Client Resource Center
Home Buying Resources
Guidance and checklists to help you feel prepared and confident at every step of your purchase.
Let's go see some homes
This is the fun part. My job is to help you see past the staging and the filters, and spot what the listing photos don't show.
Before we tour
The buyer agreement
Since August 2024, buyers have to sign a written agreement with an agent before touring a home together. It's a rule for every agent, not just me.
It doesn't lock you in. I start with an agreement that covers just one showing. It spells out what I'll do for you and how I get paid, in plain English, and I'll walk you through it before you sign.
After that first showing, we'll sit down and decide whether working together long term makes sense.
Ways to find homes
More than what's online
- A custom search that sends new listings straight to you
- Compass Coming Soon homes, before they hit the market
- Compass Private Exclusives, homes you won't find on Zillow
- Homes I hear about from other agents and neighbors
Tips from an inspector's wife
What to look at on every tour
- Water stains on ceilings and in the basement
- Age of the roof, furnace, A/C, and water heater
- Windows that open, close, and lock easily
- Sump pump and how the yard drains away from the house
- Cracks in the foundation or drywall
- Signs of updates done without permits
- How the house smells (it tells you a lot)
- Water pressure in the kitchen and showers
Things photos don't show
Check these before you get attached
Drive it twice
Visit at rush hour and on a weekend night. Road noise, traffic, and trains feel different in person.
Test the real drive
Map your commute, school drop-off, and grocery run from the actual address, not the town.
Look at the extras
Ask about the real tax bill, HOA rules, special assessments, and whether the home is on well and septic.
Fall in love with the location and the layout. Paint and carpet are the easy part.
While you're doing this
What I'm doing behind the scenes
- Pulling sales history and comps on every home you like
- Calling listing agents to get the inside scoop
- Flagging possible issues before you write an offer
- Getting you in fast when something new pops up