Our Services for Mid-Century Home Buyers and Sellers

The Boyenga Team at Compass, Eric and Janelle Boyenga, helps people buy and sell mid-century modern houses, Eichlers among them, in Silicon Valley. These houses raise the same questions on both sides of a sale: what the records say about the house, what has been changed since it was built, and how the roof, the heat in the slab and the glass are holding up. This page explains what we do, in plain terms, and links the pages that go into each step.

Records Research

We start with the record, not the listing description. That means the recorded tract map, the county's parcel information and year built, and, where the records name them, the builder, the architect and the model. Palo Alto's Eichler guidelines, for example, note that the county's assessor parcel maps show original subdivision boundaries and sometimes the tract name. Our guide to how to tell if a house is an Eichler shows the same steps.

Permit History

We pull the city's permit file to see what was approved and when, and we compare it with the house as it stands. On mid-century houses the common changes include enclosed carports, covered atriums and second stories. California's Transfer Disclosure Statement asks sellers whether they know of additions or alterations made without the necessary permits, so it pays to know the file before a buyer asks. See how to check a home's permit history.

Pricing by Tract and Model

The nearest sale on the map is not always the closest match. We look first at sales of the same builder's models in the same tract, compare condition and how much of the original design survives, then widen the search in steps. We adjust feature by feature and write down why. If the evidence is thin, we say so and explain the range. Our guide to pricing an architectural home walks through the method.

Preparing a House for Sale

We walk the house with you and write a short list of what to repair, what to clean and what to leave alone. Palo Alto's guidelines record the maintenance issues residents raise about these houses, including flat roofs that can be prone to leaks, single-pane glass, a lack of insulation and inefficient radiant heating, so we often suggest inspections before listing. See our mid-century inspection checklist.

When it helps, we coordinate design and sale preparation and staging with furniture at the right scale for long, low rooms. For marketing, we prepare architectural photography, a floor plan and a short written history of the house and its tract.

Compass Concierge

Compass Concierge is Compass's program that fronts some pre-sale costs, repaid at closing. Compass's own page says that, depending on the state, fees or interest may apply, and that eligibility isn't guaranteed. We go over the current terms with you before you sign anything. Our Compass Concierge page explains how the program works.

For Sellers

Put together, a sale with us runs from the records and the walk-through to preparation, pricing, marketing and the disclosures, which we gather before buyers ask for them. Our selling assistance page lists each step and the guides behind it.

For Buyers

Buying a mid-century house means judging the design and the condition of a house built decades ago. Before you write an offer, we look at the tract and the records, the permit history and the systems that matter in these houses: radiant heat in the slab, flat or low-slope roofs, older glass and older wiring. If the house needs work, we help you weigh the likely cost against the price before you commit. See our buying assistance page and our buyer resources.

The Boyenga Team at Compass, Eric and Janelle Boyenga, has worked in Silicon Valley real estate since 1996, with 2,520+ homes sold and $2.6+ billion in sales. Call or text (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606, or contact the Boyenga Team.

Contact Us and Begin Your Mid Mod Journey Today!

Boyenga Team at Compass
Eric & Janelle Boyenga
Call or text: (408) 373-1660 or (650) 383-8606
Email: MidMods@Boyenga.com
Book a phone or video call
BoyengaTeam.com
EichlerHomesForSale.com
DRE 01254724 / 01254725