Testimonials
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"First of all, let me say "thank you" for everything you have done for us.
It has truly been an outstanding experience working with you. You are terrific professionals: deep on expertise and empathy and it’s been awesome dealing with you.
Second, our tryst with the Bay Area is not over. We've loved the area. We miss it every day. Life though has taken us elsewhere. I hope we make it back there someday. And I'm sure our paths will cross nevertheless.
Best wishes with everything. Please also thank your staff at Alain Pinel and at the title company for their help.
Once again, we are pleased you came into our life.
Thank you for everything" -
"We congratulate this great team for their hard work and dedication to their clients, said Larry Knapp, President of Alain Pinel Realtors.
Producing at this level is truly commendable, but more importantly the quality of service that they have provided to their clients is superb. We are pleased that they are part of our Alain Pinel team"
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"You guys are rock stars. the ethics, the efficiency and hard work are unlike anything I've ever seen in the 5 purchases and 3 sales I have done in my personal life.
The standards you guys set for yourselves are seriously impressive - and I'm a guy who makes a living by setting very high bars for the people around me.
Thank you so much for what you are doing for me and my family; it's deeply appreciated.
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"They provided an extraordinary amount and blend of professional expertise, tireless commitment, steadfast patience and reassuring comfort.
And to think that they were able to do all this while maintaining a sense of humor- and helping us relax along the way - is simply amazing!"
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"We had been urged by friends to, “sell the house yourself, and think of the money you’ll save!”
We considered that advice for one day before deciding that we would “go with the best”.
So we went looking for “the best” and found you. We thank our lucky stars we didn’t take the well-meaning suggestions. It would have cost us a lot of time, trouble and money. You were a joy to work with and are definitely “The Best”."
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"We have found them to be ethical and above reproach, as they ensured that every disclosure was presented to potential buyers.
Thus, not only was the process successful for us, but buyers' needs were fully considered"
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" They are a 'resource center' for everything that had to do with preparing, selling and moving out of my house"
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"They have astounding knowledge of every aspect of real estate, their professionalism is rock solid, and we trust them implicitly!"
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"I relied on them to give me excellent professional advice. I knew that I could trust them to help me make the correct decision throughout the buying and selling process."
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"I have extremely high standards for accurate information, insightful analysis, prompt, business-like communications, thoroughness and conscientious follow-through.
They are unique in possessing those qualities and still being among the most cordial and pleasant people I know."
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"Most impressive were the results: thanks almost entirely to their efforts we sold our home at more than our asking price within 48 hours.
People are still, several months later, marveling at the staging and pricing strategy that yielded this terrific result."
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"When we hired you and your team, we knew that you were a consummate professional.
Having known you personally for years, we figured that you were among the best real estate agents in the Valley.
Now having worked with you, I would say that you are truly the Michael Jordan and Wayne Gretsky of your profession . . . “Simply the Best!”
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"We feel that this real estate market closely resembles the activity on Wall Street.
It is extremely fast-paced, involves highly intense and intelligent people, and the high values make for an emotionally charged atmosphere.
In every way, you all rose to the challenge."
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" Your ability to work together blends your varied talents and styles seamlessly.
Not only have you been consummate professionals, you have also become my friends; and I appreciate both your expertise and your warmth."
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"You have maintained a sterling reputation throughout our communities and for a good reason; your high level of professionalism at all times, your natural ways with people, your support of local schools and simply because you are pleasant and trustworthy in a complex business!"
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" Though you were focused on finding the ideal home for us, you also made sure that we understood the resale potential of each property.
You identified features of each home that might limit the appeal for future buyers, so we knew you were working in our best interests.
That allowed us to feel more comfortable when the 'right' home came along."
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"They understood my desires, both quantitavely and aesthetically, so that I could leverage my time in looking at properties that really were valid candidates."
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" They are delightful individuals. Thay are caring, sensitive and have a grand sense of humor. As a team they are magical!"
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"We always knew we could count on one of you to be available to see a home, discuss our search, or make an offer (including some late night activities!)."
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Now that we are happily settled into our new home, we can finally sit back and reflect on this whole process (and what a great experience it has been for us).
As first time home buyers we were absolutely clueless about the Palo Alto/Menlo Park housing market in general and the process of buying a home in particular. Carol and Nicole were highly recommended to us via some of my husband's work associates and we are so glad we decided to work with them.
