Recommendations
Letters from Sellers
1. Ida Abelson acted as our realtor in the recent sale of our condominium at Brickyard Landing in Point Richmond. Despite the really poor prospect for sellers in the current market, the condo was on the market only 30 days. We were pleased with all aspects of Ida’s efforts on our behalf. She is knowledgeable, personable and performs the professional tasks efficiently.
We were completely satisfied with the whole transaction and highly recommend her services to both buyers and sellers.
2. I just wanted to drop you a note to say ' Thank You ' for the successful marketing and sale of our rental condo. This was the 4th transaction we have done with you, and as usual it was fast and smooth. As you know, we interviewed another agent to get an alternate analysis prior to listing with you. Following your suggestion we listed the property more than 7 % higher than the other agent suggested, and in 1 month you procured 3 offers above that list price. Ultimately, the condo sold for more than 10 % over the list price suggested by the other agent. Should you ever require a reference, please feel free to use me. Best regards
3. I am very, very grateful for all you have done. I hope one day to again own a unit in BYL. And of course I will call on you should we ever be in the market again.
4. I am writing to recommend the services of Brickyard Realty. Early this year I decided to sell my home. The market was quite vigorous and I felt that the services of a realtor were an unnecessary expense. After 5 weeks of advertising, marketing, holding open houses and price reductions, I had no offers. I was concerned since I had to leave the country for an extended trip and needed the funds for another investment. I called Ida Abelson and offered her the listing. She listed the property at above my asking price. I then left the country.
Within 10 days, Ms. Abelson contacted me with a full-priced offer. Since I was gone for most of the escrow period, I relied on Ms. Abelson to handle any issues which might have arisen. When I returned, I found that the documentation was completed, all contingencies removed, and all I needed to do was to sign closing papers and pack.
I am very pleased with the service I received, to say the least. And the deal Ms. Abelson negotiated netted me as much cash as I would have received had I sold the property on my own.
5. It is with pleasure that we recommend Ida Abelson, as outstanding real estate agent. Jim and I lived at Brickyard Landing for seven years. Over the past four years we have had our unit on the market three times. The first two times we enlisted agents who never before sold property in Pt. Richmond (we were not satisfied with the agents who were considered "specialists" in Brickyard properties). We were discouraged because our unit was never shown during the six month periods they were on the market. Shortly after our daughter was born almost 2 and 1/2 years ago, we put or unit on the market with (name of competing real estate agent deleted). During that time we received no offers and our unit was shown occasionally by (name of competing real estate agent deleted). That was a long disheartening experience. We thought our condo was "jinxed". We came to believe that it must have been inferior to others.
I noticed that Ida was selling properties quickly and getting good prices. We dropped our agent and enlisted Ida. Ida articulately described her vast experience and seasoned East Bay network. Further she pointed out the special characteristics of our condo and described her intelligent plans to market our place. She gave us hope and made me feel it was worthwhile again to keep the place looking spiffy. Ida held open houses weekly.
Ida sold our condo in 41 days.
Although Ida had not attempted to sell homes in Marin we asked her to help us find a home there. Ida got us our home at our asking price (moved in seven days ago!). Some adjectives and phrases describing her performance throughout this process are: HONEST (yes, an honest real estate agent does exist), thorough, savvy, a tenacious / "ferocious" advocate, a force to be reckoned with, kind, funny and meticulous. She even helped out with our very active toddler on the day the movers came.
Needless to say, if you are looking to sell at Brickyard we think there is no agent that remotely compares to her.
6. Now that the dust has settled, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all your efforts in marketing and finally selling our condominium at Brickyard Landing. When my wife and I first decided to put our condo on the market, the decision to use a Realtor was not an easy one, but it was, as it turned out, the right decision. The fact that you are "On Site" really eased our minds, because we knew there would be immediate access to any one who happened by. This was extremely important to us, given the fact that we were trying to sell at one of the worst times of the year. Who was going to buy a home at Christmas? We thought we might have a little attention, but thanks to your aggressive approach we always had heavy traffic in on weekends. This resulted, to our great surprise, in receiving multiple offers within a very short period of time; and I must say I don't think we would have received as high a sales price as we did with out having these multiple offers. Not only did you both work hard, you accomplished tasks that could have "killed" our deal at any time. I personally think that had we used anyone else this deal would have been lost. The fact that our hardwood floors were an issue, not only with the Board of Directors, but also the neighbors below, required a finesse that up until now I would not have associated with Realtors. You then dealt with the almost impossible situation of low appraisal so effectively no time was lost. I would have put money on the fact that this issue would have slowed the process down to a crawl but again we were pleasantly surprised.
Selling and buying at the same time has to be the most stressful process a human can endure, or so it seemed, but throughout this entire process both of you held our hands, gave us the information we needed, comforted us at the most difficult times, and kept the process going despite the hurdles; and for these reasons we are both grateful. If I ever need a Realtor again, and I hope I won't for a long time, I would not hesitate for a second to call on your services again.
7. We’re so glad we listed the condo with you. Besides getting an offer so quickly, you smoothed out the closing process and made it so easy! We hope everyone is as pleased as we are with the sale. Thanks again
8. Thank you for your assistance in selling our condo. We found your professionalism, sage advice and your insights into the marketplace to be extremely refreshing and most helpful. With your guidance we were able to profit more significantly than we had planned through a FSBO listing. The exposure for our place through the Internet, signage, mail and open houses brought us the offers we needed and your powers of persuasion with the buyer made it all happen.
We would certainly recommend your services to our former neighbors, or those who are interested in living at the Brickyard.
