client testimonials

"After moving across the country on short notice, we needed an agent to help us sell our house from thousands of miles away. Going off a glowing recommendation from a trusted source, we decided to work with Sheri as our selling agent. As first time sellers, we were largely unfamiliar with the daunting process of putting our beloved home on the market. We were so impressed with how Sheri was able to navigate all of the challenges with her calm demeanor and professional know how. With Sheri's help, the entire home selling process seemed far less intimidating. She managed multiple repairs and renovations with little to no supervision on our part, and always went the extra mile; essentially treating our house as though it were her own. No request was too big or too small, and Sheri inspired confidence throughout the entire process and despite our distance. She is extremely personable and easy to work with, and we recommend her to anyone (near or far) looking to sell their home in the Bay Area. In the end, our home sold well above asking, largely due to her recommendations and guidance. She's the real deal!
"

M and C

Berkeley sellers

"From beginning to end, you were the perfect realtor. You listened to my needs, and guided me gently and kindly to the finish line, which I am very happy with. It’s been amazing to watch the transformation. It’s a sweet house. I hope the new owners will be happy there.
You have certainly found your niche. Your team workers also did an excellent job.
"

B.P. and H.L.

Berkeley sellers

"As I rebound from saying goodbye to my home and life of more than 50 years, memories of all your care and kindness during the sales process continue to bolster and warm me. You are the best professional I can imagine, a true "real estate therapist."

Long before my son asked me to move away from the Bay Area, you generously advised me about how and whether to remodel my house. When, during the pandemic, the call to move came from my son, you were right there to advise me again. Every step of the way you took care of countless details that would have completely overwhelmed me. All of your estimates of work needed to market the house were solid – no surprises. Your attention to detail; your regular and succinct updates; your ever willingness to talk to me; your investigation into the wiring and tree issues; your vision for my house; your calm and wise assessments of the market; your follow-up and advice about the best offer – everything you did was more than anyone could ask for. The house looked fantastic when you and your crew had finished freshening it up – all of my friends were thrilled with the way it looked. And I could have happily moved right back in! I am particularly grateful that you respected the house, that you kept its bones and spirit intact.Should any potential clients want to hear more about your process and skill, I would be happy to talk to them. It was a pleasure to work with you Sheri. Thank you again,

T"

T.C.

Richmond Annex seller

"“We recently sold our family house in the East Bay with the help of our agent, Sheri Madden of Red Oak Realty. Her professional skills and dedication throughout the entire process ensured we got the best possible outcome.

From the very beginning, it was clear that Sheri had an excellent grasp of the local market conditions. She expertly negotiated a sales price that exceeded our expectations, showing her in depth knowledge and understanding of the real estate landscape.

One of the standout qualities of our realtor was her keen eye for detail. She accurately assessed the condition of a balcony with structural issues, providing valuable insights that helped us make the necessary repairs and replacement.

She also had fine sense of style. Her suggestions for adding decorative elements to the home before sale made a significant difference in the overall presentation. It was clear that she knew how to showcase the property to its full potential, and her attention to detail was impeccable.

What truly set her apart was her accessibility and willingness to assist us. She was available day and night, always ready to promptly answer our questions and provide guidance.

In conclusion, Sheri Madden’s expertise, market knowledge, professionalism, and dedication to her clients are outstanding. We couldn't be happier with the results she delivered, and we wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone looking for a top-notch real estate agent in the East Bay.”

"

R. G. and C. G.

Berkeley sellers

"Sheri is a one in a million real estate agent and person. I realize that sounds corny, but I honestly think it's true. My wife and I were first time home buyers. We're picky, risk averse, and patient, which could make us frustrating clients in the real estate industry. But Sheri's main goal during our time together was clearly to get us exactly what we needed and wanted, no matter how long it took. She was such an incredible advisor when it came to assessing various homes and deciding on bids. She showed endless patience and resilience as I plagued her with questions and asked her to brainstorm various scenarios with me. She is punctual, responsive, and kind. She also knows the inner East Bay in and out, with endless contacts to help get you the answers you need to make informed, thoughtful decisions. I would choose Sheri again in a heartbeat and already miss working with her."

C and C

Berkeley buyers

"Our decision to use Sheri, to help sell our house, was the best part of our selling experience. From the moment she entered our home, to the end, she held our hands through the entire process. She helped manage all the things we didn’t know we needed to do, even while we moved away and we worked remotely with her. The process still seemed easier knowing she was there. Never once did she make a promise or guarantee anything that wasn’t true. The presentation of the home, literature, website and hosting the viewings was a welcoming experience. We are pleased to have employed her services and would do so again"

K and C

Oakland seller

""You hit the realtor jackpost with Sheri." That's what my mortgage broker said when I called to introduce myself. And he was right. Walking into open houses, I would proudly introduce myself as "Sheri's client" to the listing agent. Sheri is an incredible realtor. Not only is she an expert and well-respected, she is also kind. She taught me, coached me, and was patient with my endless questions. I could not have asked for a better realtor and partner. I recommend her with my whole heart, head, and wallet.
"

E S

Oakland buyer

"As executors of a friend's estate, we needed to ready her house for sale. Unfortunately, there was a great
deal of deferred maintenance which needed to be addressed before it could sell. Through a friend's
recommendation, we found Sheri who proved extremely helpful in the entire process from finding an
estate sale company to empty the house to addressing needed repairs and closing on the deal. She did not
pressure us to do anything, but instead laid out the possible options. It was through her connections that
we were able to find the people to do the necessary work, running an estate sale, securing necessary
inspections, and staging the house, all in a timely manner. Her ability to get multiple projects scheduled
and completed was amazing. She clearly has respect and strong connections with the various companies
and public entities we required to effect a sale. Her kindness, patience, organizational skills, and attention
to detail was greatly appreciated during this stressful time. We would definitely recommend Sheri."

P & K

Berkeley sellers

"Thank you so very much for being a close trusted advisor and shepherding us through our first selling experience and second buying experience, Sheri! In helping us acquire our amazing new home and upgrading and selling our existing home, you made things very easy on our end! In each transaction, your keen sense of the local real estate market, along with your brilliant strategies to maximize value, delivered on our high expectations. You’ve steered us exceedingly well––and we want you to know that you have had a huge impact on our lives.
"

M. and B.

El Cerrito sellers

"After extensive research, I found that Sheri was highly recommended by my neighbors, some having worked with Sheri more than once. And I was very lucky to get Sheri's help in selling my house. Sheri patiently worked with my budget constraints and the house presented beautifully to sellers. Despite a volatile market and high interest rates, we got multiple offers above our listing price and I got the target price that I was hoping for. I would highly recommend Sheri to anyone selling their house.
"

J.L.

Berkeley seller

"Sheri Madden is a mover and a shaker in the East Bay Real estate market. We met Sheri during a couple of open houses she hosted back in 2017. She seemed to be everywhere when it came to East Bay listings. We were drawn to her gentle presence and keen knowledge of the ins and outs of the market. We have now sold and bought with Sheri and she has far exceeded our expectations. Her uncanny ability to read and predict the market and advise us accordingly has led to a relatively smooth selling and buying experience, despite the chaos of the market. She is well known and well regarded by other brokers which we feel has given us an advantage in negotiations. From a client perspective, Sheri is incredibly responsive, helpful, and insightful. She goes above and beyond to help with things beyond the scope of buying and selling such as sharing insights about remodeling costs and design trends and connecting us with trusted contractors and painters. Sheri has been our rock through this process and we can't recommend her enough! "

D and D

Berkeley buyers

"Working with Sheri was an absolute pleasure. We felt immediately in good hands after our first phone call, and ready to take on buying our first house. She was available whenever we needed her, dedicated long hours towards doing research and inspections, and had our best interests in mind every step of the way. Through her hard work we were able to go from feeling overwhelmed about purchasing a house for the first time, to feeling confident and overjoyed signing our closing papers. Work with her!
"

J. and W.

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri was an absolute joy to work with. As first-time home buyers, Sheri helped us navigate the entire process from beginning to end. She was consistent throughout, providing updates, asking the right questions, and moving the escrow process along quickly and efficiently. We couldn’t have bought our first home without Sheri and we would recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home in the area"

F. and J.

Richmond N & E buyers

" I bought my last house with Sheri, and that went great, so she was my first choice when it came time to sell it and buy another. For financial reasons I was doing the process on a tight timeline and Sheri kept everything on track. Her communication about process and risks is top notch and I never found myself wondering what was going on. I can't imagine having pulled this off without her -- and in the end we finished a month ahead of schedule! While I hope not to move again any time soon, if I do, I'll work with Sheri again in a heartbeat."

C.B.

Berkeley seller

"Thank you, Sheri, for the excellent assistance that you gave me. Your weekly updates on the changing market allowed me to make the best possible decisions. The professionals that you use to update my house for what the current buyers seem to really want provided quality work and advice. I appreciated your sense of dedication and willingness to assist me by walking me through the detailed legal forms that needed to be completed and signed. I can’t imagine finding anyone more skilled and easy to work with. I was also thrilled with the outcome and am happy to give you the highest of recommendations! Sally P Stewart
"

S.S.

Richmond View seller

"Sheri is a master at everything she does. I would trust her with anything -- and did! We sold the house largely while we were on the other side of the country, and she managed everything. I would recommend her to anyone instantly."

L & J

Oakland sellers

"Sheri was great to work with: she is knowledgeable, extremely responsive, and patient on top of all that. She worked hard to understand our needs and wants, and helped talk us through tradeoffs until we finally found a house we wanted to make an offer on. She worked closely with us over a weekend to quickly put together our successful offer. On a holiday weekend, she was able to find contractors to come over or do video calls to help us understand uncertainties with the house. This sort of thing is exactly why our friends recommended Sheri to us, and exactly why we'd wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone else."

J and R

El Cerrito buyers

"Sheri was very well connected in the industry. If we had any questions after viewing a property, or reading through an inspection report, Sheri always directed us to the right contact for further follow up. Sheri was also very responsive via email and text. As first time home buyers, we had many questions along the way and Sheri provided us with helpful & timely responses. Sheri was also very friendly to work with.

We would happily recommend Sheri to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in the East Bay."

J & B

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri Madden proved both professional and knowledgeable about the whole process, not only for the sale of our previous house but in guiding me through the purchase of finding and buying a new home. I found she had options when we ran into potential snags, was on a first name basis with other colleagues in the field, and was spoken of highly when I mentioned her name at open houses. She did a great job and I recommend her highly for anyone's next realty agent.

"

A R

Kensington seller and Albany buyer

"We are so glad that Sheri Madden was recommended to us by a friend. Her depth of years of experience in the industry was communicated clearly with every question we asked, her ability to guide us smartly and compassionately through the entire process, and her attention to detail and network of contacts were rich and invaluable as we proceeded toward a sale date. We closed quickly with all parties in high spirits, much to her efforts. Cannot recommend her highly enough!"

L and JD

Berkeley buyers

"There are many realtors in the bay area. Selecting Sheri Madden to sell our home turned out to be the smartest decision we've made in a long time. It was clear from the beginning that she loves what she does. Her breadth of experience in this market, across so many zip codes, whether buying or selling, was obvious. Her calm demeanor and clear communication style always put us at ease. She responded to emails and phone calls almost immediately - and patiently answered any question we had. We moved out of state before the house went on the market. While that made us nervous, Sheri's ability to get things done on our behalf, drama free, became readily apparent. She has a wealth of contacts and trusted vendors who got the house and yard in tip top shape, and everything went according to schedule. She has excellent taste and we knew she could solve whatever needed to be solved to show our home in the best possible light. We are so grateful to her for making this such a smooth process from beginning to end. We truly can't recommend her highly enough."

D and J

Berkeley sellers

"It was time for our beloved childhood Berkeley Hills home to enter the market. Our family cherished and love this home so very much. Selling was emotional for all of us. Myself, my Father and my three sisters needed the perfect broker. We heard about Sheri via her stellar reputation in the Berkeley community. After our first conversation, we knew we chose the right Agent.

I am a broker myself and a construction lawyer. Obviously, I know the industry a bit - nothing compared to the expertise of Sheri. We were at ease from the moment we first met throughout the entire process.

When it came to setting the price of the house, obviously, some of us did not completely agree with the setting price. We trusted Sheri and used her guidance. WOW did we do the right thing! We let her determine the selling price. Our house went for far over asking price- far more than we ever imagined. I think we were all blown away by the multiple offers with no contingencies.

Our house was my mothers pride and joy. Sadly she passed away about a decade ago. The house needed a fair amount of work to get it “market ready“. Sheri quickly assessed what could be done and what should be done. With relatively little monetary expense her team came in and made the house look absolutely spectacular. In just a few short weeks we had an estate sale, painted. refinish floors. repaired plumbing, replaced fixtures and many more small details. She made the process seamless, productive and so aesthetically pleasing. She went so far and beyond what was expected. She even chose new lighting fixtures and appliances herself. Other agents would never take the time to do things that made such a difference. Throughout the process I felt like my mother was looking down upon us knowing her house was once again beautiful in order find a family that loved it as much as we did.

On behalf of my family, we all feel absolutely blessed with the selection of Sheri.
"

A S

Berkeley seller

"Sheri was a great partner in the quest to find a house in this challenging market. She helped educate me about the challenges, and helped set my expectations and moderate my disappointments and discouragement, always reminding me that more houses will become available. The result was that when we found a house we wanted, we were prepared to act quickly. What made a huge difference was how Sheri guided us concerning the kind of negotiating positions to take and the kind of offer to make - for me, this is where her "value-add" really came into play, with her experience and knowledge guiding us to success!"

R F

Richmond View buyer

"Sheri is a whirlwind of action, professional, timely, responsive, and looking at every aspect needed in the house sale. And even helping where we needed tradesmen for small repair. Negotiated private sale smoothly and to great satisfaction. My family has used her three times already in real estate and would again."

D N

Kensington seller

"Sheri was amazing to work with! She was warm and easy to work with from our very first consultation, and incredibly responsive. Her experience showed at every turn, and she went above and beyond to make sure we were the best-prepared bidders, then navigated us deftly through escrow. We're grateful and blown away."

