As we’ve mentioned before, purchasing a new construction home is a great way to be able to design your home to have the exact look and feel you want it to. But before you start designing you need to research your builder. There are several ways to do this, and good news: none of these tasks takes up too much time! Let’s get started.
Online research
The first step is to look up your potential builder online. What comes up first? How are the reviews on the first page of results? Are there any negative article titles that stick out to you? For example, when we type in Van Metre Homes, we see a 4.4-star average on Facebook and a 4.6-star average on Houzz.com.
After you’ve checked out reviews, take a look at online forums to see what other consumers are saying about your builder. City-Data has a great forum full of discussions around new home builders in the D.C. and Baltimore metro areas.
You can also utilize social media to get your questions and concerns to friends and family quickly and efficiently—write a post on your accounts, asking if anyone has experience with this builder. Last, but certainly not least, visit sites like New Homes Guide to get an extensive list of builders in the area and links to their websites.
Ask your agent
If you aren’t working with an agent at this point, you should be. We’ve stressed the importance of this in previous articles, but here’s another instance it comes in handy to have an agent working for you.
A knowledgeable agent will more than likely have some experience with builders in your area and a good idea of their reputations. You can also ask your agent to check past sales of communities this builder has developed and compare them to surrounding neighborhoods to get an idea of appreciation rates.
Visit the communities
The last chore on your list is to go visit the communities. This is the most exciting part, so many buyers skip the first steps entirely. As you’ll discover when you get to the communities, it’s easy to get pulled into making a decision before you’re ready. Sales agents at these communities are very good at what they do, and the main thing they do is use a sense of urgency to encourage builders to make a commitment they haven’t fully thought out. So make sure you’ve done your research and spoken to your agent before you visit the community. If you’ve done your research you’re already ahead of many buyers, and it’s not a step to skip. Buying a new home is a big decision for you and your family, so take your time and make it wisely!
