"When COVID hit, my mom had some difficult decisions to make regarding her properties and her financial future. We worked with Danny even before she was fully convinced that it was time to sell. He was not pushy at all and was extremely patient and reassuring. After being a landlord for some decades with multiple properties in the East Bay, my mom knew it was time to downsize. She decided to sell our historical Piedmont home. Danny went right to work and was able to get multiple bids for the repairs needed, so that mom could make an informed decision. Working with Danny was like working with family, as he went way above and beyond any realtor I have ever seen. In the end, we got over the asking price, and the home sold to a family that has dreamed of getting their kids into the Piedmont school district. My mom was thrilled! Working with Danny was one of the best experiences I've had in real estate. The condo that Danny helped me sell had recently been wrecked with a water heater failure and subsequent flooding of the floors. I was in the middle of a ton of repairs when I decided it would just be easier to sell my condo once it was repaired/remodeled and relocate, so I contacted Compass Real Estate on a friend's recommendation. I was routed to Danny, and I couldn't have found a better ally in the process of finishing the repairs and selling my condo. He was amazingly detail-oriented, very available and patient- he was able to give me tons of important advice that helped me save money on repairs, yet also get my condo up to speed and ready for sale asap- from the paint, to the carpets to the choice of appliances and backsplashes, Danny was with me every step of the way, from start to finish. Honestly, he was a godsend in an incredibly stressful and chaotic time- he was calm, patient, prepared, well-educated on all things real estate, and an around great person to work with. I couldn't recommend him more highly."
"When COVID hit, my mom had some difficult decisions to make regarding her properties and her financial future. We worked with Danny even before she was fully convinced that it was time to sell. He was not pushy at all and was extremely patient and reassuring. After being a landlord for some decades with multiple properties in the East Bay, my mom knew it was time to downsize. She decided to sell our historical Piedmont home. Danny went right to work and was able to get multiple bids for the repairs needed, so that mom could make an informed decision. Working with Danny was like working with family, as he went way above and beyond any realtor I have ever seen. In the end, we got over the asking price, and the home sold to a family that has dreamed of getting their kids into the Piedmont school district. My mom was thrilled! Working with Danny was one of the best experiences I've had in real estate. The condo that Danny helped me sell had recently been wrecked with a water heater failure and subsequent flooding of the floors. I was in the middle of a ton of repairs when I decided it would just be easier to sell my condo once it was repaired/remodeled and relocate, so I contacted Compass Real Estate on a friend's recommendation. I was routed to Danny, and I couldn't have found a better ally in the process of finishing the repairs and selling my condo. He was amazingly detail-oriented, very available and patient- he was able to give me tons of important advice that helped me save money on repairs, yet also get my condo up to speed and ready for sale asap- from the paint, to the carpets to the choice of appliances and backsplashes, Danny was with me every step of the way, from start to finish. Honestly, he was a godsend in an incredibly stressful and chaotic time- he was calm, patient, prepared, well-educated on all things real estate, and an around great person to work with. I couldn't recommend him more highly."
Sarah E.
"It turns out that selling a home is a very complex process, and Danny went above and beyond the call of duty when it came time to sell my mother’s house in Berkeley. He was able to get two stressed-out brothers who had very different visions of what to do with our property on the same page, despite what, at that point, had turned into a bit of a complex relationship. There were points where I think most people would have walked out on the project, but Danny stuck with us and got the house into sellable condition in a short time frame with a very limited budget, and he was able to accomplish it with very little help from us. Once he takes on a project, there doesn't seem to be any stopping him. I can't thank Danny enough."
"It turns out that selling a home is a very complex process, and Danny went above and beyond the call of duty when it came time to sell my mother’s house in Berkeley. He was able to get two stressed-out brothers who had very different visions of what to do with our property on the same page, despite what, at that point, had turned into a bit of a complex relationship. There were points where I think most people would have walked out on the project, but Danny stuck with us and got the house into sellable condition in a short time frame with a very limited budget, and he was able to accomplish it with very little help from us. Once he takes on a project, there doesn't seem to be any stopping him. I can't thank Danny enough."
Oran C.
"Dear Danny, Thank you so much for all your help with our home purchase! We can hardly believe this is actually happening, and we so appreciate your calming presence, responsiveness, and wise counsel during this stressful process. You made it all as easy as it could possibly be! After many years of fruitless housing searches in the Bay Area, we were very fortunate to meet Danny at an open house that miraculously turned into our first time home purchase. Danny jumped right in to help us make it happen, guiding us quickly through the loan pre-approval process so we could put in a successful offer. Danny was very responsive, reliable, and always available to answer our many questions. He communicated not just with us but also with the seller, the listing agent, the lender, and the title/escrow company on our behalf to move things along. He was very proactive throughout the whole process and was diligent in helping us work through our many contingencies, which we were able to secure due to the softening market. He met us at the property many times and was very flexible about scheduling visits at times that worked for us. Most of all, we really appreciated Danny's calm demeanor and down-to-earth attitude, which helped make a high-stakes process less stressful."
