Who This Is For
Homeowners ready for what's next
This service is for move-up homeowners in South Tampa, Westchase, and the greater Tampa area who have outgrown their current home and want new construction — without the chaos of running two transactions that don't talk to each other.
You may have equity you'd like to put to work, a family that needs more room, or simply a clear picture of the home you'd build if the logistics weren't so daunting. The logistics are the part I handle.
The Timing
One calendar, not two
The hardest part of selling to build is that the two transactions run on different clocks. A resale closes in weeks; a build takes months. I coordinate both sides against a single timeline so you're never forced into a decision by a closing date.
In practice that means using the tools that exist for exactly this situation: bridge timing, where your financing is structured to cover the gap between closings; contingency options, where your purchase is conditioned on your sale; and rent-back agreements, where you sell your home and remain in it as a tenant until the new one is ready. Which combination fits depends on your equity, your lender, and your builder's schedule — we settle that before anything is signed.
Representation
Why builder representation matters
The agent in the model home works for the builder. Everything in a new-construction contract — the lot premium, the options pricing, the deposit schedule, the delay clauses — is written by the builder's attorneys for the builder's benefit.
Having your own representation means someone reads that contract with you before you sign it, negotiates the items that are actually negotiable, and stays involved through construction — not just until the contract is signed. It also means your sale and your build are being managed by one person who can see the whole board.
Questions
Asked by nearly every move-up client
Should I sell before building?
It depends on your finances and your tolerance for overlap. Selling first gives you a clear budget and removes the pressure of carrying two properties, but it may mean moving twice. Building first — or buying with a sale contingency — keeps you in your current home but requires the builder and your lender to be comfortable with the arrangement. The right order is the one your numbers support; that is the first thing we work out together.
Do I need my own agent for new construction?
The sales representative at a model home works for the builder. Their job is to sell the builder's product on the builder's terms. Having your own agent means someone reviews the contract, the lot premium, the options pricing, and the construction timeline with your interests in mind. In most cases the builder has already accounted for buyer-agent compensation, so representation typically does not add to your cost.
How do I avoid paying two mortgages?
There are three common approaches. A sale contingency makes your purchase dependent on your current home selling. Bridge financing or a home-equity line can cover the gap between closing dates. A rent-back agreement lets you sell first and remain in your home as a tenant for a set period after closing. Each has costs and trade-offs, and lenders treat them differently, so the choice should be made with your lender before you sign a build contract.
Which Tampa builders are worth it?
Rather than a list of names, judge a builder on things you can verify: how long they have been building in the Tampa market, warranty terms in writing, whether you can walk a recently completed home and speak with a past buyer, how they handle change orders and delays, and whether their standard features match what other builders charge extra for. I maintain working relationships with several local and regional builders and can arrange introductions once we know what you want to build.
Can I sell privately?
Yes. A home can be marketed without public MLS exposure through a private or office-exclusive listing, shown only to qualified buyers by appointment. This limits your buyer pool, which can affect price and timing, so it suits sellers who value discretion over maximum exposure. It is a legitimate option and one I handle regularly for clients who prefer it.
What does a builder specialist do?
A builder specialist coordinates the two transactions so they work as one plan. That includes timing your sale against the construction schedule, negotiating with the builder on price, lot, and options, reviewing the builder's contract before you sign, attending key construction milestones with you, and managing the contingencies so you are not exposed on either side. The goal is one move, not two crises.
Talk through your timing before you commit to either side.
A conversation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Call 813.539.7227 or write to Concierge@Abodeluxx.com.
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