What To Do When Building A Brand New Home

Last year, my husband and I went through the process of buying a brand new home with Taylor Morrsion in Gilbert. Here are a few things we learned along the way...

• Kitchens and bathrooms sell homes. When picking upgrades in the design center, try to put your "options money" into these rooms.

• If it's not the "forever" home pick something that appeals to the masses. If you see yourself in this home for only the next 2-5 years, try to pick options that would appeal to a large range of buyers.

• Do the structural options that can't be done later. This includes adding garage service doors, extended covered patios, adding central vacuum and upgrade options into the kitchen like double ovens and hood vents.

• Bring your Realtor! The sales person represents the builder, not you. We can help negotiate on your behalf and know the ins and outs of real estate deals. 

• Ask the builder and their preferred lender about incentives. They often offer large incentives towards closing costs or options to use their in house partners.

• Get a home inspection before the dry wall goes up. Your trusted home inspector will be able to point out items that the superintendent may have missed during his inspection. 

• Add an outlet for your Christmas lights. Builder can put outlets right under your eaves to make plugging in your Christmas lights quick and easy!

• Pick a great lot. Being on the corner, near a park or walking path are always highly desirable for resale. Try to avoid lots that back up to busy roads, power lines, or shopping complexes. 

• Some things can be a lot cheaper to do after you move in. Our builder wanted an arm load to put white subway tile on the kitchen backsplash so we decided against it in the design center. A few months after moving in we did it for less than half the cost!

• Ask about their home warranties and walkthroughs. Builders often cover the entire homes for an certain period of time after you move in, i.e. 2 years.

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