Considering New Construction? Hang Out And Talk To The Neighbors

One of the things I've learned from selling a signification number of to be built homes in Prince William County VA is to advise my buyer's to not only take a look at the furnished models and amenities but to talk to owners in the neighborhood to get their feedback on living in the community.   Is your favorite time to take a walk is at 6:30 PM then park in the neighborhood and take a walk. While you are strolling the streets strike up a conversation with current owners and find out what they like and don't like about living there.   Find out how they felt about the construction process and what issues they have faced with their homes since settling in.  

On one such trip recently my clients were surprised to hear some of the concerns expressed by the neighbors about construction issues.  It made  them realize that my suggestion regarding having an independent home inspector preforming pre-drywall and pre-settlement inspections a  good one.   It is amazing the number of items that an inspector will find, not all of them critical during these inspections, that you might not notice on your own.

Based on the concerns that some of the homeowners in the neighborhood my clients were considering, an independent home inspection might have saved them time and aggravation. The level of some of the problems made us wonder how they managed to get by the Prince William County inspectors.  One homeowner mentioned they had multiple cracked floor joists that had to be replaced and another had a jetted tub which did not have proper support under it.  The most surprising issue was to hear an owner say the builder did not wrap the homes with Tyvek and they had to put plastic on their windows last winter to keep out the drafts.  They are paying to have an independent contractor come in and remove all the siding and wrap their home to keep their utility bills down. 

If you are thinking about buying new construction in Woodbridge, Dumfries, Manassas or Bristow in Prince William County don't let the lessons that the homeowners in this development learned the hard way happened to you.  Give Cindy Jones and CJ Realty Group a call at 703-346-2213 to make sure you have your own representation before you head to the builders model.  Not only can we help you sort out all of the options the builder is offering, we can advise you about options the builder won't tell you about to help you avoid some serious post closing headaches.

Check out our New Construction Buying Guide for more information on purchasing your new home in Prince William County VA.

 

Open publication - Free publishing

 

 

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If you are interested in learning more about the Northern Virginia Real Estate market including Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax and Prince William Counties give Cindy Jones a call at 703-346-2213.  No hassle, no pressure just straight talk about the local real estate market from a no nonsense point of view.

 

Check out www.varealestatetalk.com and www.cjrealtygroup.com for more information.