Let Me Get That Door for You

The Real-Life Magic of Working with a Buyer’s Agent Who Knows What You Want (Sometimes Before You Do)

Let’s just get this out of the way: yes, you can absolutely scroll Zillow in your pajamas while eating dry cereal straight from the box. We’ve all been there. (The listings are hot, the milk is expired, what can we say?)

But if you’re seriously thinking about buying a home, it’s time to bring in a pro. A real one. Someone who can decode inspection reports, sidestep sketchy sellers, and figure out why that “great deal” has been sitting on the market since the Carter administration.

Enter: Alex Howard.

Alex is the newest (and extremely experienced) member of our Art House team—a full-time, six-year real estate veteran who specializes in working with buyers. She’s walked hundreds of homes, written winning offers in competitive bidding wars, and has the emotional endurance of a Golden Retriever during a thunderstorm.

In other words, she’s exactly who you want in your corner.

What Does a Buyer’s Agent Actually Do?

We get this question a lot. Because to be fair, HGTV mostly shows people holding lattes and saying “this kitchen doesn’t spark joy.” But here’s what it actually looks like to work with us:

• We dig deep. Sure, we check the MLS (Multiple Listing Service) obsessively, but we also go hunting where others don’t. Think FSBOs, exclusive listings, builder inventory, whisper-listings from other agents, and that one neighbor who told us they “might be open to selling for the right price.” We’re like the Indiana Jones of real estate—minus the snakes.
• We listen. Not just to what you say, but to what you don’t. You say “big yard,” we hear “needs room for a future chicken coop and/or the world’s most elaborate slip ’n slide.”
• We strategize. Writing an offer isn’t just “Name a price and cross fingers.” We’ve won homes for our clients by crafting offers that are creative, clean, and competitive—without stripping away your protections. You won’t be waiving inspections and buying a house with a foundation held together by wishful thinking.
• We know people. Need a lender who’ll call the listing agent and sing your praises? We’ve got one. Home inspector with X-ray vision? Covered. Contractor who can tell you if that “bonus room” addition was built to code or conjured in a dream? Absolutely.
• We actually do this full time. Nights. Weekends. Holidays. We once FaceTimed a client from a basement crawl space just to show the ductwork. We don’t dabble—we live and breathe real estate. (And lots of caffeine.)

But Wait—How Do You Get Paid?

This part confuses a lot of buyers, especially now that real estate headlines are throwing around phrases like “buyer commissions” and “cooperative compensation” like confetti at a wedding.

Here’s the real deal (in plain English, no lawyer-speak required):

Most sellers still offer a commission to buyer’s agents. It’s how the market has operated for decades, and even with new rules, that hasn’t magically changed overnight. When we submit an offer, we’ll confirm what’s being offered—or make a request if needed. You’ll know before you commit to anything. No surprises. No mystery invoices. No “gotchas.”

We don’t charge for showing homes, sending listings, writing offers, or answering 34 back-to-back “what does this mean?” texts. We want you to ask questions. And we love when our buyers feel informed, confident, and like they’re making decisions with someone on their side.

We’re your partner, not your Uber driver. (And yes, we’ll still offer snacks in the car if the day’s showing schedule gets intense.)

Why We’re Different

You can work with a lot of agents. You can click “schedule a showing” on an app and be matched with a stranger who may or may not be actively watching cat videos in their car.

But working with us means something different.

It means tailored, one-on-one attention. It means advocacy. Hustle. Strategy. And yes—fun. This process doesn’t have to feel like jury duty. We make it joyful, clear, and customized to your goals.

Alex brings humor, heart, and serious hustle to the table. She’s already hit the ground running with our clients, and we couldn’t be more thrilled to have her officially on Team Art House.

So… Is It Time to Take Your Home Search Offline?

You’ve seen the listings. You’ve saved the ones with the “nice natural light.” You’ve screenshot the one with questionable wallpaper and sent it to your group chat.

Now let’s get in the car and see what’s out there for real.

Text us. Call us. Send up a smoke signal. We’re ready.

Welcome to the next chapter of your home search. Let’s go make it happen.