Love First Time Buyers Who Love New Construction
What's NOT to love?
First time buyers are the staple of my brokerage, Buyers Agent Portland, LLC. I've represented so many and it's always such a pleasure.
A few years ago I got a double dose of love . . . first time buyers who bought new construction!
As with most initial contacts from first time buyers, I invited these folks to meet for a one-hour consultation. We went over the buying process, the current market and options.
Having our game plan set, we went out looking. I can't remember how long it took, but after seeing about 20 homes in their price range that "seemed" to have it all . . . the larger lot size, the location . . . we had to come to reality: there was not anything that was fitting the bill. On paper (the listing sheet), the properties we toured were all viable options . . . until we actually toured them.
We did two things: 1) upped their purchase price . . . not by much, I think we went up by $20,000 and 2) started looking at new construction. In the upped priced range, new construction was possible and made sense.
We were not in the "seller's market" and that was a window we had open to us at the time: more inventory. Plus, the $20,000 bump in price range which allowed for new construction to be part of the mix meant that it was a wash. The $20,000 could easily have been spent on the other properties we were touring. They needed updating which included, new flooring, appliances, some even needed new windows.
With the new construction, there was not going to be any deferred maintenance issues upon move-in. And, there wasn't going to be issues on the roof, or other major components of the property having 5-years of useful life. It was NEW CONSTRUCTION!
The deal was a good one, and I really negotiated on many of the amenities they didn't have any clue about. Even the sales staff at the construction office told them: You have got one heck of an agent!
The builder/developer used their own contracts, as is normal, and I went through it with a fine-toothed comb. Not only did I know what I was looking for . . . my clients DID NOT! 
Did it cost them anything to have my buyer agency representation? NO!
Would it have cost them had they not have my buyer agent representation? YES!
The savings that I negotiated for them was substantial.
As first time buyers, they were green . . . but that's okay . . . because I saved them some green
I loved my double dose: First time buyers and new construction!
This is a post to It's Feurary and Love is in The Air contest
Comments(11)