Buying a Home
Do I need my own agent when buying new construction?
The short answer
The on-site sales representative works for the builder. Having your own buyer's agent means having someone whose duty runs to you, but how and when they can represent you depends on the builder's policy.
The full answer
Builder sales teams represent the builder's interest, and in Ohio and Kentucky agency must be disclosed so you know exactly who represents whom. Your own agent can review the builder's purchase agreement, weigh incentives and upgrades against their real cost, coordinate inspections, and track the many deadlines a new-construction contract carries. Timing is the catch: in many developments you need your agent involved on your first visit or registered before you negotiate, or the builder may not recognize them for that purchase. That policy varies by builder, so check it before you walk in. Decide who you want on your side before you're handed the price sheet.
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