Working Together

The Process

Information about becoming a client.

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My Approach: A Proven Process Rooted in Patient Care

No two agents are the same—each brings unique skills to the real estate process. My background as a physical therapist taught me that patience, communication, and collaboration are essential to achieving successful outcomes. Just as I guided patients through complex treatment plans, I now help my clients navigate the home buying and selling process with the same level of care and attention to detail.

In medicine, every appointment is documented using the SOAP method:

  • Subjective: Understanding the patient’s concerns, limitations, and goals

  • Objective: Gathering observations and measurable data

  • Assessment: Evaluating the situation and determining the best course of action

  • Plan: Creating a tailored strategy to help the patient reach their goals

I apply this same structured approach to real estate:

  • Subjective: I take the time to truly listen to my clients—what they need, what they want, and what’s most important to them.

  • Objective: We analyze key factors such as budget, market trends, and timing to establish a clear picture of the path ahead.

  • Assessment: I evaluate how their goals align with the current market and identify potential opportunities or challenges.

  • Plan: We create a customized strategy to help them successfully buy or sell their home.

This thoughtful, step-by-step approach ensures my clients feel heard, informed, and confident throughout the entire process.

 The Buyer process

What To Expect

Initial Meeting

This is a time for us to talk about your wishlist. You’ll share your must-haves and nice-to-haves to initiate the search. I’ll create a custom search for you based on this meeting.

Pre-approval

You’ll talk with a bank or mortgage broker to start the loan approval process. If you don’t have a preferred lender, I can help connect you. My contacts are helpful and supportive throughout the process and will tell you exactly what they need from you to complete the pre-approval process. 


Tours

This is the fun part! Seeing a variety of properties can help refine your preferences. We will see homes together in the beginning, so I can better understand what types of properties you prefer. I will send you listings on a regular basis and will tour properties that fit your criteria each week.

Review

Once you have found a home, we will review all of the documents pertaining to the property. Disclosures and inspections will be provided and I will help walk you through the subtleties of each form. These documents contain important information about the history and condition of the home and may factor into the price you choose to offer. 


Offer

While some listings take offers as they come, in San Francisco, many listings have a specific offer date. We will work together to present a compelling offer to the seller based on current market conditions in the area. I will complete the purchase agreement and submit your offer and supporting financial documentation to the listing agent.


Closing

Once your offer is accepted, we celebrate! Next, you will submit your earnest money deposit of 3% of the purchase price of the home. Your chosen lender will schedule an appraisal of the home and begin to underwrite your loan. During the closing period, you will have documents to sign and will do a final walk-through of the home. Once everything is completed within the timeframe stipulated in the purchase agreement, the home is yours!

 The Seller process

What To Expect

Initial Meeting

This is a time for us to talk about your goals for selling your home. We’ll talk about timelines, pricing, and expectations. I’ll be your guide throughout the entire process, advocating for your best interests in the sale of your home. 

Pricing

I’ll provide a competitive market analysis and consult with top agents to help determine the best listing price for your home. Pricing a home is the most important step in the process–a home that is overpriced will be difficult to sell.

Home Prep

Preparing your home is key to getting the best possible price. Staging a home increases its perceived value and helps buyers visualize living there. Other updates may be needed to make a home competitive in the current market. I’ll help manage the process to prepare your home for listing. 

Marketing

I’ll prepare a marketing plan to make your home stand out. Your home will be listed on the multiple listing service (MLS), shared within my network, and shown at open houses during the week and on weekends.

Offers

We’ll l set an offer date and I’ll review offers as they come in. I’ll keep you informed about the offers presented and help with any necessary negotiations or counter offers. 


Closing

Once you accept an offer, we’ll celebrate! The buyer’s lender will schedule an appraisal of the home. During the closing period, you’ll have documents to sign and the home will be appraised. Once everything is completed within the timeframe stipulated in the purchase agreement, your home is sold!

FAQ’s

  • A great real estate agent will guide you through the home search with an unbiased eye, helping you meet your buying objectives while staying within your budget. We have access to off-market listings and relationships with other agents that make the home-buying process less complicated. We can help you find a mortgage lender and can be resource if you have questions about specific neighborhoods, zoning rules, contractors, and more.

  • Talking to a bank or mortgage lender before you start looking at homes is important. While most lenders are able to complete the pre-approval process fairly quickly, you will need to gather and provide some financial documentation to start the process. Knowing the amount for which you are pre-approved will help refine your home search. With your pre-approval in hand, you’ll be able to present a compelling offer backed by your lender when you find a home you love!

  • A great realtor will know the current market and provide guidance to write a strong offer. By reviewing comparable properties that recently sold and understanding the inventory on the market through consistent home tours, the agent will recommend a price they consider reasonable. They may ask you to consider the top price you’re willing to pay if the seller counters your initial offer.

  • A buyer’s closing costs consist of escrow fees, title insurance, prorated taxes, and lender fees. You can typically estimate .75%-1% of the purchase price for closing costs.

  • Property taxes are calculated based on the property's assessed value which is determined annually by the Office of the Assessor-Recorder. When a home sells, the assessed value of the property is typically adjusted to reflect the purchase price of the home. To calculate your property taxes, multiply the assessed value of your home by the current real tax rate in San Francisco. For 2022-2023, San Francisco’s secured property tax rate is 1.17973782% but this may change each year. Taxes are paid in two installments, due December 10 and April 10.

  • An earnest money deposit (aka “good faith deposit”) acts as collateral that guarantees your promise to purchase a house. It shows the seller that you are serious about the home purchase. Once your offer is accepted, the earnest money check is usually deposited into an escrow account, where it is held until closing. The deposit is 3% of the purchase price of the home and is applied to your down payment or other closing costs.

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Sydney McDowell + City Real Estate

Extraordinary Service For an Extraordinary City