The Charleston New Construction Buyer's Playbook
Buying New Construction in Charleston? Read This Before You Visit a Model Home.
The builder's sales rep works for the builder. This free playbook shows you how to protect your money, negotiate incentives and avoid costly mistakes — from first visit to your 11-month warranty walk.
What's inside
Everything the model home won't tell you
Why the builder's rep isn't your agent
Your step-by-step journey, contract to keys
How to make builder incentives work for you
15 questions to ask before you sign
The 3 inspections every new build needs
Upgrades worth it vs. skip
Market snapshot
New construction is 1 in 5 homes for sale in the Tri-County.
- active listings built 2026 or later
- 985
- active listings built 2026 or later
- 21% of 4,637 active listings
- Berkeley County new builds
- 28%
- Berkeley County new builds
- Median list $440,565
- Dorchester County new builds
- 25%
- Dorchester County new builds
- Median list $424,000
- Charleston County new builds
- 15%
- Charleston County new builds
- Median list $698,200
Source: CHS Regional MLS (Flexmls), active residential listings with a year built of 2026 or later, as of Nov 12, 2026. Deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Register your agent at your FIRST visit.
Many builders require your agent to be with you, or named on the guest card, on your very first visit. Tour alone and you can lose your right to representation.
Talk to Charlise First
About Charlise
Someone in your corner
I'm Charlise Mills, a Charleston native and REALTOR® with eXp Realty. I specialize in new construction, move-up buyers and relocation across the Charleston Tri-County and Columbia. My approach is simple: Mindset + Systems + Consistency = Results — a clear plan, no surprises, and someone in your corner from the first model-home visit to the 11-month warranty walk.
Expert Guidance, Exceptional Results.
Walk into the model home prepared.
Send Me the PlaybookPrefer Instagram? DM me NEWBUILD at @charlisemillsrealtor.