9. Just a short note to say thank you for making my "Seacliff" dream possible! I really appreciate all of the hard work and skill you displayed in effecting the sale of my Brickyard Cove unit and your willingness to help Langston and me with the sale of the house in Sequoyah Heights. The funds I received from these two sales made the purchase of my new home in "Seacliff" a reality. In both transactions, I know you went above and beyond the call of duty.
You certainly displayed tremendous negotiation skills by stretching out the close of escrow and the rent-back time to allow time for the "Seacliff" deal to close, and you were right-on in terms of what Brickyard Cove would sell for.
Again, thanks for the help!
10. Thanks to Ida at Brickyard Realty, the sale of the condo was the easy part of our move. Ida handled everything with speed and professionalism. When your time comes to sell, I highly recommend you call Ida. You won’t regret it.
11. I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the great job you did helping me sell my condo at Brickyard Landing. As I'm sure you remember, this was my first time selling real estate and I came to you with no experience and no knowledge. You were excellent at giving me the information I needed to work through the transaction comfortably. You had answers for all my questions and great suggestions in the (many) areas where I needed some guidance. I was also impressed by your knowledge of the Brickyard Landing community and the unique aspects of the market for BYL properties. Your web-site was also a great resource for me. I can't imagine working with anyone else to sell or buy a BYL condo.
Please feel free to share these comments with anyone who might be interested. If any of your prospective customers would like to talk to someone you've worked with in the past, I'd be happy to chat with them about my experience and my impressions.
Best of luck and thanks again.
12. I recently completed my 2nd real estate transaction with Ida Abelson of Brickyard Realty. Again she was extremely well informed, gave me great advice, and guided me through a smooth closing. She has also been an excellent property manager.
13. Hi Ida, I'm happy to recommend your services to potential clients as you certainly handled the sale of my condo very professionally and expeditiously. As I recall, it was sold approximately the day after it was listed and without any open houses or strenuous requirements on my part--and at a good price. I don't know what more I could have wanted. Best of luck!
14. I write to recommend Ida Abelson as a most effective and honest realtor (both of which are hard to find). My husband and I were making plans to retire and move in July of 2006. We currently live in one of the coveted end units in Brickyard Landing. So in August of 2005, I asked Ida if she would come over and give me some advice on what we needed to do to make our unit more saleable and get the optimum price. Just previous to Ida’s visit, I had received several estimates on kitchen remodeling. These estimates were, in my opinion, astronomical leaving me confused as to how to proceed. When Ida came, I shared with her the estimates and asked for advice on the choices presented along with advice on timing for putting our condo on the market. All the while, I was thinking we would be looking at months and money involved in preparing the place for sale.
To my surprise, Ida explained that to redo the kitchen just for resale “would be ludicrous”. No matter what choice we made, a buyer would probably want something different. Then she went on to consider the timing issue. Predictions were that interest rates were rising and the competition of the new building project by the old ferry terminal both indicated that the present (Sept. 2005) rather than waiting till spring would be the best time to try out the market. Ida, then mentioned her suggested listing price which would mean we would more than double our investment in just the 6 years we lived there. Needless to say, my interest was peaked. But we couldn’t move till the end of the school year. Again, Ida’s creative solution was we list it, but include a “rent back” agreement. I must admit, I never dreamed this would work, but we thought, “what do we have to lose?” Another problem was that, at the time, we were both extremely busy and felt we didn’t have the time to get the place ready to show. Again, Ida presented a solution. She suggested we give her an exclusive listing and we not put it in the multiple. That way, Ida would be the only one showing the place which solved the problem of both of us working full time and leaving the dog at home. She felt that the way we kept our place regularly would be just fine for showing.
We listed with her in early September. We were gone most weekends so Ida held open houses and showed the place during the week while we were gone to work. We basically had no intrusions or extra effort. By the end of October, she brought us a full price offer with a rent-back agreement. I would never have dreamed this possible. We have moved and bought and sold four different houses. This was by far the smoothest, most painless process. We still cannot believe how easy Ida made it for us. No matter what concern we had, she presented a solution. She kept us informed and was vigilant from beginning to the end. We now have the money in hand to invest. We do not have to be concerned about “the bubble bursting” in the housing market. And all this with practically no effort or stress on our part. Ida truly represented us in every way.
We recommend Ida Abelson enthusiastically to any seller/buyer. Please feel free to contact us for a verbal recommendation or any questions.
15. Thanks a lot for your help in selling my condo this past month. Your problem-solving skills are A-1! And Robert's color photography isn't bad either! You arranged for a buyer to rent back to me while I look for an apartment in San Francisco, which eases my task considerably and also seems to convenience the buyer. So we're both pleased.
The market is rough on sellers these days, but you persisted with frequent showings until we hit a satisfactory deal. You've got a great head for the real estate business. I wish you continued success.
Letters from Buyers
1. It has been over 90 days since escrow closed and we moved into our new home in Brickyard Landing. From completing our search for "The Right Place" to meeting our needs (a 4th floor penthouse unit) to the final closing of a complex transaction. Offer, counter offer, counter, counter offer, with no give by the seller. You were always there with timely, accurate advice and direction. Your experience in teaching financing and closing procedures was invaluable in competing our purchase. All legal steps were completed on time and thoroughly. You were especially helpful in our complying with meeting lenders' requests for supplemental information with supportive documentation. This included your offering alternate sources of funding.
The addition of your husband Robert's activities as broker added an additional positive facet to your operation. This one-two punch meant uninterrupted communication between us and all interested parties. Terrific back-up! His assistance legally and with things like property inspections were really appreciated. Knowing Robert is a practicing attorney provided additional comfort.
