Often people ask us this question. Lots of people think that they don’t need an agent to help them with their new home purchase. After all, thanks to the internet, the communities are easier to find and you have a salesperson there to help guide you every step of the way, right? Well that just isn’t the case. There are several reasons why using a REALTOR® makes sense.

Realtors® abide by a Code of Ethics.

What kind of training does the new home salesperson have? Better yet, by what standard are new home salespeople held? We’ve seen salespeople who are honest and ethical, and they have been a pleasure to work with. We’ve also ran into some that make you wonder how they sleep at night. Often the consumer doesn’t find out which type of salesperson they were dealing with until it’s too late.

REALTORS® are required to abide by a standard as spelled out in Title 22, Chapter 531 of the Texas Administrative Code. These standards of practice are known as the Canons of Professional Ethics and are included in the rules of the Texas Real Estate Commission. Their purpose is to provide a standard of conduct intended to protect the consumer.

It doesn’t cost you a dime.

Most people don’t know it, but when builders price their homes they do so with paying a REALTOR® in mind. Real estate agents are the bread and butter for new construction communities. In most cases, agents account for 90-95% of a home builder’s customer base. The agent’s commission has been factored into the price of the home. If the client does not have an agent then the builder pockets the money they expected to pay out.

Some salespeople will use this as a ploy to coax a consumer to not include an agent in the sale of the home. They will offer to take the money an agent would have earned off of the price of the home. Beware the salesperson that uses this tactic. The money they are offering is usually less than the price reduction that a qualified REALTOR® would negotiate and there is a reason they don’t want your agent watching what they do and say!

You should have someone on your side.

A common misconception people have when purchasing a new home is that the salesperson is in some way working for them or looking out for their interests. The fact is that the salesperson is employed by, working for, and only concerned with the interests of the home builder. This may sound a little harsh, and is not meant to imply that all new construction salespeople are out to get you. After all, shady business practices will eventually catch up to you, so it is in their best interests to service their clients. However, let’s remember that at the end of the day they are in business to make money, not save yours.

Purchasing a new home without a REALTOR® can be a lot like going to trial without an attorney. You’re allowed to do it, but I don’t know too many people who would actually recommend it.

Get the facts.

Buying a new home can be a very rewarding experience. If you would like to know more about the process of buying a new construction home we would be happy to sit down and discuss it with you. Feel free to email me or give me a call at 281-630-4647. Let me show you how I can help you make the dream of new home ownership a reality.