aboutnationwide referralsthe property nerds® networkboyenga team at compass
Moving anywhere in the U.S.? We’ll find your Property Nerd there.
The Boyenga Team sells homes in Silicon Valley. When you’re buying or selling somewhere else, we introduce you to top agents and teams across the country, at Compass and at other brokerages, that we’ve checked the way we’d want our own move handled. Then we stay with you through closing.
How it worksWho’s in the networkHow we vet agentsQuestions to askSell here, buy thereFees and disclosures
- what it costs you$0for the introduction
- agents you’ll meet1 to 3matched to the area, price and timing
- who checks inwe dofrom first call to closing
- our own record2,520+Silicon Valley homes sold since 1996
how it works
How a referral works
One call with us, a short list of agents who fit your move, and a Property Nerd in your corner until you have the keys.
- step01
Tell us about the move
A 15-minute call, or a note if that’s easier.
- Where you’re going: the city, the areas you’re weighing, or just the commute you need
- Buying, selling or both, and whether you’ll rent first
- Price range, timing, and anything fixed, like a job start date or a lease end
- How you like to work with an agent: texts, calls, video tours, weekends
property nerd tipIf your employer has a relocation program, tell us before you sign anything with an agent. Many programs have their own agent network and paperwork, and we’ll work within it. - step02
We build a short list
We look for agents and teams with real, recent results where you’re going, at the price you’re shopping or selling.
- Recent closed sales in your target areas and price range, from MLS records where we can see them
- How their listings priced and sold: list price against sale price, and days on market
- A call from us first, so we hear how they talk about the market and how fast they answer
- A license check with that state’s licensing agency
property nerd tipWe’d rather introduce one agent who fits than three who don’t. If we can’t find a strong fit, we’ll say so. - step03
You interview them
We introduce you by email or a short video call, with your goals already shared so nobody starts from zero.
- Meet one to three agents; there’s no obligation to pick any of them
- Use the questions further down this page
- Choose the one you like, or ask us for another name
- step04
We stay on
We check in at the moments that matter, and we keep your Silicon Valley side moving at the same time.
- Before you make an offer or set a list price, we’re a second set of eyes on the numbers
- Inspection, appraisal and loan milestones: we check in and help you think it through
- If you’re selling here, we line up the timing of both sides
- If something isn’t working, tell us and we’ll talk to the agent or find you someone else
- step05
After closing
You’ll still have a Property Nerd in Silicon Valley.
- Market updates and a home value check on anything you still own here
- Introductions again for the next move, for you or for family and friends who are moving
who’s in the network
Who’s in the network
Top agents and teams across the U.S., at Compass and at other brokerages. What they share is how they work: data first, clear communication and strong local results. We match on the kind of move you’re making.
buyingbuyers
Buyer’s agents who know the ground
For buying in a new city, often sight unseen at first.
- Recent buyer-side sales in the areas you’re weighing
- Video tours and honest walk-through notes
- A plan for winning in their market’s offer customs
sellingsellers
Listing agents with a pricing record
For selling a home you own somewhere else.
- List-to-sale results and days on market we can review
- Prep, staging and marketing plans in writing
- Steady updates if you’re managing it from here
both endsmovers
Agents for a sell-here, buy-there move
We handle the Silicon Valley side; they handle theirs.
- Timing built around both closings
- Contingency and rent-back strategy that fits both markets
- One shared calendar so nothing slips
luxuryhigh-end homes
Luxury and estate specialists
For the top of a market, where comps are thin and privacy matters.
- Recent sales at your price point, not just nearby
- Off-market and private-listing experience where it’s allowed
- Discretion on showings and marketing
investinginvestors
Investment and second-home agents
Rentals, vacation homes and multi-unit buildings.
- Rent and expense numbers, not just list prices
- Local rental rules and short-term rental limits checked up front
- Property-management contacts if you need them
new homesnew construction
New-construction specialists
For buying from a builder.
- How builder contracts, upgrades and incentives work there
- Which phases and lots tend to resell well
- Representation from your first visit to the sales office
the property nerd scorecard
How we vet an agent
What we check before we put a name in front of you. It’s the same list we’d use for our own family.
- Recent local resultsClosed sales in the last year or two, in your areas and near your price, not a lifetime total.
- Pricing recordHow their listings sold against list price, and how long they took. We look at the MLS records when we can see them.
- NegotiationHow they handle multiple offers, inspection requests and appraisal gaps, in their own words and in examples.
- ResponsivenessHow quickly and clearly they get back to us. If we wait, you would too.
- Data firstComparable sales, a pricing analysis and market numbers, shared in writing.
- License in good standingChecked with that state’s real estate licensing agency.
- Team supportWho covers showings, paperwork and deadlines when the agent is busy.
- Fit with youCommunication style, availability and the language you’d like to work in.
We don’t pick agents by brokerage or by a paid listing. The network is people we’ve checked, and we keep checking after every introduction.
interview checklist
Questions to ask any agent you interview
Use these in your calls. A good agent will welcome them.