Are we satisfied with our purchase and services rendered? In simple words, "Very satisfied", without qualification. In fact, should we decide to relocate, you are our choice as to our listing agent knowing you would represent the seller as efficiently and completely as you did the buyer. Everything the property and you had to offer has exceeded our expectations.
To quote you, "An in-house realtor is one's best bet while dealing in Brickyard Landing Real Estate."
It should go without saying, feel free to show this letter to any prospective client.
2. Ms. Abelson has asked that I provide a letter describing my impression of her skill as a real estate agent based upon my recent purchase of a unit at Brickyard Landing. I have purchased five properties over the past twenty years and my family has a number of real estate investments that I manage with my mother and brother. Over the years, I have worked with agents that did not seem competent and others with whom I have had a very satisfactory experience. There are qualities that distinguish superior real estate agents from the rest and I can say from my experience with Ms. Abelson that she is superior in her work. I knew within three minutes of meeting her that she had the qualities I appreciate. Upon meeting Ms. Abelson at her home office, I immediately felt welcome and respected. She clearly defined her role and what service she could provide. She astutely determined what my real estate needs and interests were. She was able to nimbly discuss complex property and financial issues that I understand and also then, graciously simplified information that I needed to have simplified. She respectfully provided the information I needed and offered guidance in making decisions. She does this with appropriate concern, charm and good humor. As a psychologist, I can say that Ms. Abelson is very good at understanding a client's personality and she seems very able to adjust her work to suit the client's style and needs. She was very timely and responsive to me in initiating the sales all the way through getting the sale finalized. She continued to provide support up through our move-in to the property including assisting with painters and deliveries. Finally, I have a great respect for Ms. Abelson's knowledge of real estate in general and all the related legal and financial matters. My experience with Ms. Abelson was very positive, I recommend her to you as a mature and highly expert professional.
3. This letter is long overdue! Life, since I moved to Brickyard Landing 10 months ago, has been complicated, to say the least. But I assure you that I am enjoying being here very much. From the moment I first looked out on our wonderful view I knew immediately this was where I wanted to be, and my pleasure hasn't diminished at all since then. I plan to leave Brickyard "feet-first," somewhere around age 110-115.
There are many factors which contribute to my satisfaction with Brickyard. For a person who appreciates serenity, and nature, and peace and quiet, and who wants to combine that with convenient access to the cultural offerings of San Francisco, Marin and Berkeley, this location is ideal. As a woman on my own I also appreciate the security, the very pleasant and responsive staff, the good maintenance and the fact that other tenants are friendly, but not intrusive. I am beginning to be involved in a few committees in addition to the Supper Club and have been enjoying it all.
You, of course, were a very significant factor leading to my decision to purchase. As distraught as I was when I came out the first time, I would have been immediately "put off" by someone less professional and knowledgeable or a pushy, aggressive seller. (That's a style I respond very negatively to at any time.) You were able to answer every question I posed with patience, intelligence, and authority (and even managed to lace it with humor).
I know it was a not easy to conclude the sale given the strangely uncooperative attitude of the seller and the endless delays, but as annoying and frustrating as it must have been for you, you maintained a steady, admirable "cool". As a first time on-my-own buyer, I felt very fortunate that I could rely on your availability, expertise and helpfulness. You made the entire process far less agonizing and traumatic than it could have been.
As you know, my own business is based on personal service, so I know what first-rate personal service is as well as how rare it is to find. No one could have done a better job in every way than you did. For me, you will always be the "Agent of the Year" every year!
Needless to say, I sing your praises whenever possible and you may use me as a reference if you ever need a glowing testimonial.
4. We will never forget your kindness, patience, and steadfast efforts on our behalf. All who serve the public should take their cue from you! With warm gratitude
5. Well, I have almost been here one month, and I love it! I'm sure my enthusiasm will only increase as the rest of the boxes get unpacked and my mail finds me without being re-routed. Ah....moving, what a pleasurable experience!
I appreciate all the effort and concern you displayed in working with me from the moment I walked in the door of the unit you were holding an Open House in (now mine) through the weekend of my move. You were both professional and warmly sincere. You made the entire process as simple and straightforward as it could be made, and thank you.
You can be sure that I will not only recommend you to those who might be interested in buying, but also to those who might have to part with this wonderful living existence.
6. Ida Abelson acted as our real estate agent in the purchase of our condo. In the six months prior to our purchase, we attended many open houses, met multiple real estate agents, but felt overwhelmed by the high-pressure strategy employed by them. We were adamant in wanting to choose our home ourselves - not have an agent choose the property that they wanted us to purchase at the price that they wished us to pay in order to fatten their commission.
Prior to inspecting Brickyard Landing, we phoned its Condo Association to obtain a list of real estate agents who deal with the property. Ms. Abelson was on their list. We met with her the first time at an open house and came away with the mutual opinion that she is a trustworthy person, a person with whom we felt comfortable entrusting the most important purchase of our lives, our first home. We felt no pressure from her - none of the desperation to make a sale, which we found so pervasive in the real estate industry.
Since Ms. Abelson and her family live at Brickyard Landing, she was completely familiar with the property's benefits and detriments, unlike most agents who appear for merely a few hours to show a property. A pride in her home, as well as, the desire to protect its future were reassuring to us.
As the contractual process ensued, Ms. Abelson was totally capable in dealing with the mounds of paperwork required by California law. She was knowledgeable and prompt in dealing with our inquiries and in returning phone calls.
Ms. Abelson's warm genuine personality and ability to relate well to others forges a good working relationship. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had her act on our behalf.
