builder

New Home? Get It Inspected

December 26, 2018 by khproperties Leave a Comment

We’ve written on this subject multiple times, but it never becomes less important. Recently, we’ve seen quite a few clients choose to go without an inspection on a new build home and we’re concerned it may be a growing trend. A general home inspection (and at times other key inspections like pool, HVAC, well, septic, etc.) is an essential part of the home buying process.

Common wisdom is that when you inspect an older home you will find problems – no home is perfect. We’d like to make it common wisdom that if you inspect any home, old or new, you will find problems. It’s just a fact of life.

We could write lists of things we’ve discovered on inspections at new homes: windows not caulked and sealed, fireplaces built in the wrong place, missing wiring, wrong appliances, broken appliances, exterior walls missing insulation, dangerous wiring improperly done, doors you couldn’t open, windows installed crooked…it’s an endless list. Pointing this out is not to say all builders are bad, but rather all builders are human. Ever have a bad day at work and know your focus isn’t solid like it should be? Ever had family stuff distract you from the work in front of you? Ever just flat out forget a key step in what you do day in and day out and realize it days later after it’s too late to correct? It happens to all of us.

Inspections allow you a second set of eyes to look at the things. They allow you an independent opinion of the house. All builders go through their own inspection processes, but those inspections are designed to benefit them, not you. That’s not to say they’re shady and one big set up, it’s just that we all have our focus – the builder’s is not exactly the same as yours.

An inspection will cost you money, but the money you spend will save you money by finding the problems before they become big problems later. Talk to your agent about getting an inspection and if your builder discourages you from getting one, let the red flags wave.

image courtesy of dynamosquito

Canyons at Scenic Loop and McNair Custom Homes

November 16, 2018 by khproperties Leave a Comment

John McNair with McNair Custom Homes takes a few moments to talk about the Canyons at Scenic Loop and what makes it such a highly desirable neighborhood in San Antonio in this this video. You can see 10211 Nina Ridge, McNair Custom Homes latest build in Canyons at Scenic Loop, coming along nicely in the video and as always, John does an excellent job summing up the neighborhood. We’re excited to be a part of this home and the Canyons at Scenic Loop community. If you’d like to learn more about this incredible home or any of the homes built by McNair Custom Homes, contact us and we’ll get you set up to tour some of their inventory and sit down with them if you’re ready to build your dream home.

You can also learn more about the Canyons at Scenic Loop by visiting the developers site at www.thecanyonstx.com.

Building Your Dream Home

October 12, 2018 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Have you ever considered building your dream home from the ground up? Starting from scratch, choosing every detail, and creating something that is perfect for your needs? Many people dream of the day they can build their own home. It’s an exciting thought to be the first one to live in the home but also the one who made all of the decisions that give the home its character.
Building a home is not an overnight task and will take some planning, but on move-in day, you can look back and think of all the moments and decisions that got you here today. There are some things to consider to get you prepared to build your new home and we thought we’d take a look at some of the items you’ll want to consider.

Get To Know Your Builder

Finding a builder is your first step, so get to know the local builders in the area. This is one of the many areas a Realtor can become your best friend during the process. While you may feel you could save a few bucks going it alone, the experience and knowledge of your agent combined will be invaluable. And that’s only the beginning. To get to know the builders, you should look at their inventory, but also take a look at some of their older homes (ask your agent to find some currently for sale). How have they held up over time? What are the locals saying? Do you know someone that owns a home built by the builder? What do they think? A builders’ reputation is everything, and word travels fast.

Stadler Custom Homes Builds Home for Charity

October 2, 2018 by khproperties Leave a Comment

Stadler Custom Homes is building a new home in Hidden Canyon, one of Stone Oak’s newest neighborhoods, to benefit the Military Warriors Support Foundation and the San Antonio Food Bank. The home at 650 Winding Ravine is starting to take shape and we can’t wait to see the finished product. Ray Stadler has been building new homes in the San Antonio area since 1995 and has been very active in giving back to the community. While we wait for the home to be finished, check out the video of the footprint of the home and the surrounding land in this drone shot aerial video.

Building or Buying a New Home? Use a Real Estate Agent

July 8, 2013 by khproperties 2 Comments

New Home Buyer Beware

Ah, new homes. There’s nothing like the sparkling shine when you walk through the front door of a freshly built home after the sawdust settles and in rolls the faint smell of paint and potential. It’s a unique feeling to know that your family will be the first to fill the space between those walls or that each and every detail was selected by you for the way you want to live.

Billboards and masses of flags line the streets guiding you in to these new communities as you begin your home search. But not everything can be as good as it seems once you’re in the door. Here’s why you really, really should use an agent when you decide to buy one of these gleaming new abodes:

Builders expect you to use an agent. They calculate agent commissions into their sales pricing already. And it’s something they have already figured out when they offer or agree to reduce the sales price or offer concessions like upgrades. You don’t get a lower price when builders don’t have to pay commissions – you just get less representation and the builders make more than they planned.
Negotiating. Builder prices are not always firm and they’re not always based off of the entire local real estate market. Builders generally have some give on their prices or in the features or upgrades they can offer. Why not have an advocate pushing to get you the most for your money?
Experience. As a first time home buyer or a first time new home buyer, did you know that most builders don’t include blinds or sod? Did you know that some consider tile and wood to be standard flooring, while others charge a premium? Do you know the stages of building construction or what to do if something goes wrong early in the process? A good agent will. And a great agent will help guide you through those stages and help solve any potential problems. Not to mention the fact that experienced agents can offer advice on price of upgrades, contractors, and workmanship.
On-site salespeople work for the builder. They may seem nice and friendly, but ultimately it’s their job to get money for the builder. While some are awesome and most are good, there just might be an unscrupulous few out there. We’ve seen everything from mysteriously unavailable sales counselors when buyers have questions after signing the contract to others who have told outright lies about included features and basic terms of the contracts. Realtors are regulated by a state licensing board and held to the higher standard of the National Association of REALTORS® Code of Ethics while on-site salespeople are not.
Contracts. Purchase agreements are legally binding contracts on both parties. While agents are not attorneys, they do see contracts every day and can help give advice on what elements to be aware of and which to lookout for. Just today I heard the story of an unrepresented buyer who signed a purchase agreement with a new home builder and didn’t pay attention to the fact that there was no clause making the purchase contingent on the sale of their other home. If this buyer’s home does not close by the time the new one is built, this buyer could be out a lot of money.

As you can see, it just makes sense to have a real estate agent on your side when purchasing a new home. The builder will pay the commission to your agent and you get someone who will take care of the details and make sure you get the best from the deal.

image courtesy of antony_mayfield