Building a custom home is one of the most personal and rewarding investments you can make. Do you need a realtor when building a custom home? Or more specifically, do you need a realtor to buy land or help with new construction? In a market as competitive and fast-moving as Charlotte, having both a realtor and a custom home builder can offer a clear advantage. Below, you'll find what value a realtor adds and how one can help you buy land.
Here's what you can expect in this resource:
A custom home builder is responsible for designing, permitting, and constructing your residence. A realtor helps you find the land, understand its value, negotiate the purchase, and protect your investment throughout the process.
These roles are not interchangeable. Your builder focuses on craftsmanship, design, and execution. Your realtor focuses on the market, land suitability, and ensuring that your total investment is supported by location and long-term value. Both professionals are critical in creating a home that is not only beautiful but also a wise investment.
If you already own land, your builder can begin with design and planning. If you are still searching, your realtor becomes your first point of contact, helping you find and secure a lot that aligns with your vision.
In Charlotte's current market, land is scarce and competition is high. Many of the best lots are sold through private networks before they ever reach the public. A well-connected realtor is often the difference between securing the right property and missing the opportunity entirely.
Here is where a skilled realtor brings real value:
Private access to land opportunities, including off-market listings, teardowns, and builder partnerships
Knowledge of local market trends to guide investment decisions and avoid overpaying
Negotiation strategy to secure favorable terms and avoid costly contingencies
Alignment with your builder, ensuring the land supports your design goals and project scope
When you are building a custom home, the process starts with the land. A realtor with the right relationships and market awareness will help you secure a site that supports the home you want to build, without unnecessary risk or delay.
Yes, we're home builders, but to build a home, we first need to find you the right land. That's why we're here to answer your questions about realtors when you're in the process of building a custom home.
In North Carolina, you are not legally required to use a realtor to purchase land. However, it is one of the smartest decisions you can make when building a custom home. This is why Simonini Homes offers a concierge realty service that we pair with our custom home services to help you find the perfect plot of land.
Buying land involves far more than price and location. Your realtor will help you evaluate zoning, utility access, environmental constraints, topography, and community guidelines. These are not always apparent from a listing and can significantly impact the design and budget of your home.
In Charlotte, prime lots are often limited and competitive. A well-connected realtor can give you access to off-market listings, teardowns, and opportunities you might not find on your own. The best ones will also anticipate issues before they arise, protecting your time and financial investment.
If you choose not to work with a realtor or a builder with realty options, you take on full responsibility for the land acquisition process. That means you will need to identify suitable lots, research zoning and buildability, manage negotiations, and coordinate inspections or surveys. Some builders offer additional services to help you. If you work with a custom home builder in Charlotte who doesn't, you should consider finding an additional realtor.
If you don't, you may also lose access to key insights that come from local market knowledge. You could overpay for a property, choose land that cannot support your intended design, or miss out on faster-moving opportunities because you were not aware of them in time. The cost of buying land in Charlotte is too great to invest without having an experienced team by your side.
The only potential advantage is avoiding a commission fee. However, in most transactions, the commission is paid by the seller. As the buyer, you gain professional representation without added cost.
More importantly, working without a realtor increases the likelihood of making uninformed decisions. You may purchase land that requires unexpected infrastructure, has deed restrictions, or presents slope and grading issues that dramatically affect your building budget.
In almost every case, the expertise of a realtor more than pays for itself by preventing unnecessary expenses, protecting your timeline, and helping you secure the right lot for your long-term goals.
As we've mentioned, a realtor is helpful if you don't already own the land that you want to build on. Even if you are working directly with a builder, your realtor remains an important part of your team. They help you evaluate whether the lot supports the home you have in mind, and they serve as your advocate during critical decisions. More and more builders are offering land-buying services for these reasons.
For example, if your build involves a homeowners’ association or neighborhood design review, your realtor can help interpret those guidelines. But most importantly, a realtor is your guide to finding land in a competitive market.
While not required, working with a real estate agent for new construction offers peace of mind and better results. A buyer’s agent can help you interpret builder contracts, advocate for upgrades or incentives, and understand the full cost of the project before construction begins. Having an extra set of eyes means having someone on your side who is focused entirely on your goals, budget, and timeline.
If you are a licensed agent in North Carolina, you may represent yourself in a real estate transaction. However, it is worth considering whether that serves your best interests.
Building a custom home is time-consuming and complex. Adding the responsibilities of contract negotiation, land research, and due diligence may limit your ability to focus on the design and build process itself. Even experienced agents often choose to work with another professional when building for themselves. If you do represent yourself, you'll want to work with a builder with excellent liaison and communication skills.
At Simonini Homes, you have the advantage of working with one unified, experienced team. We offer both custom home building and licensed real estate services, all under one roof. This integrated approach, combined with our process, creates fewer handoffs, clearer communication, and a smooth experience from your initial consultation to move-in day.
Whether you already own land or are just beginning your search, our in-house realtors will guide you through site selection, contract navigation, and local requirements. From there, our architects, designers, and builders will bring your vision to life with exceptional craftsmanship. Take a look at our portfolio and imagine what's possible.
Contact Simonini Homes today to speak with a licensed realtor or custom home advisor. We would be honored to help you build something exceptional.