valentinosdcpulse

I just had a client tell me over the phone: "I will never again try to buy a home on my own..." While he had used our services to sell his current condo, he and his wife had found their dream home before we had a relationship and thus started a five-month stressful process of trying to negotiate directly with a builder.

BUYER BEWARE: If you are buying a new home in Washington, DC, make sure you have a real estate agent with you from the beginning. If you visit the model home and sign in without a realtor, the builder may not honor the agent afterward. Working with an agent ensures that you have someone looking out for your interests continually throughout the process: before, during, and after build-out is complete. Some builders may offer ready-to-sign contracts and offer to help arrange financing, but no surprise here -- they are not concerned to protect your best interest and ensure your protection! Things to consider when negotiating the build of your DC home are:

• One thing you absolutely must do is get everything in writing. This is where a real estate agent can be especially helpful.
• Put all deposit monies in a secure (non-related) escrow account. If the building company runs into financial problems, your money will be safe.
• Shop around for a mortgage lender. You may not get the best deal from the builder's recommended lender.
• Get at least three inspections: one right after the foundation is in, another before the drywall goes up, and a third when the building is complete. Just because your DC home is brand new, it does not mean that there won't be flaws!

If you have decided to build a home in the Washington, DC area, keep these tips in mind and absolutely consider hiring a real estate agent to help you negotiate with your builder to ensure that your DC home build goes smoothly. In the end, you'll be glad you did. Don't learn the hard way!

Rachel Valentino is your expert real estate agent in the Washington, DC area. If you are buying, selling, or building a home in the DC, MD or VA area, contact Rachel Valentino and her team of local real estate experts.