J and E

Oakland buyers

"We worked with Sheri this fall to buy our first house. We're from the Bay Area which gave us strong connections to particular neighborhoods and we wanted something a bit more modern. Sheri was instrumental in helping us parse the value of what we were seeing - if she said it was going to sell for X amount, it was going to sell for X amount. She also clearly knows the process and the players inside out, which meant she could help us interpret all the reports and disclosures and we felt very comfortable when we made a bid. We found a beautiful industrial conversion in West Oakland and Sheri guided us through every. We got the very first place we bid on and closed in less than 21 days. We only started looking seriously in mid-September and are already moved in with all our repairs done (utilizing Sheri's rolodex of contractors and vendors).
"

M and P

Oakland buyers

"Sheri was our agent when we were first-time buyers in the Bay Area, and most recently when we sold our house from aboard.
Working with Sheri has been a wonderful experience both times: she really is the person you want to have on your side, whether you're a first-time or more experienced buyer or seller.
Sheri is an extremely professional, knowledgeable, and sensitive agent with a thorough knowledge of the complexities of the ever-changing Bay Area real estate market. Her communications skills and her patience are exceptional: she keeps track of schedule and details with an effortless grace and a great spirit.
She is also a very resourceful and wise advisor and will always come up with the right solution, or the right team, whatever kind of question/problem/issue will come your way (and there will be question/problem/issue...)
Last but not least: she helped us meet our financial goals first as a buyer and then as a seller. How incredible is that?
Selling or buying a house is both a very emotional and completely rational process. Sheri has this really rare talent that allows her to guide you in this complex moment and deliver a service that exceeds expectations: she is definitely not your average real estate agent.


"

C and E

El Cerrito sellers

"Sheri has been fabulous to work with. From the beginning, she was hands-on and project-managed our home sale. She had recommendations for many home services, from painting to yard work to staging and movers, all of which turned out great for reasonable prices. During this exciting yet emotionally charged experience, she was a calming force for both of us and was always both professional and kind. She advised us on all manner of decisions and we feel that the smooth sale of our home is a direct result of her expertise and effort.

We give Sheri our highest recommendation and couldn't be happier with our experience working with her."

M and J

Richmond Annex sellers

"Sheri helped us get a house in Berkeley in July 2021 --- our third offer was accepted, and we got a home that met all of our needs during a very competitive market. It would have been impossible without Sheri. She identified the home and pointed it out as an option; however, because the offer date did not work for our move-in schedule, she helped us make an early offer which was eventually accepted. Sheri knows the market well, and she was honest, careful, available, and extremely trustworthy. Her communication skills are top-notch and you can take everything she says at face-value---she's always right, and when she doesn't know the answer to your questions, she'll tell you and find you somebody who does. As a careful listener, she quickly learns what you value in a home, and she will help you find one you are happy with. I couldn't recommend her more highly."

N. A.

Berkeley buyer

"We are so lucky to have Sheri as our realtor while looking for our first home. It was a tough market, with many houses going above list price with multiple offers. Sheri used her experience and knowledge to help us remain focused and was candid about when we had a chance and when something would go out of our range. She was proactive but never pushy, creative in how we could put together our best offer, and astute in her observations. Being first time home buyers, we had little knowledge on what to watch out for or expect. Sheri educated us to make sure we understood what we were seeing (as we had MANY questions along the way), and would point out aspects we might've missed. When we had a house we were considering putting in an offer for, Sheri moved quickly to get us in touch with the pest inspector so we could feel confident in our decision. She also had many connections with various contractors when we needed recommendations on home projects. It was a pleasure working with Sheri, and we're thrilled to have had such a patient partner to guide us through this process.

"

V and K

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri Madden is a gem, an amazing realtor. She has 25 years of dedicated experience. She carefully helped me each day for many weeks look for a home of my own. And it was fun to see the homes with Sheri too.
She is very realistic and kind, allowed for my dreams, and helped me make good decisions. I broadened in my scope of neighborhoods because I couldn't afford the areas that I was interested in, but that made it possible for me to buy a beautiful single family home. Now I love the neighborhood of Richmond Annex. She always made me feel comfortable, helping me find this exquisite home of my own.
Sheri is a wonderful communicator, knows so many other realtors, and has so much expertise. She helped move us quickly to make a good offer, and once accepted, Sheri assisted me to know all the things I needed to do next.
Sheri continues to give me referrals to help fix and make my home beautiful. She has become a special friend.
I HIGHLY recommend Sheri as a realtor to sell your home or buy you a home of your dreams."

M.G.

Richmond Annex buyer

"We highly recommend Sheri to anyone purchasing a house in the East Bay. Sheri helped us look for a place in Oakland, CA from late 2020 into Spring 2021. We had a long conversation with her before looking at houses and she did a great job understanding what we needed as well as our preferences. We wanted at least a 3br/2ba place. We initially looked at several places that matched the description and Sheri helped us sift through neighborhoods that we would find desirable.

We were living in the South Bay while looking at homes in Oakland, so viewing multiple places was sometimes a challenge. In a few instances Sheri independently went to look at a place to determine if it fit our needs so that we only had to make the trip if the house was indeed promising. A couple months into our search she identified a listing that was posted as a 2br/2ba but had an extra room downstairs that perfectly met our needs. She previewed the property promptly and thought it was a good fit and we were able to see it soon after it was listed, which helped us make a competitive and timely bid that led to us getting the house.

With the competitive housing market, most of the houses we saw went substantially above list price. For all the houses we put in a bid for, Sheri's recommended price was very close to the selling price, which highlights how well she understands the market.

Sheri also has contact with several service professionals with different expertise, which was very useful during our search process as well as after we moved into our new house. For example, for one of the houses we bid on we had concerns regarding the seismic retrofit of the house and she suggested and arranged for an expert to take a look and give us a detailed understanding of updates that had been made and what additional work might be needed, which gave us the confidence to make an offer.

We were looking at places while we were pregnant with our first child. Sheri understood that we were on a timeline and really helped us expedite our search. Sheri is seasoned, knowledgeable, empathetic, and dedicated to her clients. We love the place that we ended up buying - which we credit her to identifying for us - and we really appreciated Sheri's thoughtful help and guidance throughout the process."

A and S

Oakland buyers

"We knew we made the right choice with Sheri when we'd visit homes together and not only would every other realtor know her, but literal random passers-by on the street knew her and sang her praises to us ("Sheri's the best! She helped us move into this neighborhood a few years ago!"). I'm not making that up; it really happened.

This was our first time buying a home in Berkeley, and Sheri knew the market top to bottom. She helped us out immediately by warding us away from certain homes we expressed interest in that she knew were in slide zones. She'd give guesstimates on what homes would go for that would invariably be dead-on accurate -- which helped us when we finally found a place we loved. We won our very first bid together thanks to her guidance! And this after having lost two bids in a row with another realtor.

Not only that, but Sheri really went the extra mile with us. She walked us through the whole offer process; and when we finally were able to visit the property together for a final inspection, she'd noticed the yard was looking a bit withered after not being watered for a couple weeks, so she bought a hose and was watering the garden when we arrived. After we took the keys she hooked us up with a wonderful set of contractors to do some improvements on the home. Truly Sheri is a well-connected member of this community, not just your average realtor. We really appreciated working with her and would do so again in a heartbeat."

JT and T

Berkeley buyers

"We began looking for our first home with Sheri a few months ago, and looking back at our first emails to her, she was able to cross every item off our "wish list", even in a seemingly-impossible market.

Throughout the process, her calm, unwavering demeanor was contagious - she somehow made the buying process a pleasure and fun. She never pressured us to do anything and always gave us patient, sage guidance and advice.

On top of all this, she clearly has a fabulous reputation among local vendors and realtors alike, which was critical in a market where things move so incredibly fast. We hadn't realized how many moving pieces there were for getting an offer accepted, closing the deal, and preparing a house to move in. Sheri has been there every step of the way with great and timely recommendations for each of these pieces. Want to get the house you just toured inspected before offers are due in three days? No problem--Sheri has you covered!
"

C and E

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri Madden represented me as a sellers agent. She was everything that I could want in a real estate agent, calm and patient when issues arose. Sheri was very communicative and always made herself available to me for the many questions and concerns that I had. She is smart and knowledgeable in regard to pricing and has a great eye for what will attract buyers. She is an ethical person, paramount for doing any business transaction. Sheri got me top dollar for my property with a sold price that was more than $100,000 over the listed price. I highly recommend Sheri Madden."

L.A.

Richmond, North and East, seller

"This was our 4th time buying and 3rd time selling a house - not our first rodeo. And we have NEVER met an agent like Sheri before. Thoughtful, knowledgeable, kind, and honest, Sheri has always worked with our best interest in mind. She has been on a 6 month journey with us to buy and sell and we couldn’t be happier with the results! We were able to sell our beloved Brookdale home to great buyers and buy our dream home in El Cerrito with the confidence knowing that Sheri was thinking of everything as a patient and responsive collaborator all along our journey. She has been there every step of the way, and has even seen our son go from crawling to walking - when he sees Sheri he lights up too! We are so grateful to have worked with Sheri and cannot recommend her more highly."

A and L

Oakland sellers & El Cerrito buyers

"My husband and I just finished selling our Berkeley home of 39 years under Sheri’s tutelage. We have previous experience both buying and selling investment properties working with several realtors across the years. There is no question in our minds that the experience we had with Sheri as our realtor far excelled any previous experience.
There are several reasons: Sheri listened very carefully to what we wanted to do and also to how we felt about various issues. As we had just bought a replacement primary residence, we could not spend too much energy on preparation for sale of the Berkeley home. She has built up such a compendium of reliable contractors, the the house was brought up to speed in a much shorter amount of time than we had anticipated. She handled all the details of these preparations and remarkably, there were no delays. Finally, as anyone who has entered the real estate market - as either a buyer or seller - the anxieties aroused are immense. Sheri answered every text, every email and every phone call within a reasonable amount of time. As a result of knowing she would reply soon, we were free of the usual worries that accompany such a significant transaction. We highly recommend her as a top notch professional in this very competitive field of Bay Area real estate.
"

V & H

Berkeley sellers

"Buying a house in the Bay Area is intense, stressful, and rather unusual as far as real estate transactions are concerned (just wait until you think through what it really means to write a $1M+ "no contingencies" offer on a 100-year-old fixer-upper in an earthquake liquefaction zone). Sheri is no stranger to this world and will help you navigate it with confidence and ease. Work with her, and not only will you wind up with a great house, but you'll have a great experience getting there.

A good real estate agent will talk to you about your preferences, show you some options and leave the final decisions up to you. Somehow Sheri did even more: the houses she showed us and the questions she asked us helped us figure out and define what it was that we were really looking for. She nudged us away from houses we weren't so sure about and gave us words of encouragement when our options seemed slim. And above all, she did this with an almost superhuman level of patience and calm.

There are no secret deals or true bargains in this crazy competitive real estate market. Sheri was up front and direct about the reality of what things cost at every step of the way. An agent can't tell you what to offer on a house, but they can level with you on comparable transactions so you don't get your hopes up on something that's too good to be true. Sheri knows the market and the motivations of the sellers and buyers in it so well that we could trust her to set realistic expectations on every place we considered making an offer on.

And if you still need further reason to choose Sheri: her years of experience and focus on the East Bay means she has all the contacts and connections you'll need as you start your journey as a homeowner. When we were uncertain about the quality of the foundation on a house we were considering making an offer on, she called in a favor from an experienced foundation contractor on less than 24 hours notice who met us at the house and answered all of our questions on the spot. That gave us the confidence we needed to make an offer which was accepted the next day. Like most houses in the area, it will need some maintenance and care, but we feel lucky to be armed with a rolodex full of "Sheri-approved" plumbers, HVAC specialists, movers, and all the rest."

M and S

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri made selling our house a smooth, low-stress, and very successful process. She is an expert in the local market and is very calm, deliberate, trustworthy, and responsive. We could not be happier with our decision to have Sheri sell our house!"

D & L

Berkeley sellers

"Sheri Madden was phenomenal from pre-sale market analysis, contract discussions, home inspections, repairs, improvements, staging, negotiations, final sell, to escrow closing. Sheri was accessible, supportive and very knowledgeable about the local housing market which is a definite plus when marketing and establishing the sales price for your home. Sheri was very patient and sensitive to my concerns. For example, selling my family home was very personal and difficult process. It had many memories, from raising my children, family gatherings, holiday and birthday celebrations. Sheri was very patient and allowed me to process the sale, there was no hard sell tactics and never any pressure to make sensitive but critical decisions. I highly recommend her, she has a great supportive team of engineers, inspectors and trade professionals. This is a must to efficiently navigate and maximize sell value. With all that said, it was an incredible and satisfying experience working with Sheri."

L T

Kensington seller

"A friend recommended Sheri to me and I'm glad she did! Sheri helped me buy my first home and explained everything every step of the way. In addition to answering all my dumb questions, she gave me a realistic picture of the market and helped me figure out what I could afford. I really appreciated her organization, thoroughness, and checking in and making sure everything was going ok with my lender and the title company - if it wasn't for her diligence, we may not have figured out in time that a set of documents got emailed to the wrong address. Thanks Sheri, for making this process easy and smooth!"

J L

Oakland buyer

"Sheri has helped me sell two homes and both experiences have been exceptional. I recently experienced another home buying experience in a different state and wished Sheri was helping me with that process. Her attention to detail, knowledge, communication, and execution were the best and I cannot recommend Sheri enough to anyone who wishes to buy/sell a home."

T W

Berkeley seller

"Sheri was on top of the process to prepare our home for sale. She had the big picture of what needed to be done but was able to break it down into manageable tasks for us. That kept us on track but not overwhelmed. Many times I sent her messages in the evening, not wanting to forget by the next day. She never failed to respond promptly to even non-urgent or weekend messages. She seemed to sense when I needed to be nudged along or when she should offer to take over a task. Her patient and calm nature was reassuring while navigating the unfamiliar process of selling a home.

The suggestions and ideas Sheri had to enhance the best features of our home resulted in positive showing on the video tour and in person. All the professional contacts that she recommended responded promptly and professionally to complete their work. Many of those skilled professionals were arranged and coordinated by Sheri. In the end we had 12 offers within one week of initial listing. Our rather average 2/1 house was suddenly a desirable future home for a new buyer! I have to admit that I did not see all the potential that Sheri saw in our little place.

Though we are relieved to have just completed the selling process, we are grateful to Sheri for the intensive 2 months of work on our behalf. She loves what she does and it shows. We highly recommend Sheri to work with you with the sale of your home."

S and R

Oakland sellers

"Sheri is amazing! She knows all the ins & outs of the Berkeley real estate market, her knowledge is so impressive! Her years of experience really gave us comfort while we hunted for our dream home in a new city. She had our best interests at heart. She did not pressure us but rather she let us take the lead on what houses we wanted to see, offering solid advice along the way. When we finally found "the one", she worked quickly and gave us great advice on how to make a strong offer in this market. It worked! We are thrilled and would highly recommend Sheri to our friends and family. THANK YOU SHERI!"

