New Construction Homes
Can I Have a Buyer's Agent Represent Me When Building?
Posted: August 21, 2026 by TJ Tripp
Building a new home can be a beautifully frustrating and tediously exciting process. Many people don't realize the benefits of having a knowledgeable agent when building a home. Before the hammers start swinging, you need to set yourself up for success and know how to find the right builder for you.
Let's “pull back the curtain” on using an agent when building a home and answer some of the questions I'm asked most often. Hopefully, this information will help you feel confident about the process and alleviate some of those potential BIG headaches.
Can I Have a Buyer's Agent Represent Me When Building a House?
Why, yes, you can! It's easy to assume you can't use a Realtor when you're buying directly from a builder. You walk into a beautiful model home, sit down with a friendly sales representative, and they walk you through their process.
The problem is that the builder's sales representative represents the builder, and their job is to sell you on building with their company.
When starting the process of building a home, you need someone representing your interests. It can be overwhelming to compare different builders, communities, incentives, lot options, and floor plans.
The most important decisions happen early in the process, but even in the middle of construction, I've had to step in when a buyer felt like the builder wasn't taking their concerns seriously.
Does the Builder Pay the Buyer's Commission?
Builders often advertise that they will pay a commission at closing to the agent who refers the buyer. In fact, I've recently received emails from builders offering additional commission incentives if one of my clients builds with them during a particular month or year.
I share this with you because many homebuyers don't realize this benefit and don't consult with an agent because they fear an additional out-of-pocket expense. Any amount of money paid to DarbyView Realty needs to be disclosed to you before you sign any contract or agreement.
Can I Visit a Model Home First and Then Use a Realtor?
Some builders have strict “registration policies.” They may require an agent to register you or accompany you on your very first visit in order for your agent to receive compensation from the builder at closing.
A quality builder's sales representative can make all the difference in your building experience. The person sitting in the model home isn't always the most knowledgeable about the community or the incentives being offered. Our brokerage does have a short list of quality sales representatives with most home builders in Central Ohio, and we are happy to refer builder representatives who offer a great experience.
Can I Negotiate the Price of a New Home?
Every builder is different, but I find that builders are often more negotiable on incentives rather than price. Lowering the price can affect the appraised value of future homes they build in the community, so they would rather “sweeten the deal” with additional incentives.
One of the biggest missed opportunities I see isn't necessarily getting a lower price, but knowing how to maximize the incentives the builder is already offering.
Builder incentives could include:
- Buyer closing-cost credits
- Design-center credits
- Interest-rate incentives or buydowns
- Free or discounted upgrades
- Lot-location incentives
- Appliance packages
Generally, a builder won't reduce the price by $10,000, but they may offer $20,000–$40,000 worth of incentives that can have a very real impact on your overall costs.
Can I Use a Realtor to Build a Custom Home?
Fully custom or semi-custom homes often have way more moving pieces. Before you can even purchase the land, you may need to find the right builder, lender, soil scientist, surveyor, zoning officials, etc.
This is where using an experienced and knowledgeable agent can really be valuable.
I've worked with different builders and lenders over the years, and I can help connect you with people based on your particular goals, budget, building style, and location.
I don't believe in simply handing you a list of names. I want to help you find the right combination of land + builder + financing + design for the home you actually want to build.
Thinking About Building? Make a Plan.
If you're even thinking about building a new home, a casual planning call can be incredibly beneficial before you start visiting model homes.
Finding the right builders, floor plans, pricing, lot availability, and builder incentives can all help prepare you before you ever sit down with a builder's sales representative.
My goal is to share all the information you need so that you can make a wise and well-informed decision for you and your family.