"Dear Danny, Thank you so much for all your help with our home purchase! We can hardly believe this is actually happening, and we so appreciate your calming presence, responsiveness, and wise counsel during this stressful process. You made it all as easy as it could possibly be! After many years of fruitless housing searches in the Bay Area, we were very fortunate to meet Danny at an open house that miraculously turned into our first time home purchase. Danny jumped right in to help us make it happen, guiding us quickly through the loan pre-approval process so we could put in a successful offer. Danny was very responsive, reliable, and always available to answer our many questions. He communicated not just with us but also with the seller, the listing agent, the lender, and the title/escrow company on our behalf to move things along. He was very proactive throughout the whole process and was diligent in helping us work through our many contingencies, which we were able to secure due to the softening market. He met us at the property many times and was very flexible about scheduling visits at times that worked for us. Most of all, we really appreciated Danny's calm demeanor and down-to-earth attitude, which helped make a high-stakes process less stressful."
Sally & Jesse G.
"Danny was very helpful in our vacation home purchase. He helped guide us on our home selection, was thorough in reviewing the disclosures with us, provided strategic pricing negotiation advice, and helped to explain the overall process so we could see the forest for the trees. Throughout the process, he was responsive, courteous, and professional. Highly recommend!"
"Danny was very helpful in our vacation home purchase. He helped guide us on our home selection, was thorough in reviewing the disclosures with us, provided strategic pricing negotiation advice, and helped to explain the overall process so we could see the forest for the trees. Throughout the process, he was responsive, courteous, and professional. Highly recommend!"
Alan S.
"Working with Danny DeSmidt and the Chris Clark team at Compass was a pleasure. There's an enormous amount of preparation needed before getting a house to market. Danny made it a breeze by scheduling the inspections, painters, gardeners, flooring installers, and the home staging. I can honestly say that my house has never looked better. Soon, the house was up for sale, and Danny was there to greet the prospective buyers at the open houses. When it came time, Chris and Danny were experts at thoroughly critiquing both the positive and negative sides of the multiple buyer offers presented, which in turn helped me make an informed decision on the right offer to accept. I am so grateful for everything that they helped me accomplish. Working with Danny and the Chris Clark team, you can feel confident that you're working with the most qualified professionals to securely guide you through every step of finding the right buyer for your home."
"Working with Danny DeSmidt and the Chris Clark team at Compass was a pleasure. There's an enormous amount of preparation needed before getting a house to market. Danny made it a breeze by scheduling the inspections, painters, gardeners, flooring installers, and the home staging. I can honestly say that my house has never looked better. Soon, the house was up for sale, and Danny was there to greet the prospective buyers at the open houses. When it came time, Chris and Danny were experts at thoroughly critiquing both the positive and negative sides of the multiple buyer offers presented, which in turn helped me make an informed decision on the right offer to accept. I am so grateful for everything that they helped me accomplish. Working with Danny and the Chris Clark team, you can feel confident that you're working with the most qualified professionals to securely guide you through every step of finding the right buyer for your home."
Fredrick W.
"Many thanks to Danny DeSmidt and his team at Compass for the excellent results on the sale of our home, 909 Holiday Court. From preparing our home for sale to the closing of escrow, Danny was a helper and encourager through the whole process. Danny’s experience in construction and his connections with other experts in the trades made him a valuable asset. His partnership with Chris Clark enabled us to receive professional advice on design and market trends that we were able to receive and follow. They walked us through the whole process, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. I have already recommended Danny and Compass to my family, friends, and Neighbors. Thanks Again."
"Many thanks to Danny DeSmidt and his team at Compass for the excellent results on the sale of our home, 909 Holiday Court. From preparing our home for sale to the closing of escrow, Danny was a helper and encourager through the whole process. Danny’s experience in construction and his connections with other experts in the trades made him a valuable asset. His partnership with Chris Clark enabled us to receive professional advice on design and market trends that we were able to receive and follow. They walked us through the whole process, and we couldn’t be happier with the results. I have already recommended Danny and Compass to my family, friends, and Neighbors. Thanks Again."
Greg & Susan
"When it came time, Chris and Danny were experts at thoroughly critiquing both the positive and negative sides of the multiple buyer offers presented, which in turn helped me make an informed decision on the right offer to accept."