K and R

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri just sold my house in Kensington. Sheri was wonderful to work with. She is a calming force during a stressful time. She is organized, meticulous, detailed, efficient and extremely professional. Always promptly returns calls/texts/emails. She organized all the various inspections, staging, touch ups etc. and follows through with questions. She has your best interest in mind. She is NOT fluff or a fly-by-night realtor. She is an intelligent and knowledgable business woman and I cant say enough things about her. "

A

Kensington seller

"l was fortunate to meet Sheri Madden in the fall of 2019 at an open house in my Berkeley neighborhood. At the time, l was planning to sell my house in the summer of 2020. l was seeking advice and insight into the selling process, and Sherri generously provided me that. Needless to say, l remembered her when l was ready to sell.
Sheri Madden's experience, knowledge and resources were excellent. l would certainly recommend her to any buyer or seller. She is a wonderful person, a true professional and a great advocate for her clients. She met all my needs and was reassuring throughout the entire process.
l am so thankful to Sherri for guiding though the sale of home.
She is awesome."

V

Berkeley seller

"Sheri is an excellent listener, trustworthy, knowledgeable, and will put in the time to make sure you find the place that is right for you. She is incredibly responsive, yet let us set the pace while we waffled back and forth on so many major decisions. We never felt pressured, and she is so knowledgeable and well connected within the market that we always felt we were equipped with the best information, which in the end was invaluable. Not to mention she is a lovely person and great to work with. We couldn't recommend Sheri enough."

E and A

Berkeley buyers

"Because of Sheri's expertise, connections, and knowledge of the industry, we were able to secure our beautiful house in 2011 on the most incredible street in Berkeley, in a very competitive market. Now, nine years later when we decided to move out of state, we knew we wanted to work with Sheri. She again brought us her deep pool of resources (painter, gardener, stager, inspectors) to prepare our house for sale, and she also led us through the daily-changing, exhaustive list of Berkeley's COVID-19 safety rules for home sales. What we appreciated the most about working with Sheri is her calm demeanor. She provided the information we needed at various points of the sale, would give her point of view when asked, and then fully respected our decisions. She was also very responsive to any and all questions, even when we were navigating early offers and interested neighbors. I should also mention that we literally moved out of state and trusted her to deal with the entire sale (prep through close, and even mailing our router back to AT&T!). She was communicative, warm, and focused, and got us many offers (and a bigger profit) than expected! We strongly recommend Sheri!
"

K and L

Berkeley sellers

"The home-buying process in the Bay Area can be intense, so we were so grateful to have Sheri in our corner! We worked with her for nearly a year to find our home, going to multiple open houses with her and without her. She would send us listings she thought were a fit, but more often than not would let us come to her with listings we were interested in, then would doggedly run down any info about the house to help us determine whether we wanted to tour or make an offer. We knew we wanted to buy in Alameda, and were both intrigued and intimidated by some of the more "character-filled" homes. We sometimes had a hard time making decisions, but Sheri was always incredibly patient, knowledgeable and thorough. She struck a nice balance between giving us information and guidance while still giving us space to make decisions/process. She also knows all the ins and outs of the buying process, and was able to give us a head's up when we really needed to make a decision or consider a certain aspect of a property we were looking at. When we finally found our home, she advised us on how to structure our offer and basically saved the day when the bank appraisal was in jeopardy of not coming through. She kept our very fast escrow moving along without stressing us out, giving us gentle prods when we needed to take action, and information about the next step just when we needed it. All in all, we cannot recommend Sheri enough to Bay Area home buyers!!!"

H. & A.

Alameda buyers

"Sheri Madden of Red Oak Realty was amazing to work with! She helped us assemble a great team for staging to increase our home's value substantially. After receiving 18 offers on our house, the sale price ended up being 40% over asking price! She is quite knowledgeable about the market, and was always available to answer questions and provide guidance on the more complex aspects of home selling, including pricing and preparation. Sheri provides assurance in her manner, and sense of style, and her knowledge and ability to communicate. She is highly organized. I have worked with other realtors in the Berkeley and El Cerrito area, and there is none I'd recommend more highly than Sheri Madden.
"

S.B.

El Cerrito seller

"We met Sheri at an open house after we had been casually house hunting for over a year. We had been surprised by how tight the Berkeley market is, how many bids each house receives, and how much above asking everything sells. We were impressed by how good the house she was representing looked, but, more importantly by how much she knew about it, and the fact that she was holding it open herself, rather than delegating that responsibility to someone else. While we chose not to bid, we followed that sale, and saw that it sold for about 50% above asking.

After meeting with Sheri, we were further impressed by her knowledge of this market, and the fact that she was a parent of children who had attended local schools. We chose to have her represent us as buyers. We continued to shop for months, visiting some properties with her and others at open houses. She guided us as we considered, what might make sense for our family in terms of location, view, garden, and neighborhood. When we found a house in which we were interested, we actually found 2, both of which were taking offers in the same day, closing 1 hour apart!

Sheri guided us in assessing the disclosures, thinking through possible inspections, pricing our offers, and worked with us to write offers on both houses, with an expiration on the first offer, at the time when our second offer was due. Our first offer was accepted, out of a field of 12 offers. I cannot imagine that another realtor could have guided us as Sheri did.

Sheri is an expert! We are thrilled with the home that she helped us find and buy."

A.B.

El Cerrito buyer

"You'll find as a first-time homebuyer that the process is opaque and difficult to understand. You don't know where to start nor who to trust. Fortunately for us, we decided to find our real estate agent first and we couldn't have picked anyone better than Sheri. Sheri has represented people on both sides of the home buying process and has extensive experience working with every type of home and every type of buyer out there (including multiple buyers like us).

Sheri's superpower (if you can only pick one) is her patience and diligence. She understands that first-time homebuyers are intimidated by the entire process and will help educate you on every single aspect of it, including the ones that aren't written down. She also expertly guides you towards properties and houses that match your criteria and will happily adjust as you discover new criteria as you look at houses.

Sheri helped us put together a very competitive offer and our second offer was accepted! She then worked with the seller's realtor and our bank to close in an incredibly short 21 days. We couldn't have asked for a better representative in the home buying process and I wholeheartedly recommend her to anyone I talk to."

GW

El Cerrito buyer

"Years ago, Sheri Madden helped me buy my first home in Berkeley. At that time, Sheri helped me tremendously in understanding the buying process, ensuring there were no hidden issues, and preparing a winning bid in a competitive market. I lived in that home happily for many years. When I decided to sell my home this past year, I called Sheri again and got to know another whole dimension to her work. In representing me as a seller, Sheri not only brought her considerable market expertise, but also her visionary and project management skills as she engaged the many different resources who prepared my house for sale. She brought in cleaners, a gardener, painters, floor refinishers, a handyman, various inspectors, stagers, and a great photographer–all of whom helped my house stand out from the crowd and present at its best. In the end, the house looked fantastic, and I was very pleased with the price I got for it. Sheri is a very organized, knowledgeable, and skilled professional in all aspects of her work. With her help, you can feel informed and confident when buying or selling real estate. She is a pleasure to work with, and I am happy to recommend her."

Lisa

Berkeley seller

"Sheri Madden helped my daughter buy a home in Berkeley in 2008. My daughter told me all about her and how knowledgeable and organized she is, and I met her once at that time. Sheri was constantly in contact with my daughter and tried to help her in any way she could. My daughter had to go to England to live there with her children and husband at the worst time for real estate and needed to sell the house. I bought her home at that time, and I am happy I did that. I rented the house for almost 8 years and had a very nice tenant there until she decided to leave in early September 2019.
At that time, I began searching for a real estate agent to help me sell the house. I still remembered Sheri Madden and sought more information from my daughter and she highly recommended her. It was not difficult for me to choose her after one telephone call. I am very happy I did that. From the beginning I felt that I could fully trust her. She has a soothing manner and professional attitude that impressed me. I have been the director of a large medical department for over 35 years and I know when I see the right person for the right job. I immediately recognized that Sheri is the right person. She guided me and my wife and constantly reported back to us on a daily basis. We had over 100 emails from her in less than a month and that shows how communicative she is. She was always available and responded within a few minutes. She is extremely organized This was an amazing experience for me. We are very happy to have worked with her and listened to her advice. She selected a talented a staging group and people to work with. The house sold over $700,000 above the listing price with 12 offers. This is a real story about her and I thank her and her wisdom and highly recommend her as a successful realtor to everyone. You are most welcome to contact me if you wish at asadeghi1@yahoo.com ."

Ahmad and Shahla

Berkeley sellers

"To my fellow first time home buyers: there is a lot of conflicting advice out there. As someone who just went through the gauntlet, here is something we wish we knew at the start of this process. Your one -- and possibly only -- advocate for your interests in this process is your real estate agent. Everyone else (the mortgage broker; your parents; appraisers; contractors) has interests that are not yours and oftentimes are at odds. The first thing you should do is to find a real estate agent that is experienced, trustworthy, and communicates well with you. For us, that person was Sheri Madden, and we are very grateful to have worked with her. She advocates for your interests (and ONLY your interests) when dealing with every other person. Sheri will help you identify what is truly valuable to you in a home. She will do her best to answer all your questions or refer you to experienced people in her expansive network to make sure you get the answers (and work) needed. If something is costly to repair and not in your interest, she will gently (but firmly) remind you. Working with Sheri, our second offer was accepted and we closed the sale in a short 21 days. Sheri is an amazing agent and I look forward to telling all my friends and family about how she expertly navigates buying a bay area home"

Shaina,Thomas and Craig

El Cerrito buyers

"Sheri Madden is a dynamite real estate agent. She recently helped me sell my Richmond Annex, 2 br 1ba house, for top dollar. Her knowledge of the market, her small army of painters, decorators, inspectors and general fixer uppers, and her care and attention to my needs and anxieties made the sales experience almost easy. If I had more property to sell (which, unfortunately, I don't) Sheri would be the first person I would turn to. If you have a house to sell, or are in the market to buy, do yourself a favor and hire Sheri Madden."

Richard

Richmond Annex seller

"Thanks a million for guiding us through the process of selling the 530 Liberty house in El Cerrito.

We felt that the process went smoothly all along. You were very supportive and guided us without being pushy. Your timing for all the work preparation was perfect. The most important thing is that the house sold for well over what we imagined and the escrow closed in a timely fashion.

Working with you was a very positive experience, especially during this difficult time for my family.

We really appreciate all what you have done."

M.B.

El Cerrito seller

"Sheri made selling my house extraordinarily easy. She always listened and responded to my needs. She was prompt, reliable and always quickly returned my calls and followed on all my questions. She provided me market data for making intelligent decisions, and she oversaw the renovation and staging of my house as she prepared it for market. With respect to this, she stayed on budget and did an amazing job updating my house and giving it outstanding appeal. I was out of town for four weeks and she managed this entire process without me. She has very high integrity; I trusted her completely, and she completely delivered. My house was sold in 6 days, with 7 competitive offers that exceeded my expectations. Sheri is a dream come true and I wholeheartedly recommend her."

J.M.

Albany seller

"Sheri is one of the best real estate agents you'll ever find. She helped us find the perfect house and was so thorough, supportive and knowledgeable throughout the entire process. She really went above and beyond for us not only during the house hunting, offer, and closing, but even after we closed by helping connect us to great contractors and following up with the sellers agents about additional questions. Before making an offer, she helped follow up on every question and inspection even while we were out of the country to ensure we would have the best shot at a winning bid. Sheri has amazing relationships with everyone she works with and it really shows. Contractors in the Bay Area are extremely busy but dropping Sheri's name made all of them revisit their calendar and made most of them find time for our needs sooner than they otherwise would have.

Sheri is incredibly thoughtful and really listened to what we wanted and directed us toward houses that met our criteria. She also pointed out things we hadn't even thought to consider. She diligently followed up on every question we had. This is especially important here, where winning offers pretty much have to be non-contingent. And she really knows her stuff! She is so knowledgeable about the market and helped guide us through the offer process with a perfect balance of information (all her predictions were right on point!) and guidance while we debated one of the biggest decisions of our lives. We can't recommend Sheri highly enough!"

Sarah and Christoph

El Cerrito buyers

"We worked with Sheri Madden to buy our first home, and we couldn't be happier. Sheri was calm and kind throughout the whole process, allowing us room to make the many difficult decisions prospective home buyers make in a way that felt best to us, while still providing her invaluable professional perspective. But most importantly, she also saved us from making an aggressive offer on a home with a myriad of problems only hinted at in the disclosures-- per her recommendation, we met a contractor on the premises, and he confirmed what she suspected. The entire foundation was a mess, and ran a serious safety risk. We were so, SO grateful for her guiding hand in this whole process, but especially in that moment. Now we're moving into our dream home in Rockridge, thanks to Sheri's hard work! Also, she was very nice about how eccentric we are about our dog. "

Maggie and Adam

Oakland buyers

"Sheri Madden was the realtor we didn’t know we needed. We were first time home-buyers with specific taste but no experience. Sheri was thorough, attentive to our needs, persistent, and tireless in the process of finding us the home we wanted and seeing the deal through to the end. Unlike other realtors, Sheri previewed properties for us, and we found we could consult with her on almost every promising property on the market because she had made a point to see them all in person. Once we had chosen the home to pursue, Sheri followed every thread to the end -- from appraisals to permits, from roof warranties to sump pump maintenance -- to ensure the quality of the home, the acceptance of our offer, and the final closing of the deal. In working with the seller, we were impressed with Sheri’s tact and how she used it to gracefully rectify a few home issues which would otherwise have been left to us. We appreciated that Sheri walked us through the home-buying process with a keen attention to detail, with clarity, and with the larger-picture information we needed to succeed. We would recommend Sheri to both first-time home-buyers and seasoned aficionados alike. "

L & C

Oakland buyers

"My husband and I had an excellent experience working with Sheri to buy our first home. Her vast experience in the Berkeley/Albany/El Cerrito/Kensington areas and ability to listen helped us quickly identify a house within our budget that checked all the boxes. We first met Sheri in mid-December and closed on our house by late February, which highlights her efficiency. She quickly identified exactly what we were looking for and patiently guided us through the process of purchasing the first house we made an offer on. Notably, the success of our offer depended on Sheri’s strong relationship with the listing agent. She made a thorough and convincing presentation of our offer in person that was accepted over other similar offers. Finally, Sheri helped us work through an unexpected hiccup during closing with clear-headed patience and efficiency. Throughout the entire home-buying process she rapidly and thoughtfully answered our many questions and displayed a high level of professionalism. We would highly recommend her to anyone looking to buy a home in this competitive market."

