Decisions. Decisions. Shopping for a Manatee, Charlotte, or Sarasota home for sale should always be a rewarding experience. But with inventories of existing homes stuck in low, many buyers are choosing new construction as a way to create their own unique spaces. For those unacquainted with the process, how one buys a parcel of land—then selects a home to go with it—is often a fuzzy concept. That’s why it’s important for buyers of new homes in emerging new neighborhoods to know that you are entitled to include your real estate agent throughout the entire buying and building process. For as anyone who has ever built from the bottom up will tell you, the choices come fast and furiously; with decisions needed promptly.
Mirabella at Village Green, Bradenton
From the moment you begin to identify the best new communities and their builders—until you finally settle into your freshly-minted home—an agent is your best ally and sounding board. The expertise they bring to the table will help you differentiate between all the communities, housing styles, floor plans and option packages you will be faced with along the way; thus saving you time, sparing you countless headaches; and helping you avoid mistakes and missed opportunities. In spite of all the benefits that accrue to you, it costs nothing to bring your agent into the decision-making loop, so long as you do so from the very beginning; and include his or her name on the form each time you are asked to formally register with a builder. Your agent will begin by helping you grasp how the process unfolds, what your present-day options are; and how each new community compares with all others in its competitive set. They can then help you zero-in on the handful of communities that make the most sense for your lifestyle, location and housing goals. Buyers will often drift through a sumptuously-decorated model, feel an intense emotional tug and find themselves daydreaming of owning a home just like it. As your agent will explain, there is usually a wide divide between a home’s basic price and the cost of a fully-loaded model. It’s at moments like this when you will be glad your agent recommended setting a budget ceiling early-on to help you resist every temptation to spend capriciously. In addition to keeping you anchored in reality, your agent will also help you figure out which design choices and upgrades make the most sense from an affordability and resale standpoint; then steer you toward communities where your budget will be best accommodated without having yours be the most basic home on the block. In a market as active and fast-paced as today’s, your agent can also buffer you from being pressured into quick decisions; or into making choices you may ultimately regret—especially at resale time. Sometimes too much “bling” can be as bad as no bling at all. An experienced agent, attentive only to your needs, will help you keep a level head as you address each building and design decision. It goes without saying that a home is one of the largest and most emotionally-charged transactions many of us will ever make. The input of your agent will not only help you navigate the process but also expose you to the astounding breadth of our region’s ever-changing landscape of new homes. As we said at the top, buying a new home should be a rewarding experience from day one. And with the proper planning and representation, it will be just as rewarding on the day you re-sell. To view new homes and communities visit our website or speak with one of our agents today.
