Think again. Builders are difficult to work with and they're able to get away with it. Why? Because so many buyers would prefer a new home to a resale home. In other words, they have a captive audience.
I'm currently representing buyers who want a new home and I know they're relieved that they have representation and they're not on their own. I asked for a copy of the builder's contract that I could review with them BEFORE they sign it. Builder contracts are notorious for leaning toward the builder and not the buyer (they're called adhesion contracts for a reason), but at a minimum, the buyer needs to know that.
Here's a few other reasons why you should take your agent when you meet with the builder the first time:
1. Most builders will not share the transfer taxes with buyers which means that the buyer is going to pay both their transfer taxes and the builder's. That can be a substantial amount of money.
2. Builders penalize buyers when the buyer can't settle on time and the penalty is very steep. What happens if the builder is late to settlement? Most often nothing and sometimes they're protected for 2 years from when they were supposed to settle!
3. Your agent can help you understand the lot that you've chosen or that's available to you. Builders are not good about pointing out that you'll have a very narrow rear yard because of the huge hill that they can't cut in to in order to create more of a yard for you. And they don't tell you about those ugly cable and electrical boxes that may end up on your front lawn.
These are just a FEW of the reasons why you should have your own agent representing you when buying new home.
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