Can a Builder Discount My Home if I Don’t Work with a Realtor?

28 November, 2022

Buying a new home can be stressful at best. A lot goes into purchasing a new home and even more gets tacked onto that when trying to purchase a new build. That means that many potential buyers are looking to save money wherever possible. A common question buyers have is wondering if a builder will discount their home if they don’t work with a realtor.

Despite recent press regarding builders cutting prices to account for a slowing housing market, they do not discount homes just because you’re not working with a realtor.

While this is upsetting to some, there are ways for homebuyers to save money on a new build. In this blog post, we’ll discuss the ins and outs of buying from a builder without a realtor and how to get the best possible deals when buying a new home.

Can I Get Better Rates if I Negotiate with the Builder by Myself?

It’s relatively common knowledge that a percentage of the closing costs go to the commission of any real estate agent. Therefore, it seems like common sense that a builder would be able to grant additional savings for not needing to have an extra negotiator. However, this is not the case.

The people at the office are trained and specialize in negotiations. The same applies to real estate agents but usually doesn’t apply to the common homebuyer. Going in alone instead of using all tools available might end up with a worse deal than whatever the professionals could manage.

It’s also important to note that the builder’s office knows this too, and will likely try to get potential buyers to skip having an agent represent them. That makes it infinitely easier to get people to sign without negotiations at all and to get a better sale. These representatives can be as friendly and wonderful as ever, but the fact of the matter is that they are employed to protect the interests of the builders and not the sellers. Bring in someone who is fighting for the benefit of the buyer to even the playing field, like Buyers’ Slice Realty.

Can I Collect Commission if I Don’t Work with a Realtor?

Another assumption is that buyers are going to be able to collect the commission that would be going to a real estate agent if they don’t have one representing them. Chances are, this isn’t true. The exception to this is if the buyer is an attorney capable of representing themselves.

Even then, it doesn’t guarantee savings at the closing table. While an attorney definitely has the skills required to effectively negotiate for themselves, not every builder is going to allow them to collect commission just because they’re foregoing the services of a real estate agent. If this is the intended route, be sure to check first and not assume.

How Can I Get the Best Deal on a New Home Build?

Now that it’s clear that a builder won’t discount a build just because a potential buyer isn’t working with a realtor, it’s time to look into ways to get those sweet deals.

Watch the Market

The housing market ebbs throughout the year, and that includes new builds. Keeping an eye out for dips in prices and mortgage interest rates when buying a home in Colorado (or, really, anywhere) is a surefire way to snag the best possible deal. Know what is within budget and watch for new listings within a low period.

Keep an Eye Out for Incentives

Builders don’t like to reduce prices. That opens the door for people only showing up for sales. Therefore, they are more likely to offer special deals instead of blatant sales.

Such deals include:

• Homebuyer Rebates

• Discounted rates on the model home

• Incentives for using the preferred lender

• New home discount on the mortgage itself

Be sure to always get these sorts of things in writing in order to ensure they stay exactly as discussed, seen, and researched and so there are no miscommunications.

Choose Buyers’ Slice Realty

When looking into Colorado real estate and for new home builders in the Colorado area, there’s nobody like Buyers’ Slice Realty. We really are the best choice to help homebuyers save big with new builds. Unlike other real estate agencies, Buyer’s Slice lets the buyers spearhead their search without the pressure to make any sort of deals. We can help with listings and viewings, but the choice of which home to buy is and should be yours alone. After you’ve decided on the property you want to buy, we’ll take care of the offer and paperwork and close the deal. After, we split the builder commission with you at the closing table. Working with us means saving thousands on new and existing homes by cutting out the middleman. So, if you’re ready to save big in the Colorado Springs area, contact Buyers’ Slice Realty to learn more!