- What did you sell near my price in the last six months?Ask for addresses, list prices, sale prices and days on market.
- How do offers work here right now?Escalation clauses, inspection and loan contingencies, deposit size and closing timelines vary a lot by market.
- How would you price my home, and why?Ask for the comparable sales behind the number, in writing.
- Who will I actually work with?The agent, a team member or a showing partner, and who answers on weekends.
- How will you keep me updated from out of town?Video tours, written notes, a shared folder, a set weekly call.
- What do you charge, and what’s included?Commissions are negotiable. Ask what services come with the fee.
- What should I know about this market that a listing site won’t show me?Local rules, permit history, flood or fire zones, HOA rules, property taxes.
- Can I talk to two recent clients?Ideally one buyer and one seller from the past year.
sell here, buy there
Selling in Silicon Valley and buying somewhere else
The hardest part of a move between markets is the timing. Here are the usual ways to line it up; we’ll help you pick one with your lender and the agent on the other end.
- Sell first, then buyThe cleanest financially, but you may need a short rental or a rent-back after closing here.
- Buy first, then sellEasier on the move itself; it needs the cash or financing to carry two homes for a while.
- Rent-back after you sellYou sell here and stay as a renter for a set time, so you can move once.
- A contingent offer thereYour purchase depends on your sale here closing. It works in some markets and seasons, not in others.
- Prepare before you listPre-sale prep can raise your sale price; ask us how Compass Concierge works and whether it fits.
Start with what your home here is worth: get a home value, read the Seller Playbook, or compare markets on the U.S. Home Price Tracker.
fees and disclosures
Fees and disclosures
Plainly, so there are no surprises.
- No cost to you for the introductionYou don’t pay us anything to be introduced or for our check-ins.
- Referral feesIf you buy or sell with an agent we introduce, that agent’s brokerage may pay our brokerage a referral fee under a written broker-to-broker agreement. It doesn’t add to what you pay, and we’ll tell you about the arrangement.
- Your choiceYou’re never obligated to work with an agent we suggest, and you can ask for someone else at any point.
- Who represents youThe agent you choose represents you in that state under their own brokerage and license. The Boyenga Team represents clients in California.
- CommissionsCommissions are negotiable everywhere. Ask each agent what’s included in their fee.
- Equal serviceEvery referral follows the same steps, for every client, wherever you’re moving.
moving here instead?
Moving to Silicon Valley instead?
That’s our home market. Start here:
- Moving HereHow we help people relocating to Silicon Valley, and how agents elsewhere can refer a client to us.
- Relocation LabCities near your employer, with commute, power providers and first-year dates.
- City Match-UpCompare Silicon Valley cities side by side, live from the MLS.
questions
Questions we hear
Does a referral cost me anything?
No. The introduction and our check-ins are free to you. If a referral fee is paid, it’s paid between the brokerages, and it doesn’t add to what you pay.
Are the agents all at Compass?
No. The network includes top agents and teams at Compass and at other brokerages. We pick for the person and their results where you’re going, not the company name.
Which states do you cover?
We can introduce you almost anywhere in the U.S. If we can’t find an agent we’d trust in a small market, we’ll tell you rather than send a weak match.
How fast can you introduce someone?
It depends on the area and how specific your search is. We’ll give you a timeline on our first call.
Do I have to use the agent you suggest?
No. Interview them, and choose someone else or no one if they’re not right for you.
What if it isn’t working out?
Tell us. We’ll talk with the agent, and if it still isn’t right, we’ll introduce you to someone else.
Can you help with both selling here and buying there?
Yes. We list and sell your Silicon Valley home and coordinate the timing with the agent on the other end.
My employer is relocating me. Does that change anything?
It might. Many relocation programs have their own agent networks and rules. Tell us about the program first and we’ll work within it.
Do you refer renters?
Yes, when a market has agents who handle rentals. In some areas a rental specialist or property manager is the better first call, and we’ll tell you that.
Can you refer a friend or family member?
Yes. Send them our way, or call us with their details and we’ll take it from there.
more to learn
Keep going
- How to find a great agent in another stateWhat to look for, the questions to ask and the red flags.
- About the Boyenga TeamProperty Nerds since 1996, at Compass, based in Los Gatos.
- Moving HereRelocating to Silicon Valley, and referrals to us from agents elsewhere.
- U.S. Home Price TrackerCompare home prices across U.S. metros.
- Sell with the Boyenga TeamHow we prepare, price and market a Silicon Valley home.
The Boyenga Team (DRE 01254724 / 01254725) is part of Compass and represents clients in California. Agents we introduce work under their own brokerages and licenses in their states; their services and fees are set by them. Referral fees, when paid, are paid between brokerages under written agreements.
talk to a property nerd
Tell us where you’re headed
We’ll ask about your timing and goals, then introduce you to agents we’d trust with our own move. Commissions are negotiable, and we offer bundled services, so ask us what’s included.
