There's something inherently appealing about a brand new house—you get to pick out the countertops, drapes, and appliances, and have everything designed just the way you want it. There won't be a creepy ancient basement. And new houses often come with more space and better appliances, require less immediate fix-up work, and are more energy-efficient than older ones—and all at a competitive price.
But there's a downside, too. Often, the advantages of new houses are overshadowed by problems such as shoddy construction and lengthy construction delays—or worse, construction stoppages if the developer runs out of money. Here are some suggestions on how to avoid problems.
The absolute top factor in buying a new house is not what you buy (that is, the particular model), but rather who you buy it from. A responsible builder understands that its company has a reputation to protect, and thus constructs homes that live up to the promises and remains available should issues arise. More than a few builders, however, take customers' money, throw together a house that starts falling apart on day one, and then stop returning phone calls.
The lesson is, don't buy a house, buy its builder. To check out a builder, contact:
Hire an experienced contractor or home inspector to visit the house you're buying at various phases during construction to evaluate the quality of the work. When a house is being worked on, it's easy to see whether construction standards are high or not—for example, the wiring can be checked before it's been covered over by wallboard.
Also, you yourself should visit your home site regularly during construction and take a final walk-through to catch last minute finishing defects or deficiencies.
Ask the builder to allow your inspector or contractor to give the home a once-over at least these three times during construction:
Have the inspector examine various systems as they are completed, including the walls, roof, plumbing, electrical, and insulation systems.
If the home is finished when you buy it, hire a home inspector to give it a thorough examination. Really. Plenty of stories exist of homeowners who lit their first fire only to discover that the chimney was sealed over, drew a bath that sent a flood of water through the ceiling to the floor below, and so on. And these are just the obvious problems that appear within the warranty period. Other problems, like improperly applied stucco, might only become visible years later, after moisture has accumulated and the stucco starts falling off the walls.
For information on hiring an inspector, see Home Inspections: A Crucial Step.
Many developers advertise houses at comparatively low prices to get people to come out and have a look. Once there, commissioned salespeople show models loaded with expensive extras such as a spa, fireplace, granite countertops, and giant bathrooms. If you become seriously interested, the advertised price will rise as you decide that certain extras are essential or irresistible.
Buying extras lets you semi-custom design your home. But ask yourself what you really need and how much it will cost. Upgrades often add 5% to 20% to the cost of a new home. To get the most for your money, follow these steps:
You've probably heard horror stories about new houses that begin to disintegrate soon after the buyer moves in—the roof leaks, the basement floods after the first big rain, or the doors won't close. This shouldn't be a problem if you buy from a reputable developer—but not all developers are reputable, and you might not be sure about yours.
Your best bet is to buy a house that comes with a new-house warranty from an independent insurance company as opposed to relying on a warranty that comes directly from the builder. Typically, new-home warranties cover workmanship and materials for one year; plumbing, electrical, heating, and air conditioning systems for two years; and major structural defects for ten years.
You can also buy a new-home warranty on your own, but you'll have to shop carefully to find one that covers major structural defects. (Don't just settle for the standard homeowners' warranty, which is really just a service contract for things like your appliances and furnace.)
It's best not to close escrow on a new home until the work is completed. You don't want to leave the builder an opening to delay construction into the indefinite future.
Unfortunately, however, the standard form contract's closing date might force you to close on a home that isn't finished (or even started). You might be asked to sign a very one-sided purchase contract. You will be given numerous deadlines (to make deposits, agree to design changes, get loan approval, sell your present house, and close escrow), but the developer will have great leeway—sometimes up to a year from the target date—to deliver the house.
Do what you can to negotiate a fairer deal. Most important, you want to establish a reasonable date at which you can cancel the contract and get all of your money back if the developer doesn't deliver the house. Again, make sure it's in writing.
If you must close escrow because you need to move in, but significant and costly work remains, insist that the necessary funds be taken out of what you're paying the developer and placed in a trust account after escrow closes. Then ask for a written agreement stating that if the work is performed on time, the money will be released to the developer; but, if it isn't, the funds go to you to hire someone else to do the work. If the developer refuses, at least make a list of what needs to be done, assign a completion date to each, and have it signed by the developer.
If the developer fails to make a good faith effort to do the work, you might be able to sue in small claims court for out-of-pocket losses, such as rent or hotel bills because you could not move in on time. See Everybody's Guide to Small Claims Court, by Ralph Warner (Nolo).
And for more advice on buying a new home, including special tips for buyers of newly constructed homes, see Nolo's Essential Guide to Buying Your First Home, by Ilona Bray, Ann O'Connell, and Marcia Stewart.
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