Rich specializes in new construction homes (the build process) across Florida. He understands the unique challenges that come with building a home(defects), from choosing the right community to monitoring the progress of construction. Home Inspector Knowledge is what sets Rich apart is his background as a licensed home inspector. This gives him an extra edge in spotting potential issues during construction phases. While many Realtors simply handle the paperwork, Rich attends site visits and looks for things that could become costly problems later, such as structural issues, framing problems, plumbing concerns, or improper installation of siding and stucco. Construction Oversight Rich attends walkthroughs and construction meetings with you, ensuring that your questions get answered and your concerns are addressed. He keeps an eye on details that builders might overlook and helps you understand what to watch out for during the process. Understanding Florida Residential Code & Manufacturer Instructions Rich's expertise goes beyond surface-level observations. He understands Florida Residential Building Code requirements and is familiar with manufacturer installation instructions for critical home components Monitors Inspectors & Reviews Reports Rich goes a step further by watching inspectors during their visits and reviewing inspection reports to ensure all items are checked and nothing is missed. While he is not acting as your inspector, his background allows him to verify that inspections are thorough and complete. Local Knowledge & Community Guidance Choosing the right location is just as important as picking the right home. Rich provides insights into, amenities, attractions, and future growth areas, helping you select the perfect spot for your lifestyle or investment goals. Free Buyer Representation The best part? His services are free for buyers because the builder pays the Realtor commission. That means you get professional guidance at no additional cost. Smooth Process & Coordination Rich helps coordinate communication between you, the builder, lenders, and home inspectors to ensure everything stays on track. While he cannot interpret or explain legal details in the builder's contract (that's for a Florida real estate attorney), he makes sure you understand the timeline and steps involved in the transaction.
OTHER LANGUAGES
English
HOBBIES/INTEREST
Theme Parks, MMA, Gym, Travel, National Parks
Read More About Rich
Credentials
LICENSE
Real Estate - Florida - # SL3439976
Designation
Residential Construction Certified * Resort and Second Home Property Specialist * New Home Co-Broker * Certified New Home Specialist *Certified Loan Signing Agent
Licensed Realtor
PSA (Pricing Strategy Advisor)
REALTOR
Specialties
Sellers
Buyers
Residential Property
Price Negotiation, New construction homes Oversight, Construction defect consulting, New home construction guidance, Builder selection advice, Builder walkthrough support, Punch list management, Warranty and maintenance guidance, Home inspection expertise, Florida real estate navigation, Builder negotiation assistance, Property condition assessment, Construction process education, First-time and relocating home buyer support, Vacation and resort home guidance, Investment property strategies
Awards
2026
TOP AGENT
Minneola, FL
2026
TOP AGENT
Lake Alfred, FL
View All Awards
FAQ
1. What advice would you give a buyer trying to purchase a home?
Pick your agent based on skill not the personality or smile or sales numbers. Anyone with great advertising can have sales numbers. That is not success. When a house has construction issues. It can cost the owners thousands to make repairs. Homes are all about condition. No amount of sales numbers can equal a understanding of Florida Residential Codes.
2. What advice would you give a seller trying to sell their home?
Hire the agent based on skill not personality. A seller recently called me because the agent selling her house did not know how to help help when the potential buyers inspector found a leak. It was too late for me to help. But it would of been handled with ease as I have a full understanding on water intrusion. Again construction defects are everything. With that said start with getting a sellers inspection to be ahead of the buyers that will make offers.
3. What types of clients have you worked with?
All kinds. Investors, buyers sellers. But mostly clients who are concerned with protecting themselves from construction defects.
4. Do you have any special education or training that will benefit your clients?
Home Inspectors License (training is used to help the third party inspector that is hired find more issues) The construction training helps speaking to building superintendents. And making sure inspections are complete and repairs.
Contact Information
Location
260 1st floor south 5th floorSaint petersburg, FL, 33701
Note: Reviews may include other agents on their team
What clients say about this agent....
Communicative
Responsive
Knowledgeable
Professional
Trustworthy
Available Remotely
Hard working
Reza I.