Erin and Jeff

El Cerrito buyers

"I know its cliche' but I really cannot say enough good things about Sheri. She was with me from the beginning as I undertook a year and a half renovation of our home before we sold. She was extremely helpful throughout the process and guided my wife and me through our first home selling experience. She was always quick to answer questions and offer help when needed. When the house went to market, the marketing was more than I could have imagined. It showed how much she was invested in and cared about my project. She went above and beyond for my wife and me and I cannot recommend her enough."

Simon and Devon

Richmond View sellers

"Working with Sheri was fantastic. We were first time buyers and we were amazed by how complicated it is to buy a house! Sheri guided us through every step of the way and from the start she worked hard to understand exactly what we wanted in a new house: from location, to price, to amenities, to walkability. Fast-forward six months and we just closed on the perfect house for us. Sheri was an incredible advocate, a wonderful guide, and a tenacious worker. She is incredibly responsive and we feel so fortunate to have found such a gem of a realtor. Thank you Sheri!"

Arielle and Joe

Oakland buyers

"“This was the third time Sheri was our agent for selling and buying a home. Each time was less stressful than the previous time! She is knowledgeable about the neighborhoods, understands the current market and trends, and is very attentive to the customers needs. Each time we trusted Sheri’s suggestions and recommendations, and the results were extraordinary, far exceeding our expectations. We will be closing on our house on Everett St later this week. We can't thank Sheri enough for her expertise."

B and L

El Cerrito sellers

"We had a great time working with Sheri! We were very lucky to be referred to her by a friend with multiple family members who had worked with Sheri and had great experiences. She was very responsive to our needs, and had
wonderful referrals to service providers and tradespeople who could help us with every aspect of buying a place and making it our own. We were also amazed how well she knew the market and how willing she was to put in extra effort to ensure we were informed. We would definitely recommend her to anyone buying or selling a home."

J and A

Berkeley buyers

"Thank you for your skill, your care, your calm demeanor and wisdom. You are such a great fit for our daughter and she has felt well-cared for in both a professional and personal way, and as her mother, I, too, am so appreciative."

G.R.

Mother of Emeryville buyer

"Once again I am awe struck by the intimacy of the client-agent relationship, how well and attentively you were able to listen to what I was looking for in this process, and how you ensured that what was most important to me always remained at the center of our search and strategy. Your kindness, your calm, and your patience were the quiet but steady forces that supported us throughout this process, and your experience and insight allowed us to succeed. You have my admiration and gratitude."

K.D.

Emeryville buyer

"We never hesitate to recommend Sheri to any of our friends and family who are looking for an agent. We have known her for over 10 years and have now both purchased (twice) and sold a home with her. She provides sound guidance and will take on the role you want her to take on. She knows the market, knows what to do to sell effectively, and she kept us on track. But the best part is how easy - actually delightful - she is to spend time with and to communicate with. She is straightforward, exudes integrity, and is kind. She’s a great realtor!"

Betsy and Robin

Berkeley sellers

"We are so pleased to have had Sheri as our realtor. When she first met with us during our process of selecting a realtor, we were clear: Sheri would be a great fit for us. Sheri is very organized and available. At every step along the way, she is present and responsive. She knows her business and understands all the players— from the hopeful buyers, to the other realtors, the stagers, the mortgage brokers, the title company, and, of course, the hopeful sellers.

Sheri is calm, confident , honest and strategic. She helped us get a good price, yet at the same time, she was cognizant of the what the market would bear and how buyers might respond to our negotiations. When the sale closed, everyone involved felt that the process had been smooth and fair.

We heartily recommend Sheri to anyone either selling or purchasing a home in this area. She is a person whom we trust and admire, and we now consider to be a friend."

K.L.

Albany seller

"Once we decided to sell, it felt like a huge undertaking... with overriding pressure to arm ourselves with all the knowledge of the current market in order to make the best possible choices. But here’s the thing: as it turned out, there was really only one choice that mattered. And that was choosing to work with Sheri Madden, a seasoned pro who knows the market, the process, the agents, the lenders, the stagers, the neighborhoods, and most importantly, us, and what we needed to navigate each step, from start to finish, seemlessly. And wow, what a finish. She is a respected negotiator among her colleagues, which was the key to putting us way over the top of our expectations. Thank you, Sheri, for minimizing our effort and stress, and maximizing our investment. "

K. B.

Albany seller

"Sheri is wonderful to work with! We found her through a friend when we first began our home search in Berkeley. She listened carefully to our needs, proactively checked out houses on our behalf, and shared her wise expertise freely whenever needed. When we put in an offer, she was instantly available throughout the entire process and made it all seem easy. When our lender fell through once we were in contract (eek!) she was able to put us in touch with a lender who was just as awesome as she is, and we experienced no other problems all through escrow and close -- Sheri was on top of every detail! Then, after we moved in and found various issues we hadn't known about before, she continued to help us by seeking resolution with the sellers, connecting us with a great handyman, etc.

At every step of the way, I have felt like I was in wonderful hands. I highly recommend Sheri to anyone who is searching for their new home in the East Bay -- she's absolutely wonderful!"

J & C

Berkeley buyers

"I just sold my first home. Never having done this, it was important to me that I pick the person who I felt would be right for me. I interviewed two other realtors, both clearly professional and highly competent - and when I met with Sheri, I knew she was the right fit. She was direct, straightforward and very specific about what she could deliver as my realtor. I felt like I was having a conversation with her, one where it was clear that it was an opportunity to get to know her rather than being pitched a service. I chose her on the spot.

When the wheels went into motion around the sale, Sheri was always available to me to answer questions, provide me with experts who did everything from general carpentry to electrical wiring to home inspection. She guided and was at least 10 steps ahead of me at every turn. She did everything from buy curtain rods and curtains to better show the living room, to holding my hand over the phone when the emotional stress of leaving my home of nearly 12 years was overwhelming. I'm not sure how she has a personal life, but I believe she does.

The stagers she helped me find did a beautiful job. The photographer made the house shine online. Sheri managed two weekends of packed open houses with ease and delight. The house sold at 34% over the asking price. I recommend Sheri with the utmost admiration, respect and awe at who she is and what she does."

K. E. F.

Oakland seller

"We have now worked with Sheri Madden over the course of two purchases and one sale in Berkeley in less than 5 years and can say without a doubt she is the best realtor we could have ever imagined working with. We have met dozens of agents over the years through different purchases and searches and Sheri has proven time and again that whom you work with makes a huge difference in your outcome. We have seen this in friends who spend years looking and offering and when they find a skilled agent their luck "somehow" changes. With Sheri we bought our first house on our first offer in 2013 and our second on our second offer after only 2 months of looking in the tightest buyers market imaginable at the end of 2017, and not because we were advised to bid too high or take risks, but because Sheri is incredibly skilled at setting goals and expectations and getting houses for her clients. She listened attentively to what we wanted both times and was realistic but positive, even in a very tough buyers market. She set expectations but never discouraged ours, even if they were lofty. We knew after the first purchase that Sheri is not in this for the sale or to close a deal, she is in this for her clients' happiness long term. She knows every listing and its pros and cons; she knew what was important to us and would always run that list in her mind when recommending a property to see. She also knew exactly what price point a house would sell for and was very realistic about what we should expect. She was also a life- saver with a difficult first close, advocating every step of the way when dealing with challenging lenders and working with listing agents on terms. She personally delivered our second offer to the listing agent, making it very clear how serious we were and securing that deal for us.
I didn't think Sheri could be better as a seller’s agent but she was far better in this role than ever imaginable. She took over the sale of our property and saw the potential immediately. She set realistic goals but was also direct about what needed to be done to get the price we wanted. To this end, she coordinated everything for the preparation. One can and should expect a listing agent to have contacts for things and coordinate the process; however Sheri did more than that. She was at our house daily coordinating everything, personally scrubbing windows and sweeping floors. She ran everything by us and was extremely transparent and cost conscious while at the same time making the house look beautiful for sale. It exceeded everyone's expectations, and the offers we received were beyond even her highest goals. This was all due to her hard work. In the closing process we dealt with several additional challenges. Sheri worked tirelessly with the lenders bank, calling daily and advocating for us and demonstrating again why whom you choose as a realtor matters. Other realtors could just give up once an offer is accepted. Not Sheri. She got us extra services that we needed in a pinch, has an endless supply of skilled contacts for every single thing one needs, from gardeners to lawyers to engineers.
Sheri is not the typical real estate agent in any way, she truly loves houses and loves her clients. She is not in this to score just deal or a sale or a buy, even though she is extremely skilled at getting those things. She is in this to find her clients a home they will love and to get them the price they want for a house they no longer need. Any success she has is extremely well deserved and any client she has is truly lucky to secure her as their agent."

Tami and Alan

Berkeley sellers and buyers

"Sheri Madden was a professional and kind, responsive and thoughtful partner in the adventure of selling our East Bay home. She was recommended by a mutual professional friend, and far exceeded the accolades they offered. Our need to sell came on short notice, after being offered the opportunity of a lifetime to relocate for a dream job. We’d never sold a home before and had little idea of what we were getting into—especially in the Bay Area market at the end of the calendar year. Sheri was a true professional from the first minute. She immediately put us at ease by explaining the process, showing us comps in our neighborhood and confidently connecting us with several valuable contacts to make minor improvements that increased the appeal — and eventually the sale price— of our home. In our rush to prepare the house for staging, Sheri rallied to work with our tight timeline and pulled her team of photographers, stagers, arborists and more to make for a successful marketing phase. In the end, we had nineteen offers and sold our home for far more than we dreamed of. Luck? Maybe. Timing? Perhaps. Excellent representation? Definitely. We recommend Sheri to any and all who are looking for a committed, responsive and thoughtful partner in your real estate journey in the Bay Area. - Crystal and Zack Simons, sold December 2017 "

Crystal and Zack Simons

Richmond Annex sellers

"Sheri,
Your job doesn't seem like an easy one to me-an effective agent must be an improbable combination of a savvy financial -markets predictor, a patient teacher to new bewildered buyers, and a kind and compassionate interpreter of human tastes and moods. Somehow, though, you manage to be all of these, and to do it with steadiness and grace. I am lucky to have you at my side, or rather, leading the way."

Katy

Oakland buyer

"November 14, 2017

My husband and I highly recommend Sheri Madden as your realtor. We needed to sell our parents' home and did not live in the Contra Costa County area. We were overwhelmed with planning and preparing the home for sale.
From our initial meeting with Sheri, she impressed us as someone who is very knowledgeable in the real estate market. She was very personable, caring and attentive to details. She sat down with us and spoke about painting, lighting, flooring, various repairs, gardening, design staging, and marketing of the house. She contacted and coordinated meetings with several highly talented professionals to prepare our home for sale.
We especially liked her skill set on up to date technology. She kept us well informed by cell phone, e-mail, text messages, immediate online DocuSign paperwork and even provided an alarm app for security during the sale of our home. She was prompt in communicating issues at hand and sending reminders of date sensitive paperwork to be signed.
Sheri kept us well informed and assisted with marketing evaluation and pricing of the house that turned out to be better than what we expected. Once we placed our home up for sale, Sheri was able to sell the house in two weeks!
My husband and I are very pleased to recommend Sheri Madden to anyone looking to sell or buy a home. In our opinion, she is very professional and one of the best in the business of real estate."

Stephen and Maria Parker

El Cerrito sellers

"Sheri was an amazing real estate agent. She is extremely knowledgeable about homes, markets, neighborhoods and the ins and outs of buying and selling a home in the high stakes bay area housing market. Sheri's understanding of the east bay real estate market helped us find a house that met our requirements, helped us price our bid to win, all while staying within our budget. Sheri's knowledge enabled us to negotiate intelligently and successfully with our counterparty. Sheri also empowered us to make our own decisions--she never pushed us in one direction or the other, and was extremely respectful of our needs and wants.

Sheri is also very calm, collected and extremely professional. Purchasing a home can be a stressful process, but Sheri keeps it cool and that helped us stay relaxed during the buying process. Sheri is very hard working, and very responsive."

Josh and Leora

Oakland buyers

"We cannot recommend Sheri strongly enough. My wife and I had been home hunting in the Berkeley area for more than a year before we met her. And after we did, things took a turn for the better. Sheri is a dream to work with: incredibly responsive, even-keeled, and a great listener. Her good relationships with other realtors may have been the key for us having a winning bid. And, once we got into contract, she became our strong advocate, negotiating a price reduction when there were some aspects of the house that were different than advertised. As first-time home buyers, we had a steep learning curve and Sheri expertly guided us through the whole process with patience and perseverance. If you want to be in excellent hands for perhaps the largest financial transaction of your life, get in touch with Sheri!"

Eli and Savanna

Berkeley buyers

"“Sheri is efficient, clear, and dedicated. She cut through our first-time-buyer's hemming-and-hawing to hear what we were really looking for and found it in record time. Even though we hadn't officially partnered with her yet, Sheri still thought of us and reached out when she toured a home that fit all our subtle asks. At the time we were concerned we weren't going to find anything in the market and considering not searching at all. Sheri's spot-on find pulled us out of our rut. It the first and only home we saw, and thanks to Sheri, now it's ours!

Even after we were in contract, Sheri continued to care for us throughout our purchasing process. When delays came up on the seller's side, Sheri went out of her way to help us stay on our moving timelines, and more than once ran across town to help us assess details of the home. She was patient and helpful throughout!“"

Stefanie and Matt

Oakland buyers

"Sheri’s calm confidence, integrity and professionalism combined with her easy-going nature and warm friendliness eased the stress that can come with selling a home. Sheri went the extra mile every day to help make the process go smoothly. She did everything from finding the right people to do the work to get the house ready for sale, including a specialty tile roofer, genius electrician and phenomenal gardener, to hunting down the perfect light bulb, and helping me keep up with watering the yard. Sheri listened to all my concerns, answered all my questions and clearly explained every step of the process. Sheri’s efforts resulted in multiple offers after a one weekend open house. I cannot imagine having a better real estate agent to help me sell my home than Sheri Madden."

