Buying a new construction home is a little different than buying an existing or resale home. If you are considering buying a new construction home, keep these 6 tips in mind to help guide you through the home buying process.

Know what you’re buying.

Most model homes are filled with a mix of standard amenities and fixtures in addition to a handful of stylish upgrades. When touring new homes, find out what the standard options are, what additional upgrades are available, and their costs. If you have a limited budget, choose square footage over upgrades; while you can always update your finishes later, you won’t be able to easily add more room.

Understand the neighborhood/community.

Oftentimes a new construction home community isn’t in an established neighborhood. Depending on the phase you buy, there may still be additional construction happening as new homes are built. Talk with the sales consultant to discuss the future development plans within the community and in the surrounding area.

Research the builder.

New home builders aren’t cut from the same cloth. It’s important to do the research and get to know the builders and their reputation. Since many builders will have both satisfied and dissatisfied buyers, try looking for trends in the reviews to gauge how the builder responds to issues. Here are some questions you can ask potential home builders to make sure you’ve chosen the right builder for your family.

Get it in writing.

After you’ve picked your builder, community, and home, make sure you get everything in writing; from the completion date, chosen upgrades, and any incentives you’ve accepted.

Find out what’s covered.

Most builders offer a one-year warranty to cover repairs and replacement costs for specific issues. Make sure you review your builder’s warranty to see what is covered, any limitations for damages, manufacturer’s warranties for appliances and other materials and information for other companies that will help service the warranty.

Get an inspection and do a final walk-through.

Be sure to inspect the home to make sure everything is safe and up to code in addition to a final walk-through with your builder to make sure any previously reported issues has been addressed and everything in your contract is in the home. You won’t want to do touch ups after you move!

If you’re thinking about buying a new construction home, follow these tips to make sure you have a smooth home buying experience. Interested in a new home? Check out our new home communities throughout Vancouver, WA on our website.