Short answer: Yes, if you plan to use an agent, bring them or register them with the builder before your first visit. Policies vary by builder, but many require your agent to be registered at or before your first visit to the model home or sales office. If you visit alone first, some builders may decline to work with an agent you bring later. Check with each builder before you go.
Registration policies vary by builder
Builders in Cumberland, Dauphin, York and Perry counties each set their own rules for working with buyer's agents. There is no single standard. Many builders require your agent to be registered at or before your first visit, often when you sign the guest card at the model home or sales office. Policies can differ by community and can change, so confirm directly with the builder.
Why the first visit matters
If you tour a model alone and register as an unrepresented buyer, some builders may decline to work with an agent you bring in later. That can affect who represents you through contract, options, inspections and closing. See do I need an agent for new construction?
How to register your agent
- Bring your agent with you to the first visit, or
- Have your agent contact the builder's sales office before you go, by phone, email or the builder's form, and
- Write your agent's name on the guest card and ask the sales office to confirm the registration in writing.
Have your buyer agreement in place
In Pennsylvania, agents who are MLS participants need a written buyer agreement with you before touring homes together, including model homes. It sets out how your agent is paid. Read more in who pays the buyer's agent on new construction?
Where to start
Call or text before your first model visit and I'll register with the builder ahead of time. Browse every Central PA new construction community and current builder incentives.
Ask Josh to register before your visit
Frequently asked questions
Can I visit a model home first and add my agent later?
Sometimes, but don't count on it. Registration policies vary by builder and can change. Many builders ask for your agent to be identified at or before your first visit, and some may not recognize an agent added afterward. The safest move is to register your agent before you walk in.
Does my agent have to be physically with me at the model home?
Not always. Some builders accept a registration from your agent by phone, email or a form before your visit; others ask that the agent attend in person. Ask the builder's sales office how they handle it, and have your agent confirm the registration in writing.
What counts as a first visit?
It depends on the builder. For many, signing the guest card or registration sheet at the model home or sales office counts. Some may also count an online registration or a scheduled appointment. Ask before you sign anything.
Do I need a buyer agreement before touring a model home with an agent?
Yes. Since the 2024 changes to industry practice following the NAR settlement, agents who are MLS participants need a written buyer agreement before touring homes with you, including model homes.
What should I ask the builder before my first visit?
Ask whether they require agent registration, how and when the agent must be registered, whether the agent must attend in person, and whether the policy is confirmed in writing.
General information, not legal advice. Builder registration policies vary and change; confirm with each builder before visiting. Josh Schoenly, eXp Realty, LLC · (717) 571-0456 · Equal Housing Opportunity.
