Some people think you can save money by not using an agent to buy a new build home, when in fact, that’s not the case. There are no cost savings if you purchase without an agent; if you go directly to the builder, they’ve already built in the commission. Sometimes, we can even negotiate a discount—I’ve negotiated $10,000 in savings on a new home from the builder when two representatives said that there was no way they could go under the list price. Those savings represented more than 3% of the new home’s value!

That’s why it’s so important to understand that the representative of the new home is there to protect the interests of the builder. They’re only there to get the most money possible for the builder.