Review for Member: Rich Noto
July 27, 2025
Local Knowledge
Process Expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
ZillowVERIFIED
As first-time homebuyers in Florida, we truly appreciated Richards experience and guidance throughout the entire real estate process. He always acted in our best interest and offered valuable tips during the construction of our home. One of the most helpful recommendations he made was to conduct multiple home inspections during the construction phase. This proactive approach helped us avoid costly issues down the line. We're very grateful for his support and highly recommend him to anyone navigating the home buying journey.
Andre M.
Review for Member: Rich Noto
April 30, 2024
Local Knowledge
Process Expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
ZillowVERIFIED
"I wholeheartedly recommend Rich Noto to anyone in search of a realtor who truly exceeds the typical expectations of real estate services. In an era where everything is accessible online, I didnt just need a standard agent; I needed someone with Richs expertise. Throughout my home buying process, Rich truly set himself apart from other realtors. Its not typical for real estate agents to attend inspections, let alone actively engage in them, but Rich did both! They dont call him the aEUR~not-so-nice realtor for nothingaEUR"his relentless pursuit to pinpoint crucial issues that both inspectors initially missed was impressive. His meticulous attention to detail ensured these important concerns were added to the inspection reports due to his proactive efforts. Moreover, Rich went the extra mile by revisiting the property to verify that all reported issues had been properly resolved. Upon discovering that the problems persisted, his relentless follow-up applied necessary pressure on the home builder to meet standards and resolve all issues. Rich's background in inspection and experience with construction managers truly came in handy. Every defect Rich identified not only saved me money but also spared me future stress over issues caught early. Rich is the advocate every home buyer deserves!
Melvin S.
Review for Member: Rich Noto
April 29, 2024
Local Knowledge
Process Expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
ZillowVERIFIED
I found Rich watching his helpful videos & saw that he was very familiar with the areas I wanted to buy a home in. What makes him stand out from other realtors are the countless of certifications he obtained & his eyes for seeing the quality of new construction homes. He & I visited the home a few times & he pointed out the things I need to make sure won't cause me issues in the future. I learned a lot from him. I think people can often be unsatisfied with their purchase of their home because they failed to get a good realtor who can see things from all different angles. Give Rich a try. Oh & DON'T CALL/VISIT NEW CONSTRUCTION SALES OFFICE WITHOUT YOUR REALTOR!!!! Rich explains this very well in his channel. Watch them!!! He's very quick & responsive too so reach out to him if you have questions you reach out to him.
Ruslan M.
Review for Member: Rich Noto
April 30, 2022
Local Knowledge
Process Expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
ZillowVERIFIED
Rich is an exceptional realtor. He is not your typical pushy type of guy who is trying to sell you a house ASAP. On the contrary, Rich is very honest professional, and he does really care about his clients. He helped me to build a house in Winter Garden, and I'm not sure I'd be able to do it without him. He went well beyond the contract helping me to control the whole building process, updating and sending photos of the house every couple of weeks, advising on the inspections, things to pay particular attention to etc. Finally, before the closing he did a walk through with me for like two or three hours. We looked over the house and as a licensed home inspector he pointed out the defects which definitely needed attention. It's not something I have seen done in the business because realtors are not trained in construction, materials etc. Overall, building house especially when out of state is a tricky business. Even when you hire a good builder, they still use local contractors so you'd definitely want to keep it under control. Hiring Rich is like having a friend and a professional on the aEURoeinsideaEUR? that is working for you throughout the process. He is very thorough, honest and professional and great to work with. I would highly recommend Rich to anyone trying to buy a house in central Florida.
Lakeycia L.
Review for Member: Rich Noto
April 8, 2022
Local Knowledge
Process Expertise
Responsiveness
Negotiation skills
ZillowVERIFIED
I came across Rich's videos on YouTube while searching for a realtor in the Orlando, FL area and could immediately tell he knew the market and the process to home ownership. As a previous homeowner, I know how daunting the house buying process can be so it was important for me to have a top notch realtor to help me with a second home purchase while I lived in northern California. Rich's knowledge, expertise, professionalism and customer focus was exceptional! He kept me updated from afar, sent photos of the building process, provided recommendations for independent home inspections, helped me negotiate a lower interest rate, walked me through a post construction inspection and provided insightful tips throughout the 8 month home build. I can go on and on about the remarkable service Rich provided to me. He over delivered! I HIGHLY recommend Rich Noto you will not be disappointed!