What Are Buyers of New Construction REALLY Looking For?

As a person I have been through the construction of two homes both times I have been involved in the design of the blueprints and construction. The experiences were as different as day and night! The first was a two story within the city limits and under City Approval plus was in a gated community with an HOA! Before even buying the lot we met with the developer about the restrictions in the subdivision as our home would be the first two story in the subdivision. What if the restrictions had something in them that we didn't want to live with? The builder we worked with was wonderful; any questions we had he answered, he was on the job site every day. His subcontractors knew his expectations; they worked within those bounds and he used the same subcontractors on all his jobs. Years later I have determined that using the same subcontractors makes all the difference because they know each others work and how to work behind one another.

As a Bullard, TX REALTOR® I have very few REALTORS® ever ask for subdivision restrictions or if it is a lot for deed restrictions. So how does the person know if they want to live there with the restrictions that are in place?

With the construction of our second (and present) home I was involved with the design of the blueprints and construction, again before buying the lot; we wanted to know the subdivision restrictions. This experience was a nightmare! Our contractor was not on site every day. The best I can say about our present home is that it has "good bones" because the framer was meticulous.

Since having both experiences, I am now a Bullard, TX REALTOR® and a builder's wife who is totally immersed in new construction, I still ask the question, "What are people looking for in new construction?" We only build sec homes trying to make every square foot useable space, with quality material and appliances. The colors, flooring and interior are quality while keeping the price affordable. (Insert interior pictures) We have started our eighth house in two and half years using the same subcontractors and suppliers.

• Can a REALTOR® or client tell anything about the contractor by the way the construction site is maintained?

• Do you know if the house has good "bones"?

• Building in the country usually has County requirements which may be different than building within the city.
• How do you know if the contractor is building to code in the area you want to build?
• If buying an already built new construction do you ask for a list of the subcontractors, care instructions for flooring materials used, what kind of water system used, where is the cut off valves located, etc.?

I would want to know as much about restrictions, and building requirements as I would about the materials used in construction.