Fiona Markgraaff

To whom it may concern,

As we write this, please know that it is not easy to be objective.  Peter and Fiona have been dear friends for many years, even prior to returning to the real estate business.  We love them for their kindness, integrity, hard work, professionalism and consistent commitment to our relationship.  It was only natural to us that when the time came to look for a house, they were our choice as realtors even though we had worked previously and successfully with other agents before we knew them.

In our process of looking for what turned out to be our dream house, we were supported by their commitment to find out what our needs and desires were.  They previewed many properties first so we could use our time most efficiently.  They were committed to helping us find a house we really wanted, not to sell us a house.  They consistently adjusted what homes they showed us as our desires and parameters changed and became clearer during the process of looking.  They listened to us, worked hard on our behalf, and drew on their vast knowledge of the market.  As a result, we found a home we ultimately purchased and love.

Another thing we really appreciated about Peter and Fiona was that we never felt pressured.  We were given information to consider, both positive and negative, so we had the information we needed to evaluate various properties and neighborhoods. 

Lastly, throughout the entire time, including leading up to and even after we closed escrow, they always made themselves available and provided resources to assist us.  It was such a pleasure working with both Fiona and Peter.  While it was very enjoyable to spend so much time with dear friends and feel so cared for, we also knew that we could trust them to be the talented real estate professionals they proved to be.

We would not hesitate to recommend them to anyone looking to buy or sell a property.

Terry and Rob LaMorte

December 4, 2008

 Dear Fiona and Peter,

I wanted to take a moment to reflect on the real estate transaction we closed in Encinitas this year. Jeannie and I have been actively trading real estate for the past 7 years in Santa Fe, NM. We had always thought that it would not be wise to go out of our area of expertise, let alone to another state. On a trip out to Solana Beach we were met briefly with both of you and kept up with email and phone conversations. Your expertise and advice on the markets along the North Coast gave us the confidence to come back out and look seriously.

After settling in on three potential houses Fiona did a great job of helping us to understand the trade-offs between each and settle in on the best home for us. I’ve never had a team of two working so diligently in the negotiation for the house, which we got at a price much better than I would have thought in the beginning. The closing went smoothly, even though we were back in Santa Fe. We ended up leasing the property to the people already living in the house, and the two of you took care of every aspect, even the details after closing! In retrospect it was one the best real estate experience we have ever had, the level of professionalism, market knowledge, negotiation skills, and follow-up made it all come together without a hitch. My father has now decided to buy a house in the area and we appreciate your work to find him just the right place, being passed between family members is the highest recommendation.

 Thanks again for all of your hard work

Chas Curtis

 To Whom It May Concern:

This letter is in recognition of Fiona Markgraaff. Her tireless commitment to her clients, knowledge of the San Diego market and uncanny ability to get to the heart of what we were looking for, resulted in our purchase of our dream home here in La Jolla.

My husband and I met Fiona and Peter at an open house and were impressed with their competence and kindness. We immediately felt comfortable around them, which was such an important factor for us in our choice of an agent. Fiona remained in touch with us for over a year, sending us information on the housing market and even gifting to us front row tickets to a Padres baseball game.   When we were ready to move ahead with the purchase of our first home, we knew that we wanted to work with Fiona.

The quality that most impressed me about Fiona was her desire to truly represent our best interests as her client. She highlighted the negative aspect of every property I viewed and made sure I was aware of the comps in the neighborhood and whether they were favorable or not. She respected my limited time by previewing potential properties and only showing me the homes which, in her judgment, matched my requirements and tastes. I never felt pressured by Fiona; rather she listened to my impressions and concerns and used this information to better hone her search.

 If it were not for Fiona, I do not think we would have found our perfect home. My husband and I were not even considering the neighborhood that we have come to love so much and it was only through Fiona’s extensive research and commitment to us that she suggested we look in Bird Rock, because she felt it was perfectly suited to us. Sure enough, we found exactly what we were looking for and more.

Fiona and Peter’s work did not end there. Both of them went above and beyond expectations in assisting us with the closing of our home. My husband and I were out of the country during the diligence and inspection period and Fiona and Peter acted as our liaisons, hiring plumbers and electricians and ensuring that all our bases were covered while we were away. They are incredibly trustworthy people and ensured that everything was handled beautifully.

We highly recommend Fiona and Peter Markgraaff and will continue to work with them in our future real estate transactions.

 Sincerely,

 February 19, 2008

It is pleasure for us to recommend Fiona Markgraaff and Peter Markgraaff as personal real estate agents.  This was our first time to buy our house in the United States since we moved from Tokyo 3 years ago.

Fiona and Peter gave us appropriate advice about what a kind of house has good value in the US, that helped increase our knowledge of purchasing and selecting a house here.  And also Fiona and Peter have their best knowledge about Del Mar and Carmel Valley area including environment of neighborhood, school district, social facilities and so on.

And their response time was quick and we can get enough information timely. 

If we would have a chance to sell or buy a house in the future we would definitely ask Fiona and Peter to become our agent again.  We really enjoyed working with both of them.

Fiona, Peter,  We appreciated your best support for finding our dream house.  The house meets our expectation and more than that.

 Best regards,

Kaz and Michiko Kitagawa

 July 2007

It is with enthusiasm that I respond to your request of a letter of recommendation for Fiona Markgraaff.  I started speaking with Fiona over the phone months ago in regards to assisting my family and I with a relocation from Seattle to San Diego, CA.  We immediately developed a rapport and I was drawn to her ease, comfort and understanding of our upcoming situation. 

I have traveled to San Diego, CA twice in the month of June to start with our first look at the homes on the market.  Fiona impressed us greatly with her intuition and ease at getting to know exactly what we are looking for.  Fiona pays close attention to detail and really caters to her clients in a way I find very comforting, professional and above all very accommodating.  I have found her to have our very best interests at heart.  She is incredibly professional and she will steer you in the right direction and away from something that may compromise your ultimate goals.  Fiona is very honest, loyal, determined, resourceful, and optimistic. Fiona also facilitated assistance here in Seattle with the listing of our current home. 

Fiona absolutely goes beyond the call of duty and we are grateful to know her, work with her and continue to refer to her in the future.  Fiona is very focused on finding the right fit for her clients and never makes you feel rushed neither of any inconvenience.  Fiona has a way of making you feel like her number one priority. 

It is without any hesitation that I highly recommend Fiona.  I wish you all the very best of luck with your relocation and happy house hunting.  Please feel free to contact us should you have any questions.

Rick and Linda Goodrich

We are very happy with the professional service you have provided since listing our property in Rancho Santa Fe with you. This includes the wonderful video that Peter put together, the sales portfolio and the seller’s manual. We especially appreciate your advice after receiving our first offer".

 You went all out to find a place for us.  The lot has awesome views and were grateful for excellent negotiating skills to keep the deal from falling out of escrow when the seller had second thoughts about selling.  Great job". 

"Susan and Heinz Lorenzen"