📞 Call Talk With Colby

Services

Three ways I work with you

Buyer representation, seller representation, and market analysis. Transparent pricing, no surprises, and a local's read on the Bay Area.

Buyer Representation

What I do: I work with you from the first pre-approval conversation through the final walkthrough. That means helping you get clear on what you can afford, identifying neighborhoods that match your priorities, scheduling showings, writing competitive offers, coordinating inspections and appraisals, and staying on top of escrow until you get the keys.

How I charge: Buyer representation is paid through the standard commission split, structured so the seller typically covers the buyer's agent fee at close. I disclose everything in writing before we sign. There are no upfront fees or surprise charges for buyers I represent.

What you get: A dedicated buyer's agent who knows the South Bay block by block, a custom search portal tuned to your criteria, an offer strategy calibrated to each property (not a copy-paste letter), and a single point of contact for inspectors, lenders, and escrow from start to finish. I'll also help you think through resale value, school zones, and the non-obvious stuff like flood zones and HOA dynamics.

Timeframe: Most buyers I work with are under contract within 60–90 days of our first conversation, though the search can be faster or slower depending on your criteria and the market. I'll tell you honestly what I see in the inventory and pace we should move at. If the market is moving fast, I'll set up alerts and walking tours so you can be ready to tour a new listing the day it hits the MLS. If the market is slower, we'll have time to be more selective and deliberate, and we can wait for the right home rather than win a bidding war on the wrong one.

If you're a first-time buyer, I'll also walk you through the closing-cost breakdown, the loan options, and the difference between a conventional loan, an FHA loan, and a jumbo loan. If you're a move-up buyer, I'll help you think through the timing — whether to buy first or sell first, how to use a bridge loan if needed, and how to structure an offer that's contingent on your current home selling. The transaction is rarely just one decision; it's a chain of decisions, and I'll help you think through each one.

Talk With Colby

Seller Representation

What I do: I list your home. That includes a pricing strategy based on hyper-local comps (not just zip-code averages), staging guidance, professional photography, a launch marketing plan, MLS and syndication setup, showings, offer negotiation, and escrow management through close.

How I charge: A standard listing commission, agreed up front and disclosed in the listing agreement. DoorLight Inc is a full-service brokerage, so the fee covers everything from the pre-list prep through the close. I will walk you through the math so you understand the net to you before you sign.

What you get: A pricing strategy that doesn't leave money on the table or sit on the market, professional staging and photography, a launch sequence across MLS, Zillow, Redfin, Realtor.com, and the major real estate portals, and a marketing plan that includes social, email, and a dedicated property page. Most of my listings go live within 7 days of contract and we hold an open house within the first two weekends.

Timeframe: From contract to live: 7 days. From live to offers: typically 1–3 weekends in a normal market, longer in a slow market. From acceptance to close: 30–45 days in most cases. I'll set expectations clearly when we sit down to discuss. I'll also give you a realistic read on what your home is likely to sell for, what the bidding environment might look like, and which upgrades (if any) would actually move the needle on price.

If you're a luxury seller with a high-end property, the marketing plan is different. We move beyond the standard MLS-plus-portal approach and into styled photography, professional video, drone footage, targeted email campaigns to my network of luxury agents, and, where appropriate, a discreet pre-market launch before the listing goes public. DoorLight's luxury focus means I have a bench of specialists I can bring in for unique properties — estate sales, off-market listings, properties with unusual features.

Selling a home is a major financial decision, and the agent you pick matters. I'll come to your home, walk it with you, talk through the comps, and give you an honest opinion on price and timing — even if that means telling you to wait six months. You can read more about my background on the about page.

Talk With Colby

Market Analysis

What I do: I produce a hyper-local market analysis for any neighborhood in San Jose, Santa Clara, or the broader Bay Area. The report includes comparable sales, active inventory, days-on-market trends, price-per-square-foot trends, and a written read on the supply-demand dynamics of that specific area. I also include a free AI-search visibility snapshot for any address or business you want me to evaluate.

How I charge: Free for prospective clients (buyers and sellers I'm working with). For pure market-research requests without a representation agreement, the cost is $250 for a single address and $500 for a three-address comparison. The AI visibility audit is always free — see /audit.

What you get: A PDF report with 12–25 pages of analysis, comparable sale data pulled from the MLS, charts for price trends and days-on-market, and a written assessment of the property's likely sale price or appropriate offer range. The free AI visibility audit is bundled in and shows how your address or business appears in AI search engines like ChatGPT, Perplexity, and Claude.

Timeframe: 48 hours from the request. If you need it faster, let me know and we'll prioritize. Rush delivery (24 hours) is available for an additional fee.

The market analysis is meant to give you a clear, written read on a property or neighborhood — distinct from the AI visibility audit, which is a free tool that tells you how your business appears in AI search engines. They're complementary: the market analysis tells you what the property is worth, and the AI audit tells you how visible the listing or business is in the new generation of search. If you want both, request them together and I'll bundle the delivery.

For buyers, the market analysis helps you understand whether a home is fairly priced and what a competitive offer looks like. For sellers, it tells you what your home is likely to sell for and how to position it. For investors, it surfaces the supply-demand dynamics and rental trends that drive returns. If you have a specific use case in mind, mention it when you reach out and I'll tailor the report.

Talk With Colby Run free AI audit

Ready to talk?

Tell me a little about what you're looking for. I'll review and reply within 1 hour — usually within minutes. No sales pressure, just a straight answer on your situation.