Thinking About New Construction in Metro Detroit? Don't Walk Into That Model Home Yet.

Before you tour a builder's model or call their sales rep, read this. Why your buyer's agent needs to contact the builder first.

I had a buyer who walked into a builder's model home on a Sunday afternoon. They were "just looking." They signed the guest book, chatted with the friendly person at the desk, and drove home excited.

Then they called me.

By that point, it was too late for me to represent them with that builder. That one casual visit meant the builder would not recognize a buyer's agent after the fact. They went through one of the biggest purchases of their life without anyone in their corner.

I don't want that to be you.

The person in the model home is not your agent

They're usually nice. They know the floor plans. They might even feel like a friend by the end of the tour.

But the person sitting in that model works for the builder. They are the builder's agent, and their job is to represent the builder's best interest. That means getting the highest price, selling the options with the best margins, and closing the deal on the builder's terms.

That's not a knock on them. It's just how it works. The question is: who is looking out for you?

The rule: hire your agent first, and let your agent contact the builder

Here's the order that protects you:

1. Hire a buyer's agent before you visit a model, attend a builder open house, or call a builder's sales rep.
2. Sign a buyer agreement with your agent. This is how it works now for any home tour, new or resale.
3. Let your agent reach out to the builder and register you before your first visit.
4. Then go tour together.

Most builders have registration rules. If you show up first, many will treat you as their own unrepresented buyer. Once that happens, getting an agent involved on your behalf often isn't an option anymore.

"But won't hiring an agent cost me money?"

Often, very little or nothing up front.

Many builders in Metro Detroit set aside compensation for buyer's agents. When I register you properly before your first visit, that builder compensation can often cover part or all of my fee. I can also negotiate my compensation into the deal itself, so your best interests are represented with little cost to you.

Every builder and community is different, so this isn't guaranteed. But here's the catch: that option usually only exists if your agent registers you first. Walk in alone and you may lose it.

What I do for you that the builder's rep won't

• Compare what you're being offered against other builders and communities
• Push back on pricing, lot premiums, and incentives
• Help you pick options that hold value (and skip the ones that don't)
• Connect you with lenders I trust who specialize in new construction
• Review the builder's contract and timelines with you
• Keep an eye on the details through construction and the final walk-through

Before you go "just looking"

I get it. Model homes are fun. Driving through a new subdivision on a weekend is fun.

Just send me a quick text first. I work with production builders, custom builders, and popular builders across Macomb, Oakland, Livingston, and Wayne County. I'll register you, and we can go see it together.

Thinking about building? Reach out before your first model home visit.

(248) 500-2491