Questions about selling, buying and moving to the Valley

How early should I talk to an agent before selling?

Talk to an agent before you spend money on the house, even if the sale is months away. A first conversation with Aaron covers your timing, your next move and what you want from the sale, with no obligation. He can then walk the home with you and say which repairs and updates are worth doing before you start any.

What should I fix before selling?

Fix what an inspection is likely to flag and what would distract a buyer at a showing, and question everything else. Most sellers complete a disclosure statement about the home’s condition, the duty to disclose remains without that form, and an agent must disclose known material defects to the other parties in writing. A repair may not settle it, so ask whether a repaired problem still belongs on the form. Aaron walks the home with you and says which repairs and updates are worth doing for that house.

Source: Arizona Department of Real Estate and Arizona REALTORS®, Buyer Advisory (January 2025); A.A.C. R4-28-1101(B), in the Arizona Real Estate Law Book (2026 edition)

How is a list price set?

You choose the list price, after seeing what comparable homes recently sold for and what yours will compete with today. Aaron walks the home with you and prepares a pricing analysis from both.

Should I renovate before selling?

Usually not a full renovation, though it depends on what your home will compete with. Ask first whether buyers at that price expect the update. If you do the work, keep the permits and invoices, because Arizona’s Buyer Advisory tells buyers to ask for them.

Source: Arizona Department of Real Estate and Arizona REALTORS®, Buyer Advisory (January 2025)

What do I sign to list my home, and how is the agent paid?

You sign a written listing agreement that sets out the agent’s services and pay, and that pay is negotiable and not set by law. In Arizona, an agreement employing a broker to sell real property for compensation must be in writing to be enforced in court. Aaron walks you through his before you sign.

Source: A.R.S. § 44-101(7); National Association of REALTORS®, NAR Settlement FAQs

Should I sell my current home before buying the next one?

It depends on whether you can pay for the next home without the sale, so settle that with your lender first. If you need the sale, your offer can be written contingent on it, when that fits. Aaron plans the timing of both moves with you before anything is listed.

How is a buyer’s agent paid in Arizona?

A buyer’s agent is paid the amount or rate in your written buyer agreement, and that figure is negotiable and not set by law. A seller may agree to pay your agent, but since August 17, 2024 that offer can’t appear on the MLS. Your agent can’t receive more from any source than your agreement allows.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®, NAR Settlement FAQs

Do I have to sign an agreement before touring homes with an agent?

Yes, an agent in the MLS who is working with you needs a written agreement before you tour a home, in person or by live video. It must state the agent’s compensation in specific terms, and Arizona law requires a definite duration or expiration date and everyone’s signature, but you can negotiate its length and services. You don’t need one just to talk with an agent at an open house. In Arizona, an agreement employing a broker to buy real property for compensation must be in writing to be enforced in court.

Source: National Association of REALTORS®, NAR Settlement FAQs; A.R.S. § 44-101(7); A.R.S. § 32-2151.02, real estate employment agreements; ARMLS Rules & Regulations §§ 1.10 and 10.1 (last updated May 28, 2026)

What due diligence does a buyer do in an Arizona purchase?

You use the purchase contract’s inspection period to hire inspectors and check the home, its paperwork and its surroundings. The state’s Buyer Advisory calls professional inspections “absolutely essential,” and says an agent generally isn’t qualified to discover defects. It also points buyers to the seller’s disclosure statement, the CC&Rs and HOA documents, the title commitment, and conditions such as the roof, pool, sewer connection and square footage.

Source: Arizona Department of Real Estate and Arizona REALTORS®, Buyer Advisory (January 2025)

Is it risky to waive a contingency in Arizona?

Yes, Arizona’s Buyer Advisory warns that waiving the loan, inspection or appraisal contingency can put your earnest money at risk or leave you owing damages if you then don’t buy. It tells buyers to weigh those risks and talk to independent legal counsel before offering to waive one.

Source: Arizona Department of Real Estate and Arizona REALTORS®, Buyer Advisory (January 2025)

What HOA documents do I get when buying a resale home in Arizona?

Arizona law requires a disclosure package that includes the bylaws, rules, declaration, recent board minutes, budget, assessments, any reserve study and any unresolved violation cited against the property. In a planned community with fewer than 50 properties, the seller delivers it within 10 days after accepting your offer. With 50 or more, the association delivers it within 10 days after the seller’s notice. Condominiums follow similar rules under A.R.S. § 33-1260.

Source: A.R.S. § 33-1806; Laws 2026, Chapter 249, amending A.R.S. §§ 33-1260 and 33-1806

How do I choose an area if I’m moving from out of state?

Start with a video call that narrows the Valley to two or three areas, then spend a day driving them with Aaron. You’ll see the streets, the errands and the drive times before you pick a house. The side-by-side comparison lets you check lots, homes, HOAs, setting and walkability first.

Compare two areas side by side

Can I buy a home here without being in Arizona for every step?

Yes, video tours and electronic signatures mean you don’t need to be here for every step. Aaron coordinates the local pieces, such as inspections, title and the final walk-through, and keeps you updated along the way.

Which areas does Aaron cover?

Aaron covers seven areas in Scottsdale, Paradise Valley and Phoenix: North Scottsdale, Silverleaf, Central Scottsdale, McCormick Ranch, Paradise Valley, Arcadia and Biltmore. His focus is luxury homes, investment property and land.

See the seven areas

Does a Scottsdale mailing address mean a home is in the City of Scottsdale?

No, a mailing address names where the mail comes from, and the city limits decide which government’s rules apply. Mail to homes in the Town of Paradise Valley, for example, is delivered from a Scottsdale post office. Check a specific parcel with the Maricopa County Assessor and the city or town before relying on its zoning or rental rules.

Source: Town of Paradise Valley, Resident Guide (revised 2023); Maricopa County Assessor