I’m a first time home buyer. My partner and I were looking for a home that would give our son priority for a good elementary school in the Oakland options process. Whenever we would talk to Grace about a house we were interested, she was very informed. She knew something about all the houses we were interested in and knew the neighborhoods were interested in in great detail.

One thing that really impressed me about Grace was that when we had settled on a house to make an offer she checked in with me to make sure that I was happy about the house even though it didn’t have some of the things that I had initially said that I wanted. This showed me that (1) she had actually listened to me when I was talking about what I wanted from a house and cared enough to remember what I said and (2) that she was more concerned about my being satisfied with my purchase than her earning a quick commission.

While both Grace’s integrity and detailed knowledge of what was actually on the market were impressive, where she really shone was once we made an offer. She explained the whole escrow process to me from beginning to end. She helped us figure out what sort of offer to make and helped us negotiate with very difficult sellers. She talked me down, whenever I worked myself up into a tizzy. We ended up getting the house for significantly less than it listed for, largely because of Grace.

K. K.

Oakland, CA

I want to offer this recommendation for Grace Bishop from the perspective of a home inspector who often works with Grace. Early in my career I purchased a franchise that marketed to real estate agents in a way that was suggestive that their home inspectors would be light on their comments by writing reports “In the right perspective”. Several legal fees later, I severed my association with that franchise and that experience galvanized the idea that I will only develop relationships with clients who will spend the time and money to receive a thorough inspection. I also was resolved to develop relationships with real estate agents who take the inspection seriously instead of just going through the motions to only cover themselves. I knew by reputation that Grace was the right kind of agent and that was confirmed quickly when I started working with her. Luckily I work in a geographic location where I believe there are more agents like Grace than any other part of the country. Recently I dealt with out of town agents who did not share Grace’s professionalism and respect for what I do. I kept thinking, “I wish these guys were like Grace.” Grace respects my time, prepares clients to respect my cancellation fee, and always supports my method. I believe that her respect for her team members in addition to her devotion to her clients is what sets her apart.

Jay M.

Berkley, CA

To whom it may concern,

I’m a first time home buyer.  My partner and I were looking for a home that would give our son priority for a good elementary school in the Oakland options process.  Whenever we would talk to Grace about a house we were interested, she was very informed.  She knew something about all the houses we were interested in and knew the neighborhoods were interested in in great detail.

One thing that really impressed me about Grace was that when we had settled on a house to make an offer she checked in with me to make sure that I was happy about the house even though it didn’t have some of the things that I had initially said that I wanted.  This showed me that (1) she had actually listened to me when I was talking about what I wanted from a house and cared enough to remember what I said and (2) that she was more concerned about my being satisfied with my purchase than her earning a quick commission.

While both Grace’s integrity and detailed knowledge of what was actually on the market were impressive, where she really shone was once we made an offer.  She explained the whole escrow process to me from beginning to end.  She helped us figure out what sort of offer to make and helped us negotiate with very difficult sellers.  She talked me down, whenever I worked myself up into a tizzy.  We ended up getting the house for significantly less than it listed for, largely because of Grace.

K. Kramer

To Whom it May Concern,

As first time home buyers, we were referred to Grace through a friend.  We were pre-approved for a loan that was less than what we had wanted, but Grace never once made us feel like we couldn’t find our perfect house. Grace was extremely professional right from the start.  It made a difference that she asked us many times over the course of the 2 years searching to tell her the details that we liked about houses that we saw, so that she might keep an eye out for houses that would fit us.

My husband and I are very particular, and Grace had the patience to help us find the right house.  She took the time to talk us through all of the details.   We made an offer on a house at one point and did not get it. Grace was thorough with her follow-up and did everything she could to get us that house. Luckily, we didn’t get it, because about a year later we found the house we live in now, and we love it.

When we did find the house we own now, Grace helped us through the process of the offer, negotiations and sale with no stress at all. She was constantly on top of every detail, from appointments, inspections, and meetings, to general inquiries. She made sure we were informed about such things as how our flash water heater works and what to do with our plumbing.  She provided us with every detail we needed, to know we were making the right decisions. Grace stuck with us even though our budget was limited, and our expectations frustrating. We always knew she was there for us and would see it through . We’ve recommended Grace to all our friends, and if we ever should look for another house, Grace will certainly be the realtor we call.

Sincerely yours,

Joe and Michele Fletcher

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