The homes you'll never
see on Zillow.

A Compass Private Exclusive is a listing marketed exclusively to the 30,000+ Compass agents nationwide before it ever hits the MLS or public portals. Unlike informal pocket listings, Private Exclusives are documented, compliant with NAR's Clear Cooperation Policy where permitted, and tracked inside Compass's internal platform — so qualified buyer agents see them within hours of launch. The benefit for sellers: no days-on-market accumulating, no public price history, and the ability to gather real buyer feedback before going public. The benefit for buyers: access to inventory their neighbors and competitors will never see.

There's no minimum price point, but we do ask three things: a defined search criteria (neighborhoods, bedroom count, price ceiling), proof of funds or a current pre-approval letter, and a brief 20-minute consultation so we understand what you're actually looking for. The reason: when we call a seller and say "I have a buyer for your home," our reputation is on the line. Sellers grant us early access because we don't waste their time. Once you're in our buyer network, you'll receive new Private Exclusives via email — typically 24 to 72 hours before the public sees them.

All commissions are negotiable by law, and ours are no exception. Our listing fee varies based on price point, market conditions, scope of marketing, and whether you're selling and buying with us simultaneously. We'll walk through pricing in our first meeting — no obligation, no pressure. What we won't do is compete on commission alone; our average list-to-sale ratio is 99.4%, meaning the marginal commission cost is usually recovered many times over in final sale price. Buyer-side compensation is structured according to the listing agreement and disclosed in writing before you tour any property under our representation.

Compass Concierge fronts the cost of strategic pre-listing improvements — staging, painting, flooring, landscaping, light renovation — with zero interest and no out-of-pocket cost to you. The amount is repaid at closing from sale proceeds. After walking your home, we'll recommend only the improvements likely to return 3x or more on dollars spent. If improvements don't return their cost in higher sale price, we'll tell you to skip them. Concierge is approved on a per-listing basis after a brief application; the typical Chicago listing qualifies for between $10,000 and $75,000 in funded improvements.

The Westhoff Group is most active in Lincoln Park, Lakeview, Bucktown, Wicker Park, Old Town, Gold Coast, Streeterville, West Loop, River North, Logan Square, Roscoe Village, North Center, and Andersonville. We also handle North Shore transactions in Evanston, Wilmette, and Winnetka through our Compass colleagues there. For neighborhoods we know less intimately, we'll tell you directly — and often refer you to a Compass agent who lives and works there full time. Specialized knowledge of micro-markets matters far more than a license that technically covers the whole MLS.

It's almost never too early. About a third of the people who reach out to us are 6 to 18 months away from making a move — they want to understand what their home is worth now, what neighborhoods fit their next chapter, or what pre-approval would look like with their lender of choice. Early conversations are no-pressure, no-obligation, and genuinely useful: we'll share comparables, suggest improvements that matter (and the ones that don't), and introduce you to lenders and attorneys we trust. When you're ready to move, you'll have a plan in place rather than scrambling.