"When it came time, Chris and Danny were experts at thoroughly critiquing both the positive and negative sides of the multiple buyer offers presented, which in turn helped me make an informed decision on the right offer to accept."
Fred
"We’re so grateful to have worked with Danny DeSmidt on the purchase of our first home in the Bay Area. The house we had our eye on, which we now happily own, had a number of open questions in the disclosures that we didn’t know how to approach. Under pressure, with a competing offer on the table, Danny developed a comprehensive plan and tracked down the answers (working tirelessly over Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays), coordinating supplemental inspections and contractor estimates for future work and scouring federal and county databases for information. Danny guided us forward through every twist and turn with expertise, humor, and confidence. His knowledge of construction was invaluable. We enthusiastically recommend working with Danny."
"We’re so grateful to have worked with Danny DeSmidt on the purchase of our first home in the Bay Area. The house we had our eye on, which we now happily own, had a number of open questions in the disclosures that we didn’t know how to approach. Under pressure, with a competing offer on the table, Danny developed a comprehensive plan and tracked down the answers (working tirelessly over Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays), coordinating supplemental inspections and contractor estimates for future work and scouring federal and county databases for information. Danny guided us forward through every twist and turn with expertise, humor, and confidence. His knowledge of construction was invaluable. We enthusiastically recommend working with Danny."
Karen B.
"When my dad passed, my sister and I were left with a beautiful home in the Santa Cruz mountains to sell. We reached out to Danny, and through diligent research, he found the absolute best co-listing agent possible. Danny and Gina went above and beyond, as it was very challenging for my sister and me to get to Santa Cruz with our very young kids and full-time jobs. Danny and Gina hosted a free sale at my dad's house, coordinated all aspects of repair/improvement projects, helped us dump trash, and hired the most amazing staging team and photographers. They held an open house weekend, and within 4 days of putting it on the market, we had an all-cash, zero-contingencies offer with a seven-day close that was $90k over asking. It was a seamless close, and they walked us through the process every step of the way. They honored our sentimental wishes and truly went above and beyond as we navigated this very difficult time. I cannot recommend Danny enough. His compassion and competence are at the foundation of everything he does! Thank you so much for everything, Danny!"
"When my dad passed, my sister and I were left with a beautiful home in the Santa Cruz mountains to sell. We reached out to Danny, and through diligent research, he found the absolute best co-listing agent possible. Danny and Gina went above and beyond, as it was very challenging for my sister and me to get to Santa Cruz with our very young kids and full-time jobs. Danny and Gina hosted a free sale at my dad's house, coordinated all aspects of repair/improvement projects, helped us dump trash, and hired the most amazing staging team and photographers. They held an open house weekend, and within 4 days of putting it on the market, we had an all-cash, zero-contingencies offer with a seven-day close that was $90k over asking. It was a seamless close, and they walked us through the process every step of the way. They honored our sentimental wishes and truly went above and beyond as we navigated this very difficult time. I cannot recommend Danny enough. His compassion and competence are at the foundation of everything he does! Thank you so much for everything, Danny!"
Amanda C.
"Andy and Danny did an amazing job helping us sell our house. They gave us a detailed breakdown of the projects they recommended to get our house ready to sell and helped us understand how much each of them might help with the sale price. From there, they handled all the contractors and logistics for us - we just had to approve work and write checks. They gave us detailed progress reports and kept us informed on how we were doing with the schedule and budget. We got multiple offers quickly and were happy with the price we got for the house. We would definitely recommend working with them!"
"Andy and Danny did an amazing job helping us sell our house. They gave us a detailed breakdown of the projects they recommended to get our house ready to sell and helped us understand how much each of them might help with the sale price. From there, they handled all the contractors and logistics for us - we just had to approve work and write checks. They gave us detailed progress reports and kept us informed on how we were doing with the schedule and budget. We got multiple offers quickly and were happy with the price we got for the house. We would definitely recommend working with them!"
Neil & Jessica B.
"Home buying can be a stressful time, but my husband and I were blessed and very lucky buying a home on our first attempt, with the help of Danny as our realtor. He is proactive, professional, and most of all personable in this experience. My husband and I recently moved from SoCal to Castro Valley to be near family after two health scares and no help nearby. We wanted to purchase our first home at the end of this summer after doing research on the market and the buying process, as we were not quite ready to buy. We decided to look at open houses for fun (to get a feel of the neighborhood) and meet Danny, who was showing an open house in Castro Valley. This was the first open house we found on Zillow that morning (thanks to my dad for suggesting it), and the first and only house we viewed; thus, we were pleasantly surprised that the house met all our requirements for our first home. Excited, but not holding our breath, we thought our chances at winning would be slim against the current over-bidding craze. We had no realtor, no pre-approval, very little home-buying experience, and no time between raising our toddler and our busy jobs in healthcare. During the open house, Danny spent a lot of time talking to us and motivating us to apply for a bid. He became our realtor, connected us with pre-approval in one day with JVM Lending, patiently guided us through the home buying process, encouraged us to negotiate a bidding price, and congratulated us for winning after 1day! Everything went so fast in 3 days from start to finish. We really thank Danny for his hard work, patience, knowledge, advice, and for listening to our thoughts or concerns on the whole process. We are so grateful for Danny's expertise and guidance; otherwise, we definitely would not be homeowners today!"