They led us through every step of the process and were extremely responsive to our questions and needs and honest with us. Despite the fact that there was not a ton of inventory at the time we were looking, they were able to identify some great homes that were still helpful in getting us to refine our sense of what we wanted. Ultimately, we found a home that perfectly fit our stated needs and desires -- much faster than we thought we would. The whole process was shockingly fast and refreshingly efficient.
Since this was our first time doing any of this, it was important to us that we felt comfortable asking questions. Carol and Nicole were extremely sweet and patient with us, and worked feverishly behind the scenes to get things done efficiently and on good terms. What's more: this was all happening over the holidays, and they made an excellent team: tag-teaming for various inspections and making sure everything was done so we could move into our new home by Christmas.
We cannot recommend Carol and Nicole highly enough. They are extremely professional, diligent and friendly and make a great team. Should you choose to work with them, you will not be disappointed. -
We had been in touch with Carol and Nicole for 5 years before making an actual transaction. Over that time, we've gotten to know this team well and after our first purchase recently, we highly recommend this team for the combination of their knowledge, relationships, and service.
As their client, we always felt that they looked out for our best interests and their experience/style gave us the comfort we needed to make good decisions. This is team that you can build a long term relationship with. They will earn every bit of their part. -
Carol and Nicole represented us on a recent purchase in Woodside. They were absolute professionals and wonderful to work with. I echo the other comments re: their commitment to their careers. They were available whenever we needed them and always very responsive. They also proactively suggested a host of additional steps in our due diligence process (e.g., arbor inspections, additional housing inspections) that proved to be very helpful. My wife and I felt like they were able to look at prospective new homes through our family's eyes, ultimately finding a home that we hope will be perfect for our family. Nothing but kudos.
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An incredible team! They know the market well and are uniquely skilled in matching my needs with availability in the market. They are experienced and give great advice on the details of a transactions including pricing, inspections and other terms. More importantly, they were incredibly welcoming when we arrived in town and have continued to stay involved through providing referrals to the highest quality networks of decorators, gardeners, handymen, etc. I cannot imagine working with anyone else...they are professional, dedicated and a delight to work with.
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My wife and I just completed the purchase of a condo in Los Altos. I echo the praise of other reviewers. We worked more closely with Carol than with Nicole and have nothing but compliments to pay. I would not hesitate for a second to recommend them. Professional, dedicated, thorough, and - importantly - pleasant to work with. Just great on every level.
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They are amazing!! I interviewed five Realtors to sell my Palo Alto home. They were by far the most professional. Both of them are completely committed to the job--not part time at all (like some who had young children). Carol knows everything about inspections, paperwork needed and other details of the sale. Nicole is amazing with her bevy of decorators, painters, landscape help, carpets, handymen and more. I'll never forget the day when there was a problem at the house after we had moved out. Nicole called and told me that she would personally address the issue and that it was her responsibility, not mine. What a relief.
Proof is in the pudding, however. Our house was gorgeous when ready for the market. They priced our house accurately and it sold as soon as it was available. We're closing early--not a problem in sight. I only wish we were buying again in this area--I'd use them for sure. Trying to get them to move to Tucson with us! -
Carol and Nicole were quick to assess the property and the necessary improvements for sale. They arranged and supervised prompt and efficient repairs by responsible contractors. They were always accessible and courteous -- the ultimate professionals.
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We have worked with Nicole and Carol on two sales and two purchases, and they are the only realtors on the peninsula we will consider working with. Their commitment, thoroughness, and diligence is without reproach.
Nicole has a keen ability to identify the important factors for any client and often times surprise the client with details or listings that they might have otherwise overlooked.
They take care of every detail from start to finish; the client does not have to worry about anything!
We recommend Nicole and Carol without reservation. -
Carol and Nicole are outstanding real estate professionals. They operate with the highest level of integrity and act in the best interests of their clients. It is often hard to know with real estate agents who is "good" and those who are not as good; I worked with three other real estate agents before I was referred to Carol (and Rosemary Squires, who was then Carol's partner and later retired) through a friend.
Carol and Rosemary provided outstanding service and helped us find a house in the location of our dreams and close the sale during one of the most challenging times for buyers. They are extremely patient, work hard to understand what their clients are looking for, and have terrific instincts for what will make a house a home for each client. While working with them, I appreciated that they set appropriate filters for which houses they showed us; they didn't waste our time showing us houses they knew we wouldn't want. I also learned a great deal from them about real estate in general, which helped inform our decision making. I loved working with them.
Now, more than 10 years after buying my home, we have continued to stay in touch, and I still work with them anytime there is an issue related to real estate. Their outstanding service to past and present clients reflect how much they value the people they've worked with, beyond closing a near term sale.
