How Pre-Sale Homes Work at WilliamMarkDesigns
By WilliamMarkDesigns | Atlanta Home Builder & Developer
If you've been browsing our listings and noticed homes labeled "pre-sale," you may be wondering what that actually means — and whether it's the right path for you. Pre-sale homes are one of the most compelling options we offer, and they're also one of the most misunderstood. This guide walks you through exactly how the process works, what you can and can't customize, and what to expect from first contact all the way to closing day.
What is a Pre-Sale Home?
A pre-sale home is a new construction property that is available for purchase while it's still being built. When you buy a WilliamMarkDesigns home pre-sale, you're purchasing before the home is complete — which means you have the opportunity to make it genuinely yours by selecting the finishes, fixtures, and design details that reflect your taste.
This is different from buying a completed spec home, where every decision has already been made. And it's different from a fully custom build, where you start from scratch with your own lot and floor plan. A WMD pre-sale sits in a sweet spot: the hard structural decisions are already made by our team, but the aesthetic decisions — the ones you'll live with every day — are still yours to make.
How to Find a Pre-Sale Home
WilliamMarkDesigns markets pre-sale homes through several channels:
Our website — We list pre-sale homes directly on williammarkdesigns.com with AI renderings that show the anticipated finished look of the home. These listings are clearly labeled as pre-sales so you know exactly what you're looking at.
Our real estate agent network — We work closely with a select group of listing agents across Atlanta's intown neighborhoods. If you're working with a buyer's agent, they can connect you with available pre-sale opportunities before they reach the broader market.
Our early access list and social media — Subscribers to our early access list and followers on Instagram and LinkedIn often hear about new pre-sale listings first, sometimes before they're publicly listed anywhere.
What Can You Customize?
One of the most exciting parts of buying a WMD pre-sale home is the level of personalization available. Depending on where we are in the construction timeline when you go under contract, you may be able to select:
Tile — every room, including bathrooms, laundry, fireplace surrounds, and kitchen backsplash
Flooring — hardwood species, stain color, and finish
Wall paint — color and finish throughout the entire home
Stone — countertops, waterfall islands, fireplace stone
Cabinetry — color, style, and hardware pulls throughout kitchen and bathrooms
Light fixtures — throughout the home
Mirrors
Sinks, faucets, and plumbing fixtures — finish and style
Grout colors — for all tiled surfaces
Island style and configuration
Ceiling fans — style and finish
What you cannot change in a pre-sale is the floor plan or structural layout — those decisions are made during the design phase before construction begins. But within the aesthetic and finish categories listed above, the level of choice is substantial. Many of our pre-sale buyers tell us the home feels custom because of how meaningfully the finishes reflect their personal style.
The Timing Window
You can purchase a WMD pre-sale home at almost any point during construction — up until the final stages. Here's how the timing works in practice:
We add finishes in stages. Tile and cabinetry tend to go in earlier in the process; paint, plumbing fixtures, and some hardware come later. The earlier you go under contract, the more selections you'll have available to you. If you come in mid-construction, there will still be meaningful choices to make — just a more focused selection depending on what has already been installed.
Our team will always be transparent with you about exactly what's available to customize based on where we are in the build. There are no surprises.
The Pre-Sale Contract Process
WilliamMarkDesigns uses the Georgia Association of Realtors (GAR) New Construction Form for all pre-sale transactions. Here's how the financial and contractual process works:
Construction Deposit — We ask that buyers put down a 5% construction deposit at the time of contract. This deposit goes toward your down payment at closing — it is not an additional cost.
Design selections — Depending on when you go under contract, you'll have the opportunity to make design selections (cabinet colors, light fixtures, bathroom faucet finishes, interior paint, and hardwood stain color) at a design meeting at our design center.
Home inspection — Buyers have the right to conduct a standard home inspection, and we address any items of concern that arise.
Blue tape walkthrough — We conduct our own internal blue tape walkthrough approximately two weeks before closing, then invite buyers and their agents to conduct their own. This is your opportunity to flag anything that needs attention before you take ownership.
Pre-closing walk — Buyers are welcome to walk the property the day before or the day of closing.
2-10 Home Warranty — Every WilliamMarkDesigns home comes with a 2-10 Home Buyers Warranty, covering workmanship and materials for one year, mechanical systems for two years, and major structural defects for ten years.
The Pre-Sale Timeline: First Contact to Closing
Here's what the process looks like from start to finish:
Step 1 — Discovery You find the listing through our website, your agent, or our social media. You review the AI renderings and the listed specifications to get a sense of the finished home.
Step 2 — Under contract Once we agree on terms, we execute the GAR New Construction Form and you submit your 5% construction deposit.
Step 3 — Design meeting We schedule a design meeting at our design center where you'll work directly with our team — and often with co-founder and chief designer Mark Hedges — to make your finish selections. Mark's 45+ years of design experience means you're not selecting from a catalog alone. You're getting real, expert guidance on what works together, what photographs well, and what holds up beautifully over time.
Step 4 — Construction updates Throughout the build, we provide regular progress updates to you and your agent. You and your agent are also welcome to walk the property with prior notice to ensure the site is safe.
Step 5 — Home inspection You schedule your home inspection. We address any items of concern identified.
Step 6 — Blue tape walkthroughs We complete our internal walkthrough approximately two weeks before closing. Then we invite you and your agent for your own blue tape walkthrough.
Step 7 — Pre-closing walk and closing You're welcome to walk the property the day before or the day of closing. Then we close.
Pre-Sale vs. Regular Purchase: What's the Difference?
For buyers purchasing a completed WMD home, the process is similar but simpler. You use the standard GAR Purchase and Sale Agreement Form, conduct your home inspection and blue tape walkthrough, and close. The 2-10 Home Warranty applies to all WMD homes regardless of purchase type.
The core difference is the design opportunity. A pre-sale gives you a window — sometimes a wide one, sometimes more focused — to shape the home's aesthetic before it's finalized. A completed home is move-in ready immediately, with all decisions already made.
Neither is better in the abstract. It depends on your timeline, your appetite for involvement in the design process, and how important personalization is to you.
Is a Pre-Sale Right for You?
A WMD pre-sale home is a strong fit if:
You want modern new construction in an intown Atlanta neighborhood
Personalizing your finishes matters to you — even if you don't want to manage a full custom build
Your timeline is flexible enough to allow for construction to complete
You want the assurance of a builder warranty and a quality construction process
If you're ready to explore what's currently available, browse our pre-sale listings → or join our early access list to hear about new pre-sale opportunities before they go public.
Questions about the pre-sale process? Contact us or book a custom home consultation and we'll walk you through everything in detail.