Gloria

Berkeley seller

"Selling and moving is stressful but working with Sheri made it so much easier. What we loved about working with Sheri was how organized she was. She helped us set up a timeline of all the tasks we needed to complete to prepare, stage, and sell our house and sent us gentle reminders to make sure we were on track. Sheri makes sure that none of the important details are missed and has the experience to know what works needs to be done and what work does not before staging your home, which saved us from spending money or time making unnecessary improvements. Sheri also has wonderful and trustworthy recommendations for stagers, home inspectors, carpet cleaners and numerous other services you may need when prepping to sell your home. This was our first time selling a home and Sheri guided us during each step of the process no matter how small. Lastly, with Sheri we got an offer that exceeded our expectations!"

Caitlin and Alex

Oakland sellers

"We were looking to make the transition from San Francisco to Berkeley to give our family room to grow. We spent [five years?] looking and off again and Sheri was with us that whole time! She was a gentle guide - never pushy and always patient. Once we had two young ones, it was hard to spend much time running from place to place. Luckily, we had Sheri. Through talking with us and working together she learned exactly what we wanted. I knew that if she suggested we look at a place, it was worth seeing. When the time came to make an offer, she was extremely knowledgeable and helpful. She was there past closing to answer any questions and provide advice. We found a gem of a home that we couldn't be more thrilled with. We would recommend Sheri to anyone."

Heather and Apurva

Berkeley buyers

"We interviewed four other realtors prior to meeting with Sheri. She made it an easy choice. The process of selling the property seemed very complicated but Sheri's knowledgeable guidance has been reassuring from the beginning. She was able to anticipate and answer our multiple questions. All of the professionals that she referred us to have been highly skilled and efficient. We were delighted with the outcome of the team effort that she managed. The house was pulled together beautifully when it went on the market and we had several offers above our dream price! We are in awe of Sheri’s work."

M and D

Berkeley sellers

"Sheri was our buyer’s agent when we moved to Berkeley seven years ago, and we loved working with her. She had detailed knowledge of the East Bay market and practical advice. When jobs changed and we had to move out of state, it was a no-brainer; we asked Sheri work with us again to sell our home.

We started meeting with Sheri early in the process. She had cost-effective suggestions to increase our property value, and an excellent set of contractor connections, which we took advantage of multiple times. When it was time to put our home on the market, Sheri meticulously kept track of every detail to make sure it was perfect. We felt entirely comfortable leaving the final touches and showing in her hands!

Throughout the process, Sheri provided sage advice on every issue. She was easy to work with and always reachable for questions or discussion. The end result for us was 16 offers and the successful sale of our home! We highly recommend Sheri for anyone looking to buy or sell in the East Bay."

Scott and Erin

Berkeley sellers

"We recently sold our home in Oakland under Sheri's direction. Sheri made the process of selling so easy! She helped us - calmly and professionally - along every step of the way. The result was that we made a very nice profit, beyond our expectations. She knew exactly what steps to take and when, and she helped us price our home competitively enough so that it sparked a great deal of interest. Her advice about pre-work and staging were reasonable and smart. Sheri has a great deal of knowledge about the Berkeley/Albany/Oakland market; and she would be a great asset to anyone who hires her. She is honest and reliable, and will represent you in the very best way that she can. We Highly recommend her!"

C and W

Oakland sellers

"Sheri is calm, honest, reliable and professional. She is also very nice. Her knowledge of the real estate market is obvious. Sheri is willing to help in all matters, makes you feel confident she will do her job, and gives you the best advice available.

I appreciated that it was very easy to get a hold of her, that she was always prompt at every meeting, every one, and that she was super well organized.

It was a learning experience for me, and I realized how much needed to be done before actually selling my home. I would give her a 10 out of 10! When they give away the award for best of the best Realtors, it will be your name engraved on the loving cup !"

M.C.

El Cerrito seller

"Sheri,

You’ve been at this job a long time. Experience goes a long way. You are the best. Thank you. "

PA

El Cerrito buyer

"A number of years ago, Sheri Madden of Marvin Gardens represented us in the sale of two properties. We were 100% pleased with her work and engaged her again in October, 2016, to help us purchase a home in the East Bay. She is very knowledgeable about and skilled in navigating the competitive waters of the East Bay real estate market! With her guidance, we made an offer on only one home and it was accepted. Sheri works incredibly hard, is always available, and is totally organized. Her attention to detail is impeccable. Her communication skills are excellent. Her advice is given wisely and is always calming. She is the consummate professional in her field. We would recommend her without hesitation. "

J & B

Oakland buyers

"Sheri Madden worked with us in the autumn of 2016 as we searched for a home in the East Bay. As we were moving from the Boston area, we were unfamiliar with the California real estate laws, customs and norms. Sheri was able to answer all of our questions – in fact she anticipated most of our questions and provided clear and accurate information whenever we needed it. Sheri quickly got to know what we were looking for in a property, including what compromises we were willing to make, then she worked tirelessly to research properties on our behalf. She is very familiar with the many neighborhoods we looked at in Berkeley, Oakland, El Cerrito and Richmond.

We toured many homes with Sheri and were consistently impressed with her knowledge. She provided sound advice while remaining objective and encouraging us to make the best decisions for us. Ultimately she helped us find a wonderful home. As we navigated the offer and home purchase processes, Sheri was always there for us – responding promptly to calls and emails and finding answers to a myriad of questions. We feel so fortunate that we found Sheri to help us find a home here in California. She is knowledgeable, experienced, perceptive and responsive. She is also a lovely and kind person and we enjoyed her company during the course of our house hunting. "

C & T

Berkeley buyers

"We were diligent in finding a realtor we knew we could trust--an imperative in the frenzy of the Bay Area real estate market. We sought someone with expertise and integrity in every step of the process, and we feel so fortunate to have found Sheri.

As we searched for our home, Sheri relentlessly had our best interests at heart. Neither my husband nor I have ever met an agent who operated as such a fiduciary. She is patient, attentive, easily accessible, and very calm, and navigates the home buying process from beginning to end with professionalism, kindness and ease. Sheri's knowledge of all components of real estate is exceptional. We honestly wouldn't want to visit a prospective home with anyone else. She sees everything!

The daunting pursuit of purchasing a home in this market turned out to be a real pleasure with Sheri. Her access to off market listings was terrific, and we know confidently that she is the very reason we were successful in buying our dream house in a market we were unsure we could get into. The integrity and skill Sheri brings to the tremendous endeavor of buying a home is unparalleled. She worked very hard for us, as I sense she does for all of her clients. We can't recommend her highly enough."

C & J

Berkeley buyers

"Working with Sheri Madden to sell my house this past summer was an absolute pleasure from start to finish. She and I had worked together before (when I bought the house, my first, a few years ago), and she was my natural first choice for going through the whole process of fixing up the house and putting it on the market. One of the things I like most about Sheri is her enthusiasm and care for the houses she takes on, and her attention to detail. She quickly put together a plan for renovations – including kitchen, bathroom, painting, landscape and staging – and it was all beautifully finished within a few weeks; she went by nearly every day to see the progress and make sure everything necessary was done. Sheri is incredibly well-informed, and knew what we could expect at every stage of the process, from deciding on the price, to selecting among the multiple bids that came in, to final closing. And I have to say, she did it all with a warmth and humor that was very reassuring. "

K.O.

El Cerrito seller

"We will always be grateful that you stuck with us during our endless search for a forever home. We were already in awe of your knowledge about all things Berkeley Hills real estate, but when we were finally ready to dive in, you blew us out of the water with your formidable transaction skills. Thanks for helping us negotiate a win-win offer during the most intense intense week-end of our lives. You proved that there is no better advocate for a buyer in this crazy market than a realtor who is respected by her peers and understands the sellers’ perspective. Thanks, as well, for guiding us through the frantic weeks until closing, and for remaining calm, pragmatic, helpful, and incredibly kind in the midst of the hurricane. Completely trusting your judgment and integrity made it possible for us to take the huge but joyful leap into a house we loved at first sight.

your fans"

N & A

Kensington buyers

"It has been an incredible gift to have you as our realtor!
Thank you so much for calmly and expertly guiding us all through this process. We are so grateful to you for all of your support and assistance. The Berkeley house really is a dream come true."

S.F. & C.R.

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri was absolutely terrific. She was knowledgeable, available, and pleasant to work with. She always provided research to back up her pricing predictions and involved us in decisions we needed to be involved in, but took the items off our plate that didn’t demand our attention. She made what could have been a very stressful process so easy, and was right there with us the entire time. I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for an agent."

H.S.

Oakland seller

"In short, Sheri is a rock star real estate agent. She helped us buy our house back in 2008 and she was the only person we considered to help us sell it. She walked us through the process, explained the market and, laid out the right strategies to get a string of offers for our home. She knows the right people to get things done and has an eagle eye for making sure everything is perfect. She's our hero. Thank you, Sheri!"

Shailushi and Justin

Richmond View Sellers

"Hello Sheri,

I wanted to take a moment to share with you my deepest appreciation for the professional service you provided during the listing and subsequent sale of my " Aunt's " property. Your patience and sensitivity to my special concerns was heartfelt and kind. You were always available for my many questions and provided answers that made me comfortable with and trusting of the process. Your scheduling of the; repairs, painting, staging, and the Open Houses was very efficient and effective. Simply stated, your hard work produced outstanding results for me and members of my family. Anyone that comes to me with a need for a realtor will receive your name. Thank's so much!!"

Dr. Alan Young

Berkeley seller

"May 21, 2016
Dear Sheri,
We want to thank you so much for all of the advice, planning, marketing and execution of the prompt sale of our estate house at a price which we had not even dreamed of seeing.
Your advice turned out to be spot on for what repairs and improvements we should do to the house, developing our improvement budget, assisting in color selection and staging with your stager, and keeping us on schedule to be able to market the house! You really got us more than the “best bang for our buck.”. Then your marketing our final product really brought the buyers in!
We really placed our trust in you, and you more than delivered. I felt you were our partner all along in this. I would be glad to offer my cell phone contact information to anyone looking researching realtors, and considering using you. Please consider us as a reference.
Thank you again."

Russell and Judy, co-trustees

Richmond, N & E sellers

"Sheri recently helped us with the sale of our house in El Cerrito, and we can't thank her enough for everything she did! It was a challenging process for us, but Sheri made it happen. We were selling a house we had been renting for the past several years. Since we were not living in the area during the sale process (and this was our first time selling a house), we relied on Sheri for everything. And she consistently went above and beyond for us! Sheri knows the area and the market extremely well. She listened to our concerns and was patient with all of our questions. When we needed to have unexpected work done at the very last minute, Sheri managed to get 2 quotes in less than 24 hours, and got the work done on an emergency basis for us so that the closing wasn't held up. Ultimately, thanks to Sheri and her expertise, we received multiple offers on our house and we were thrilled with the outcome. We recommend her wholeheartedly to anyone looking for an experienced and knowledgeable realtor in the area!"

J and J

El Cerrito sellers

"Sheri helped us when we purchased our house, and also later when we sold it. In both cases, we felt tremendously blessed to be able to work with such a knowledgeable and experienced professional! Sheri is a great negotiator, knows her business, and works for her clients in an honest and ethical way. Her wealth of knowledge on all aspects of the process and her intelligent organized manner made for a very positive experience. Sheri is always calm, kind and positive, and works diligently to attend to and follow through on every detail and every aspect of the transaction.

We think you are the best and believe everyone should have you as their agent."

E. and C.

Berkeley sellers

"Sheri Madden was our agent for the purchase of a sweet, little house in Richmond in March 2016. Sheri was an outstanding agent and most helpful in our search and purchase.

Sheri is very knowledgeable about the neighborhoods and helped us decide where to concentrate our search. She listened carefully to our needs and preferences, conscientiously scouted properties in advance and directed us to those that met our needs and budget, saving us time and frustration. She knows how to assess a property and recognizes differences between correctible items and major shortcomings. She patiently led us through a couple of rejected offers before the successful one. Once we found a property of interest, Sheri provided accurate, current and insightful analyses. Her professional contacts from financing sources to inspectors and craftsmen are an added bonus.

Thank you, Sheri"

Marty and Maria

Richmond, North and East

"If you are in need of a realtor to buy or sell a home, Sheri Madden is an excellent choice. Sheri recently helped me sell my house in North and East Richmond. The process could not have gone more smoothly and the outcome was fantastic. I was prepared to be bouncing off the walls with anxiety and it just never happened. Sheri’s calm demeanor set the tone for the entire process.

Sheri listens to your needs, makes suggestions when appropriate and designs a plan to move forward according to your schedule. Whether coordinating inspections or scheduling needed repairs, painting, gardening, staging, or a deep house cleaning in order to put your home’s best face forward, Sheri’s extensive list of affordable resources can’t be beat.

Sheri has your property professionally photographed and her marketing is top notch. I received comments from friends and family near and far concerning Sheri’s marketing brochure for my property. They had never seen anything like it. A good friend and former real estate agent commented on the brochure for my property, “This is top notch promotional material. Sheri is an absolute professional; she’s a keeper!”

It was my great pleasure to work with and I highly recommend Marvin Garden’s Sheri Madden for all of your real estate needs. "

D.W.

Richmond N&E seller

"Thank you, Sheri. I really appreciate how calm you are. Your ability to listen, allow us to work through our issues and give us input were invaluable to me."

Buyer

El Cerrito

"Sheri,
Thanks so much for your help with the purchase of my new home and the sale of my old home. You were a tremendous resource in all sorts of ways and I am so grateful for your diligence, professionalism, thoroughness and attention to detail, and wise counsel. You were always prompt, responsive and very clear in your communications and your recommendations were consistently "spot on." I really appreciated your willingness to take care of so many different things throughout the process, which greatly reduced the stress and burden on me. Everything turned out better than I could have hoped on the sale of my house and everything went so smoothly on the purchase side -- all due to your efforts and good advice, I believe. In short, you were fantastic!
Thank you!"

Buyer and Seller

Berkeley

"Thank you so much for helping me sell the house so quickly. I now see the value in your recommendation to inspect the house before marketing it. Everything worked out so smoothly and you made the experience so effortless on my part."

SR, seller

Kensington

"Thank you so much Sheri. I very much second everything my mom says. You are amazing. Your negotiating skills, advice, taste in houses and ability to keep all the moving parts organized made such a difference."

JS, Buyer

Oakland

"Thank you so much for guiding us through this complicated process with such skill and thoughtfulness. Your advice and management was most reassuring."

JS, Parent of buyer above

Oakland

"My husband and I are first time home buyers and were fairly green when it came to the whole process of home ownership. We were referred to Sheri through a friend and could not have been more pleased with the results. We felt like Sheri really had our backs the entire time and went above and beyond what many real estate agents would have done to us. She was easy to talk to, very straightforward, and always available for questions and feedback. We now own a home in Richmond and couldn't be happier with how the process played out. We highly recommend Sheri and will definitely use her again in the future if needed."

