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2 Min Read

Do I Need a Real Estate Agent to Build a Custom Home?

Once you’ve decided to build a custom home in Hunterdon County, the to-do list fills up fast. Budgets and design ideas, neighborhoods and construction concepts—the endless possibilities become both exhilarating and fatiguing.

So where does the real estate agent fit into the home-building process? Is this professional still necessary or can a builder fulfill the role? Well, it might surprise you to find out that a realtor has expertise that can make home building a smoother process. Let's compare a builder to a real estate professional and uncover the advantages that each bring to the table.

 

What You Get from Working with a Real Estate Agent

Although buying an existing house and building from the ground up involve similar tasks—narrowing down an area, deciding how much to spend—building something from nothing creates a specific set of complexities. For example, when you buy a home the most significant contract arrives after you choose a house. If starting from scratch, the paperwork piles up before you even choose a floor plan. More importantly, realtors understand contracts, so they can help you sort through the terms each builder wants you to consider.

In addition, those who work in real estate likely have inside information into reputable builders, up-and-coming neighborhoods and design trends, so an agent can help you narrow down the options. In fact, an experienced realtor might have a short list of builders who have a solid reputation in the region, making the arduous process of finding the right match less of a headache.

 

Where the Builder Comes In

Having a trustworthy builder by your side can make the difference between new home disaster or dream house bliss. With construction experts at the helm, you can design and erect a home that will meet your needs today and 20 years down the road. Because builders work daily with home-building materials and environmental specifics, they can help you understand how variables interact, saving you from regrets and money pits you may not see coming.

Namely, an experienced builder can interpret how certain houses will sit on a lot (where the sun hits windows and how extra grading or ground preparation will affect budgeting). They’ll know how electrical work, plumbing, insulation and HVAC systems can make the final product more cohesive. True, picking out light fixtures and flooring is an expected (and fun) aspect of new home construction, but a quality builder knows how the unseen (and less exciting) features can turn a mediocre house into a haven of relaxation and joy.

[Read More: Selecting a Quality Custom Home Builder: What You Need to Know

 

Conclusion: Get the Best of Both

Unless you work in construction or real estate, building a custom home means dealing with unfamiliar issues. Like any project outside your area of expertise, it can be daunting trying to make the right choices. When you go to a restaurant, for example, you rely on a litany of professionals who understand food and drink. Before ordering dinner, you’ve likely spoken to the waiter, sommelier, hostess, and possibly the chef…and that endeavor only involves a meal.

When building a custom home, who you take into the trenches with you means everything, for these professionals will influence decisions that will impact your life in significant ways. While the builder can help you choose materials, designs and floor plans, an experienced real estate agent will represent your best interests overall. He or she will act as a steward from beginning to end, scaffolding you throughout the home-building process. So, when it comes to your forever home, why not employ all the experts?

 

Custom Home Guide [Free PDF]