Testimonials
Here are some things that people are saying about Scott Ward:
We tried a couple realtors and got the typical Blackberry carrying, douchebag experience. Then a friend of ours recommended Scott and we were instantly sold. From start to finish, Scott was awesome. As first time buyers, we had no idea what we were doing and Scott handled everything for us and told us everything we needed to know. I have since recommended him to a number of people and I would never do a property transaction again without him.
Ben and Katebought home in 94611
We had a positive house-buying experience with Scott. We especially appreciated his thorough semi-inspection of the houses we saw with him. Scott gave us solid advice on how to close the deal quickly when we found a house we liked. We were happy to have his help and would recommend Scott to others looking for a realtor.
Bethany and DanBought home in 94610
Scott Ward is the Man!!!! My wife and I stumbled into him at an open house and it's the best fortuitous meeting I've had. We were first time homebuyers and trying to buy in the North Oakland/Temescal area and had had several mishaps with other agents before thankfully lucking into Scott.
Scott knows this area like the palm of his hand, his expertise in this zip code is unrivaled. Scott worked with us for over a year, over which time we must have seen 50-60 homes together. Scott was ALWAYS patient, giving us room to figure out how we felt about the place, and would honestly advise us if he felt a place wouldn't suit our needs. You know how you when you go to see a place with an agent and two minutes after you walk in they say, "So, how do you like it? Want to write an offer?" That NEVER happened with Scott. He allowed us space to develop a feel for the house, and provided valuable, candid insights.
Scott has an amazing amount of knowledge, is extremely detail oriented, has a deep rolodex of very reliable home inspectors, roofers and plumbers, and a great sense of humor. And when push comes to shove he is on your side, pushing for your best interests. I seriously cannot recommend him high enough. If you want to buy a house in the East Bay, don't mess around: Scott Ward is your man.
Stephen and NicoleBought home in 94608
Scott Ward is a rock star! He is thorough, fast-working, friendly, honest, and very knowledgeable about the area and older homes.
We were a bit of an odd situation - we found the perfect house before we were seriously looking. Scott was referred to us by my sister (who raved about him) and literally over the weekend he got us set up with a great mortgage guy so we could get pre-approved, lined up all the best inspectors, and set up our offer. With 3 similar offers on the table, I'm convinced that we got the house because of his recommendations for our terms and his ability to follow through on a quick closing.
Scott is a straight-shooter, he gets things done, is helpful in ways you didn't even know you needed help, and helped us (first-time home buyers) feel confident in our decisions. Call this man. He's the best.
Amanda and Brianbought home in 94611
Scott worked with my family to sell our home. On multiple occasions Scott went above and beyond the call of duty. He helped us get more than we expected. He was great to work with and I strongly recommend him.
ToddSold home in 94705
My husband and i were referred to Scott by a friend and still can't believe our luck in that referral. From the first meeting with Scott we felt at ease in his knowledge about houses and the housing market as well as his genuine care for his business and clients. Scott stuck out to us because he was always available by email, phone call or text (We had tried other realtors who were very difficult to get ahold of.) I was and still am thoroughly pleased with his work on our house. We moved in almost a month ago now and he is still checking in on us to see how things are going.
If you are looking to buy a house you should use Scott Ward.
Briana and StephenBought House in 94605
Selecting the best realtor was crucial to securing my financial well being in retirement. I interviewed the top agents in Yelp and the Berkeley Parent Newsletter. Scott Ward stood out as more than the best sales person; he loves houses and could see the potential for mine. He outlined the work that needed to be done, hired the best people for the best price, and oversaw the day-to-day progress. He was easy going and listened to what I wanted and remained in frequent contact. (I was quite uptight at points, and he kept communication open.)
Realtors agreed on the market value of my home if listed "as is." With the improvements Scott recommended, the home sold for 25% more with an investment of 6% of sales price. My home sold in a week after listing with five offers all at or above the listing price. The results certainly greatly exceeded my expectations. I will always be extremely grateful to Scott for his judgment and skill in this difficult buyer's market. And yes, I am now enjoying a retirement beyond what I could have imagined! Thanks, Scott!!