Liz & John

Richmond buyers

"Thanks Sheri. You made the whole process so easy and smooth. It was so much less stressful than I expected (although more emotional than I expected). I'm really glad my friend urged me to get in contact with you. It was a pleasure to work with you. Although it's unlikely we'll be selling a house again any time soon, if it happens, we'll be in touch. I'll be referring my friends in the meantime!"

Alisa and Nate

El Cerrito sellers

"Sheri is an outstanding agent. I didn’t have an agent when I first began looking for houses in the Bay area, and when I called multiple listing agents in the area requesting a viewing of their houses most never called me back. Sheri was the exception and actually answered her cell phone. Even though she was accepting offers the next day and it was unlikely I would be able to make an offer in that time, she graciously agreed to show me her listing that afternoon. When I met with her, I was impressed by her kindness and professionalism. She answered my questions about the house in a direct, informative, helpful way. I also noticed how attentive she was about keeping the house in a pristine, attractive state for viewing and remembered thinking that the seller was lucky to have her as his agent. That very same evening, I asked a close friend in Berkeley who his agent was, and he told me Sheri Madden. He had nothing but praise for Sheri, and after my own very positive interaction with her, I was convinced that Sheri would be a great agent.

I have no regrets. Sheri has been a highly capable, diligent, and effective agent throughout the daunting process of buying a home in this frenzied market. She is the ideal agent: calm, scrupulous, ethical, assertive. She has an intimate knowledge of the East Bay real estate market and helped us put together a competitive offer that was accepted over a higher offer. During the closing process, she took the initiative in making sure we were on schedule to reach the closing date. She also helped us get some last-minute work done on the house that was required by our appraiser. She has been considerate and generous every step of the way in giving us her time and expertise. Sheri is a reliable, trusted agent with whom others—buyers, sellers, and agents—want to work with, and I enthusiastically recommend her without reservation."

FH

El Cerrito buyer

""We partnered with Sheri to buy our house 12 years ago and we just recently listed the same house with her. I can't even begin to explain how awesome she was. We followed her instructions on prepping the house and to our absolute amazement we got 30% over our asking price. We were shocked! She was there every step of the way and had an army of affordable service providers ready to perform any task she requested. Her knowledge of our particular area was also invaluable. I highly recommend working with Sheri. She is calm, easy going, experienced, thorough, professional and funny. We feel blessed to have found her!""

Andy and Eric

Richmond, North & East sellers

""If you're looking for an agent to sell your home choose Sheri. She was very knowledgeable and professional during the planning stage and preparation of the home prior to it being placed on the market. She arranged for and managed all the preparation work and there was nothing for me to do except decide on the options presented. The work she arranged was done very well and in a timely manner. The best part was that after we had done the preparation and put it on the market we received multiple offers and closed in 14 days. I want to stress the "we" because I feel that Sheri and I did this together. Based on my experience working with Sheri I would highly recommend her to be your agent for the sale of your home.""

Patrick M.

El Cerrito seller

"Our experience working with Sheri Madden was very positive. She went above the call of duty in helping us sell our home in El Cerrito and would recommend her to our friends."

John and Anita

El Cerrito sellers

""You are a dream to work with and the trust I have in your opinions and skill set surpasses all expectations; you make real estate less daunting than I ever imagined.""

Medha

Oakland buyer

"When I considered selling my house, I interviewed a couple of realtors. I chose Sheri over others due to her detail oriented personality and good listening skills.

I was very impressed by her consistently prompt responses and excellent choices of contractors and vendors. My house looked fabulous by the time it got to the market. It was way beyond what I expected.

I like how Sheri handled the process. She was flexible and made adjustments as needed. Her thorough and complete disclosure approach paid off. We had an extremely smooth sale as soon as we got in the contract. We closed in 21 days!
No question and /or problem was too big or too small. Sheri calmly responded to all of them. She is a hard worker and has worked above and beyond her contractual duty.

I value Sheri’s experience, professionalism, friendliness and timely communication style. I see Sheri as an excellent agent for sellers or buyers.

Suk-King"

Suk-King

El Cerrito seller

"Sheri began working with us over two years ago, January 2012. I came to her via recommendations from parents at El Cerrito Preschool Cooperative. She was very responsive right from the start. I work full time and was looking for someone who would be able to accommodate my schedule, doing a lot of the correspondence via email. Sheri began sending me houses to look at. At that time, each house received about 10-12 offers all $150,000 above the asking price. Mentally I was unable to handle that type of market and asked to take a break from looking. Then periodically I would check in with her to see how the market was doing. Sheri was very accommodating to this. December 2013, we decided to dive in again and to start looking. Sheri, would send us listings, we’d go see the house, check in with her for her recommended offer amount. She’s very much on target in her recommendations when you compare her recommended number against the final sold number. Sheri is very professional and prompt.

We put in a few offers and lost them and were feeling a bit dejected again. Then she called to say, someone in her office has a house that the sellers do not want listed and that we may want to go take a look at it. Lucky for us, the sellers accepted our offer and the rest is history. Through it all, Sheri was very honest to us about what a competitive offer is, what we are up against, she provided her recommendations based on her experience. Her recommended offer was always on target that I was comfortable to use her recommended offer amount. I highly recommend Sheri to anyone who needs a realtor as well as will not hesitate to call her up again when we need a realtor."

C and D

El Cerrito buyers

"Sheri Madden's impeccable communication style, knowledge of the east bay housing market and honesty helped us turn a stressful time into a pleasurable experience.

Sheri listened to and honored all our requests and concerns with clarity and honesty, which in turn helped us further develop a stronger sense as home buyers. Her detailed communication style allowed us to understand the larger picture and make decisions with confidence. Sheri was very knowledgeable and we always felt like we had a friend there helping us decide what was best for us. She gave her opinion when necessary, but made sure that we were the ones making the decisions. Furthermore, we could not be happier with Sheri's professional follow through. It was not often that Sheri could not answer her phone when we called with questions. Should she have to, she would always return our call or email within the hour. Once we found our dream home and proceeded with an offer and escrow, Sheri kept the communication between multiple key players flowing. She would often send us reminder emails and messages to ensure that we stayed on target with deadlines.

Sheri exceeded our expectations in every detail and helped us find the right house without any problems. We couldn't have had a better experience purchasing our first home. We appreciate Sheri's professionalism and recommend her without hesitation."

Claudia and Sijesh

Walnut Creek buyers

"Thank goodness I had Sheri by my side while buying my first house. I felt her wisdom and experience every step of the way, from making an offer to the inspection process, to countless critical details I didn't have the awareness or bandwidth to take care of. Her responsiveness and guidance were a great source of comfort. I got a great house at a good price and have Sheri to thank for it!"

John K.

Oakland buyer

"I am writing to express my gratitude for having the pleasure of working with Sheri Madden during the sale (6/12/14) of my home in Berkeley, California. Sheri exemplifies all the qualities of an outstanding realtor including the following: Honesty, integrity, dedication, loyalty, trust and expert knowledge of the entire process. However, what sets her apart from other realtors with whom I have worked is her ability to listen and be respectful of clients' needs. She made selling my house a tolerable experience because of her paradigm of promoting an awareness that the success of an adventure depends on working together to reach a common goal.""

Lynda L.

Berkeley seller

"May 14, 2014

Marvin Gardens
Attn: Sheri Madden
7502 Fairmount Ave
El Cerrito, CA 94530

Dear Sheri,

We want to take this opportunity to THANK YOU for finding us such a wonderful home in the Richmond Annex. Currently living in Connecticut, looking for a home near our daughter, son-in-law and grandson seemed like an overwhelming task. Their recommendation of you as our real estate agent was exactly what we needed to make this purchase a reality. You made the entire process one of the easiest and most pleasant experiences we’ve ever had and we couldn’t have done it without you.

You were always available to answer our questions whether by telephone or email, and with the 3-hour time difference, that was not an easy task. We had not bought a house in over 35 years, much less one that was 3,000 miles away. Your attention to every detail was remarkable in every way and allowed us to complete the home buying process in less than 30 days.

We also appreciate you taking the time to provide us with the names and phone numbers of people and local government agencies we will need to interact with going forward. It will make the transition from the east coast to the west coast that much easier.

We can’t thank you enough and hope you will stop by and see us after we’ve had a chance to settle in and add our own personal touches to this property. We look forward to that time and to living in the Richmond Annex near our family and new friends.

Warmest Regards,

Alice & Brian Facente"

B & A

Richmond Annex buyers

"To Whom it may concern:

Sheri Madden recently helped me sell a home for which I was the trustee. She guided me through the process of preparing the home for sale, with utmost skill, and seamlessly coordinated a myriad of tradespeople and inspectors. Her excellent marketing resulted in outstanding results; hundreds attended the open house and we received 13 offers on the property. Sheri carefully and thoroughly helped me analyze the results of the offers, so that I had all the information necessary to make the best choice possible. She communicated almost daily about the transaction and calmly prepared me for each step and any possible challenge that we might have encountered. She maintained my expectations throughout. I am thrilled with the results of sale and would recommend Sheri without reservation."

Richard J. Lee

Berkeley seller

"Sheri, we're so grateful for everything you did to help us find a place to live! You are a rare combination of practical & soulful, just what we needed to ground us in our anxious quest for a new abode. We're very happy with our house in El Cerrito!"

A & R

El Cerrito buyers

"I would recommend Sheri Madden without reservation to anyone wishing to list or sell their home. My parents passed away leaving us with a very old --early 1900's-- home with many, many issues. To complicate matters I live in another state. Sheri went far and above my expectations--she was patient, very knowledgeable in all areas--both in Real Estate matters as well as those needed to complete the transaction ( great marketing strategies, structural inspections, termite inspections, estate liquidators, finding very old documents, dealing with complicated easements, convoluted title searches, and the complex requirements of the City in which the house exited.) She never failed to communicate immediately answering my many questions and concerns--I admit I was NOT an easy client to deal with. She exceeded all expectations going far beyond what you would expect a "normal" Realtor to do which allowed the home to close in record time."

LW

Berkeley seller

"Sheri worked with us to find exactly what we were after in a house. She has a ton of experience in the area and knows the right questions to ask. In a hard market like the one we bought our house in she had the tenacity and motivation to get us on the top of the stack and got our deal closed quickly."

Mitch and Raleigh

Oakland buyers

"I have worked with Sheri for a nearly a year looking to buy my first home. I had worked with another realtor before with whom I was just not a good fit. Sheri graciously took me on. She was patient, calm and realistic about the changing market while remaining encouraging. My second bid on a short sale house was accepted out of 18 offers due to her counseling me on a competitive offer. The process took approximately 3 months to complete. She kept me updated the whole time and worked well with all the parties involved to close the sale. I know they appreciated her professionalism and pleasant demeanor as did I. I would recommend Sheri Madden without reservation as a competent, kind and knowlegible realtor."

Bronwyn

Richmond buyer

"We were referred to Sheri Madden by my husband's friend, who told us she was fabulous. I soon found out she had gotten houses for most of my coworkers, who also said the most fantastic things about her. We met with another Realtor as well, someone who seemed very focused on "closing the deal" and warned us about how tough the real estate market was, how it would take us 8 months to get a home. Sheri had none of that attitude. She was realistic, aware of the challenges but always seemed optimistic for us. It was this optimism that kept me looking. Sheri was also always looking, she kept her eyes open, went to homes before we did, knowing our limited schedule and what we were looking for. She gave us objective advice when it was not a good choice; it was clear she wanted us to have the right house, not just close a deal. When we finally found a place we wanted (which took only one month), Sheri quickly wrote up a bid, gave perfect advice about how to get our offer accepted and clearly used her great professional and personal skills to secure our bid. The escrow process was by far the most challenging aspect. Sheri was a tireless advocate on every level. She kept up with deadlines, worked with the bank and kept her cool even at the most stressful moments. She was fantastic about working with the sellers agent and was extremely patient with us as new home buyers, wading through the challenges. I spent the last several weeks of the home buying process trying to figure out what kind of gift to get her. My husband kept reminding me the best we could do it refer people to her. I can't say enough kind words about her expertise, care and work ethic. She was the best choice we could have possibly made. "

Tami and Alan

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri Madden helped me buy my first home in Berkeley in a coveted neighborhood and at a time when there is a lot of competition for few homes available. I feel very fortunate to have had her invaluable help in making this a reality! The beautifully remodeled house I found turned out to have some worrisome disclosures—a culverted creek running below the property had collapsed some years prior, resulting in an unstable foundation and a lawsuit. Repairs had been made and it appeared that everything was in good shape now, but of course I wanted assurance that the problem was really solved. Sheri found the right engineering contacts to talk with and we learned enough about the work that had been done to feel comfortable moving forward with an offer. Sheri’s hard work and valuable connections helped me thoroughly vet the property in a short time. When it came to making an offer, Sheri seemed to be a walking encyclopedia of local market knowledge. Initially, she said that what I had available to offer would probably give me a 50-50 chance of getting the house. I didn’t like those odds, and I was able to find another $15,000 to add to the offer. Sheri also gave me valuable feedback on the offer letter I wrote. I was so thrilled to hear that my offer was accepted—even though I was not the highest bidder! But the story was not over yet. Inspection revealed that there were several problems with the house that had not been disclosed. Sheri was a strong advocate for getting the sellers to fix these things, and accomplished this in such a way that I always felt very comfortable having her as my representative. The sellers consented to bringing the house into great condition by the time of closing, even though this ended up taking a lot more work than originally planned. She negotiated this with the sellers while keeping great relations with everyone. The sellers’ agent stated several times that it helped that I was working with such a great agent. I couldn’t agree more! Many thanks to Sheri, I am now living in my new home, a dream come true. I highly recommend her as an agent. Lisa Berkeley buyer "

Lisa G

Berkeley buyer

"We were first-time home buyers in the U.S., and were fortunate to have Sheri Madden as our agent. Throughout the process Sheri supported us with personal dedication, utmost competence, and great patience. After a few months, she helped us buy a beautiful Berkeley home through skillful negotiation. We could not have wished for a better partner, and would work with Sheri Madden again any time. Peter and Aiqun, Berkeley "

Peter and Aiqun

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri came highly recommended as an agent who really went to bat for her clients, willing to go above and beyond to get the best possible outcome. She was all of that. In addition she provided a sensitive, steadying hand in helping navigate the emotionally challenging moments of a sales transaction, being consistently available, responsive and fair-minded. I heartily recommend her."

