If you are considering new construction in Keller TX, there is one phone call I want you to make before you visit the model home.
Call your Realtor.
Not after you find the floor plan.
Not after you choose the lot.
And definitely not after you sign a builder contract.
Before you walk into the model home.
I have represented new construction buyers throughout my real estate career, and one of the most common situations I encounter is someone calling me about selling their current home and casually mentioning that they have already started talking with a builder.
Sometimes they have toured the model.
Sometimes they have identified a development they are considering.
Sometimes they are much further into the process.
They knew to call me when it was time to sell.
They simply did not realize they should have called me before they started the new construction purchase.
That is the part I want to change.
Do I Need a Realtor When Buying New Construction in Keller TX?
You can purchase new construction without your own Realtor.
But before you decide to do that, understand who everyone in the transaction represents.
The builder’s sales representative represents the builder.
That does not make the builder representative the bad guy.
It simply means their role is different from mine.
When I represent you as the buyer, my responsibility is to advocate for your interests throughout the real estate transaction.
That distinction matters.
Especially when you are making decisions involving the home, lot, contract, selections, inspections, timeline, financing, and possibly the sale of your existing home at the same time.
When Should I Contact a Realtor About a New Build?
Before your first visit to the builder.
This is one of the most important things I want buyers to understand about new construction.
Builder policies regarding outside agents and buyer representation can vary.
You do not want to assume that you can walk into a model home alone, establish a relationship with the builder, and simply bring your Realtor into the transaction later.
Before visiting, I want to understand where you are considering building and confirm the applicable process.
Then we walk in with a plan.
What Should I Consider Before Choosing a Builder?
The model home is designed to show you possibilities.
My job is to help you look beyond the possibilities and start asking questions.
What comes standard?
What is an upgrade?
What does the base price actually include?
Which lots are available?
Are there additional lot costs?
What stage of construction are the available homes in?
What choices can still be made?
What deadlines apply?
What happens if construction timing changes?
What inspection opportunities are available?
What builder documents should you review?
Some of those answers come from the builder.
Some may require your lender, inspector, attorney, insurance professional, or another qualified professional.
My role is not to pretend I am all of those people.
My role is to recognize the questions that need answers and help you get to the appropriate source before an important decision passes.
How Important Is the Lot When Buying New Construction?
Very.
Buyers understandably spend a lot of time thinking about floor plans and finishes.
I also want you thinking about the actual piece of property underneath the house.
Look at orientation.
Lot dimensions.
Drainage information.
Adjacent property.
Easements.
Topography.
Roads and access.
Future development information that is publicly available.
And anything else that could affect how you use the property.
A beautiful kitchen can be remodeled someday.
You cannot move the lot.
When questions involve surveys, drainage, easements, engineering, zoning, or legal restrictions, I help identify the issue and direct my clients to the appropriate documents or qualified professionals.
Should I Buy a Home That Is Already Under Construction or Build From the Beginning?
There is no universal right answer.
A home that is further along may work better for someone with a shorter timeline.
Starting earlier in the construction process may provide additional opportunities for selections, depending on the builder and project.
The important part is understanding what you are actually choosing.
I want to know your desired move timing, your tolerance for uncertainty, the decisions that matter most to you, and whether you also have a home to sell.
Then we can evaluate the available options from that perspective.
Do I Need an Independent Inspection on a New Construction Home?
I encourage my new construction clients to talk with a qualified independent home inspector about appropriate inspections during the construction process.
Municipal inspections and an independent inspection are not the same service.
The City of Keller has its own permitting and inspection requirements for construction.
Your independent inspector works for you.
Depending on the construction stage and circumstances, there may be opportunities to inspect at different points during the process.
I am not an inspector or engineer, so I do not diagnose construction issues.
What I can do is help you plan ahead so inspection conversations happen before the relevant deadlines.
What Happens at a Pre-Drywall Meeting?
This is one reason I like being involved long before closing.
Before drywall covers much of what is inside the walls, buyers may have an opportunity to see portions of the home’s framing and building systems.
I attend these stages with my clients when they are part of the builder’s process.
I am not there to perform an inspection.
I am there as the buyer’s Realtor, helping my client stay organized, document questions, understand the process, and make sure appropriate concerns get directed to the builder or qualified professional.
There is a big difference between showing up at closing and representing someone throughout the build.
I prefer the second one.
What If I Need to Sell My Current Home While Building?
This is where new construction becomes more than a home search.
Now we are coordinating two real estate transactions.
When should your existing home go on the market?
Does it need preparation?
How does its current market look?
What happens if the build timing changes?
What options do you have if the sale and purchase timelines do not line up perfectly?
Those conversations should happen before you are under pressure.
This is particularly relevant for clients who are coordinating the sale of an existing home with a new construction purchase.
The next home may be larger.
It may be smaller.
It may cost more or less than the home being sold.
The point is not the direction of the price or size.
The point is finding a property that fits your current housing needs, goals, and plans while creating a reasonable strategy for getting there.
Are Builder Incentives Always a Good Deal?
An incentive deserves analysis just like every other part of the transaction.
Builders may offer different incentives at different times, and the structure can vary.
An incentive involving financing should be reviewed with the appropriate lender.
Tax questions belong with a qualified tax professional.
Legal interpretation belongs with an attorney.
I can help you understand how an incentive fits into the real estate transaction and compare the available options, but I am not going to tell you something is a great deal simply because the word “incentive” appears next to it.
We look at the details.
Can a Realtor Help With Builder Selections and Upgrades?
Yes, and this is one of my favorite parts of new construction.
My background includes marketing and architecture, and I have also personally gone through the custom building process as a homeowner.
That experience affects the questions I ask.
I want clients thinking about selections in context.
What is included?
What costs extra?
Which choices matter to you?
How does one selection affect another?
Are you making the decision because it fits the way you intend to use the property, or because the model home made it look irresistible?
There is nothing wrong with falling in love with the beautiful model kitchen.
Just know what you are buying before you fall in love with it.
What Should I Know About New Construction in Keller Right Now?
New residential development in Keller continues to evolve, and proposed projects can change as they move through local planning and approval processes.
That is exactly why I do not want to publish a static list of “the best Keller builders” or tell you that one particular development or location is where you should buy.
Availability changes.
Projects change.
Prices and incentives can change.
And each buyer has different property requirements, financial considerations, timelines, and priorities.
If you are actively looking for new construction homes in Keller, I would rather pull the current options and evaluate them with you than send you toward a list that may already be outdated.
What My Clients Say
Andy Honza shared:
“Ashley was our first home buying resource, and ending up being the only one we needed! I can’t recommend her services enough.”
David Lopez shared:
“Very pleased with everything they did for me, wonderful experience and can’t say enough about Mrs Hart.”
That is how I want the new construction process to feel.
You should know who to call when a question comes up.
And I would much rather that first call happen early.
Thinking About New Construction in Keller TX?
Before you walk into the model home, call me.
We can talk about what you are looking for, whether you have a home to sell, your general timeline, your property criteria, and the questions we need answered before you start making decisions.
Then we can look at the new construction opportunities currently available in Keller and the surrounding North Texas area based on those criteria.
You may ultimately choose new construction.
You may decide a resale property makes more sense.
Either answer is fine.
My job is not to sell you on building.
My job is to help you understand what you are buying and represent you through the process if new construction is the right choice for your situation.
Before you visit the model home, consider having your own representation in place.
Visit HART Realty Team or connect with me at @AshleyHartRealtor.