Anne Larson
Sold home in 94705
Scott is fantastic!! He is exactly what we wanted in an agent. He has a no pressure approach, and made us feel comfortable throughout the entire process (which otherwise would have been terrifying!) - but make no mistake, when it's time to get it done, he is on top of every detail! We flew through the process of buying a house with his expertise. He's easy to trust, we always felt like he was looking out for our best interest - and it helped that he's extremely knowledgeable and knows all of the best contacts in the area. He had inspections and bids done without us needing to take time off of work to be there, even AFTER we bought the house! He really went above and beyond our expectations, and truly was a pleasure to spend time with throughout the process - Great guy, loves his job, and it shows!!
Rachel and Jason
bought home in 94618
Scott was an excellent agent for us! He was very patient with us as first-time buyers, and showed us MANY homes over the span of several months as we changed our size expectations, desired location, etc. He is the perfect person to have around when buying your first home (especially when it is a 100-year old craftsman!), pointing out everything you should be concerned with in the evaluation process. He has all the right contacts for inspections and specialists while in contract. We recently closed on the property and he has been an enormous help in identifying people to come and take care of everything with the home to get us moved in and settled (hardwood floors, electricity, locks, roofers, etc). In all, he made the process seamless, and we truly trust him and appreciate all his efforts on our behalf. We definitely recommend him for anyone looking for a home in the East Bay Area
Holly and Dannybought home in 94602
Scott Ward is the "premier realtor" in the East Bay. If you are looking to sell or buy property I can't think of any other person I would want to represent me, other than Scott. From our initial meeting to the close of escrow, Scott was always available, dedicated to my search, honest , a great listener, and answered the many questions my sons and I asked. Scott not only has a wealth of knowledge in real estate, but it wasn't uncommon as we looked at property to see him checking the foundation, electrical, plumbing, crawling in small spaces, drainage etc. I truly valued his opinion and couldn't imagine going through this process without his guidance. Through his intuitiveness of the "home" I was looking for I was able to purchase the "perfect space". Even with multiple offers, Scott's advice on bidding strategies was right on. Scott continues to keep in contact as we begin the daunting process of remodeling. We appreciate his obvious commitment and follow through.
Scott truly goes above and beyond when representing his clients. I promise you won't be disappointed.
Without any hesitation, I would recommend Scott Ward to anyone looking to buy or sell real estate in the Bay Area. He is the BEST!
Rozanne
bought home in 94607
After looking at 50 houses and getting a couple of offers rejected we were beyond frustrated. We decided to switch our previous realtor and a friend thankfully referred us to Scott Ward. Buying a house is painful, there is no way around it but Scott took care of details we didn't know a realtor would. It was hard for us to hit open houses on the weekends with two small children so Scott took the time to personally show us every property we were interested in. We were seriously impressed with his personalized approach to working with us. When it came down to writing on a property, Scott made it seem easy. He kept us in the loop through every step and helped us make decisions with his deep knowledge of the industry. He found us a house we love while taking the pain out of buying. It did not stop after we closed either. Scott referred us to people who could help customize our new house the way we wanted. If you're in the market to buy a home I cannot recommend Scott enough.
Joe F.
San Francisco, CA
bought home in 94609
I give Scott Ward the highest marks possible for his work in representing me as a buyer's agent. I cannot think of one thing he could improve upon as he was just exemplary. The process of buying a home in the Bay Area is difficult; just ask anyone who is seriously looking. Through this recession there are still plenty of buyers for attractive properties. A skilled real estate agent is an absolute necessity or your experience will be ever more difficult and protracted. If you want success in buying or selling your home, I cannot think one of thing I would want him to do better. He runs in a universe of real estate professionals of high integrity for which you will benefit from. From mortgage brokers, house inspectors, contractors, real estate lawyers and escrow companies. He only associates with professionals that are like him; hard working, friendly but serious real estate professionals of the highest integrity. Give Scott Ward a call and sit down for a cup of coffee. It will be the best decision you make in finding a strong ally in this tough, tough real estate market.
