"Questions to Ask at the Sales Office"

A model home is designed to make you fall in love. The sales office is where the numbers are, and the numbers are where the surprises live. This checklist gives you the questions that matter most, grouped the way a purchase actually unfolds, so you can walk in prepared, take notes and walk out knowing what you were told.

Before you visit

Many builders require your agent to register you the first time you walk into a community. If you visit alone first, your options can narrow. That is why we ask you to talk to us before you visit or register anywhere. It takes one short conversation, and it keeps your choices open. In most communities the builder pays our fee, subject to the builder's registration requirements, and we confirm the details in writing before you tour.

1. Price and what is included

The price on the sign is where the conversation starts, not where it ends.

• Is this price fixed? What could cause it to change?
• What does the standard-features list include, and what counts as an upgrade?
• What are the lot premium and every option, listed in writing?
• What is not included, such as fencing, landscaping or window treatments?

What a good answer sounds like: specific, with a written feature list and a price sheet you can take with you. "It's all included" is not a list.

2. Deposit and contract

Your deposit is real money, and the contract decides when you can get it back.

• How much is the deposit, and when is each payment due?
• Where is it held, and when can the builder use it?
• When is it refundable, and what happens if I cancel after that?
• Can I take the contract home to read before I pay anything?

What a good answer sounds like: dates, amounts and a clear yes to taking the contract home. See our new construction contract checklist for what to look for once you have it.

3. Timing

A closing date can be an estimate, a window or a promise. They are not the same.

• Is the closing date an estimate, a window or a promise?
• What is the outside date, and what happens if the home is late?
• Which delays can the builder claim, such as weather or supply problems?
• When do selections and design-center decisions need to be made?

What a good answer sounds like: an outside date in writing and a clear list of what counts as a permitted delay.

4. Incentives

A big number in a headline is not the same as value to you.

• What exactly is the incentive, and can I have it in writing?
• Does it require a particular lender or closing date?
• What happens to it if the closing date moves?
• Is there a cash alternative, such as a price reduction or credit?

What a good answer sounds like: a dollar amount, the conditions, and where it appears in the contract. Our guides on builder incentives vs. outside lenders and what incentives are actually worth show how to compare.

5. Monthly and ongoing costs

Two homes at the same price can have very different monthly costs.

• What are the HOA fees now, and how often can they change?
• Is there a CDD assessment? How much, and for how long?
• What is the estimated property tax on this home?
• What does the HOA cover, and what are the rules I must follow?

What a good answer sounds like: numbers for this home, not a range for the neighborhood. Ask what the tax estimate is based on, because an estimate based on the land alone can understate your first full bill. Our guide to Florida costs for newcomers explains each one.

6. The home and the neighborhood

• Who decides what counts as an equal substitution?
• Can the plans, the lot or the home's position change?
• What does the warranty cover, for how long, and where is it written?
• Which amenities and phases are promised, and by when?
• Can I visit during construction, and bring an inspector?

What a good answer sounds like: written terms for the warranty, a clear list of promised amenities with dates, and a yes to visits. An amenity that is "planned" is not the same as one that is built.

How to use this at the sales office

1. 1Bring the checklist and a pen, on paper or on your phone.
2. 2Write down the answer and the name of the person who gave it.
3. 3Ask for anything that matters in writing, as an addendum or in the contract.
4. 4Do not rush. You can ask to take the contract and the price sheet home.
5. 5Compare the answers from each community side by side, so you are comparing the same things.

If you do not get a clear answer

A vague answer is still an answer. It tells you what has not been decided or what is not offered. Say, "Could you put that in writing?" and see what comes back. If you would like a second voice in the room, we are happy to help.

How Casera Haus helps

We are licensed real estate professionals with more than ten years of experience in South Florida, and we represent buyers only. We bring this checklist with us, ask the questions that matter, and compare the answers across communities and builders. We never push a sale or steer you toward a home because of an incentive. Every client signs a written Buyer Broker Agreement that states how we are paid, and we add nothing to the builder's price. We are not lenders, and nothing here is legal, tax or lending advice.

Frequently asked questions

Do I need to bring anything to the sales office?

This checklist, a pen and your questions. If you have a mortgage pre-approval, bring that too.

Should I register before I visit?

Please talk to us first. Many builders require your agent to register you on your first visit, and a visit on your own can narrow your options.

Can I get the answers in writing?

You can ask. If it matters, it belongs in the contract or an addendum.

Can I take the contract home?

Ask before you pay anything. Reading it at home, without a time limit at the sales desk, is reasonable.

Do the questions change by community?

Yes. Every builder and community is different, so use this as a starting point and add your own.

Will it cost more to work with Casera Haus?

We add nothing to the builder's price. In most communities the builder pays our fee, and we confirm it in writing before you tour.

Where to go next

1. 1Download the printable checklist (PDF).
2. 2Read what to know before signing a new construction contract in Florida.
3. 3Read the complete guide to buying new construction in South Florida.
4. 4Book a free conversation at caserahaus.com/contact.

Notes

This checklist is general information, not legal, tax or lending advice. Every builder and community is different. Reviewed by the Casera Haus team.