N.H.

Kensingtn seller

"I was fortunate enough to have Sheri Madden represent me as a home buyer. My brother recommended her to me and she was a great fit! She was patient during the many months of visits to houses and some failed bids. Yet when the right house came along, she was aggressive to get what I wanted. Throughout the process, she had the experience and connections to make things happen to my advantage. And even after the close, she has been very helpful with recommendations getting the house in shape. I would recommend Sheri to anyone looking for their next home!"

D.L.

Oakland buyer

"Thank you for all your help. My Dad expressed that he was really glad that I had referred you and that you had done a great job. He appreciates how much work you put in to get the place ready. I have worked with you twice, once to sell my own home and once to sell my parents' home after they moved to a senior community. Both times you were an invaluable partner, handling all the myriad details, so that everything went smoothly. I would recommend you without hesitation. "

J Garbarino

daughter of Ricardo seller

"I realize that you did a good deal more than the usual requirements in connection with the sale of the house. Thank you for your sterling efforts."

J Garbarino

Ricardo seller

"We would like to highly recommend Sheri Madden to anyone who is buying or selling a home in the East Bay. Sheri assisted us with the purchase of our new home in Albany, as well as the sale of our home in Berkeley. Sheri has all the qualities of a realtor we were looking for - knowledgable, trustworthy, dedicated, patient, and personable. While working with Sheri, we always felt like we were her only client, although we were certain that wasn't the case. Sheri always worked around our busy schedule, and was more than willing to meet when it was convenient for us. We were always impressed by the promptness of her return phone calls and emails. Additionally, Sheri was available to make phone calls, set up appointments and meet with the various people involved in the buying/selling of a home when we weren't able to do so. We sincerely appreciate Sheri's hard work and dedication and wouldn't hesitate to recommend her to anyone looking for a great real estate agent!"

Corby and Bob

Berkeley Sellers and Albany Buyers

"My Experience Working with Sheri Madden: I found Sheri to be a model real estate agent: efficient, experienced, knowledgable, and always there when I needed her. Had it not been for Sheri, the purchase of my home would have been difficult and time consuming. I am very pleased to recommend Sheri to potential home buyers; she is trustworthy and keeps her client's interest at heart."

Alice

Berkeley buyer

"Sheri Madden truly is a dream real estate agent. When we first met with her, Sheri listened to us with an open mind and understood all the many qualities of what we wanted in a house. Many of those requirements kept changing as we saw more houses, and Sheri was great at adapting to those changes. She saved us a lot of time and hassle by only showing us houses that we had a good chance of liking. Sheri has an almost encyclopedic knowledge of all the houses in this area. We often would ask about houses that just got listed and almost always she had already seen the house and told us all the details about it. It took us from July 2011 to June 2012 to become homeowners, and for that time, Sheri was always positive and energetic. In the beginning, we were completely ignorant of the home buying process. Sheri was very patient with us as we figured out how to get our offers accepted. She showed us houses in the evenings and on weekends, read countless disclosures and summarized them for us, and helped us write offers so that they had a good chance of being accepted. She was very accurate at predicting what price a house would sell for and we learned to trust her. Sheri was immensely helpful once we got our offer accepted. Sheri made sure all the paperwork was completed quickly, suggested specialized inspections that we should do on the house and successfully negotiated a credit for repair work. She was very punctual regarding appointments and returning phone calls and she helped us keep track of the various other real estate players such as loan agents and home inspectors. Sheri was even willing to watch our 7 month old baby while we were busy crawling under the house during our general home inspection. Lastly, Sheri's personality and personal motivation are outstanding: it was always such a joy to chat with her and it was apparent that she was interested in helping us as people and not for monetary reasons. Overall, we are extremely grateful to have worked with Sheri and we highly recommend her. "

J and A

first time Berkeley buyers

"Before finding Sheri Madden of Marvin Gardens Real Estate, my biggest concern was finding a real estate agent whom I could trust, someone with integrity and with our best interests in mind. There are so many agents out there; it can make your head spin with all the choices. A friend recommended a wonderful agent to me, but she was going to be out of state when we needed to get started with the selling process. That agent, Arlene Acuna, referred me to Sheri saying, “…having a desk near her in the same office and seeing her "in action" on the phone, along with my personal interactions with her over the years have clearly shown me that she is a true advocate for her clients, putting their interests first while advising them with wise counsel! I would recommend her to any friends/relatives/clients!”And she was right. Sheri is a real class act. When you first meet her, your initial impression will probably be the same as mine: she’s nice, kind, and has a good sense of humor. But make no mistake about it, she’s a professional. She is sharp, extremely knowledgeable, and a very hard worker. Her networking skills have forged wonderful contacts in both the real estate and general community. If you have a question or concern, she will find the answers or the services you need. She doesn’t gloss anything over, yet at the same time will make your home shine. She will guide you through the process step by step and tell you exactly what the house needs to maximize its potential and sell quickly. Have no doubt, she will be your champion. Sheri recognizes the value of a home, both financially and sentimentally. Hearing all the glowing remarks about my house and knowing how much the new owners truly love it themselves, makes the process of leaving my beloved, beautiful home easier. Sheri made that happen with her constant support, “can do” attitude, and her humor. Thanks Sheri, you’re the best; you’ve been both my real estate agent and my friend. "

L.B.

Curtis resident

"I want to share with everyone just how impressed I was with my recent home sale, using Sheri Madden as our agent. If you are considering buying, or selling a home and have the opportunity to utilize Sheri as your agent I recommend it. Sheri takes her career seriously, treats each person involved professionally, and while I know that I am not her only client, I felt throughout the entire transaction as though I had her full attention whenever I needed it, and I can assure you as a first time seller I had my fair share of random questions, at random times. Sheri always replied to my emails promptly, answered my phone calls and questions as I needed. I can say through her hard work and professionalism, that even in today’s volatile market, our house sold quickly. I from the beginning and until the very end of the process felt very comfortable, and confident that Sheri was doing everything she could to represent, and keep my family informed. I remain confident today that she has her clients’ best interests at heart and I am pleased to have been her client, and wouldn’t hesitate to use her again. "

Jonathan B.

Tulare seller

"My wife and I worked with Sheri Madden of Marvin Gardens. You can find her contact info at sherimadden.com.We just closed on a house after months of picky searching and I am so glad we decided to work with her. There is no pretense and no pressure to make offers. She is so sweet and knowledgeable and quick to respond by phone or email. Schedule a face-to-face meeting with her and you'll understand. She spent well over an hour with us at our first meeting, before we had even decided to work with her, and it spoke to the passion she has for helping clients find homes. I'd recommend her to both friends and family, which I hate doing if I'm unsure of the quality of service someone will experience. With Sheri, I have no doubts. "

Chris

" Sheri Madden came to me highly recommended by close friends, and she met and exceeded my expectations. I was moving from the East Coast to the Bay Area, and Sheri, having done that herself several years ago, really knew where I was coming from (pun partially intended!) She quickly came to understand the type of house I was searching for, had a finely-nuanced knowledge of the various neighborhoods of Berkeley and Oakland, always made herself available by phone or email to patiently answer even the most naive of questions, and knew quite a number of high-quality contractors to consult for advice and estimates. She even went above and beyond and provided me with some contacts for my new job search. I felt that she was trustworthy and realistic and handled everything with grace. I am grateful to her for her help. If it ever comes time for me to sell my home, I wouldn't consider anyone but Sheri to be my realtor. "

Susanna P.

Berkely buyer

"From the very beginning, we were impressed with Sheri's honesty, integrity, professional expertise, and knowledge about the neighborhoods we were seeking to buy in. We came to trust her instantly as we always felt that she had our best interest in mind and patiently answered all of our questions, and always with a speedy turn around. She quickly came to learn about our preferences and showed us homes that might be a good match, even during a time of very low inventory. She was especially helpful in maximizing our chances of getting our bid accepted, helped us to negotiate the purchase price, and walked us through every single step of escrow. She has contacts for every scenario which made the entire process of home buying very effecient and as stress-free as it could be. Having worked with several real estate agents in the past, we would love to work with Sheri again and definitely recommend her to anyone thinking about buying or selling. She makes it easy! Thank you Sheri for making this such a positive experience! We are so pleased with the outcome. "

Sunny and Bill

El Cerrito buyers

"June 29, 2011 From: Faith Cornwall & Bruno Coelho 1236 Parker St, Berkeley CA 94702 Re: Letter of Recommendation for Sheri Madden To Whom It May Concern: We would like to wholeheartedly recommend Sheri Madden as a buyer’s real estate agent. We bought a house in May 2011 with her guidance and were very happy with her services. We came to Sheri in January 2011 with a pretty good idea of what we wanted: a young couple with no children yet, we were looking to take advantage of the buyer’s market to purchase a home that we could afford now but would accommodate our future family, both in terms of size, amenities and school district. Due to the fact that our parents and siblings live many time zones away, we also needed some kind of guest quarters, such as an in-law unit, to accommodate long visits. Here is what we appreciated most about working with Sheri. 1.) Really Listening: After hearing a whole lot about our guest quarter needs, Sheri showed us some houses without in-law units but with floor plans that could potentially work for us. This listening and creative thinking was a great help, as it got us thinking outside the in-law unit/duplex box, and eventually led us to a single family home whose floor plan wonderfully accommodates long term guests. 2.) Neighborhood knowledge: Sheri knows the East Bay well and could talk to us about how school districts performed over time, and how neighborhoods had changed. 3.) Prompt communication: Sheri always answered our emails, voicemails and text messages promptly, usually within a few minutes or hours. 4.) Availability: We met with Sheri in the early mornings and late evenings and everything in between. Her flexibility was a great help. 5.) Process and paperwork knowledge: Sheri patiently explained all the ins and outs of the process of buying as many times as we needed to hear it. We ended up putting in a back-up offer on the house we eventually bought, a process which not everyone goes through but went smoothly for us thanks to Sheri. 6.) Neighbors: Sheri encouraged us to talk to the neighbors before buying, even going so far as to make an introduction for us. We eventually met neighbors from five different households before closing, and these connections helped us to realize that this was the neighborhood for us. 7.) Connections: Sheri has great working relationships with key supporting players. She referred us to a wonderful mortgage broker who got us a great rate, great title company, and lined up a whole host of tradesmen – electrician, home inspector, structural engineer, plumber, etc – to all come to the house on the same day and on short notice before we removed our inspections contingency, saving us a lot of hassle. 8.) Crafting the Bid: We got the house we wanted at the price we wanted to pay, and Sheri was instrumental in making this happen. She used every piece of information in our favor she could without gouging the buyer and writing an offer that would have been rejected. 9.) Resale Value: As we intended to live in the house past our mortgage, resale value was not top of mind. Sheri kept an eye out for us, noting issues with potential houses that we would have been unaware of or overlooked. 10.) Dealing with whatever life throws you: We went into contract on a house two weeks before we were set to leave the country for two weeks. We left for our trip as planned and went into escrow within thirty six hours of returning. Easy as (store bought) pie – thanks Sheri! We wish you the best of luck in your home search process! "

Faith and Bruno

Berkeley buyers

"Sheri made the purchase of our new home incredibly fast, easy and pleasant. Before getting an agent, we had watched the listings online for a long time and were concerned about finding something that fit our somewhat unusual needs. After only meeting with us once followed by some email conversations, Sheri honed in on what we wanted and found the perfect house for us. In fact, because her instincts and knowledge were so spot on, we ended up only seeing a few houses with her before making a bid on the home that we purchased. She also made the bidding, financing, inspection, and closing process easy because of her high level of expertise and network of professionals (from mortgage brokers to home inspectors) that were experienced, trustworthy, and were willing to come on short notice. Sheri herself was always available when we needed her and got things done rapidly and efficiently without sacrificing quality and thoughtfulness. Sheri gave us honest and straightforward advice, letting us know when she thought houses were not a good choice for us and why and guiding us wisely through the bidding and closing process. We think her advice helped us get our bid accepted at a price that was fair. She is a great listener and was respectful of what we wanted, while constructively giving us her input. We felt very comfortable with Sheri, which is why we chose her in addition to her expertise. We appreciated her calm demeanor during what can be a stressful time.We also appreciated her patience in waiting for us after we signed on with her but had a couple of months lag time before we were ready to act. Overall Sheri is a fabulous agent - kind, talented, knowledgeable,and professional and we would highly recommend her to anyone buying a home in the El Cerrito/Berkeley/Albany area."

Rachel and Mike

"Hello Sheri, Now that we're getting settled in to our new house, we wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the help and guidance you provided for us. We are extremely happy with the house and the neighborhood, and we are so grateful to you for making the process so stress-free and satisfying. We previously owned a house in San Francisco, so we have worked with agents twice before, buying and selling. The first time was with an agent with whom we had a great personal relationship, but we felt her lack of experience was a problem as the negotiations intensified. The second agent was much more experienced, but we came to wonder whether she was keeping our best interests in mind. This time, we felt that we had a great personal connection with you, and we really appreciated your experience and expertise at every stage of the process, whether it was helping us pick out the house, setting a price, going through the inspections, or handling the paperwork for the closing. We always felt confident that you were giving us good advice, that you understood the process, and that you were attuned to our needs. You helped us select an offering price that we were comfortable with and which was attractive to the sellers. And your recommendations for the inspector, electrician, seismic technician and handyman have all worked out great for us. When you walked through the house with us, both when we were first looking and later during the inspections, your eye for detail and candid advice were greatly appreciated. You were always available when we had questions, conscientious about getting us answers, and unfailingly pleasant to deal with. We know from experience that buying (or selling) a house is a huge undertaking and can be very stressful. Really, we cannot say enough about how much you did to make the process go smoothly for us. We would enthusiastically recommend you to anyone who is looking to buy or sell a house in Berkeley. We hope to see you in the neighborhood. Thank you once again for all your help. "

Anne Lackey and Kevin Rayhill

Berkeley buyers

"There probably could not be two people more disinterested in the idea of working and spending time with a realtor, than the two of us. We were buying our first home and after having met with a number of realtors, opted to employ the tactic of having the seller's agent write an offer on our behalf. Unfortunately, this was a disappointing and negative experience. We then sought the advice of our mortgage broker, who had been working with us for almost two years. He recommended Sheri to us, whom he thought would suit our personalities and style. He was right – she was great! Energetic, meticulous and knowledgeable, she educated and provided us with valuable insight and advice. Further, we thoroughly enjoyed her company. In a short time, we found ourselves closing on an amazing home that is just perfect for us. We highly recommend working with Sheri."

