If you've been watching listings for a while and haven't called anyone yet, I get it. You don't want to end up with an agent who's going to pressure you into something before you're ready. That's not how I work.
When you're ready to talk, we start with questions. What kind of home are you looking for? What neighborhood, what building, what block? What are the non-negotiables and what are the nice-to-haves? I listen before I send a single listing.
Most buyers focus on the unit. I focus on everything around it. The building's financial health, the real cost of the commute, the things that don't show up on Redfin but absolutely affect your life after closing.
A condo purchase isn't just a unit. It's a share in the building it sits in. I look at HOA reserves before anything else. Are they sufficient for the size and age of the building? A building with three months of reserves and deferred maintenance isn't a deal. It's a liability. I'll tell you the difference before you make an offer.
Twenty minutes in city traffic is not the same as twenty minutes on the Metra. It's not the same as twenty minutes on the CTA. If you're relocating or moving to a new part of the corridor, we'll map out what your actual daily life looks like from that address, including your commute, your remote work setup, and yes, your proximity to the elevator if that matters to you. It often does.
Most buyers don't know what a special assessment is until they're staring at one. I'll explain how they work, how to spot a building that's likely to have one, and how to factor that risk into your decision before you're under contract.
Ask for the last two years of HOA meeting minutes before you write an offer, not after. Ask how much is in reserves and whether an assessment has been discussed in the last twelve months. Ask if the building has been through a facade inspection under the city's ordinance, since older buildings often carry that cost soon. Walk the common areas at a different time of day than your showing. A vintage building can be a great buy. You just want to know what you're buying into, not just what you're buying.
Vintage buildings carry history. Original plumbing stacks, older electrical panels, boiler heat instead of forced air. None of that means walk away. It means you inspect for it specifically and budget for what an inspector flags. I ask my clients to bring an inspector who has actually worked vintage buildings before, not just single-family homes.