"Home buying can be a stressful time, but my husband and I were blessed and very lucky buying a home on our first attempt, with the help of Danny as our realtor. He is proactive, professional, and most of all personable in this experience. My husband and I recently moved from SoCal to Castro Valley to be near family after two health scares and no help nearby. We wanted to purchase our first home at the end of this summer after doing research on the market and the buying process, as we were not quite ready to buy. We decided to look at open houses for fun (to get a feel of the neighborhood) and meet Danny, who was showing an open house in Castro Valley. This was the first open house we found on Zillow that morning (thanks to my dad for suggesting it), and the first and only house we viewed; thus, we were pleasantly surprised that the house met all our requirements for our first home. Excited, but not holding our breath, we thought our chances at winning would be slim against the current over-bidding craze. We had no realtor, no pre-approval, very little home-buying experience, and no time between raising our toddler and our busy jobs in healthcare. During the open house, Danny spent a lot of time talking to us and motivating us to apply for a bid. He became our realtor, connected us with pre-approval in one day with JVM Lending, patiently guided us through the home buying process, encouraged us to negotiate a bidding price, and congratulated us for winning after 1day! Everything went so fast in 3 days from start to finish. We really thank Danny for his hard work, patience, knowledge, advice, and for listening to our thoughts or concerns on the whole process. We are so grateful for Danny's expertise and guidance; otherwise, we definitely would not be homeowners today!"
Irene & Armando
"I had inherited a home with a reverse mortgage, so time to sell was of the essence; however, it also required quality upgrades to maximize its value. Danny was responsive, thorough, considerate, and provided great recommendations, which got the home sold for over asking and within the desired timeframe. He was hands-on with every phase of the project - this was a common interaction: Me: "Danny, do I have to be there for and do this and meet such and such?" Danny: "Nope, I'm taking care of it and I'll be there and l'll meet with them. Exceeded expectations."
"I had inherited a home with a reverse mortgage, so time to sell was of the essence; however, it also required quality upgrades to maximize its value. Danny was responsive, thorough, considerate, and provided great recommendations, which got the home sold for over asking and within the desired timeframe. He was hands-on with every phase of the project - this was a common interaction: Me: "Danny, do I have to be there for and do this and meet such and such?" Danny: "Nope, I'm taking care of it and I'll be there and l'll meet with them. Exceeded expectations."
Mat D.
"Working with Danny was one of the best experiences I've had in real estate. The condo that Danny helped me sell had recently been wrecked with a water heater failure and subsequent flooding of the floors. I was in the middle of a ton of repairs when I decided it would just be easier to sell my condo once it was repaired and remodeled, and relocate, so I contacted Compass Real Estate on a friend's recommendation. I was routed to Danny, and I couldn't have found a better ally in the process of finishing the repairs and selling my condo. He was amazingly detail-oriented, very available and patient he was able to give me tons of important advice that helped me save money on repairs, yet also get my condo up to speed and ready for sale asap from the paint, to the carpets to the choice of appliances and backsplashes, Danny was with me every step of the way, from start to finish. Honestly, he was a godsend in an incredibly stressful and chaotic time. He was calm, patient, prepared, well-educated on all things real estate, and an around great person to work with. I couldn't recommend him more highly."
"Working with Danny was one of the best experiences I've had in real estate. The condo that Danny helped me sell had recently been wrecked with a water heater failure and subsequent flooding of the floors. I was in the middle of a ton of repairs when I decided it would just be easier to sell my condo once it was repaired and remodeled, and relocate, so I contacted Compass Real Estate on a friend's recommendation. I was routed to Danny, and I couldn't have found a better ally in the process of finishing the repairs and selling my condo. He was amazingly detail-oriented, very available and patient he was able to give me tons of important advice that helped me save money on repairs, yet also get my condo up to speed and ready for sale asap from the paint, to the carpets to the choice of appliances and backsplashes, Danny was with me every step of the way, from start to finish. Honestly, he was a godsend in an incredibly stressful and chaotic time. He was calm, patient, prepared, well-educated on all things real estate, and an around great person to work with. I couldn't recommend him more highly."
Sara S.
