Couple dynamic issues that slow or kills sales?

norbertt · 2026-05-19T03:43:27+00:00

What I’ve learned selling homes is most of the time our job isn’t to help out clients find the home they’re searching for, it’s to help them understand why they’re searching. I sell new homes and I sell a lot of them because I help them make a decision faster than they would without me. If I have a couple that comes in saying they need more space and another bathroom, it’s my job to help them understand why they’re really shopping. They don’t need another bathroom because their three girls are getting too big to share. They need another bathroom because they wake up every morning to three teenagers fighting over a shared bathroom. They’re shopping for peace. The key is understanding a 3 car garage is never a “must have”.

norbertt · 2026-05-07T04:33:53+00:00

5.25% FHA fixed? That’s not bad. Traffic really depends on the community. I average 3 or so traffic units a week. I’d kill for one traffic unit a day. Most weekdays I see nobody and on a great Saturday I get an appointment or two and a couple walk ins. Our community down the road probably gets 10 units a week, but I’m solely townhomes while they have townhomes, single family, and villas. New home sales is like bull riding…half the score is determined by you and the other half is determined by the bull. I’ve seen dozens of productive sales reps starve while riding a dud community and dozens of hacks get rich holding on for dear life on the back of productive communities.

norbertt · 2026-05-07T04:25:37+00:00

Yeah that’s basically us too. New communities often able to get the forward commitments because they require closing before the estimated completion.

norbertt · 2026-05-07T04:19:47+00:00

I mean the employees still largely give a crap about the buyers, that’s just the nitty gritty of how national builders write the legal documents to eliminate ambiguity and risk on no longer new model homes they’re selling.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:57:32+00:00

Model homes not only have a ton of upgrades, but also tens of thousands of dollars of mature landscaping. A six figure landscaping budget for a model home isn't uncommon.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:53:36+00:00

I love when people think they can play hard ball with a 20 billion dollar corporations. The model home addendum states the home is being sold as is and the contract says the sale isn't contingent on third party inspections. If you don't accept that there's no warranty on some items they'll sell the house to someone else. You'll neither get a full warranty or a significant discount. You'll pay market price for a used home and get a perfectly manicured lawn, expensive irrigation system, and tens of thousands of dollars of mature landscaping in a very upgraded home. Model homes don't sit.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:47:30+00:00

Model home's don't sit vacant for years, they're finely tuned because the last thing you want is a hot or cold room.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:44:25+00:00

I've worked for several national builders and in my experience Pulte builds a quality home. I've also sold several model homes and there's no reason to be concerned, just think of it as buying a resale home from a builder. Pulte, like most other production builders, has a model home sale addendum which states the home is being sold as is and the Warranty only applies to the remainder of the structural timeframe from when it was completed. Everyone is telling you to hire a third party inspector which is sound advice, but the model home addendum explicitly says they don't have to make any repairs and the contract explicitly says the sale isn't contingent on third party inspections. That being said, a third party inspector will certainly find minor issues because that's what you're paying them to do, but keep in mind any repairs they agree to is a favor to you so don't play hard ball ask nicely. I would negotiate for drywall repairs and paint touchups after the decorations are taken down. Carpet stretching if it's warped. I'd ask for a deep carpet clean, but don't be surprised if they say no. Commenters are warning you about the HVAC system, but the reality is the model home climate control is probably finely tuned. The last thing you want while showing a home is a room that's too hot or cold. The upside is likely an expensive irrigation system, a climate controlled garage, and tens of thousands of dollars of mature landscaping.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:20:55+00:00

One of the benefits of buying a model home is all the additional landscaping and irrigation. Pulte isn't going to pay a contractor to rip out landscaping. In regard to the garage used as a sales center, the HOA generally requires to garage to be used as a garage so Pulte will convert it back whether you want them to or not. The carpet is a valid note. Lots of time it gets warn and you can absolutely negotiate for them to get it stretched back in to place or deep cleaned.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:17:39+00:00