7. Two-years ago I met Ida Abelson and immediately found her to be a well-informed, personable, highly-intelligent real estate broker. From that first meeting, I knew I had met a business woman, I could trust. Ida quickly assessed my real estate options and worked within those parameters . Once I decided on the home I wanted, she outlined my many financial and logistic options in order to close the transaction. She then put the deal together within hours and had the papers ready for signature the next day. Once her part as agent was completed, she followed through by acquainting me with the neighborhood and introducing me to my new neighbors.
Ida Abelson is a woman of many talents. She can put together a business deal, a newsletter, a web page, a quorum, or a party with equal ease and at the same time keep up with all of her correspondences in a timely (almost immediate) fashion. Ida's intellectual abilities and organizational skills are balanced with her caring personality, friendly manner and quick wit.
8. It is with great pleasure that I write to commend the efforts of Ida Abelson in her role as real estate broker for my husband and me. We recently purchased a condominium in Brickyard Landing and were fortunate to have her act as our agent. As first time homebuyers, we were entirely unfamiliar with the process. Ida made the whole experience both educational and painless. Her expertise and ease both with the property and with the transaction enabled us to feel that we were always apprised of our options, while feeling comfortable that we were being stewarded in the best possible manner.
I would recommend Ida to anyone interested in either purchasing or selling a home in the Brickyard Landing community (and beyond).
9. Thank you very much for handling the purchase of a condo for me at Brickyard Landing. Your representation was professional in every phase of the transaction. You were always available to show me the property and answer any questions regarding the multitude of forms required by the local, state and federal agencies. You stayed on top of the progress of securing financing; making sure the underwriter was processing the loan application. Then, you assisted me at the escrow office to make sure all documents were in order and got signed. I know that a glitch arose over a loan contingency, but somehow you took care of it without even involving me. Finally, your web site rental listings reached a prospective tenant who indeed leased the property in a short while. I highly recommend your services to anyone thinking of buying, selling or renting at Brickyard Landing.
10. I came across Brickyard condos on the internet. The location struck me as perfect for my needs. However, living on the East coast and planning a move to the West coast, I needed to be guided by an understanding realtor whom I felt I could trust and who could facilitate a long-distance negotiation. Ida Abelson filled the bill. She made me feel comfortable, answered all questions right away and she was there to help with every detail as it arose. Even when there were unexpected glitches, she was always there to work it through.
11. My mother recently purchased a condo at 1201 Brickyard Way. As our agent, Ida Abelson was extremely efficient, resourceful, and pleasant to work with. We were thoroughly satisfied with her professionalism and punctuality from the time she first submitted our offer to the time of closing on the property. Ida is very knowledgeable and experienced in real estate, in particular Brickyard Landing, because she is also a resident there and knows the area firsthand. She was always helpful with any questions we had about the area. Even after the closing, Ida provided resources for my renovation plan and some of the references she provided were absolutely fantastic. In conclusion, Ida is a very competent and intelligent real estate agent and is highly recommended.
12. I highly recommend Ida Abelson at Brickyard Realty! She was representing both the buyer and seller on my recent purchase of a condominium. I found her fair, extremely knowledgeable, informative, and helpful in the process. Her familiarity with closing helped avoid a delay due to my loan company. I believe you will be very pleased with the experience of working with Ida.
13. Ida Abelson recently represented both buyer and seller on our purchase of a condominium at Brickyard Landing. She diligently handled this, often complex, representation with patience and total professionalism. We have bought several properties in the last few years and have worked with several agents. Ida is a knowledgeable agent with integrity. Being a resident herself at Brickyard Landing was a big plus. Without exception, Ida has always been very quick to respond to our enquiries and kept us informed every step of the way. Ida ensured that we closed on time and has been providing us with valuable information in preparation of our move-in. I would highly recommend Ida as broker for your real estate needs.
14. Ida Abelson of Brickyard Realty represented us when we purchased our new home at Marina Bay. We were also selling our home in Arizona & both homes were closing within 3 days, just to add to the complexity. Then we decided to go to China for 3 weeks & leave it all to Ida!
First, let me say that when you hire a professional in any field you expect a certain level of service, and hiring a real estate professional is no different. When we hired Ida we had no idea what we would have to put her through. It is no exaggeration to say that we sincerely doubt that the Arizona home would have closed without Ida...and she wasn't even our agent in that transaction! We can definitely state that the Marina Bay home would not have closed without her hard work, attention to detail & determination. Indeed it was only through Ida's extraordinary efforts that we got to present an offer to the owner.
There were so many things that Ida did to close the deal for us it is impossible to list everything here, but we'd like to share one small example. While we were still in China after our new home had closed, Ida discovered that our electricity was going to be cut off by the previous owner. Ida called PG & E & had it re-connected in her name so we would not have any break in service. This was WAY above the call as far as we were concerned, and there are many, many more examples.
My wife & I named Ida Super Realtor as a joke...as it turned out she really earned the title. Of course we would have no hesitation at all in recommending her to any one.
Thank you Ida!
15. If you are in need of the services of a full service realty company, look no further than Brickyard Realty. I know how challenging being a broker can be. There are no limits to the hours worked, and the pay, if computed by the hour, would scare off all but the most dedicated of professionals.
I find Ida Abelson to be at the top of her game: she is very knowledgeable about the market, especially here at Brickyard Landing. As the process of finding, buying and financing a home purchase unfolds, I think it would be difficult to find someone as patient, thorough and persistent as Ida. The phrase that keeps coming to my mind is "Coach". She has even been heard to say, "Breathe," reminiscent of a birthing coach, when as buyer you can do little more than wait. I've seen her "part the waters" during the financing phase, and her tenacity will bode well for any home buyer during escrow.
To sum up my experience, she doesn't miss a beat! You too will be proud to call her your realtor.
