For buyers
Look past the staging
- Shape the search. Start from how you actually live: commute, schools, yard, parking, budget and how easily the home should resell later.
- Evaluate each home. Walk through with a finisher's eye for tired windows, rushed renovations, water staining and fresh caulk in odd places, and talk through what's cosmetic and what's worth a closer look.
- Understand condition. Help you line up a professional home inspection and, for condos, work through the documents and the questions to ask before your conditions come off. Michael isn't an inspector, and he'll tell you when you need one.
- Make the offer. Review comparable sales, set sensible conditions and negotiate on your behalf.
- Coordinate to possession. Keep your lender, inspector and lawyer moving on the same dates.