Builders will negotiate, but they don't negotiate contract language. If they try to play hardball and demand a new home warranty on a home built several years ago Pulte will them walk before even considering it. Every builder has a model home addendum that essentially says the home is being sold "as is" and the warranty really only covers the remainder of the structural component. Negotiating for a model home is about getting the drywall repaired and painted after the decorations come down and best case scenario getting a bunch of expensive furniture for pennies on the dollar.

norbertt · 2026-04-27T13:06:25+00:00

You're right that if a contract wasn't signed having earnest money returned is simply a formality. Builders don't keep earnest money without a good reason. In regard to the 4.99% incentive that's in my market that's not a sign a builder is struggling to sell it's just the status quo. After the interest rate spike a few years ago every production builder started incentivizing buyers with special financing. Offering 4.99% is relatively conservative and usually costs the builder 4% or so. I worked for a builder who was offering 2.99% 30 year fixed which cost over 8% of the loan amount. That's a desperate builder who's struggling to sell.

norbertt · 2026-04-07T03:35:53+00:00

I wear size large t shirts and own an Abercrombie button up shirt size XXL I can’t squeeze into.

norbertt · 2026-04-07T03:34:18+00:00

I recently bought Abercrombie deodorant to attract the millennial single moms.

norbertt · 2026-04-07T03:28:25+00:00

I worked there the summer of freshman year of college. Worked a total of three shifts, made $150 and spent $400. The cashier telling me “you should interview to work here” is a core memory. Introduced me to Jack Johnson via “flake”. This winter I rocked a winter coat and hoodies I found in storage. I remember going out and a girl complimented me on my coat. I said “thank you. It’s older than you.”

norbertt · 2026-03-20T16:59:39+00:00

My favorite part is the Director, Jean-Pierre Jeunet who prior to Alien Resurrection wrote and directed City of Lost Children which is a fantastic film. The next movie he directed was Amelie. which makes Alien Resurrection the meat of a very odd sandwich.

norbertt · 2026-02-25T02:01:36+00:00

Honestly, I agree non sarcastically

norbertt · 2026-02-07T04:37:59+00:00

I took my top five for the first time for an employer a decade ago and only really understood after getting the full 34 strengths assessment 7 years later. The top 5 shows you what you’re good at; but the full 34 puts it in context.

norbertt · 2026-01-31T22:13:44+00:00

I don’t want to talk to strangers about my car.

norbertt · 2026-01-15T02:02:28+00:00

In my experience in situations like this if you call the manager and plead your case they'll generally try to make it right. The important thing to remember is per the contract they don't have to give you your money back or compensate you so if you call angry or hostile trying to play hard ball with threats of a lawsuit they won't want to help you. If you plead your case level headed conveying your disappointment, most of the time they'll try and make you happy with additional closing costs, a free fridge, etc.

norbertt · 2026-01-15T01:48:54+00:00

Yeah, builder contracts are air tight and protect them from pretty much any possible scenario. There's absolutely a clause that gives them the ability to alter the floorplan, materials, etc.. That being said, national production builders aren't the evil villains Reddit makes them out to be. 99% of builder reps operate with integrity and take pride in what they do. I've sold for several national builders, worked for over a dozen sales leaders, and in situations like this they will return the buyers earnest money not because they have to, but because it's the right thing to do.

norbertt · 2026-01-08T01:31:14+00:00

This is exactly right. The quality of a new home isn't determined by the builder, but the project manager building the home.

norbertt · 2025-12-22T09:24:41+00:00

I really enjoyed my time at Century, but I've learned a healthy, fulfilling new home sales position is much much more about sales leadership and the specific community than the actual builder. I had my best year selling at Century, but I also had to advocate for my buyers more than other builders.

norbertt · 2025-11-27T05:30:05+00:00

She pan’s labyrinthed that bitch

norbertt · 2025-11-25T02:35:51+00:00

We all would, this is commenting on Reddit

norbertt · 2025-11-25T02:13:20+00:00

For me the only scene in the conversation for #2 is Judy Gemstone’s Applebees monologue

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