While Nicole joined the partnership long after I bought my house, I know Carol chooses her partners wisely. I give Carol and Nicole my highest recommendation; I would be delighted to work with them again. -
My husband and I just bought our first home with the help of Carol and Nicole. They came highly recommended to us by a friend who had bought her home in West Menlo earlier in the year.
We cannot recommend them highly enough. They were professional, warm, always available, savvy, and have gone above and beyond to help us with all aspects of our home purchase and new home.
Here's a short and by no means exhaustive list of what really made them stand out:
*They never pushed a sale or minimized the downsides of a particular property. On many occasions they pointed out downsides my husband and I had overlooked. They were incredibly patient as we learned the strange ins and outs of the real estate market in Palo Alto and Menlo Park.
* When we decided to put in an offer, they moved very quickly to pull together the paperwork, walk us through the decision of what to offer, and carefully select true comparables for a given property.
* Because they are affiliated with Alain Pinel and have worked in this area for decades, they often got wind of houses before they went on the market, giving us the opportunity to see homes before a bidding war had started.
* Since we have moved in, they have helped us find painters, landscapers, electricians, and handymen, all of whom have been fantastic. On our move in day, which was pretty stressful with a toddler and no family in the area, they impromptu brought us offer lunch and dinner.
And, given the amount of time we have spent with them, it certainly doesn't hurt that they are just darn nice people. They clearly take a long view on their relationships with their clients, and it shows. -
I can't imagine a better team of Real Estate professionals than Carol and Nicole. From start to finish they made the stressful experience of searching for and buying a home feel effortless. When my wife and I first met with Carol and Nicole we were stunned at how well they knew the neighborhoods we were interested in. They found us exactly what we were looking for. Nicole ended up working with us through the purchase because the house we bought is in San Carlos.
My wife and I are generally very organized people, but we were both very busy at work so we needed to lean on Nicole a lot to make sure everything went smoothly. She thought of everything and was extremely responsive. She took care of things I didn't even think I needed to ask her to do. At the end of it all my wife and I ended up in our dream house with meticulous records of the transaction on our book shelf.
After we moved in, Nicole checked in with us a few times to make sure that we moved into the neighborhood smoothly and has been there to help us with recommendations and local tips. We've settled in much faster than we expected.
5 stars and a Yelp review are not enough. Carol and Nicole are on another level. -
We had a phenomenal real estate experience with Carol and Nicole buying our first home in PA. Their dignity, attention to the smallest detail, level of preparedness, and impressive knowledge of all related issues made us feel extremely secure through this process. Carol and Nicole are truly our friends!
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My husband and I can't speak highly enough of Carol and Nicole and of our experiences working with them. After being represented by such a fabulous team, we can't imagine working with anyone else! Following are some of the reasons why we loved working with them and why we think they're best in class....
Savvy marketing skills: Carol & Nicole are highly skilled marketers! They helped us understand the value of staging and appropriately marketing our home. We're certain their marketing efforts (which included a lovely and compelling flyer about our house) were critical to the quick sale of our home.
Market knowledge: Carol & Nicole impressed us with their in-depth market knowledge. Their understanding of the market was invaluable when it came to setting the price for our house (we got multiple offers and it sold for over asking!) and then again when it came to the purchase of our new home (again, a multiple offer situation - and we won at a price we felt comfortable with).
Intelligent advice: Carol & Nicole helped us navigate successfully through what can be a very daunting and emotional process. We always felt confident in their guidance!
Highly connected: Carol & Nicole seem to know and be respected by EVERYONE in the local real estate market! This is invaluable in such a competitive market because of the large number of houses available off-MLS and because it's often the agent's reputation that gives an offer a critical competitive advantage.
Attention to detail: Carol & Nicole notice EVERYTHING. It's easy to get carried away and miss important house/contract details when you're going through the sale/purchase process. Thankfully, we had Carol & Nicole as a second and third set of eyes. They saved us from missing and/or dismissing important details as we visited homes, reviewed disclosure packets and read offers.
Service excellence: Carol & Nicole are the gold standard when it comes to service excellence. Though Carol & Nicole represent buyers and sellers in MUCH larger deals, we never felt like lesser clients. We were impressed by how available and responsive they were - both for meetings, calls and emails - and by the quality of the discussions we had with them. They were always prepared for our meetings and provided us with relevant and easy to understand market data.
