you use a realtor or not in new construction. Its about protecting a price point for sale of home within a community. Realtor fees are built in, and builders know that knife cuts both ways. It would be short sighted to punish clients who use a realtor. They will longterm feed you more business than a one off transaction.

That said, most realtors are there to sign contract and show up at closing for their check and do walk through once house is complete. The 6-7 months in between they are MIA, not that it would matter since most don't know squat about the process.

My advice would be find a broker who specializes in new construction. Make sure he confirms with builder to be onsite during all inspections and knows the process. Ypu will more than likely be required to use a contract specifically written by builder, which will favor the builder. If the broker has worked with this particular builders contract before, he may be more well versed to its nuances.

The last advice I will give you is get a home inspection before closing, and another at the 11th month mark before one year warranty is up. Because unless it is major visible
structural issue, builder is never coming back to fix anything.

Good Luck!