Mala S. and Brad S.

"We recommend our wonderful realtor, Sheri Madden. She has expertly guided us through our first home sale. She has been attentive, professional, thorough, and calm throughout the entire stressful process. She is a gem!"

Jennifer L. and Hal A.

Sellers of 152 York Avenue, Kensington

"Sheri Madden is a patient, knowledgeable guide through the process of buying a home. She spent the better part of a year helping me to find a home I love. Her expertise about what was available and her wisdom about the buying process, made a potentially stressful process far easier and she made herself available to me throughout and after the purchase. I would recommend her without reservations."

Jonathan S.

"In one word, Sheri was fabulous. She was very patient and answered every question in simple language. She would come to our house at whatever hour was convenient for our kids schedules. She was always right on the ball, followed through with every detail immediately, and gave reasonable, carefully thought-out advice. We didn't think we would ever find a house of our own that we could afford...and we did! Above all, Sheri was friendly and it was a joy to share the experience of buying our first house with her. Thank you!! "

Pato and Curtis

Berkeley buyers

"It was a real pleasure to work with you from beginning to end. When you were discussing strategy with me and reviewing the house you were positive without being overly optimistic. When we were making decisions as we got closer to the time of putting the house on the market you noticed details and followed up on all the many issues that necessarily present themselves during a house sale. You were proactive and knowledgable without being a nag or a downer; you managed to make selling a house almost relaxing. When you said you would do something, you did it, and I could be confident that it would be done correctly and respectfully for everyone involved. I really think our cautious strategy paid off in this difficult market and I give you the credit for keeping us realistic about pricing, etc. The brochure was nicely done and the house was presented well by you and your team. Of course we had a lot of work to do to get the place ready, but you were an excellent source of information and referrals and the experts you recommended (the landscape designer and the stager) were both just what the place needed. I wish I had another house that needed selling! No wait, no I don't, but if I had to go through that again, I'd definitely hire you! Thanks so much again."

E.H.

"I never thought that buying our first house would be so easy but, well, it really was with Sheri's guidance. When my partner and I were looking, she truly respected our price range, schedules and our needs. I feel she was especially valuable after our bid was accepted.... her expertise led us through the chaos and speed of the inspections and contractor meetings so we could get the best value for our home. Sheri was there, holding a flashlight, when the 3rd foundation expert was inspecting a crack in the dark! Now that we're in our awesome house, Sheri continues to be a resource. Should I also say that I'm convinced your sweet and warm demeanor has something to do with our bid getting accepted? Thanks again and again and again. "

K and L

CA St buyers

"We are writing to let you know how satisfied we are with our recent experience locating and buying a home in the Berkeley hills. Your agent, Sheri Madden, was truly a joy to work with. Sheri pleasantly surprised us by repeatedly gathering information for us when most agents would not have taken the time, all the while exhibiting good humor ant the utmost patience with our concerns and questions. She never once left us feeling that we were overburdening her or wasting her time. But patience and hard work are not the whole story: expertise is also key. Sheri deftly handled negotiations, read the cards right, and availed herself of various contacts to obtain important information. She handled our transactions with skill, tact, and enthusiasm. We were able to have two offers accepted in an extremely competitive market. (We chose to back out of the first offer, thanks to keen observations from a home inspector whom Sheri recommended.) As I'm sure you know, house-hunting in the current market can be emotionally exhausting for buyers, and finding a good agent is of paramount importance. We will certainly give Sher's name to anyone we know or meet who may be looking for an agent. We heartily recommend Sheri to any potential customers of yours, and would be glad to speak with them to answer questions they might have."

Doug and Jane K.

"To whom it may concern, This is a letter describing our experience buying a house with Sheri Madden. In short, Sheri did a great job. First she helped us with finding the house. This meant identifying what we wanted. We went through a couple of houses together describing what we liked and did not like. She was good at quickly understanding both the tangibles (like price and square footage) and the intangibles (like the feel and the neighborhood). After that, Sheri knew what types of houses we were interested in, and brought to our attention only houses we wanted to seriously consider. She also helped us prioritize our requirements. With her facilitation it quickly became clear that we could not get everything we wanted for the price we wanted. She helped us identify what was important and what we could do without. Then she helped us buy the house. She worked with us to identify sources for funding and insurance. She worked with us on strategizing our offer, and identified comparables to help us decide what was a fair price. She marshaled all the resources necessary to get the offer to close without ever making us feel rushed I would recommend Sheri without reservation. Maclen Marvit New home owner. "

Maclen Marvit

"Sheri came highly recommended and she absolutely lived up to all of the high praise. I thought we were being unrealistic when I told her what we hoped to find in Berkeley, but within weeks, Sheri had found exactly the right house. She encompasses so many different qualities: she is warm and personable, yet realistic and grounded; she's active and enthusiastic yet measured, patient, and flexible. She doesn't miss any details and keeps you on track during the closing chaos. Most importantly, she's well-respected among other agents, and that goes a long way in a tight market. Sheri is the ideal advocate in today's challenging real estate market."

S.S.

Berkeley buyer

"Sheri has helped us sell numerous homes over the last several years. She has always exceeded our expectations, so we turned to her when it became time to sell a small rental property. She organized and attended many required inspections. As each inspection revealed new problems, she strategized the best way to tackle each obstacle . Mid way through this process I became disabled- but Sheri carried on. She prioritized repairs and redecorating, providing me with multiple bids and contractors who were both affordable and could do a fast turn around. The result was a seamless process for me, culminating in a successful sale to my tenant. If I had more properties to sell, there is no one else I would consider to represent me. I could not be more pleased! "

Lynne Costain

Oakland seller

"We have worked with Sheri Madden and could not have been more pleased with her abilities as a real estate professional. We procured the services of several realtors from all over the Bay area during the course of our home search and Sheri was by far the most diligent, well-prepared and most accommodating real estate agent we encountered. Her detailed knowledge of a home's features, coupled with her familiarity with the nuances of a particular neighborhood, truly was outstanding. She had a knack for knowing if a prospective home would appeal to us and her numerous updates on upcoming opportunities clearly showed she "does her homework". Sheri went above and beyond the call of duty for us. We're sure she will do the same, and more, for any of her clients."

Joe and Lyn G.

"I was a first time homebuyer with a very limited income and Sheri was the first agent I have ever met who was encouraging and enthusiastic, and persistent enough to find me several choices in my price range! She is so caring and kind, and on top of that, an ace negotiator. Sheri removed all the stress of buying a home for me."

E.P.

"December 29, 2008 To Whom it May Concern: We recommend real estate agent Sheri Madden without hesitation. Before Sheri, we worked with two other agents, but we never felt that they were listening to us or working for us. With Sheri, it was the opposite. Sheri paid attention to everything we told her, and then actually went out and found a house that perfectly fit our needs. We would not have found the house without her. We also greatly appreciated her honest feedback through the process. Sheri steered us away from houses that she thought would not be a good investment and always pointed out the short-comings of any house, as well as the positive qualities that would matter to other buyers in the future. In the end, she found us a great house and also saved us time and money. Even after the deal was closed, she continued to provide us helpful referrals for contractors and tips for easing our transition. Sheri is a great agent to work with. Sincerely, Natasha Minsker and David Billingsley "

Dave and Natasha

"When I started the process of getting my house ready for sale, I was introduced to Sheri Madden. Since then, I have never ceased to be amazed at the amount of sheer hard work, time, and attention to detail, she was prepared to invest in this. No problem was too big, or too small, for her to solve. She also found the personnel to assist me in overcoming obstacles. Her experience and knowledge of what needed to be done was invaluable. All contacts between us were friendly, positive, and fruitful. I doubt whether I would have managed without her constantly being available. By the time the house came on the market, it looked great! It soon produced several good offers. The sale went through last week. I would not hesitate to recommend Sheri! "

Babette S

Lincoln seller

"We would like to strongly recommend real-estate services provided by Sheri Madden. Sheri worked with us for a two and a half month period while we were searching for a home to purchase in Berkeley, and she helped us in several major ways. She is very informed about the housing market in the Berkeley-Albany-Kensington area, and is frequently aware of houses just coming on the market as well as those currently available. She was highly attentive to detail about what we desired in a home, and she showed us many houses in the Berkeley area that were consistent with our housing needs. She is most patient with clients who want to see various options. She is extremely knowledgeable about housing issues ranging from the technical issues such as the foundation or wiring to aesthetic issues such as wall coloring and placing of furniture in the home. For example, she took time to check city records on the house we purchased to see if improvements had been done with permits. In addition, she is knowledgeable about neighborhood qualities, and environmental issues such as slide and fire risks in different areas of the region. Sheri is also an astute judge of what price a house will sell for versus the list price, and is straightforward in conveying that information to her clients. When she draws up a bid, she takes time to find out how many other bids are likely to be submitted, and how competitive the bidding will be. Finally, during escrow Sheri continued to provide support through the many hurdles associated with obtaining financing and planning for repair work that would be needed. We are most grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Sheri Madden."

James L. and Patricia W.

2081 Eunice Street, Berkeley

"About a year ago, we decided we wanted to move from El Cerrito to Berkeley. Since we had no time pressure, we were prepared to wait for the perfect house, and we had very different criteria in mind. To put it bluntly, we were both very picky, and not always in the same way! Sheri did a great job of finding a house that satisfied both of us perfectly. She helped us overcome a number of challenges that came up, both in buying the new house and in selling the old one. Throughout the process, her judgement was good and her calm manner reassuring. She was always available by phone and email, very knowledgeable about the market, and friendly and pleasant to interact with. She has a deep rolodex and was able to arrange for contractors of all kinds to give us advice, even at short notice. We would very highly recommend Sheri to anyone looking to buy or sell a house. "

John MacFarlane and Colleen Boyle

2311 Edith St sellers

"During a one year project, your agent, Sheri Madden, successfully sold six single family Kensington residential income properties that had been owned by our family for more than 50 years. With her assistance, a marketing plan was put together that brought results over the asking price. She was diplomatic but direct with our tenants, none of which vacated during the course of these sales. Sheri participated in all parts of the project, beginning with multiple trips to the county seat to resolve zoning issues. She organized and attended home inspections, procured estimates from contractors for repairs, set up surveys to determine boundaries, and worked with public utilities to cure water leaks, which mysteriously appeared on one property during escrow. She was calm and patient throughout. Sheri is supported by a long list of knowledgeable professionals, such as home inspectors, contractors and soils engineers, who have worked with her through her years in the field. Most importantly, these professionals made themselves available on very short notice to work through issues as they arose. While Sheri always appears quiet and calm, she is nevertheless a shrewd negotiator, strongly representing her client’s interests. We appreciated her timely follow up on every detail in this very complex transaction. Her comprehensive real estate experience was invaluable. We could not be happier in our choice of agent. DR & LRC "

DR and LRC

"Sheri Madden represented u s in the sale of one home (in unincorporated Contra Costa County), and the purchase of another (in Albany). As the necessary activities for the sale and purchase overlapped, this was a very busy time. Sheri provided extensive services as an agent, volunteering to help with the many extra phone calls, meetings, and coordination needed to complete the process of selling and buying. After thorough discussions with us, she prescreened homes to show us, helping to narrow our search when we did not have time to spare to visit a large number of homes for sales. Sheri took the time to explain the simplest and most complex aspects of negotiating both the sale and the purchase. She presents her strategies convincingly, and with the confidence of experience. Additionally, whenever she sensed we could use assistance, she was there to close the gap on everything from meeting with stagers and painters to securing estimates from contractors. Sheri even continued to be available after the close of both transactions, happy to provide to us phone numbers and recommendations for contractors. In short, Sheri was a close ally in the entire process, and showed genuine concern for our individual needs and experiences. Don't be fooled by Sheri's amiable nature and helpful approach to representing sellers and buyers; she is a well-organized and shrew negotiator who ensures the terms of real estate transactions are to her clients' benefit. We wholeheartedly recommend Sheri Madden for your real estate needs in the East Bay. "

Beverly K. and Hugh S.

"We along with another couple, recently purchased a duplex in Oakland off Park Boulevard just below 580. Our buyer's agent was Sheri Madden, whom we would highly recommend to any prospective client. Sheri personable, is sensitive to the needs of her clients, takes a leadership role, and truly has the best interests of her clients in mind. What impressed us the most was that Sheri listened closely to us and really took the time to understand what we were looking for. This was a particular challenge since there were 4 buyers involved with our purchase! She was effective at finding properties that might suit our needs and weeded out those that were not suitable. She also presented the prospective properties in an unbiased manner, pointing out the pros and cons. She was not pushy, an allowed us time to evaluate each property. Once we decided to make an offer on the property we eventually purchased, Sheri was very proactive in contacting the seller's agent to closely monitor the bidding process and take steps so that we were in the strongest possible position to succeed with our offer. After our offer was chosen, Sheri successfully negotiated a further reduction in the sales price based on new disclosures. In the end, we paid only $5K over the asking price! Sheri really goes the extra mile: When there was a problem with location for signing the papers, Sheri arranged for a special session with another escrow agent. And even when there was a problem after the close of escrow, Sheri pursued the issue until we were compensated fairly. Throughout the process, Sheri guided us every step of the way. She had all the necessary contacts to refer us to people we were comfortable working with for financing, inspections and insurance, and she continues to be a valuable resource for recommendations on skilled tradespeople. Overall, our homebuying experience was greatly enhanced by having Sheri Madden on our side. We would be happy to provide further details on our experience."

Sara G. and Jeff M.

"It is important for you to know that Sheri Madden is an excellent real estate agent. Since the first day we spoke, Sheri was consistently diligent, patient, knowledgeable, friendly and well prepared. Her expertise combined with her ability to communicate made us feel educated and confident in our decisions, and her organizational skills enabled us to plan in advance, so we never felt rushed or anxious. Not only was our home purchase technically easy and fast, but it was also enjoyable, in part to Sheri's pleasant personality. Josh and I were also impressed with her ability to successfully be a mom as well as a professional, a truly remarkable feat. Sheri was highly recommended to us by a trusted friend, and I would certainly recommend her to a friend looking to buy or sell a home. We just wanted you to know what a valuable asset Sheri is to your company."

Alisa C. & Josh G.

Richmond

"Thank you for being such a great agent. I'm glad you were on my side!! "

P.S.

Seller

Sheri Madden, Realtor®
DRE #01228854
Red Oak Realty
1575 Hopkins Street
Berkeley, CA 994707
510.501.1317
maddensheri@gmail.com