1. Ida Abelson acted as our realtor in the recent sale of our condominium at Brickyard Landing in Point Richmond. Despite the really poor prospect for sellers in the current market, the condo was on the market only 30 days. We were pleased with all aspects of Ida’s efforts on our behalf. She is knowledgeable, personable and performs the professional tasks efficiently.
We were completely satisfied with the whole transaction and highly recommend her services to both buyers and sellers.
2. I just wanted to drop you a note to say ' Thank You ' for the successful marketing and sale of our rental condo. This was the 4th transaction we have done with you, and as usual it was fast and smooth. As you know, we interviewed another agent to get an alternate analysis prior to listing with you. Following your suggestion we listed the property more than 7 % higher than the other agent suggested, and in 1 month you procured 3 offers above that list price. Ultimately, the condo sold for more than 10 % over the list price suggested by the other agent. Should you ever require a reference, please feel free to use me. Best regards
3. I am very, very grateful for all you have done. I hope one day to again own a unit in BYL. And of course I will call on you should we ever be in the market again.
4. I am writing to recommend the services of Brickyard Realty. Early this year I decided to sell my home. The market was quite vigorous and I felt that the services of a realtor were an unnecessary expense. After 5 weeks of advertising, marketing, holding open houses and price reductions, I had no offers. I was concerned since I had to leave the country for an extended trip and needed the funds for another investment. I called Ida Abelson and offered her the listing. She listed the property at above my asking price. I then left the country.
Within 10 days, Ms. Abelson contacted me with a full-priced offer. Since I was gone for most of the escrow period, I relied on Ms. Abelson to handle any issues which might have arisen. When I returned, I found that the documentation was completed, all contingencies removed, and all I needed to do was to sign closing papers and pack.
I am very pleased with the service I received, to say the least. And the deal Ms. Abelson negotiated netted me as much cash as I would have received had I sold the property on my own.
5. It is with pleasure that we recommend Ida Abelson, as outstanding real estate agent. Jim and I lived at Brickyard Landing for seven years. Over the past four years we have had our unit on the market three times. The first two times we enlisted agents who never before sold property in Pt. Richmond (we were not satisfied with the agents who were considered "specialists" in Brickyard properties). We were discouraged because our unit was never shown during the six month periods they were on the market. Shortly after our daughter was born almost 2 and 1/2 years ago, we put or unit on the market with (name of competing real estate agent deleted). During that time we received no offers and our unit was shown occasionally by (name of competing real estate agent deleted). That was a long disheartening experience. We thought our condo was "jinxed". We came to believe that it must have been inferior to others.
I noticed that Ida was selling properties quickly and getting good prices. We dropped our agent and enlisted Ida. Ida articulately described her vast experience and seasoned East Bay network. Further she pointed out the special characteristics of our condo and described her intelligent plans to market our place. She gave us hope and made me feel it was worthwhile again to keep the place looking spiffy. Ida held open houses weekly.
Ida sold our condo in 41 days.
Although Ida had not attempted to sell homes in Marin we asked her to help us find a home there. Ida got us our home at our asking price (moved in seven days ago!). Some adjectives and phrases describing her performance throughout this process are: HONEST (yes, an honest real estate agent does exist), thorough, savvy, a tenacious / "ferocious" advocate, a force to be reckoned with, kind, funny and meticulous. She even helped out with our very active toddler on the day the movers came.
Needless to say, if you are looking to sell at Brickyard we think there is no agent that remotely compares to her.
6. Now that the dust has settled, I would like to take this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude for all your efforts in marketing and finally selling our condominium at Brickyard Landing. When my wife and I first decided to put our condo on the market, the decision to use a Realtor was not an easy one, but it was, as it turned out, the right decision. The fact that you are "On Site" really eased our minds, because we knew there would be immediate access to any one who happened by. This was extremely important to us, given the fact that we were trying to sell at one of the worst times of the year. Who was going to buy a home at Christmas? We thought we might have a little attention, but thanks to your aggressive approach we always had heavy traffic in on weekends. This resulted, to our great surprise, in receiving multiple offers within a very short period of time; and I must say I don't think we would have received as high a sales price as we did with out having these multiple offers. Not only did you both work hard, you accomplished tasks that could have "killed" our deal at any time. I personally think that had we used anyone else this deal would have been lost. The fact that our hardwood floors were an issue, not only with the Board of Directors, but also the neighbors below, required a finesse that up until now I would not have associated with Realtors. You then dealt with the almost impossible situation of low appraisal so effectively no time was lost. I would have put money on the fact that this issue would have slowed the process down to a crawl but again we were pleasantly surprised.
Selling and buying at the same time has to be the most stressful process a human can endure, or so it seemed, but throughout this entire process both of you held our hands, gave us the information we needed, comforted us at the most difficult times, and kept the process going despite the hurdles; and for these reasons we are both grateful. If I ever need a Realtor again, and I hope I won't for a long time, I would not hesitate for a second to call on your services again.
7. We’re so glad we listed the condo with you. Besides getting an offer so quickly, you smoothed out the closing process and made it so easy! We hope everyone is as pleased as we are with the sale. Thanks again
8. Thank you for your assistance in selling our condo. We found your professionalism, sage advice and your insights into the marketplace to be extremely refreshing and most helpful. With your guidance we were able to profit more significantly than we had planned through a FSBO listing. The exposure for our place through the Internet, signage, mail and open houses brought us the offers we needed and your powers of persuasion with the buyer made it all happen.
We would certainly recommend your services to our former neighbors, or those who are interested in living at the Brickyard.
