Long time lurker, first time posting.

What exactly should I expect when I hire a buyer's agent when building a new home?

What if the agent makes promises but does not keep them?

And finally, what if the agent takes the contract and then leaves the state? Is this considered a bad practice or unethical?

Thank you in advance!

I don't understand a word you just said...

...I'd rather not go into a lot of details, as this is a public forum...

I am buying a new home out of state. I hired a buyer's agent to help with the transaction and to represent me. The agent moved out of state shortly after I signed the contract, so the on-site representative for the homebuilder has been doing EVERYTHING. I have not heard from my agent in two months. I was promised updates on the progress of my home, help with finding a lender, help with closing, etc. Nothing has been done by this agent since leaving the area.

So, with those semi-vague details, do I make more sense?

Not sure about your state's customs and laws - but - generally when an agent leaves a company the broker should find you another agent QUICK!

Where I live, most of the builders here give a referral fee or full commission for buyers you bring - and then you're no longer involved in the deal - the builder's agents take care of everything. This could be the case, and maybe your agent just neglected to tell you that was how it would work once you went under contract?

Needless to say - I would call the broker of the agent you were working with and demand some answers.

I agree - call the broker of the office where that agent was working, and find out what kind of agency arrangement or cooperative agreement was put into place with the builder, and ask if that broker will assign you a new agent YESTERDAY.
--A

So am I correct in believing that this agent has behaved unethically? The move was claimed to be "sudden", yet I find it very hard to believe that this agent signed my contract and had no idea that they would have to move out of state within days.

Should this agent be doing weekly checks on my new home? Or is that more of a builder's agent duty?

Unethical- maybe. We really can't deduce that from the information that you have given (plus the fact there are always two sides to every story).

Unprofessional- sounds like it. Whoever this guy or gal is, their career in RE looks like it is very limited.

The weekly checks are just a bonus. If I were building a new home, I would want to do it myself. Since you are out of state, yes, I think it is the agent's duty.

I emailed pictures for a client of mine that was buying new construction and lived on the opposite side of town. It was convenient for me and inconvenient for him to drive to the site every week.

Maybe you should contact your agent's broker. Tell him/her your concerns. Ask for some sort of concession- either release from the contract or assignment to a new agent who can work the deal more efficiently.