A new tab will open, choose your day and time, then come back here to complete your worksheet and send it to me.
Step 1 of 2, a short call
I’ll reach out to set up a time that suits you, by phone, Zoom, or Google Meet. Twenty minutes is usually plenty.
Fill in whatever you like below and send it, so I have your situation in front of me before we talk. If it is easier to reach me first, call or text (734) 678-4745.
Let’s Start With the Basics
Your contact info & search overview
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Got it, I’ll be ready for you.
Your answers are on their way. I’ll review everything before our session so we start where it matters most, your goals.
Your session is confirmed. I’ll have a personalized strategy ready before we meet. Questions in the meantime? Call or text (734) 678-4745.
What happens next
1
Within a few hours
I review your answers and note anything I want to address specifically for your situation.
2
Within 24 hours
I reach out directly if I have any questions before we meet.
3
Before we meet
I'll have a personalized game plan ready, not a generic presentation, but a strategy built around your answers.
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Got your answers, I’ll follow up directly.
Based on our conversation, I’ll reach out personally to pick up where we left off. Your worksheet gives me exactly the context I need.
Picking up where we left off. I’ll follow up directly, same day during business hours. Call or text anytime at (734) 678-4745.
What happens next
1
Within a few hours
I review your answers alongside our earlier conversation to build a complete picture of what you're looking for.
2
Within 24 hours
I reach out directly to continue our conversation and discuss next steps.
3
Before we meet
I'll have specific properties, areas, or strategies to share based on exactly what you've told me.
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Answers received, let’s find a time.
Your worksheet is in. If you haven’t already picked a time, use the calendar link above, or just call or text me directly.
What happens next: I’ll reach out personally, I make it a priority to respond the same day. Call or text anytime at (734) 678-4745.
What happens next
1
Within a few hours
I review your answers so our first conversation is already productive, no starting from scratch.
2
Within 24 hours
I reach out to confirm a time that works, or you can grab a slot directly on my calendar above.
3
Before we meet
I'll have a strategy ready built around your goals, budget, and must-haves before we even say hello.
📞
Got it. Let’s find a few minutes to talk.
Your answers are in. A short call is the right place to start, and there is nothing to prepare for it.
What happens next: I’ll reach out to set up a time that suits you, by phone, Zoom, or Google Meet. If it is easier to reach me first, call or text (734) 678-4745.
What happens next
1
First
I read what you’ve shared so the call starts with your situation rather than with introductions.
2
Then
I reach out to find a time. Twenty minutes is usually plenty.
3
On the call
We talk through what you are looking for and what the next step actually is. There is no obligation to go further.
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Thanks for sharing, no pressure from here.
I’ll follow up at whatever pace works for you. No timeline, no obligation, no hard sell, just an honest conversation when you’re ready.
What happens next: There is nothing you need to do next. Call or text anytime at (734) 678-4745.
What happens next
1
First
I read what you've shared and keep it on file, so when you are ready we start from where you already are.
2
When it fits
I check in once, lightly, so you know I am here. If the timing is wrong, say so and I will leave it with you.
3
Before we meet
Whenever you’re ready to move forward, I’ll already know your situation and won’t need to start over.
What Is a Buyer Discovery Session?
A Buyer Discovery Session is a structured intake process for people buying a home in Brighton, South Lyon, Howell, Milford, Northville, Novi and the surrounding Southeast Michigan communities, whether that purchase is three weeks away or a year away.
It is not a showing. It is not a sales call. It is a way to start the search with the context already in place. Before your first conversation with Derek, the session gives you room to lay out what you are actually looking for, what your timing depends on, what you are willing to trade away, and what has not worked so far.
The result is a first conversation that starts where you already are. Less time spent on basics. More time spent on the specific streets, price points, and trade-offs that apply to your search.
Who It Is For
The Buyer Discovery Session is designed for Michigan buyers who:
Are buying their first home and want to understand the process before touring anything
Have to sell before they can buy, and need the two timelines to line up
Are relocating to Southeast Michigan and do not yet know how the local geography, school districts, and commutes actually work
Have been searching on portals for months without getting anywhere, and want to understand why
Are months away from buying but want to plan properly rather than scramble when the right house appears
There is no minimum timeline and no expectation that you are ready to make an offer. Buyers who complete a session early usually find that the clarity is worth more than any single showing later on.
Why It Exists
Most buyer relationships start with a showing request on a listing portal. An agent meets you at a house, knows nothing about your situation, and spends the first appointment asking questions that could have been answered in advance. That format is efficient for the agent and slow for the buyer.
This session reverses it. You provide the context first, Derek reads it before you speak, and the conversation that follows is about your search rather than about getting acquainted.
Most home searches go wrong at the beginning rather than at the end. The wrong price range, the wrong three towns, or an unexamined assumption about what is available can cost months. This is the cheapest possible place to catch that.
What Happens After You Submit
Derek reads your answers personally and reaches out directly, by phone, text, or email, to arrange a conversation at your convenience. There is no obligation, no pressure, and no minimum commitment.
Before touring homes together, buyer and agent put a written agreement in place setting out what the agent will do and how they are paid. Broker compensation is fully negotiable and is not set by law. You should understand what is in that agreement before you sign it, and the session is a reasonable place to ask about it.
Derek Bauer is an Associate Broker and REALTOR® at Real Estate One in Brighton, MI, with 24+ years of full-time experience and 1,100+ homes sold across Brighton, South Lyon, Howell, and Southeast Michigan. He is a 2025 RealTrends Verified Top 250 Michigan Agent and has been named a Real Estate All-Star by Hour Media every year from 2013 through 2026.
Broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Nothing on this page is legal, financial, or tax advice; for guidance specific to your situation, consult your attorney, lender, or tax advisor. Equal Housing Opportunity.
Broker compensation is not set by law and is fully negotiable. Equal Housing Opportunity. Your information is kept strictly confidential and used only to prepare for your Buyer Discovery Session.
★ RealTrends Verified Top Agent 2025 ★
24+ Years Full-Time · 1,100+ Homes Sold