Gerald
bought investment property in 94609
I am so happy I had Scott Ward on my side selling my house. He really knows and understands the market and has great skill and mastery of the numbers and all that necessary house selling "paperwork". Plus, a fine knowledge of actual house construction. Finally, without his calmness and clear vision of how to proceed I could never have gotten my house together for such a satisfying sale.
Ken
sold home in 94608
We all know how this market is....but it was time for me to sell my house.
Enter Scott Ward! The man is a delight. Knows the market, knows the
numbers, understands the priorities, is as personable as they come,
determined AND flexible. Those are all the things I needed to let go of my
beloved house so we could move to our beautiful new ranch. I have way too
much on my plate most of the time and this house selling thing is not for
the faint of heart!!! Scott understood that completely. I have really high
standards and can be a bit of a pain at times (which Scott can vouch for!!
:) but that didn't seem to faze him. He did what it took to lighten my
load, coordinating inspections and walk-thru's and open houses. He has
great resources to pull from and he has so much experience to give
perspective to the hard decisions that have to be made. He gave me all the
tips to make things look fabulous and we got great offers, within two weeks,
and closed escrow in 45 days. What more could you ask for! Scott...we
wish you all the best.
Karen
Sold house in 94608
Scott Ward is the consummate professional. He has a vast and deep knowledge of houses, all aspects of their design, construction and sale. Scott is the rare individual who combines transcendent competence with personal connect so that you feel simultaneously taken care of and cared for. In our case Scott was able to attend to the urgency of our situation with sympathy and kindness while pursuing the practicalities of the moment with great integrity. Once the sale was complete, rather than walk away to the next project he followed us into the new house and beyond, managing the flow of contractors who came to put the finishing touches on our new acquisition. After several house purchases through other realtors all I can say is, Scott you are the best!
Tom
bought home in 94703
Scott Ward sold my home under very difficult circumstances in a difficult market for a price that per square foot that compares with homes recently sold in fancy Marin County. Within 3 weeks of my moving out, Scott worked with his own contractor to complete a punch list of repairs and improvements inside and out, hired a stager who's work was artful and appropriate for the scale of my tiny home, had a photographer complete some beautiful shots for all the needed marketing and got my nightmare of a neighbor to clean up his property and curtail his barking dogs. Through the whole process Scott managed all the parties with a commanding serenity averting any number of potential disasters. His overall marketing (print and online) was fantastic, and plentiful; his approach to branding my house cast a wide net - he seemed to really know his audience.
Moreover, Scott helped me avoid having a coronary through this very stressful process by staying in regular communication and keeping me well informed on what should expect each step of the way. If you are looking to sell in the East Bay this guy is your man. I firmly believe that I could not of gotten a faster sale for a better price with anyone else that works this area.
Mark T.
Sold home in 94608
We highly recommend Scott as a real estate agent. My husband and I spent the past few months looking for a house with Scott (and we found one that we love!). Scott was a great listener, helped us focus priorities, and was always ready to spend an afternoon house hunting with us. Once we began the escrow/paperwork process - he provided honest opinions and explained the often confusing paperwork. His good nature, savviness, and knowledge of the local real estate market made him invaluable throughout the entire process from start to finish. We very much enjoyed working with Scott.
Megan and Darrin
Bought house in 94618
I found Scott Ward to be very thorough in all his work in helping me sell my house. He communicated with me regularly and clearly, he was honest and diligent and he was always available when I had a question. I would highly recommend Scott to anyone buying or selling a home in the areas he works in.
