July 28th, 2023 1:02 PM by Linda Holley
There are 1,172 new homes on the market today in Sarasota and Manatee Counties and 61 new home communities in the Herald Tribune today. Those in the newspaper are just the big builders--Neal, Taylor Morrison, DR Horton, and more. Always take your own Realtor to a new home community. The on-site agent works for the builder, not you. I can help you through negotiations and your own independent inspections.
New homes come with builders' warranties, new roofs and HVACs but smaller lots. One thing you won't have to worry about is Chinese drywall in today's new homes, or correcting problems in an existing resale. This week I saw a single-family home (resale) with the garage converted to a bonus room and eleven other issues to be corrected, which would have cost the buyer approximately $30,000 out of pocket.
BUYERS BEWARE! If you're having a home built, be sure you're working with a reputable general contractor. Find out how long this contractor has been licensed in the State of Florida by verifying the license with the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association, Sarasota County, and the State of Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DPBR). Example: Modus Builders was not part of the 61 builders in the Herald Tribune today but is a member of the Manatee Sarasota Building Industry Association. Checking further through the Sarasota County Building Department, I see that he's been licensed since 2018.
You can also search online with Florida DBPR. Note that many general contractors are no longer in business.
Going one step further, you can check with the Sarasota Clerk of Court and see if Modus Builders has been a party to any local lawsuits. There are none.
So that's how you check out general contractors in Florida.
Call Linda Holley, Realtor, GRI, SRES, CIPS, Fine Properties, for your real estate needs in Sarasota County, Florida. 941-914-4914
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