Buying a house

Yes, we demand a good attitude from ourselves. Life is too short to be a grump. We will be a positive force during this adventure. We will be the steady voice of optimism and encouragement during the inevitable bumps in the road.

Our first job is to sit down with you to get to the core of what you are looking for. If you're not sure that's ok too. We will help you get on track to understand the nuances of Madison’s neighborhoods and surrounding communities. We might even introduce you to areas you may have never considered so that you find the perfect niche for your lifestyle. There are so many options and Madison is a seamless blend of neighborhoods that all have their own flavor. We’ll explore them together.

This sounds basic, but "bad communication" is the #1 complaint that clients have about real estate agents. We'll be in touch with you in a variety of ways. From sending you daily listing alerts, to getting your feedback after showing appointments to weekly check-ins via your preferred method of communication. In addition, we'll be quick to communicate any correspondence from sellers and their agents and vice versa.

We won't give you the fluff- we'll give you the facts that matter most. We want you to be informed with every detail of the homes that you consider. We are not going to try to sell you on every home we see. We will be frank with you and assess everything from big ticket items to tiny details to make sure that you are considering homes that are truly best for you. We will not only point out the positives but we will point out the negatives that you should consider.

Things like: 

• quality and condition of the home
• location
• costly deferred maintenance items
• unique characteristics that might make it difficult to sell

Better yet, if you’re open to it, we will show you homes that have great potential to build equity. We'll teach you how to look beyond drab carpet, wall paper and clutter to see the real potential of a home. Our favorite saying especially for first-time home buyers is to “buy the cheapest house in the best neighborhood.” If you’ve got the open mind, we'll will provide the investment lesson.

As your agent, it is our job to work for your best possible price and terms. We take that very seriously. We’re not going to guess how much you should offer. We're going to run the same comparative market analysis that we run when we list a home so we know the true value of the home in the market. We are going to base our offer on data so that you can put your best foot forward without overpaying. We will ensure that you are selecting the appropriate terms and contingencies. Contract negotiation is one of our greatest tools in our toolbox, so you can be sure that every measure will be taken for your offer to have the best chance of being accepted.

Inspections are important and repair requests are tricky. Our job is to know what is reasonable and unreasonable to request and to negotiate the best outcome for you. We can offer suggestions for contractors, but the ultimate decision is yours. If the seller is providing the repairs prior to closing, we will monitor and document those activities for you.

For our sake and yours, this process with be swift, organized, painless and fun! Real estate transactions are complex and involve a lot of moving pieces and it’s not your job to keep track of all the details. We've got it all covered. Additionally, we'll make sure you are in good hands with our “team” of lenders, inspectors, builders, contractors, title and insurance professionals. We'll help pair you with the absolute best people in the industry to be sure that those items are handled with the same level of care that we offer.

Dealing with seller responses, mortgage questions, competitive offer situations - not to mention having to move all of your stuff - all create stress. Trust us, we've all been there. We'll be the gentle voice of reason and support if you feel like unraveling.

That is something we love to do and part of being an Insider! We love to network with other agents to find houses that are just about to come on the market and ensure that you are the first to see it. We are also happy to contact homeowners at a specific address or send letters to an entire neighborhood to entice them to sell. This extra step, that not many agents will take, has helped get several of our clients into homes of their dreams even if there was nothing on the market when they began their search. In a competitive market this strategy works best to ensure you have the first and sometimes only shot at the perfect house. Maybe you are thinking about building? We can help guide you through the building process from start to finish making sure you select the best possible builder and lender for the job. Building a house is even more involved than purchasing an existing home, so it’s just as crucial to have us on your side.

Yes, we hold ourselves to a high standard—including showing up with a good attitude. Life’s too short to be a grump. Throughout your home buying or selling journey, we’ll be a steady, positive presence—offering encouragement, optimism, and clarity, even when things get a little bumpy. Because you deserve a team that makes the process feel exciting, not overwhelming.

Our first job is to sit down with you and really listen—to understand what you're looking for, even if you're not quite sure yet. That’s okay—we’re here to guide you. We’ll help you make sense of the nuances between Madison’s neighborhoods and surrounding communities, and we might even introduce you to areas you hadn’t considered. Madison is a patchwork of vibrant neighborhoods, each with its own personality. Together, we’ll explore your options and find the one that fits your lifestyle just right.

It might sound basic, but poor communication is the #1 complaint people have about real estate agents—and we take that seriously. You can expect consistent, proactive updates from us throughout the entire process. From daily listing alerts to post-showing feedback and weekly check-ins via your preferred method, we’ll keep you in the loop every step of the way. We’re also quick to relay communication between you and the other side—whether it’s updates from a seller or questions from a buyer’s agent—so nothing falls through the cracks.

We won’t give you fluff—we’ll give you the facts that matter. Our goal is to keep you fully informed as you evaluate each home, so you can make decisions with confidence. We’re not here to “sell” you on every property—we’re here to help you assess what’s truly right for you. That means being honest about everything from major repairs to small red flags.

We’ll help you evaluate:

• The quality and condition of the home

• The location and surrounding neighborhood

• Deferred maintenance or potential repair costs

• Unique characteristics that could affect future resale

And if you're open to it, we’ll go a step further—we’ll show you how to spot homes with real equity potential. We’ll teach you how to look past outdated carpet, wallpaper, or clutter to see the long-term value. One of our favorite principles—especially for first-time buyers—is: “Buy the cheapest house in the best neighborhood.” If you’ve got an open mind, we’ll give you the investment insight to match.

As your agent, our top priority is securing the best possible price and terms for you—and we take that responsibility seriously. We won’t guess at what you should offer. Instead, we’ll run a detailed comparative market analysis—just like we do when pricing a listing—so we understand the home’s true value in today’s market. Our approach is grounded in data, ensuring your offer is competitive and strategic without overpaying. We’ll also guide you in selecting the right terms and contingencies to protect your interests. Contract negotiation is one of our strongest skill sets, and we’ll use every tool in our toolbox to give your offer the best possible chance of being accepted.

Inspections are a critical step—and navigating repair requests can be tricky. Our job is to help you understand what’s reasonable to ask for, what’s not, and how to negotiate the best possible outcome. We’ll offer guidance every step of the way, including trusted contractor suggestions if needed, but the final decisions are always yours. If the seller agrees to complete repairs before closing, we’ll monitor the work, provide updates, and ensure everything is properly documented so there are no surprises at the finish line.

For your sake—and ours—this process will be swift, organized, low-stress, and yes… even fun. Real estate transactions can be complex, with a lot of moving parts, but keeping track of the details isn’t your job—it’s ours. We’ve got it all covered. We’ll also connect you with our trusted network of top-tier lenders, inspectors, builders, contractors, title reps, and insurance pros. These are people we’ve worked with time and time again—professionals who share our high standards and commitment to client care. Together, we’ll make sure every piece of your transaction is handled with the same level of attention and integrity you can expect from us.

This is one of our favorite parts of the job—and exactly what it means to be an Insider. We go beyond the MLS, tapping into our agent network to uncover homes before they hit the market and making sure you’re the first to see them. We’re also not afraid to get creative: if there’s a specific home or neighborhood you love, we’ll reach out to homeowners directly or send letters to uncover hidden opportunities. This extra step—one most agents won’t take—has helped many of our clients find and secure their dream homes, even when nothing was actively for sale.

Thinking about building instead? We’ve got you covered there, too. From choosing the right lot, builder, and lender to navigating timelines and design decisions, we’ll guide you through the entire new construction process. Building a home can be even more involved than buying one, which is why having experienced, steady support matters every step of the way.