Here’s What You Can (And Can’t) Negotiate on a New Construction Home

So, you fell in love with a new construction home. It’s easy to see why — with a shiny new everything and designs for a modern-day life, a new build property likely has a lot of the bells and whistles. But we all know homes are more expensive to build than ever.

The building blocks of home construction, such as cement, concrete block and brick, as well as ready-mixed concrete, saw price changes upwards of 6% in June 2024 compared to last year. With that in mind, do you really have room to negotiate on a brand-new property? Or will you have to suck it up and pay the builder’s list price?

While negotiating for a new construction property differs from negotiating on a pre-existing property, it certainly can be done. There are ways to get a lower price or ask for upgrades if you know what you’re doing. Hiring a real estate agent with experience in new construction homes can also help you secure the best deal without sacrificing your dreams of a brand-new home.

“It’s always a possibility to negotiate. A lot of builders will upfront tell you that this is what I’m selling and I’m not gonna negotiate on anything, but there is no negative to asking,” according to Brad Gore, a real estate agent and builder who works with over 74% more single-family homes than the average agent in Branson, Missouri.

Can you negotiate with the builder when buying a new construction home?

New construction home negotiations may feel impossible when builders often set prices and floor plans way in advance. But it never hurts to ask. Even if price negotiations are off the table, you may be able to negotiate the floor plan, appliances, or other home features.

“There’s no shame in trying to negotiate to get the best deal,” according to Gore. Work with a real estate agent experienced in new construction home negotiations to help you get the most bang for your buck. Let’s discuss the home aspects you can try to negotiate.