Enthusiasm: Carol & Nicole make house buying and selling fun! How is that possible?! They are a joy to work with and my husband and I joke that we'll need to sell our house in short order so that we have the opportunity to work with them again sooner rather than later. The process is such an emotional one that having a steady but enthusiastic guide is truly invaluable. -
Carol and Nicole helped me to buy a home in Menlo Park in May 2010. They are the finest real estate agents I have ever known, much less worked with (and I have good friends and family members who are real estate agents). Carol was my primary agent, but Nicole was always there when needed. We faced a very difficult situation - relocation from the East Bay shortly after my wife's death (the mother of our two teenage daughters). Carol and Nicole searched tirelessly over several months for just the right home, with sensitivity, professionalism and tact. They know the Palo Alto/Menlo Park market inside and out. They are plugged in to all of the back channels (I was aware of the home that I purchased before it hit the market). They are both pleasant and respected by their peers, a rare combination. But don't be fooled by their gentile exteriors; opposing agents won't mess mess with them because they catch every detail. I can't imagine using anyone else for my real estate needs in the Palo Alto/Menlo Park area. My highest recommendation. I leave you with this. I am an exceptionally hard grader when it comes to professional services. For example, it required all my strength not to report the agent on the sale of my current home to the California Department of Real Estate, he was such a train wreck.
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Carol and Nicole represented us when we abruptly decided to sell our house and move to the east coast. We selected them after interviewing a number of realtors who are active in the old Palo Alto area where we lived. We based our decision on their preparation in advance of meeting us, including a detailed and convincing pricing strategy based on neighborhood comps, their professional presentation and personal chemistry. We did this two weeks before leaving the country for remote places with spotty Internet connections.
During that two week period Carol and Nicole coordinated all the events that precede placing a house on the market. They worked with our gardener to replant part of the lawn, with a designer to stage the house, with us to pack up and remove all the personal clutter that needed to be hidden away, and with a painting crew to repaint some tired areas of the house. They put the house on the realtors' tour the day we left.
The house sold in less than a week, very close to asking price. We interacted with Carol and Nicole by Skype and through email, including electronic signatures on the proposals and counterproposals. We relied on their advice while completing the deal, and we feel completely comfortable that we got the optimum price and terms for the house. The closing activities were also done largely by them while we were away, and everything went very smoothly. The funds cleared and the house closed escrow in about four weeks.
We have bought and sold five homes in California over the years. Carol and Nicole are outstanding agents. We feel we had excellent and expert representation and would not hesitate to use them again. We highly recommend them for high end home transactions. -
Representation by Carol and Nicole pays dividends in so many ways. Consider our most recent, wonderful Carol and Nicole experience.
We loved our two bedroom Old Palo Alto home, but we knew it needed professional touches to really show its true potential in a challenging market. But what touches?
For us, calling Carol and Nicole was a given. We have worked with them and their predecessor team for over three decades. Our reasons to trust their great judgment are countless.
From Day One, Carol and Nicole thoughtfully gathered information by asking good questions and listening. Their empathy and meticulous attention to detail are obvious. They recommended a cost-effective road map that was not what we had earlier imagined, but it proved to be spot on.
First, inspections were ordered (structural, roof, and termite). "Let's see what the pros say, then we can go from there," they advised.
Items identified by the inspectors and more were addressed by multiple subs with our approval yet utilizing Nicole's project management skills.
They arranged for staging, hired a professional photographer, pulled together a 246-page disclosure document, created an effective listing presentation so important in today's Internet world, and hosted the open house on the rainiest days of the year. Everything went like clockwork.
Results. The property sold instantly, sold on the first day we considered offers, sold above ask all cash 'as is' with a fast close to a wonderful family who will be great neighbors.
With experiences like this, you can see why we strongly recommend Carol and Nicole. -
Carol and Nicole are the first realtors we recommend to friends, family, and anyone who is looking to buy or sell a home. They exemplify the highest in professionalism, integrity, insight, real estate knowledge, and first-class service. Let me briefly explain further why we have such confidence in them.
In 2001, my husband and I were looking to move from San Francisco to the Peninsula. We went to open houses one day and met Nicole Aron at one of them. We instantly were impressed with her knowledge, professionalism, and style. When we were ready to make the move, we called Nicole and enlisted her help as our agent. She was nothing short of amazing, to say the least. She met with us and quickly understood the neighborhoods in which we were interested, the types of homes we liked, the price range, and much more. She then proceeded over the next few weeks to find and show us a number of wonderful homes, and was very patient as we went back and forth in deciding between two homes, one in Palo Alto, one in Menlo Park. She provided expert guidance and counsel, and negotiated a great deal on the Menlo Park home that we chose to buy. For five years we lived in that home, and Nicole stayed in touch, always willing to offer advice or referrals when we wanted to make improvements, or had any questions about our home and the real estate market.
