Short answer: yes — bring your own real estate agent to a new-construction purchase in Middle Tennessee, and bring them in before you ever sign a builder contract or "register" at the model home. The sales counselor sitting at the builder's community is a licensed agent, but their fiduciary duty is to the builder, not to you. Their job is to sell that community's inventory at that community's numbers. Your own agent's job is to represent only you — reviewing the builder's contract and addenda, benchmarking upgrade and lot-premium pricing, tracking the construction timeline, and coordinating an independent inspection before you close. In most transactions this costs you little or nothing extra, because buyer-agent compensation is customarily built into the deal by the builder. The one exception is VA buyers, who are not charged a buyer-agent fee.
Why the builder's on-site rep can't be your agent
This isn't a knock on builder reps — most are professional and know their communities well. But structurally, they represent the seller. Their paycheck depends on selling at the builder's price, on the builder's contract, on the builder's preferred lender and title company when there's an incentive attached. Nothing obligates them to tell you that a lot backs to a future phase, that the "included" features are stripped-down compared to the model, or that the incentive on the table is smaller than what was offered last month. That's not because they're being dishonest — it's because it isn't their job to negotiate against their own employer on your behalf.
Bringing your own agent doesn't cost the builder anything extra and doesn't slow down the process. It simply adds someone to the table whose only job is watching out for you.
What a good new-construction buyer's agent actually does
Reviews the builder's contract before you sign
Builder contracts are written by the builder's attorneys, for the builder. They typically include arbitration clauses, deposit-forfeiture terms, construction-delay language, and change-order pricing that differ meaningfully from a standard resale contract. An agent who reads these regularly can flag the clauses worth asking questions about before you're locked in.
Knows what's actually building, not just what's advertised
Incentives, lot premiums, and included-features lists change by phase and sometimes by week. An agent who tours communities regularly can tell you how this release compares to the last one, and which upgrades are genuinely worth the money versus available cheaper through an outside vendor after closing.
Coordinates an independent inspection
New doesn't mean flawless. A pre-drywall and a final walk-through inspection, arranged by someone working for you rather than the builder's schedule, catches issues while they're still cheap and easy to fix.
Tracks the timeline and keeps you informed
Build timelines slip. A buyer's agent who stays in contact with the builder's team throughout construction can help you plan a move, a rate lock, and a rent-back or closing date around real progress instead of an optimistic estimate.
The Will Johnson Team's new-construction focus
The Will Johnson Team, brokered by eXp Realty, represents buyers across new-construction communities in Middle Tennessee, with an ongoing focus on Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, and Davidson counties. The team tours active communities on a regular basis and keeps working notes on builders, floor plans, and how each community is actually building — not just what the sales brochure says.
Will Johnson is a U.S. Army veteran and former ICU nurse and CRNA who brings a calm, facts-first approach to a process that can otherwise feel like it's moving fast on the builder's terms. He also spent roughly two decades as a real estate investor before shifting to full-time brokerage, which shapes how the team looks at a new build: as a long-term asset decision, not just a floor-plan choice. Will's insight has been featured in CBS MoneyWatch and Bottom Line Personal, and the team carries a RealTrends Verified 2026 ranking.
The team works with buyers across Middle Tennessee's new-construction market generally, and does not represent any single builder — the goal is to walk in as your advocate, whichever community or builder you're considering.
How to bring in your own agent without slowing anything down
- •Call or text before your first visit to a community, or as early as possible if you've already toured — 615-265-1000.
- •Ask your agent to register you at the community on your first visit, so your representation is on record from day one.
- •Have your agent review the purchase agreement and any addenda before you sign, not after.
- •Loop your agent in on upgrade selections and change orders as they come up during the build.
- •Ask your agent to coordinate a pre-drywall and final walk-through inspection independent of the builder's own punch-list process.
A note on cost
Bringing your own agent to a new build typically comes at little or no added cost to you, since buyer-agent representation is customarily arranged as part of the transaction with the builder. VA buyers are not charged for buyer-agent representation. Ask your agent to walk through how compensation works on the specific community you're considering — it's a normal, upfront conversation, not fine print.
Frequently asked questions
Do I have to use the builder's preferred lender or title company?
No. Builders often offer incentives tied to using their preferred lender or title company, and those incentives can be worth comparing against outside quotes — but you're not required to use them. Your own agent can help you weigh whether the incentive is worth it in your situation.
When should I bring in my own agent — before or after I've toured a community?
As early as possible, ideally before your first visit. Most builders require the buyer's agent to be registered or present at the first visit for that agent to represent you on the purchase. If you've already toured on your own, call before you sign anything or place a deposit.
Does the Will Johnson Team work with buyers building anywhere in Middle Tennessee?
The team's ongoing new-construction focus centers on Sumner, Williamson, Wilson, and Davidson counties, with buyer representation available more broadly across Middle Tennessee. Call 615-265-1000 to talk through your specific community or builder.
Is a new-construction home a better long-term value than an existing home?
That depends on the specific home, community, and buyer — there's no universal answer, and no one can reliably predict future appreciation for either. What a good new-construction agent can do is help you compare the real, current numbers: base price, lot premium, included versus optional features, HOA terms, and how the community's build-out is progressing, so you're deciding with full information rather than a sales sheet.
The Will Johnson Team
Nashville real estate · 12+ years · 60–100 transactions a year