9. Just a short note to say thank you for making my "Seacliff" dream possible! I really appreciate all of the hard work and skill you displayed in effecting the sale of my Brickyard Cove unit and your willingness to help Langston and me with the sale of the house in Sequoyah Heights. The funds I received from these two sales made the purchase of my new home in "Seacliff" a reality. In both transactions, I know you went above and beyond the call of duty.
You certainly displayed tremendous negotiation skills by stretching out the close of escrow and the rent-back time to allow time for the "Seacliff" deal to close, and you were right-on in terms of what Brickyard Cove would sell for.
Again, thanks for the help!
10. Thanks to Ida at Brickyard Realty, the sale of the condo was the easy part of our move. Ida handled everything with speed and professionalism. When your time comes to sell, I highly recommend you call Ida. You won’t regret it.
11. I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the great job you did helping me sell my condo at Brickyard Landing. As I'm sure you remember, this was my first time selling real estate and I came to you with no experience and no knowledge. You were excellent at giving me the information I needed to work through the transaction comfortably. You had answers for all my questions and great suggestions in the (many) areas where I needed some guidance. I was also impressed by your knowledge of the Brickyard Landing community and the unique aspects of the market for BYL properties. Your web-site was also a great resource for me. I can't imagine working with anyone else to sell or buy a BYL condo.
Please feel free to share these comments with anyone who might be interested. If any of your prospective customers would like to talk to someone you've worked with in the past, I'd be happy to chat with them about my experience and my impressions.
Best of luck and thanks again.
12. I recently completed my 2nd real estate transaction with Ida Abelson of Brickyard Realty. Again she was extremely well informed, gave me great advice, and guided me through a smooth closing. She has also been an excellent property manager.
13. Hi Ida, I'm happy to recommend your services to potential clients as you certainly handled the sale of my condo very professionally and expeditiously. As I recall, it was sold approximately the day after it was listed and without any open houses or strenuous requirements on my part--and at a good price. I don't know what more I could have wanted. Best of luck!
14. I write to recommend Ida Abelson as a most effective and honest realtor (both of which are hard to find). My husband and I were making plans to retire and move in July of 2006. We currently live in one of the coveted end units in Brickyard Landing. So in August of 2005, I asked Ida if she would come over and give me some advice on what we needed to do to make our unit more saleable and get the optimum price. Just previous to Ida’s visit, I had received several estimates on kitchen remodeling. These estimates were, in my opinion, astronomical leaving me confused as to how to proceed. When Ida came, I shared with her the estimates and asked for advice on the choices presented along with advice on timing for putting our condo on the market. All the while, I was thinking we would be looking at months and money involved in preparing the place for sale.
To my surprise, Ida explained that to redo the kitchen just for resale “would be ludicrous”. No matter what choice we made, a buyer would probably want something different. Then she went on to consider the timing issue. Predictions were that interest rates were rising and the competition of the new building project by the old ferry terminal both indicated that the present (Sept. 2005) rather than waiting till spring would be the best time to try out the market. Ida, then mentioned her suggested listing price which would mean we would more than double our investment in just the 6 years we lived there. Needless to say, my interest was peaked. But we couldn’t move till the end of the school year. Again, Ida’s creative solution was we list it, but include a “rent back” agreement. I must admit, I never dreamed this would work, but we thought, “what do we have to lose?” Another problem was that, at the time, we were both extremely busy and felt we didn’t have the time to get the place ready to show. Again, Ida presented a solution. She suggested we give her an exclusive listing and we not put it in the multiple. That way, Ida would be the only one showing the place which solved the problem of both of us working full time and leaving the dog at home. She felt that the way we kept our place regularly would be just fine for showing.
We listed with her in early September. We were gone most weekends so Ida held open houses and showed the place during the week while we were gone to work. We basically had no intrusions or extra effort. By the end of October, she brought us a full price offer with a rent-back agreement. I would never have dreamed this possible. We have moved and bought and sold four different houses. This was by far the smoothest, most painless process. We still cannot believe how easy Ida made it for us. No matter what concern we had, she presented a solution. She kept us informed and was vigilant from beginning to the end. We now have the money in hand to invest. We do not have to be concerned about “the bubble bursting” in the housing market. And all this with practically no effort or stress on our part. Ida truly represented us in every way.
We recommend Ida Abelson enthusiastically to any seller/buyer. Please feel free to contact us for a verbal recommendation or any questions.
15. Thanks a lot for your help in selling my condo this past month. Your problem-solving skills are A-1! And Robert's color photography isn't bad either! You arranged for a buyer to rent back to me while I look for an apartment in San Francisco, which eases my task considerably and also seems to convenience the buyer. So we're both pleased.
The market is rough on sellers these days, but you persisted with frequent showings until we hit a satisfactory deal. You've got a great head for the real estate business. I wish you continued success.
Letters from Buyers
1. It has been over 90 days since escrow closed and we moved into our new home in Brickyard Landing. From completing our search for "The Right Place" to meeting our needs (a 4th floor penthouse unit) to the final closing of a complex transaction. Offer, counter offer, counter, counter offer, with no give by the seller. You were always there with timely, accurate advice and direction. Your experience in teaching financing and closing procedures was invaluable in competing our purchase. All legal steps were completed on time and thoroughly. You were especially helpful in our complying with meeting lenders' requests for supplemental information with supportive documentation. This included your offering alternate sources of funding.
The addition of your husband Robert's activities as broker added an additional positive facet to your operation. This one-two punch meant uninterrupted communication between us and all interested parties. Terrific back-up! His assistance legally and with things like property inspections were really appreciated. Knowing Robert is a practicing attorney provided additional comfort.