During our fifth year in that Menlo Park home, we knew we were ready to move into a larger home with more land. Although the internet had become much more of a source of information for real estate by this time, we never would have seen or bought our current home near the Emerald Hills of Redwood City had it not been for Nicole. While looking at another home that was not right for us, Nicole asked us if we were familiar with a house near the Emerald Hills. We had seen it on the internet and had passed, but she assured us that it was worth a look and that the internet posting did not do the house justice. She was absolutely, spot-on correct, as we fell in love with the house the minute she took us to see it. Once again, Nicole helped us negotiate a great deal, including a contingency to sell our Menlo Park house, which she helped us do in less than two weeks. To accomplish that, she arranged for all of the inspections and minor repairs, and had the house ready for the market in a few short days. We received multiple offers and sold our house for $40,000 over asking, more than we ever expected.
We got to know Carol during this period, as she and Nicole had become partners during the time after we bought the Menlo Park house. We quickly understood why these two are partners, as they complement one another beautifully and were both extremely helpful with strategy, recommendations, and guidance. Both Carol and Nicole have an incredible attention to detail, through every aspect of the buying and selling process.
Our experiences with Carol and Nicole have been truly outstanding, so much so that when our aunt moved into a retirement condo and needed to sell her home, we contacted Carol and Nicole and they handled everything for our aunt, from pre-sale repairs and pricing, to staging and so much more. The house sold over the holidays, no small feat given the slow real estate market in 2010, especially over the holidays. Our aunt is very happy, as are we.
In our minds, there is no one else to turn to for our real estate needs than Carol and Nicole. They are the best!!! -
Carol and Nicole bring the utmost in professionalism, integrity and response to the job. I hired them to sell my mother's house in Palo Alto which was in a deteriorated state. Carol and Nicole worked extremely hard to help strategize the sale of the house and managed all aspects of the inspection and repair process. Their recommendations on what were the must- do repairs versus those which were not so necessary were invaluable. They made the entire process seamless and easy, particularly since I live a few hours away.
The house sold in less than a week for way above the asking price. We could not have asked for better representation.
I highly recommend Carol and Nicole in the Palo Alto/Menlo Park area to either buy or sell a residence. As a real estate broker myself, I can tell you they are the cream of the crop. -
Buying on my own for the first time, I sought just the right real estate agent with the patience to dial me in, the values to watch guard my interests, and the savvy to assess the market and communicate strategically. Having previously worked with two other agents in the area, I found one to be too busy and the other, although technically proficient, lacked a personal connection.
My best friend then referred me to Carol with whom she'd bought her home in Palo Alto back in 1982. It's impressive that she still feels so strongly about her positive home purchase experience. Now I understand her enthusiasm and am so grateful for her referral, as Carol now along with Nicole facilitated my recent home purchase.
I found their real estate practice to be conducted with astute professionalism, integrity, conviction and heart. I began my search with Nicole while Carol was out of town on a family emergency, and continued with Carol while Nicole took vacation time with her family. They handled this transition seamlessly; it was impressive.
My vigilant use of the internet had me screening and deleting many properties. I deleted one particular property from my online list from Carol and Nicole. Upon this delete, I got a call from Carol encouraging me to reconsider and go "take a look" as she thought it might be a fit. learned that the picture and the statistics listed online are no substitute for the "feel" of a property by an expert.
I'm so incredibly grateful for her call and directive...as I was ecstatic when I "took a look" and saw the property; the one I'd deleted which today is my home. Without Carol's call to alert me to look again, my home would have passed me by. Clearly, the internet is only an objective tool; there's no substitute for the personal and professional subjective attention Carol provided.
The home purchase itself involved a listing that was less than straight forward; not at all conventional and presented unforeseen challenges. These were proactively negotiated and vigilantly watch dogged on my behalf with calm professionalism. I'm so incredibly grateful for Carol's expertise in contracts and holding to them, as it was key to the sale.
Carol and Nicole provided generous and timely support after the sale as well (i.e., referrals to local contractors) and touched base to assure all was moving along to get me settled along with warmly and kindly offering a more than cordial welcome to initiate the house I bought into "my home". I feel so fortunate to have found Carol and Nicole to assist me; they're consummate professionals and wonderful.
Proven Success
"They provided an extraordinary amount and blend of professional expertise, tireless commitment, steadfast patience and reassuring comfort. ...
