1. Pay too much for the house - Realtors are in constant contact with builders about special promotions that are going on. You may not believe this. But, I know a buyer that went to a builder, and the sales agent in the model home quoted a high price. However, the Realtor knew that the builder was offering a promotion, and the price was actually supposed to be alot less. If the Realtor wasn't there, the home buyer would have overpaid for the house.

2. Negotiate the Contract - One thing to always remember is that the sales agent in the model represents the builder, not you (the buyer). Therefore, their job is to negotiate the contract in the best interests of the builder. If you hire a Realtor/Buyer's Agent, it's the Realtor's job to negotiate the contract for your best interests. In other words, the Realtor will negotiate the following: sales price, earnest money deposit, down payment assistance, financing options, etc. I know buyers who were told they had to use the builder's mortgage company even though that mortgage company didn't have the best loan programs. So, the buyers wound up getting a higher interest rate. They were told that if they didn't use the builder's company, they wouldn't receive the special incentives (like free upgrades, builder paid closing costs, etc). A Realtor can negotiate for you, so you don't have to use the builder's lender.

3. Incorrect Options - Building a home takes several months. Everyone's human, and we all make mistakes. Sometimes, builders make mistakes and put the wrong options in your house. When I had my home built, the builder put in the wrong countertops. In another buyers' house, the builder put in the wrong bathtub, the wrong light fixtures, and there was alot of standing water on the lot. Your Realtor will monitor the building progress, and the Realtor will notify the builder immediately if a mistake is made.

4. Incorrect Paperwork at Closing - Realtors know what type of paperwork should be at the closing. I know a buyer that had a home built, and during the building process, the paperwork changed. Specifically, the sales price was lowered. However, when they got to the Closing, all the original documents were there with the higher price. No one could find the new paperwork. The Realtor was the only person who had it. So, without the Realtor, the buyer would have paid too much for the house.

5. Incorrect Settlement Statement - Realtors go over this statement in detail to make sure it's accurate. If you've never heard of a Settlement Statement, that's the form that you're given at the Closing. It lists all your closing costs, and it states whether or not you have to pay money or get money back at closing. Well, I can't count the number of buyers I know that encountered incorrect Settlement Statements. For example, at my brother's closing, the Settlement Statement showed that he had to pay over $200, but in actuality, he didn't have to pay anything. Luckily, his Realtor was there, and she noticed that one of the fees on the statement was incorrect.

Now, you know the benefits of using a Realtor even if you're having a new home built. Now, you don't have to learn the hard way. The best thing about hiring a Realtor/Buyer's Agent is that it's FREE. Why would you not want someone to look out for your best interests (for FREE)?