Are we satisfied with our purchase and services rendered? In simple words, "Very satisfied", without qualification. In fact, should we decide to relocate, you are our choice as to our listing agent knowing you would represent the seller as efficiently and completely as you did the buyer. Everything the property and you had to offer has exceeded our expectations.
To quote you, "An in-house realtor is one's best bet while dealing in Brickyard Landing Real Estate."
It should go without saying, feel free to show this letter to any prospective client.
2. Ms. Abelson has asked that I provide a letter describing my impression of her skill as a real estate agent based upon my recent purchase of a unit at Brickyard Landing. I have purchased five properties over the past twenty years and my family has a number of real estate investments that I manage with my mother and brother. Over the years, I have worked with agents that did not seem competent and others with whom I have had a very satisfactory experience. There are qualities that distinguish superior real estate agents from the rest and I can say from my experience with Ms. Abelson that she is superior in her work. I knew within three minutes of meeting her that she had the qualities I appreciate. Upon meeting Ms. Abelson at her home office, I immediately felt welcome and respected. She clearly defined her role and what service she could provide. She astutely determined what my real estate needs and interests were. She was able to nimbly discuss complex property and financial issues that I understand and also then, graciously simplified information that I needed to have simplified. She respectfully provided the information I needed and offered guidance in making decisions. She does this with appropriate concern, charm and good humor. As a psychologist, I can say that Ms. Abelson is very good at understanding a client's personality and she seems very able to adjust her work to suit the client's style and needs. She was very timely and responsive to me in initiating the sales all the way through getting the sale finalized. She continued to provide support up through our move-in to the property including assisting with painters and deliveries. Finally, I have a great respect for Ms. Abelson's knowledge of real estate in general and all the related legal and financial matters. My experience with Ms. Abelson was very positive, I recommend her to you as a mature and highly expert professional.
3. This letter is long overdue! Life, since I moved to Brickyard Landing 10 months ago, has been complicated, to say the least. But I assure you that I am enjoying being here very much. From the moment I first looked out on our wonderful view I knew immediately this was where I wanted to be, and my pleasure hasn't diminished at all since then. I plan to leave Brickyard "feet-first," somewhere around age 110-115.
There are many factors which contribute to my satisfaction with Brickyard. For a person who appreciates serenity, and nature, and peace and quiet, and who wants to combine that with convenient access to the cultural offerings of San Francisco, Marin and Berkeley, this location is ideal. As a woman on my own I also appreciate the security, the very pleasant and responsive staff, the good maintenance and the fact that other tenants are friendly, but not intrusive. I am beginning to be involved in a few committees in addition to the Supper Club and have been enjoying it all.
You, of course, were a very significant factor leading to my decision to purchase. As distraught as I was when I came out the first time, I would have been immediately "put off" by someone less professional and knowledgeable or a pushy, aggressive seller. (That's a style I respond very negatively to at any time.) You were able to answer every question I posed with patience, intelligence, and authority (and even managed to lace it with humor).
I know it was a not easy to conclude the sale given the strangely uncooperative attitude of the seller and the endless delays, but as annoying and frustrating as it must have been for you, you maintained a steady, admirable "cool". As a first time on-my-own buyer, I felt very fortunate that I could rely on your availability, expertise and helpfulness. You made the entire process far less agonizing and traumatic than it could have been.
As you know, my own business is based on personal service, so I know what first-rate personal service is as well as how rare it is to find. No one could have done a better job in every way than you did. For me, you will always be the "Agent of the Year" every year!
Needless to say, I sing your praises whenever possible and you may use me as a reference if you ever need a glowing testimonial.
4. We will never forget your kindness, patience, and steadfast efforts on our behalf. All who serve the public should take their cue from you! With warm gratitude
5. Well, I have almost been here one month, and I love it! I'm sure my enthusiasm will only increase as the rest of the boxes get unpacked and my mail finds me without being re-routed. Ah....moving, what a pleasurable experience!
I appreciate all the effort and concern you displayed in working with me from the moment I walked in the door of the unit you were holding an Open House in (now mine) through the weekend of my move. You were both professional and warmly sincere. You made the entire process as simple and straightforward as it could be made, and thank you.
You can be sure that I will not only recommend you to those who might be interested in buying, but also to those who might have to part with this wonderful living existence.
6. Ida Abelson acted as our real estate agent in the purchase of our condo. In the six months prior to our purchase, we attended many open houses, met multiple real estate agents, but felt overwhelmed by the high-pressure strategy employed by them. We were adamant in wanting to choose our home ourselves - not have an agent choose the property that they wanted us to purchase at the price that they wished us to pay in order to fatten their commission.
Prior to inspecting Brickyard Landing, we phoned its Condo Association to obtain a list of real estate agents who deal with the property. Ms. Abelson was on their list. We met with her the first time at an open house and came away with the mutual opinion that she is a trustworthy person, a person with whom we felt comfortable entrusting the most important purchase of our lives, our first home. We felt no pressure from her - none of the desperation to make a sale, which we found so pervasive in the real estate industry.
Since Ms. Abelson and her family live at Brickyard Landing, she was completely familiar with the property's benefits and detriments, unlike most agents who appear for merely a few hours to show a property. A pride in her home, as well as, the desire to protect its future were reassuring to us.
As the contractual process ensued, Ms. Abelson was totally capable in dealing with the mounds of paperwork required by California law. She was knowledgeable and prompt in dealing with our inquiries and in returning phone calls.
Ms. Abelson's warm genuine personality and ability to relate well to others forges a good working relationship. We consider ourselves fortunate to have had her act on our behalf.
