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Onsite agents are generally lacking overall construction knowledge
As you wander around the valley touring every new home community on your own, you must realize that the onsite agent works for and is being paid by the builder. During the signing of the contract and required by law you will acknowledge, in writing, that the onsite agent solely represents the builder & their interest. It’s also a common misconception that you will save money without an agent. With any ethical, reliable and successful builder, you WILL NOT get a lower base price, and in fact, the builders count on and rely upon the Realtor population for almost 50% of their sales. When it’s time to select the perfect home site, structural and energy efficiency options, plumbing and electrical to name a few, relying on the builders agent is risky and questionable at best. To the onsite agent, you are nothing more than a retail sale. Back to the Top
Many builders are using products and materials that have been outdated for years
It’s unfortunate that with today’s technology and available building materials that we continue to find builders using hundreds of products that were designed in the early to mid 1990’s and some technology that we are still using from the 1970’s. We are still seeing air conditioning systems that in most cases are installed and designed for total failure. We are seeing utility costs unnecessarily high, sometimes 30-40% higher than they should be and indoor air quality issues that have the health care industry seeing dollar signs. The industry is using windows and frames that account for 50% of your overall utility costs that are outdated by 10 years. Builders are using insulation practices and materials that were designed in the 1970’s. Today, we have $20,000 thermal imaging cameras and computer programs that have identified all of these major problems, but as long as the average consumer accepts the builder’s outdated mentality, we will keep facing those enormous utility costs and increased health concerns. Back to the Top
Superintendent experience varies greatly from community to community
Yes, you can find some Superintendents with great experience and knowledge of the industry, but as long as they are trying to build 30-40 homes at one time, the experience level is no longer a factor. If you consider the amount of steps and contractors required to build just one home, the paperwork trail alone of tracking 30-40 homes is overwhelming. Even with the best builders that are building 10-15 communities at one time, you may find Superintendents at one community with 15 years in the general contracting business and others that may have been working in a entirely non-related field for the past 10 years. Back to the Top
Builders are cutting costs in all the wrong places
Just as the corporate world is making budget cuts, the builders are now being forced to do the same. Unfortunately, the cuts that most builders are making are directly affecting the buyers of their homes and costs relating to such. Due to such cost cutting measures, contractors are being forced to reduce the level of construction and material quality that should be expected. We have heard over and over from many builders, that we could due it right, but to do so we would have to increase the pay for all labor, materials, and subcontractors. When it comes to building a home, you certainly get what you pay for. The market is flooded with construction complaints and newspaper articles where entire neighborhoods are suing the builders, yet the general public is still willing to accept these minimal standards. Homebuyers will be paying for these issues in many others ways for years to come in the form of unnecessary maintenance, excessive utilities costs, and healthcare expenses relating to poor indoor air quality to name just a few. Back to the Top
Building to code is the worst possible minimum standard allowed
If you’re going to remember one thing about the building process, please remember this one word that you will hear over and over again. This famous word is CODE. This means that the builder wants you to accept the worst possible standards that the local, state, and federal governments will allow your home to be constructed. This means that you need to lower your standards for the largest purchase and investment of your life. You do not have to accept this level of quality and in most cases the builder will respond to your request or punch list as long as it is provided in writing and in a professional manner. Back to the Top
Every resale home was once a new build and building it right the first time is critical
Just about every resale home that is sold today will get the services of a home inspector. Although this now requires a license in Arizona, the level of knowledge and experience from inspector to inspector and from company to company varies greatly. Some companies will perform basic inspections with basic reports. Several will perform detailed inspections and then post the entire report online with color photos. Some will inspect pools, spas, and landscape systems, and others will not. Some will even offer to inspect for termites. When the time comes to sell and you have not followed the above mentioned suggestions throughout the building and buying process, you can expect a large and costly home inspection report with numerous issues and buyer concerns. Most large home inspection lists and requests often lead to the cancellation of the contract during the inspection period. Please remember that every resale used to be a new build. Back to the Top
All Realtors and companies are NOT the same
The single largest item that can have a positive or disastrous outcome on the new home buying experience is having a quality Realtor or agent representing you from the beginning. This does not mean a using a neighbor that has just received a license, or a friend of the family that sells real estate part time who has limited or no construction background or experience. At My Arizona Home Team, we strongly feel that having quality and professional representation means that your agent should lead you to a quality builder that is performing well above minimum standards and is offering building materials that are designed for the future not the past. We also feel that a Realtor should consult with you at the design center, so you do not make costly mistakes that will have an impact on resale value. Your agent should assist you with the pre-drywall consultation concerns including duct work, insulation, and proper window installation (20% of all low-e windows are incorrectly installed) and the hundreds of other components that go into building a quality home. A Realtor should provide a detailed final punch list and return for an 11 month walk through with the builder at no cost to the buyer. These are some of the free services provided by My Arizona Home Team, but we must visit the community with you on your first visit in order for you to take advantage of our 30 years of general contracting and home building experience. If your Realtor is not providing the above mentioned services or discussing the 7 factors listed above, you are working with the wrong agent or Realtor. Back to the Top
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