Questions to ask your agent

Kelli has been a licensed Realtor since 2006 and worked for a home builder before that. Mark spent years on the builder side with home builders across the OKC metro. Between us we have more than 40 years across building, lending and real estate. Kelli also has a degree in interior design and hands-on renovation experience, so we can look at a house and tell you what it will take, not just how it looks. Ask any agent what their experience means for your purchase, not only how many years they have.

Most likely a bit of both. We usually both attend every meeting and walkthrough, so you get all of our expertise in one visit. Then whichever of us fits best with you, your type of home and the expertise needed takes the lead, and the other is always there for backup and support.

Most of our work is in Edmond and Northwest Oklahoma City, from our home base in downtown Edmond. We also help buyers across the rest of the OKC metro: Arcadia, Choctaw, Deer Creek, Guthrie, Jones, Midwest City, Moore, Mustang, Nichols Hills, Norman, Oklahoma City, Piedmont and Yukon. We work with new construction, acreage, lake and waterfront homes, and homes with character.

Agents are paid a commission, and it is negotiable. It is not set by law. Sometimes the seller agrees to pay it and sometimes the buyer does, so it helps to understand it before you start. Ask every agent you interview for their rate in writing, what happens if the seller does not cover it, and whether anything else is charged. We are glad to walk you through ours before you sign anything.

In most cases, yes. Since August 17, 2024, an agent who works with a buyer needs a written agreement with that buyer before touring a home with them, unless state law requires one sooner. The agreement has to state the agent's compensation. Chatting with an agent at an open house does not require one. Ask to read it first, and ask how long it lasts and how it can be ended. This is general information, not legal advice.

It is the best first step. A pre-approval from a lender tells you what you can borrow, shows sellers you are serious, and keeps you from falling in love with a home outside your budget. It is not a guarantee of a loan. Our pre-approval page lists three lenders we trust, and you are free to use any lender you like.

Your lender decides what you qualify for. What you are comfortable paying each month is a separate question, and it is yours to answer. The right down payment depends on your loan type, your savings and the monthly payment you want. Our calculators let you test different prices, rates and down payments, and your lender can give you exact numbers.

No honest agent can promise a number. It depends on your price range, the area, what is on the market and how clear you are about what you need. A good first step is to separate your must-haves from your nice-to-haves, so you tour fewer homes and the right ones.

Price is only part of it. A strong pre-approval, clean terms, a flexible timeline and a fair earnest money deposit can matter just as much. We help you decide how far to go before you write the offer, and what your limit is. Nobody can promise you will win. The aim is to make the strongest offer you are comfortable with.

Yes. Our job is not to tell you what you want to hear. It is to help you make a good decision. You do not have to love every house. You have to understand the opportunity and the cost, and we will say plainly when a home is not worth it or a price does not make sense.

Yes to both. The builder's sales rep works for the builder and is paid to sell the builder's homes on the builder's terms. A buyer's agent works for you and looks out for your side of the contract. Builders set their own policies on registering a buyer's agent, so ask about that before your first visit to a model home.

An inspection looks at the condition of the home's structure and major systems, such as the roof, foundation, plumbing, electrical and heating and cooling. It is not required, but it is strongly recommended. If it finds problems, you can usually ask the seller to repair them, ask for a credit, or walk away within the time your contract allows. Specialty inspections, such as sewer lines, wells or septic systems, may be worth adding on acreage or older homes.

Closing costs, which usually run a few percent of the price, plus the inspection, the appraisal, prepaid taxes and insurance, and your moving costs. Who pays what is negotiable in the contract. Your lender's loan estimate is the number to trust, and we will go over it with you before closing.

Earnest money is a deposit you make when your offer is accepted, to show you are serious. It is usually held by a neutral third party, such as a title company, and credited toward your costs at closing. Whether you get it back if the deal ends depends on the terms of your contract and when you cancel, so read that section with your agent before you sign.

After the seller accepts, you deposit your earnest money, schedule the inspection, and your lender orders the appraisal and finishes your loan. You negotiate any repairs, do a final walkthrough, and then sign the closing papers. We keep an eye on the dates in your contract so nothing slips.

Yes, and the timing deserves a plan. Some buyers sell first, some buy first, and some make an offer that depends on their sale. Each has trade-offs for your money, your move and your risk. We plan both sides together, so ask us about it early, before you start looking.

Yes. You can walk through an open house without a written agreement. With a builder, the policy on registering an agent varies, and the timing can matter, so ask before your first visit. If you find a home on your own that you like, tell us and we will take it from there.

You can reach either of us directly. Mark is at 405-818-9670, Kelli is at 405-808-1082, and the team line is 405-593-8326. Tell us how you prefer to be reached, by call, text or email, and what pace of updates you want. Any agent you hire should be clear about that up front.

Yes. Our reviews page has what past clients have written about working with us on Zillow and Google, and you can read them without talking to us at all. When you interview any agent, ask for references and talk to them.

Tell us. The written agreement states how it can be ended, which is why it is worth reading before you sign it. Ask any agent how it works, whether there is a time limit, and what happens if you decide to wait. You should feel comfortable with your agent, and it is fine to interview more than one.