Bean Group

Condensed Version: If you are looking for a home in the Newburyport area, contact Lisa Richmond of Bean Group immediately.
We weren’t entirely sure we were ready to buy a home, but after hovering over the same listing for about two weeks we decided to just make an appointment to see the damn place. Out of sheer luck, Lisa Richmond was the agent we met with. Her professional and affable attitude eroded our intimidation over the process almost immediately. She was kind enough to show us the home we originally had asked about and also a fixer-​upper out of town, even knowing that the latter was a long shot and it being almost 7:00 in the evening. She explained that she would work for us as a buyer’s agent and gave us the paperwork to look over at our leisure. Absolutely no pressure which was great. After a quick discussion on the car ride home, we decided to sign with Lisa.
Quite simply one of the smartest moves we made.
Lisa made the process a breeze. As breezy as buying a home can be, anyway. She is super responsive and incredibly knowledgeable. As total newbs, we had questions. Lots of ‘em. We emailed questions during the day, at night, on weekends, on holidays (not always expecting an answer). No matter. Lisa replied promptly to everything we sent. I honestly don’t know if she sleeps. A reputable mortgage lender? She knew the guy who made the process seem too easy. Suggestions as far as protocol? She gave us the standard practice. A recommendation for a lawyer? She knew someone who made the closing, dare I say it, enjoyable. A great place to grab a bite to eat in town? She knew a place.
During the process of buying a home, Lisa was a great advocate for us. In fact, we took our honeymoon up until the day before closing and we felt entirely comfortable letting Lisa be our voice for any last-​minute items. When the seller came to us with a request for all plants in the yard (not in the P&S), Lisa politely declined when we couldn’t respond. She made suggestions when we asked her for them, but never tried to steer us in any way. If something was out of the norm, she cautioned us and let us know our options and rights. We felt very safe with Lisa as a guide through the process.
Lisa is truly an asset to Bean Group and Newburyport. As a resident of Newburyport herself, Lisa is able to answer totally trifling questions about living in town. Trash collection, recycling programs, tax schedules, school systems, plowing, transportation… Lisa could bill herself as a veritable ambassador to Newburyport. The internet and multiple visits can tell you so much about a town, having Lisa to fill in the blanks was incredibly valuable. It also makes the process seem a bit more… legitimate. Sure, any real estate agent can go on and on about how great a city is… and then turn around and drive 50 miles home. The fact that Lisa lives in the town was a definite positive. She also donates a percentage of each commission to youth sports in the town, a fact she divulged to us only right before closing. We appreciated not only her sense of community but obvious integrity as she didn’t use this altruism as a sales tactic.
The whole process lasted a little over three months. (Somewhat attributable to a jam-​packed schedule.) I can honestly say that the time flew and not more than three days went by without some sort of communication between us and Lisa. She was really there every step along the way. On the day of the closing, Lisa showed up a bit early with a housewarming gift and card from a local artist. She sat and joked with us through the signing and sent an email checking in a few days after we moved. She welcomed us to stay in touch with any questions we have about the town and we certainly will take her up on that. Lisa was not only a fantastic buyer’s agent but a great one-​woman welcoming committee to Newburyport. If you are questioning whether to contact an agent in the area, I urge you to reach out to Lisa. You will not be disappointed.