Russell Moore
Sold home in 94707
Scott was our agent for selling our home in Berkeley as well as purchasing our home in Hercules. Scott has a combination of know-how, technical knowledge, persistence, and dedication to his clients' desires that makes him an ideal agent. His continual and timely research during a very volatile time in the housing market provided information that allowed us to be confident we were ma king the right decisions about pricing. Through his research, intuition and persistence, we were able to sell our home for way over asking price in the summer of 2009 during a very weak market. He also went beyond expectations in terms of following up with other agents in a way that I have not seen others do. In addition, he helped us find the perfect home in Hercules. This involved taking us to look at many, many homes until we found the right one.
Adam and Jen Davis
Sold home in 94703
Scott is a breeze to work with and an excellent team player. He comes to the scene with a casual, professional atmosphere and a fresh attitude that gets things done. The clients that I have seen him work with rely heavily on his judgment and guidance. I hope not to sell anytime soon, but when I do, Scott is the go-to guy.
Buddy Williams, Architect, LEED AP
Worked on homes in 94703, 94705, and 94609
I feel incredibly lucky to have found Scott Ward. In my efforts to become a first time home buyer I challenged Scott with indecision, a big revision (downward) in what I can afford, myriad scenarios, and a total lack of certainty about what I'm looking for. Scott has handled every twist with understanding, patience, professionalism, and most importantly with creative brainstorming. In the many months I looked at homes with Scott, I received an incredible education in the local housing market, the systems in a home, what to watch out for, where to add value, and even the psychology of buying and selling homes.
Scott loves this stuff!!! I can't even count the number of times he has said "I find it so interesting how/that... ". Scott has a real passion for home efficiency and green systems, and is always pointing out ways to incorporate those elements into existing structures. He also has a great sense of aesthetics and space, and lots of ideas about what one could do for a prospective property.
What I have found most valuable however isn't all of the value added fluff above, rather Scott's incredible intuition and understanding of the East Bay market, the value of properties, and very good "unofficial" estimates of how much it's going to cost to make needed home improvements. As the proud owner of a "fixer" himself, Scott just really gets it!
After hearing several stories of horror and mediocrity about other realtors, I suspect I just might have lucked out with the best realtor in the East Bay!
Finally I found the house for me. Scott was a critical asset as we proceeded to complete a purchase of a foreclosed home, complete with a non-responsive bank and frustrated tenants. Scott really worked hard at this deal, and in the end it was his natural and cool demeanor which proved the secret ingredient for successfully getting all parties to work together.
Greg Stemler
Bought home in 94609
Working with Scott made house hunting fun. I'm and architect and was very impressed by how much he knew about structural issues. I see Scott as a renaissance kind of guy, ready to crawl under a house with me then explaining contractual jargon that to me seemed another language. Scott really cared that I found the right place.
Mike Duhon
Bought home in 94602
Scott is a no nonsense realtor who will get you the home you want. He was extremely patient with us in getting our first home, and was able to make sense of all the inspections, loan contingencies, etc. He is very knowledgeable in inspection issues and can help translate pest and foundation reports for the novice buyer. He even crawled around in the basement of our new house with an inspector to see what issues the house had. He is an excellent negotiator, getting the seller to knock off $10k after our final inspection. We never felt pressured into buying our house, and he is genuinely interested in exploring what reservations you may have. He will work very hard for you and is always available and committed. You would be lucky to have Scott on your side, in selling or buying a home.
Jason Adamek and Tracy Young
Bought home in 94610
For us, Scott was a very active listener, asking us questions about the houses we'd seen, asking about everything we liked and didn't like, all so that he would get a better idea of what we liked in a house and what we didn't. Now, this is the sort of thing I expect from an agent. But a benefit we totally didn't expect was how well-networked he was and how many times we took advantage of that to make the move-in process easier.
Got a broken chimney? Scott has a contact for that. Need an inspector to climb around under the house? Already done. Need to talk to a decorator about curtain choices? Scott knows one and he just sent you his phone number. These aren't just sweetheart-deals either, the reference Scott gave me for homeowner's insurance gave me a better rate than I was able to find on my own. He thought of everything, and the closing process that I had dreaded was smooth and well-managed.
Thanks again, Scott!
Ian and Matt
Bought home in 94709