7. Two-years ago I met Ida Abelson and immediately found her to be a well-informed, personable, highly-intelligent real estate broker. From that first meeting, I knew I had met a business woman, I could trust. Ida quickly assessed my real estate options and worked within those parameters . Once I decided on the home I wanted, she outlined my many financial and logistic options in order to close the transaction. She then put the deal together within hours and had the papers ready for signature the next day. Once her part as agent was completed, she followed through by acquainting me with the neighborhood and introducing me to my new neighbors.
Ida Abelson is a woman of many talents. She can put together a business deal, a newsletter, a web page, a quorum, or a party with equal ease and at the same time keep up with all of her correspondences in a timely (almost immediate) fashion. Ida's intellectual abilities and organizational skills are balanced with her caring personality, friendly manner and quick wit.
8. It is with great pleasure that I write to commend the efforts of Ida Abelson in her role as real estate broker for my husband and me. We recently purchased a condominium in Brickyard Landing and were fortunate to have her act as our agent. As first time homebuyers, we were entirely unfamiliar with the process. Ida made the whole experience both educational and painless. Her expertise and ease both with the property and with the transaction enabled us to feel that we were always apprised of our options, while feeling comfortable that we were being stewarded in the best possible manner.
I would recommend Ida to anyone interested in either purchasing or selling a home in the Brickyard Landing community (and beyond).
9. Thank you very much for handling the purchase of a condo for me at Brickyard Landing. Your representation was professional in every phase of the transaction. You were always available to show me the property and answer any questions regarding the multitude of forms required by the local, state and federal agencies. You stayed on top of the progress of securing financing; making sure the underwriter was processing the loan application. Then, you assisted me at the escrow office to make sure all documents were in order and got signed. I know that a glitch arose over a loan contingency, but somehow you took care of it without even involving me. Finally, your web site rental listings reached a prospective tenant who indeed leased the property in a short while. I highly recommend your services to anyone thinking of buying, selling or renting at Brickyard Landing.
10. I came across Brickyard condos on the internet. The location struck me as perfect for my needs. However, living on the East coast and planning a move to the West coast, I needed to be guided by an understanding realtor whom I felt I could trust and who could facilitate a long-distance negotiation. Ida Abelson filled the bill. She made me feel comfortable, answered all questions right away and she was there to help with every detail as it arose. Even when there were unexpected glitches, she was always there to work it through.
11. My mother recently purchased a condo at 1201 Brickyard Way. As our agent, Ida Abelson was extremely efficient, resourceful, and pleasant to work with. We were thoroughly satisfied with her professionalism and punctuality from the time she first submitted our offer to the time of closing on the property. Ida is very knowledgeable and experienced in real estate, in particular Brickyard Landing, because she is also a resident there and knows the area firsthand. She was always helpful with any questions we had about the area. Even after the closing, Ida provided resources for my renovation plan and some of the references she provided were absolutely fantastic. In conclusion, Ida is a very competent and intelligent real estate agent and is highly recommended.
12. I highly recommend Ida Abelson at Brickyard Realty! She was representing both the buyer and seller on my recent purchase of a condominium. I found her fair, extremely knowledgeable, informative, and helpful in the process. Her familiarity with closing helped avoid a delay due to my loan company. I believe you will be very pleased with the experience of working with Ida.
13. Ida Abelson recently represented both buyer and seller on our purchase of a condominium at Brickyard Landing. She diligently handled this, often complex, representation with patience and total professionalism. We have bought several properties in the last few years and have worked with several agents. Ida is a knowledgeable agent with integrity. Being a resident herself at Brickyard Landing was a big plus. Without exception, Ida has always been very quick to respond to our enquiries and kept us informed every step of the way. Ida ensured that we closed on time and has been providing us with valuable information in preparation of our move-in. I would highly recommend Ida as broker for your real estate needs.
14. Ida Abelson of Brickyard Realty represented us when we purchased our new home at Marina Bay. We were also selling our home in Arizona & both homes were closing within 3 days, just to add to the complexity. Then we decided to go to China for 3 weeks & leave it all to Ida!
First, let me say that when you hire a professional in any field you expect a certain level of service, and hiring a real estate professional is no different. When we hired Ida we had no idea what we would have to put her through. It is no exaggeration to say that we sincerely doubt that the Arizona home would have closed without Ida...and she wasn't even our agent in that transaction! We can definitely state that the Marina Bay home would not have closed without her hard work, attention to detail & determination. Indeed it was only through Ida's extraordinary efforts that we got to present an offer to the owner.
There were so many things that Ida did to close the deal for us it is impossible to list everything here, but we'd like to share one small example. While we were still in China after our new home had closed, Ida discovered that our electricity was going to be cut off by the previous owner. Ida called PG & E & had it re-connected in her name so we would not have any break in service. This was WAY above the call as far as we were concerned, and there are many, many more examples.
My wife & I named Ida Super Realtor as a joke...as it turned out she really earned the title. Of course we would have no hesitation at all in recommending her to any one.
Thank you Ida!
15. If you are in need of the services of a full service realty company, look no further than Brickyard Realty. I know how challenging being a broker can be. There are no limits to the hours worked, and the pay, if computed by the hour, would scare off all but the most dedicated of professionals.
I find Ida Abelson to be at the top of her game: she is very knowledgeable about the market, especially here at Brickyard Landing. As the process of finding, buying and financing a home purchase unfolds, I think it would be difficult to find someone as patient, thorough and persistent as Ida. The phrase that keeps coming to my mind is "Coach". She has even been heard to say, "Breathe," reminiscent of a birthing coach, when as buyer you can do little more than wait. I've seen her "part the waters" during the financing phase, and her tenacity will bode well for any home buyer during escrow.
To sum up my experience, she doesn't miss a beat! You too will be proud to call her your realtor.
