Testimonials

Quick Summary: Julie Durkee is professional, punctual, organized, energetic, and easy to communicate with. Every recommendation she made to us was right on the money. Bottom Line: Julie Durkee helped us sell our house for top dollar, 50% more than we otherwise would have. Full Story: My sister and I inherited our mother’s house in Oakland which she had owned for over 50 years. During that time, the only work done on the house was remodeling the kitchen in the early 1980s. Even that work, however, was never fully completed. When Julie first toured the house, it was in poor condition and a mess. But, she saw the potential and had a vision for what it should be. Julie has connections to many skilled (and reasonably priced) craftspeople who quickly got to work on all that needed to be done. Julie herself oversaw all the work being done, which was especially important to me because I live in …

Quick Summary: Julie Durkee is professional, punctual, organized, energetic, and easy to communicate with. Every recommendation she made to us was right on the money. Bottom Line: Julie Durkee helped us sell our house for top dollar, 50% more than we otherwise would have. Full Story: My sister and I inherited our mother’s house in Oakland which she had owned for over 50 years. During that time, the only work done on the house was remodeling the kitchen in the early 1980s. Even that work, however, was never fully completed. When Julie first toured the house, it was in poor condition and a mess. But, she saw the potential and had a vision for what it should be. Julie has connections to many skilled (and reasonably priced) craftspeople who quickly got to work on all that needed to be done. Julie herself oversaw all the work being done, which was especially important to me because I live in New York. Julie also worked with an interior designer to select paint colors, tiles, and fixtures with results more beautiful than I could have imagined. The landscaper she hired for us worked wonders on the long-neglected, overgrown front and back yards. Throughout the process, Julie kept in daily contact with me. She gave me updates, sought my approval for decisions big and small, and always answered my questions promptly the same day I called or texted. As soon as the work on the house was complete, the staging was done and professional photos were taken for the online listing. I could barely recognize the house I had grown up in. It had been utterly transformed. The original beauty of the craftsman-style house had been restored and revealed. At the same time, the house had been improved and modernized with remodeled bathrooms and kitchen. The house was on the market less than two weeks before we had an offer that was 50% higher than if we had just sold it “as is” without Julie’s many months of work getting the house into tip-top condition. Finally, I must say that Julie Durkee’s personal qualities of warmth, humor, and kindness made the whole process of renovating and selling the house so much less stressful and it was an absolute pleasure to have her as our realtor.

We have had the pleasure of working with Julie for the last few months. She is the most organized, kind, caring, and professional agent I have met. I previously worked with multiple agents and decided to go with Julie because of her reviews and her reputation as a high performer. Working with her was stress-free and an absolute pleasure. She is a clear and consistent communicator and super easy to work with. She flexes around our schedule and I don't know when she takes a break! She responds to all texts, calls, and emails immediately even when we don't expect it. Being honest and clear with Julie is easy because she does not get upset, nor does she judge. She has a ton of contacts and knows how to manage projects quickly and efficiently at a very low cost. She treats your money like it's her own and finds creative ways to save. With her extensive knowledge about the market and the neigh…

We have had the pleasure of working with Julie for the last few months. She is the most organized, kind, caring, and professional agent I have met. I previously worked with multiple agents and decided to go with Julie because of her reviews and her reputation as a high performer. Working with her was stress-free and an absolute pleasure. She is a clear and consistent communicator and super easy to work with. She flexes around our schedule and I don't know when she takes a break! She responds to all texts, calls, and emails immediately even when we don't expect it. Being honest and clear with Julie is easy because she does not get upset, nor does she judge. She has a ton of contacts and knows how to manage projects quickly and efficiently at a very low cost. She treats your money like it's her own and finds creative ways to save. With her extensive knowledge about the market and the neighborhood, she makes recommendations that are best for you, even if it's not in her best interest. She proactively reaches out and is one of the most hard-working people I know! She is well-regarded among her colleagues and works with a solid team of contractors to get the job done. We appreciate her sound advice and highly recommend working with her! Look forward to working with Julie in the future!

Julie helped us with an off-market purchase of a house we had rented for 12 years. We were very pleased with our experience. We started the process skeptical that our landlord would agree to sell after unsuccessful attempts in the past. Julie approached the challenge with a very positive attitude and laid out a plan to make an offer. She recognized that we were first-time home buyers and guided us through the process each step of the way. We always felt that Julie was being honest with us and never felt pressured in the bidding process. She excels at timely communication and following through with promises. Julie is not only knowledgeable about the local real estate market but also is very well-connected in terms of the various professionals required to sell and purchase a home. The negotiation process was an emotional experience for us. We were attempting to purchase a house that was al…

Julie helped us with an off-market purchase of a house we had rented for 12 years. We were very pleased with our experience. We started the process skeptical that our landlord would agree to sell after unsuccessful attempts in the past. Julie approached the challenge with a very positive attitude and laid out a plan to make an offer. She recognized that we were first-time home buyers and guided us through the process each step of the way. We always felt that Julie was being honest with us and never felt pressured in the bidding process. She excels at timely communication and following through with promises. Julie is not only knowledgeable about the local real estate market but also is very well-connected in terms of the various professionals required to sell and purchase a home. The negotiation process was an emotional experience for us. We were attempting to purchase a house that was already our home, that we already loved (warts and all) from a somewhat reluctant seller with whom we already had a relationship. Julie was empathetic, and patient, and provided the appropriate amount of handholding. She listened to a lot of venting and provided a reality check when needed.