Your Buyer's Agent
Your dream home starts here: Personalized guidance, Expert negotiation, Zero stress, Amazing results.
Frequently Asked Questions
A Buyer's Agent is a licensed real estate professional who represents the buyer in a real estate transaction. Their primary role is to help you find the right property, negotiate the best price, and guide you through the entire buying process.
In addition, a Buyer's Agent connects you with other resources you may need during your home purchase. This includes connections to trusted attorneys for closing; home inspectors to assess the property's condition; mortgage brokers to help secure financing; contractors for any renovations you might consider; and reliable moving companies.
By leveraging their network, a Buyer's Agent ensures that you have access to the right expertise at every stage of your buying journey, making the process smoother and more efficient.
Hiring a Buyer's Agent can save you time, money, and stress while helping you avoid common pitfalls in the home-buying process.
Most people only buy a few houses in their lifetime, while professional agents navigate numerous transactions daily. This experience gives them a deep understanding of the potential "gotchas" and challenges that can arise, such as hidden issues with a property, unfavorable contract terms, questionable financing options, zoning or short term rental restrictions, HOA considerations, or market fluctuations.
A skilled Buyer's Agent proactively steers you away from these problems, ensuring you make informed decisions and protecting your interests throughout the process. They have the expertise to identify red flags, negotiate effectively, and guide you through the complexities of buying a home, allowing you to focus on finding your dream property with confidence.
In most cases, the buyer is responsible for paying the Buyer's Agent's commission. This fee is typically a percentage of the purchase price and is outlined in the buyer's agreement.
Great question! That’s how it’s worked for decades, but it all changed in August 2024.
Here’s the scoop:
In the past, sellers paid both their Seller’s Agent commission and the Buyer’s Agent commission. Now, under the updated 2024 guidelines, buyers and sellers negotiate agent fees separately. This means sellers are resposible for their Seller’s Agent fee and buyers are responsible for their Buyer’s Agent fee.
Why the shift? The goal is to create more transparency and flexibility.
Buyers can now discuss fees upfront with their agent and tailor services to their needs and budget. Sellers can adjust their pricing strategy, which often results in a lower listing price because the seller no longer has to pay for the Buyer’s Agent services. Think of it as putting you in the driver’s seat—you get to choose representation that aligns with your goals, and everyone’s costs are clear from the start.
Don’t worry, though! I will walk you through all the details and options so there are no surprises. It’s all about making sure you feel informed and empowered throughout your home-buying journey.
When you hire me as your Buyer's Agent, you can expect a dedicated partner who will prioritize your goals and advocate for your best interests. Here’s what you’ll receive:
Personalized Guidance: We’ll start by understanding your unique needs, budget, and vision for your ideal home. I’ll curate property listings, consult with my agent network for insights on properties that will soon hit the market, schedule tours, and provide honest insights to help you make confident decisions.
Market Expertise: With daily experience in real estate transactions, I’ll share up-to-date knowledge on pricing trends, neighborhood dynamics, and hidden opportunities—ensuring you never overpay or overlook a great fit.
Skilled Negotiation: From crafting competitive offers to navigating counteroffers and contingencies, I’ll secure terms that protect your interests and maximize value.
Proactive Problem-Solving: My job is to anticipate challenges before they arise—whether it’s a red flag in inspection reports, title complexities, or financing hiccups. I’ll troubleshoot issues swiftly and keep your transaction on track.
Trusted Network: Need a home inspector, real estate attorney, contractor, or even a mover? I’ll connect you with vetted professionals I’ve worked with for years, saving you time and stress.
End-to-End Support: From our first conversation to closing day—and even after you move in—I’ll be your go-to resource for questions, advice, or recommendations.
Most importantly, you’ll gain peace of mind knowing a seasoned expert is guiding you away from pitfalls and toward success. Click here for to learn more about the actual process I will follow as your Buyer’s Agent.
I'm glad you asked! I've built my reputation on delivering exceptional results. Browse my performance metrics below, explore my interactive map of past listings, or read our client success stories.
Years Experience
Sales Volume
Properties Sold
Average Price
We’ll start with a ‘get to know you’ discussion. Contact me and we’ll schedule a no-cost, no-obligation consultation where we’ll discuss your specific needs, timeline, budget and any special requirements you might have. I’ll explain how I will represent you in your home-buying journey and, if you like what you hear, we’ll get started.
The Process
I am very process oriented. Over my years in the real estate business, I've developed a highly effective, results driven sales process that I will tailor to your specific situation. Here's the step-by-step process I will follow to make your home-buying journey as pain-free and profitable as possible.
First, we will sit down together to talk about the process, agency, and your goals.
As your buyers agent, I will then help you understand the type of home you can afford in the current market that you are shopping in.
As we look I will help highlight the pros and cons from a location standpoint, a structural standpoint and an architectural standpoint.
I know the Des Moines metro, and that knowledge is crucial when you are looking to make your buying decision.
Constantly changing information on schools, neighborhoods, and developments can make a huge impact on what you find desirable.
I take pride in being able to offer that information in real time and almost anywhere in the metro.
Leave the guesswork and scheduling to me when you want to pop into one home or when you need to spend an entire day shopping for houses.
I will ensure all disclosed info is available and provide step by step commentary about the properties we will preview.
How do you know when you are ready to make an offer?
We will exhaust the available inventory and when you see the most value in one above the rest we will draft an offer.
I can help with terms and legalize to make any difficult concepts easy to understand.
Many agents and buyers get squeamish during the negotiations. Not me! I love to negotiate; and I'm good at it.
I love reading about negotiations and even more satisfying is negotiating with a potential buyer on your behalf.
Most of all I love to hear the words "You've got a deal!"
Now that you and the seller have reached an agreement, my team and I will help you cross the finish line.
You have a number of tasks to complete prior to the closing. For example, you need to confirm that the seller satisfies all contingencies, secure your mortgage, obtain insurance, and arrange your move. We're here to provide whatever assistance you would like.
Also, we will review all documents and collaborate with any other professionals you engage—such as your attorney, insurance agent, or CPA—at your request.
I am a referring monster! I am proud of the referral partners I have to offer.
Need a landscaper? I have a referral? A plum painter? I have that too! So much of my job continues after closing. I want to be with you before, during, and after your home purchase.
Please reach out to me for whatever you may need.
