What to Avoid When Buying a New Construction St. Louis Home
Building a new construction St. Louis home from the ground up can seem like a dream come true. There are a number of decisions to be made from start to finish so you want to be sure you make the right ones along the way. But do you know what steps to take to avoid having your dream home turn into a nightmare? Here are a few tips to help you avoid making big mistakes when buying a new construction St. Louis home.
Do Your Research
As with any big decision, you need to do your homework. If you’re going to build a new construction St. Louis home you need to not only research agents and neighborhood laws but also builders. Look for a builder that in good standing in your state’s Construction Contractor’s Board with no current complaints or judgments. Once you’ve narrowed down a list of contractors that you’re considering, you need to start asking questions. Ask if they use subcontractors, and ask about their bonds and licensing. You should find out the amount and kind of insurance they carry as well.
Hire an Agent
It’s a common misconception that if you’re building from the ground up you don’t need a real estate agent; this is not the case. Search for a real estate agent that has worked with new construction St. Louis homes before that can be a clear representative and advocate for you. Plus you should know that the builder typically pays the real estate agent’s commission so it costs you nothing to have someone working on your side through the process.
Don’t Ignore the Fine Print
The purchase contracts used by builders will look very different from any contract you’ve likely seen before. Be sure to sit down with your real estate agent to understand everything about the contracts and warranties to understand what’s covered and what’s not. There is plenty of fine print that you need to be clear about. Your real estate agent will also be able to write addendums that protect you further.
Find Out What’s Included
When you walk through a model home there tend to be a lot of add-ons and extras to show you all of the options possible to you. Typically these homes are completely decked out with as many options as possible in order to get your attention. Ask the sales agent for a complete list of the add-ons so that you can determine what you can afford. You should also find out if appliances, window coverings, landscaping, and garage door openers are included. Be sure that you list in detail what you expect, especially if the things you want are not specifically named in the contract.
Always Have the Home Inspected
Just because the home is brand new doesn’t mean it won’t need an inspection. Experts suggest that a new construction home should actually be inspected more than once. You want to be sure that all walls, outlets, and wires are in all the right places.
Walk Through the Home
Once your inspections are complete you need to do a walk-through with your builder to make sure there are no major cosmetic issues or other issues of any sort. Do not close on a new construction St. Louis home until you’ve done a full walk-through and approve of all the work that has been completed. You don’t want to be moving in at the same time contractors are doing touch-ups and finish work on the home.
Follow these tips to help you avoid making mistakes that can turn your dream home into a nightmare. When it comes to buying a new construction St. Louis home, do your research, and don’t skip the inspections; this will allow you a more successful home building process from the start. Last but not least don’t close on the new home until all stipulations of the contract have been met and the home is up to your standards.