The short answer
Speak with your own advisor before visiting, registering online or reserving a home. Ask each builder for its current process; one builder’s registration policy is not an industry-wide rule.
01 / Field notes
Who represents whom in a new-build purchase?
The sales centre is the place to learn about the builder’s homes, specifications and selling process. It does not automatically provide independent buyer representation. Ask each person what their role is and who they represent. RECA distinguishes a customer relationship from a client relationship; receiving information or help completing paperwork is not the same as having an advisor represent your interests. Austin and Real Estate Partners can explain the proposed buyer-side service before you decide whether to engage them.
02 / Field notes
Ask about registration before the first visit
Builders set their own cooperation and registration procedures. Some ask the buyer’s REALTOR® to attend and register at the first showhome visit; online inquiries can also be relevant to how a builder records an introduction. McKee’s published sales FAQ is one example of a builder-specific first-visit process, not a universal policy. Ask the relevant sales team for the current written requirements and have your advisor confirm the intended introduction. Do not assume a later visit can retroactively change an earlier registration.
03 / Field notes
If you have already visited or registered
Tell your advisor exactly what happened: which community and builder you contacted, the approximate date, whether you supplied your details and whether you signed or reserved anything. Share the documents you actually received through a suitable private channel. A constructive next step is to ask the sales team to clarify the existing record and what options remain. Do not invent a first visit, conceal an earlier contact or ask someone to change a factual record. Representation and builder-paid cooperation are separate questions that need clear answers.
04 / Field notes
Discuss services and compensation plainly
Ask what your advisor will do, what is outside their role, how long the agreement lasts, how compensation is determined and who is responsible for it. Builder cooperation may vary by project and transaction. Do not rely on a general promise that representation is always free, that using an advisor guarantees a discount, or that buying directly changes the price by a specific amount. Get the relevant agreement explained before proceeding and obtain legal advice for contract questions. A lender, lawyer and inspector have distinct responsibilities.
05 / Field notes
Make the introduction useful to the sales team
Bring a concise search brief with the preferred home format, locations, approximate purchase range, timing and non-negotiable requirements. Identify what is flexible. For example, a buyer may need a main-floor workspace but be flexible about cabinet colour; that helps the sales team identify appropriate plans instead of quoting every available model. Ask your advisor and the builder to agree on the main contact, how written answers will be shared and who follows up on outstanding items. Respect the builder’s appointment and construction-site access procedures.
06 / Field notes
Keep a shared decision record
After the visit, summarize the exact lot, plan, elevation, quote date, selection deadlines and unanswered questions. Ask the sales team to confirm important factual details in writing. Your advisor can help organize comparisons and keep the next steps clear, but should not promise changes to a builder’s specification or contract on the builder’s behalf. The useful outcome is a documented process in which the buyer understands the decision, the sales team receives focused questions and each professional knows their responsibility. No purchase or partnership is created by reading this guide.
Put this into practice
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Sources & scope
Practical questions and checklists are REP editorial guidance. The official resources below support the regulatory or technical context. This is general education, not legal, tax, mortgage, engineering or inspection advice. Confirm the rules and documents that apply to your purchase.
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