How Do I Compare Home Builders in Pace and Milton?

Compare the contract, not just the model home: the deposit and delay terms, what's included and what's an upgrade, the incentives and what they're tied to, your inspection rights and the build timeline. Builders use their own contracts, and they're written for the builder.

Vivian Corwin is a bilingual Realtor and Military Relocation Professional with IXL Real Estate Florida in Pensacola, FL, helping military and relocating families buy and sell homes across Pensacola, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, and Navarre. I work directly with D.R. Horton, Adams Homes and Holiday Builders, and I help you put builders side by side before you sign anything.

• The deposit. How much, when it's due, and when it stops being refundable.
• Delay terms. What happens if the home isn't finished by the estimated date.
• Selections. When your choices lock in, since late changes can add time.
• Inspections. Your right to bring your own inspector during the build and before closing.

For legal questions about a contract, a real estate attorney is the right person to ask.

A model home is staged to sell the builder's homes. It often shows options that cost extra. Ask each builder for the list of standard features for the home you're considering, and compare those lists, not the models. My post on touring a model home covers what to look for.

Builders offer different incentives, and many come with conditions, like using the builder's preferred lender. Compare the whole package with each builder, not only the incentive amount. My post on builder incentives and the builder's lender walks through how.

A home that's already built carries less schedule risk than one that hasn't started. If you have orders or a date you must move, compare each builder's estimated finish date against your timeline, and ask what happens if it slips. My post on what happens if a new build isn't ready before your PCS move explains the risk.

1. What's standard in this home, and what in the model is an upgrade?
2. How much is the deposit, and when does it stop being refundable?
3. What happens if the home isn't finished on time?
4. Can I bring my own inspector before the walls close up, and again before closing?
5. What incentives are offered now, and what are they tied to?
6. What does the builder's warranty cover, and for how long?

Ask for the answers in writing, so you can compare them side by side.

• Comparing model homes. Compare the standard features instead.
• Comparing only the base price. Incentives, upgrades and terms change the real cost.
• Skipping the contract details. The deposit and delay terms matter most when plans change.
• Forgetting the lot and the drive. Check what's behind the back fence and the drive at rush hour.
• Visiting alone first. Bring your own agent on your first visit to a model home.

Here's an example of how I lay out the steps. It shows the process, and it isn't a real client's story.

• Your must-haves. Budget, timeline, size and the drive you can live with.
• The short list. Communities and homes that fit, finished and to-be-built.
• The visits. I come with you to each model home.
• Side by side. Standard features, incentives, deposits and delay terms compared.
• The negotiation. On incentives, upgrades and closing costs.
• The contract. Reviewed before you sign, with inspections planned.

When you're getting close to closing, my post on what to check before closing on a new build covers the last steps.

What should I compare between builders?

The contract terms, what's included, the incentives and what they're tied to, your inspection rights and the build timeline.

Is the model home what I'll get?

Not always. A model home is staged to sell the builder's homes, so ask what's standard and what's an upgrade.

Can my Realtor help me compare builders?

Yes. Bring your own agent on your first visit, and I'll help you put builders side by side before you sign.

Which builders do you work with?

I work directly with D.R. Horton, Adams Homes and Holiday Builders.

Vivian Corwin is a bilingual Realtor and Military Relocation Professional with IXL Real Estate Florida in Pensacola, FL, helping military and relocating families buy and sell homes across Pensacola, Pace, Milton, Gulf Breeze, and Navarre. Let's talk about your goals and your timeline before you visit a model home.

See how I help new construction buyers, or schedule a time to talk with Vivian.