From First Call to Closing: What Working With Tami Earnest Actually Looks Like

What happens before anything else

Every engagement starts with a consultation. In person, by phone, or by video — whatever works. This is not a listing presentation or a buyer pitch. It is a conversation where I am learning what you are actually trying to accomplish.

For buyers: I want to understand your timeline, your real budget (including carrying costs and closing costs, not just purchase price), your non-negotiables, and what you are willing to trade off. The NYC buyer search — whether you are looking at co-ops in Manhattan, brownstones in Brooklyn, or family homes in Westchester — is not effectively started without clarity on these parameters. The co-op process specifically has its own layer of complexity that the co-op board package guide covers in detail.

For sellers: I want to understand your timeline, your goals for the net proceeds, any complicating factors, and your realistic expectations about the current market. The selling process in Westchester starts with a walk-through and a market analysis. For sellers who also own in NYC, understanding both markets matters — the Brooklyn vs Manhattan guide covers how buyer priorities differ by borough, which directly informs how I position Westchester listings.

The search, the showings, and the offer

Before we look at properties together, you will have a clear picture of what the market actually looks like in your price range in your target areas — not what you hope it looks like, but what is actually available and at what level of competition. Setting realistic expectations before showings prevents the frustration cycle that many buyers experience when their first six offers lose.

At showings, I evaluate the property alongside you. Layout, condition, renovation scope, building quality for co-ops and condos. My design background — a BFA in interior design and five years of professional design work before real estate — changes what I notice. The design advantage guide explains what that means in practice at a showing. The short version: I identify issues and opportunities that photographs hide and that a non-design-trained eye tends to miss.

When you find a property to pursue, the offer strategy conversation is direct. I tell you what I think the property is worth based on comparables, what the competition looks like, and what you need to do to win without overpaying. I do not tell buyers what they want to hear. I tell them what the data supports.

Preparation, pricing, and getting to the closing table

The listing process begins with the walk-through and a market analysis that reflects current conditions, not what the market was doing eighteen months ago. I do not give inflated CMAs to win listings and then manage sellers down later. That approach wastes time and costs sellers money in carrying costs and eventual price reductions.

After the walk-through, we build a specific preparation plan: what to do before photography, what the timeline looks like, and what Compass Concierge can fund interest-free if needed. Professional photography is non-negotiable on every listing. The marketing plan is specific to the likely buyer pool for your home in your neighborhood — which, for most Westchester sellers, means reaching buyers currently in Manhattan and Brooklyn.

The dual-market advantage is real here. I work with buyers in NYC every week. I know what they are looking for, what they respond to in a listing, and where their preferences have shifted. That informs how we price, prepare, and present every Westchester listing.

Working with Tami — common questions