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Free guide · The New Construction Playbook

Get Your Free New Construction Guide

Incentives, preferred lenders, upgrades and inspections. What the builder’s sales office won’t walk you through, in one guide you can keep open through every stage of your build.

Reviewed October 2026

Cover of the guide: Your guide to buying New Construction, by Sir Ashley Harrison, J.D.

Direct answer

The New Construction Guide is a free 43-page PDF for buying a newly built home in the Charlotte region. Builders are running a business, and their contracts, lenders and design centers are set up around it. This guide walks you through each stage from your side of the table: choosing a builder and a lot, comparing the preferred lender with others, deciding which upgrades are worth it, which inspections to get, and which contract clauses to read twice. Enter your name, email and mobile, and the download appears immediately.

What you will be able to do after reading it

  • Walk into a model home knowing what is standard, what is an upgrade, and which questions to ask the builder.
  • Compare the builder’s preferred lender with other offers, and see what strings come with an incentive.
  • Set a design-center budget, and know which upgrades to buy now and which to add after closing.
  • Schedule the right inspections at the right time, and read a builder contract for the clauses that move risk to you.

Inside

Eleven chapters, plus a glossary

  1. 01IntroductionWhy new construction can pay off, and why the builder’s interests are not the same as yours.
  2. 02Understanding the processEight steps from choosing a lot to move-in, and a rough timeline for each phase.
  3. 03Choosing a builderHow to research a builder, five questions most buyers forget to ask, and the red flags.
  4. 04Financing optionsLoan types, the builder’s preferred lender, pre-approval, and when to lock your rate.
  5. 05Selecting a locationThe location factors that matter, and what to ask about future development nearby.
  6. 06Design and customizationSetting a design-center budget, and which upgrades to buy now versus after closing.
  7. 07Inspections and qualityThe three inspections to get, when to get them, and how to run a punch list.
  8. 08Contracts and negotiationSix contract sections to read closely, and what you can actually negotiate.
  9. 09The closing processThe final walkthrough, the documents you sign, and what to do in the first week.
  10. 10Tips for a smooth experienceSeven habits that keep a months-long build organized and on track.
  11. 11Your next moveFinal advice, plus a glossary of must-know terms and helpful resources.

Free download

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About the guide

What is the New Construction Guide?

A free 43-page PDF for anyone buying a newly built home in the Charlotte region, on either side of the North Carolina and South Carolina line. It walks through the whole process: choosing a builder and a lot, financing and the builder’s preferred lender, design-center upgrades, inspections, builder contracts, and closing.

Is it free?

Yes. You give your name, email and mobile number, and the download appears straight away on this page. Nothing is emailed to you unless you ask for it.

Why do you ask for a phone number?

Because a new build raises questions specific to one builder, one community and one contract, and a real person answering them is the useful part. You will not receive text messages unless you tick the separate box that asks for them, and neither consent box is required to get the guide.

Will this put me on a mailing list?

Only if you tick the email box. Requesting the guide on its own is not consent to marketing email, and your details are never sold. The privacy notice explains exactly what is stored.

Do I need my own agent if the builder has a sales office?

The builder’s sales team works for the builder. The guide explains what that means for your price, your contract and your inspections, so you can decide for yourself whether you want someone representing you.

Is the guide legal, tax or lending advice?

No. It is general educational information. Loan programs, incentives, timelines and costs vary by builder and lender and change over time. Sir Ashley is a non-practicing attorney and does not give legal advice through the guide; speak to a licensed attorney, CPA or loan officer about your situation.

Can I get it in a different format?

Yes. The PDF has not yet been audited for screen reader tagging. If a different format would work better for you, call, text or email and it will be provided.

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