Prideful Move • New-construction buyer guide
Dream about the finishes.
Ask about the details.
A new home should be built around your life. Let’s get clear on the lot, the numbers and the decisions behind the beautiful final photos.
I’m Kyle Cavanaugh, a New Hampshire REALTOR® who has built and sold new-construction homes. I bring that practical perspective to the questions we ask together.
Six conversations worth having early
Bring the floor plan.
Keep your questions.
A model home can show possibilities. Your purchase documents, property research and professional advice help establish what applies to your actual home. Use these prompts to organize the conversation.
Love the plan. Understand the lot.
- Which lot and home orientation are you actually buying? What do the plan and available survey show?
- What should you investigate about access, drainage, utilities, easements, a well or septic system, and any association?
- Which questions need confirmation from the municipality, a qualified professional or the relevant records?
Separate “included” from “I assumed.”
- What is included in the base price, and what in the model or rendering is an upgrade?
- How are allowances, selection deadlines, substitutions and changes documented?
- What is specified for appliances, landscaping, driveway, lighting and unfinished spaces? Put the answers beside the actual specifications.
Compare the whole financial picture.
- What deposits, upgrade payments and closing funds are expected, and when? Have the actual terms reviewed before committing.
- If an incentive involves a particular lender, ask for the conditions in writing and compare the complete loan offer.
- Discuss rates, fees, lender credits and timing with your lender. Ask how taxes and insurance were estimated for the completed property.
Plan for a timeline with moving parts.
- What is an estimate, and what is a contractual commitment? Ask your attorney about the terms, notice requirements and available options.
- Who provides updates, how often, and how are changes communicated?
- What is your backup plan for housing, storage, a home sale or a rate lock if timing changes?
Make room for independent eyes.
- Discuss appropriate inspections with a qualified inspector and confirm access, stages and scheduling under your agreement.
- Ask what municipal inspections and approvals apply and how they are documented. They answer different questions from your own due diligence.
- How will the walkthrough, incomplete items and any agreed follow-up be recorded? Confirm who is responsible and the next step.
Know the plan after the keys.
- Who provides the warranty, what does it cover, and what are the exclusions and deadlines?
- What is the process for routine questions, an urgent issue or a written claim?
- Keep specifications, manuals, approvals and warranty documents together. The FTC explains that coverage varies and a service contract is different from a builder warranty.
Before “this is the one.”
Four things I want us to be able to explain:
- The home, lot and features you are buying.
- The full budget and the payments along the way.
- The decisions, deadlines and questions still open.
- The people responsible for the next answers.
Good questions. Clearer next steps.
Still wondering?
When should I reach out about a new-build purchase?
Early in your planning is useful—even before you have a particular builder or development in mind. Tell me what you are considering so we can discuss representation, the process and the questions you want answered before a commitment.
Can I use this guide for every new-construction home?
Use it as a conversation starter. A completed spec home, a home being built for sale and a project on your own land can involve different contracts, financing and responsibilities. We will work from the actual property and documents.
Does a new home mean there is nothing to investigate?
New does not answer every question. The lot, specifications, construction progress, inspections, approvals, costs and warranty terms still deserve attention. Ask qualified professionals about the issues relevant to your purchase.
Your plans. Your people. Your Prideful Move.
A beautiful home.
A better-informed beginning.
Bring your wish list, your floor plan or the question you are not sure how to ask. You do not have to arrive with every answer. We can build a clearer path from here.
Let’s talk about your new homeUseful primary sources: Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: compare loan offers • Federal Trade Commission: warranties for new homes. Sources checked October 28, 2026.
This is a planning resource, not a complete due-diligence list or a substitute for advice on your contract, financing, tax situation or property. Your agreements and the actual project matter.
Kyle Cavanaugh, REALTOR® • CENTURY 21 Lifestyles • NH License #075088
Direct: (603) 203-8187 • Office: (603) 665-0025