Exceeding Expectations
"I have been in the real estate and mortgage business...
… for over 40 years. When my mother passed away earlier this year, me and my siblings were faced with what to do with our childhood home. We decided that it was best to sell the property and my siblings suggested I market the property.
Against their request I told them that we needed someone that was an expert and had tenure in San Marino. In searching for the right Realtor, I found Janice and contacted her. From our first conversion I was impressed by her Credentials and Professionalism. I should note that my mother lived in the home for 53 years and therefore the property was worn.
A couple of weeks later I met Janice at the property, and we discussed listing the property, the timeline and an action plan. Janice offered her advice on the price and marketing approach. I always felt like Janice had our best interest in mind.
After agreeing on a sales price and timeline, Janice went to work. She executed the marketing plan like a very successful CEO one step at a time. Along the way she communicated regularly about the progress and her expectations. Within 30 days of the listing the property was sold for above the asking price. Janice had predicted exactly what would happen.
In closing, I would recommend anyone looking to sell or buy a property to contact Janice because she will exceed your expectations. Asmy siblings said after we closed, "Janice is Amazing"
- Gus Altuzarra
"Second to none!”…
… In short, that is how we assess Janice Lee and her team.
My wife has known Janice over the years and while I knew of Janice and her success in real estate, I only met her this past July when interviewing realtors to help sell our San Marino home that we have enjoyed for the past 25 years. It was a very easy decision for us to select Team Janice to represent us. Why?
• You can tell beyond her 40 years of experience, she gets it!
• Just talking to her gives you a very good feeling of her integrity and focus on doing what is right for her clients, and while our home was not
a high-priced home, she and her team treated us as though we were her only client.
• Her strategic thinking was so valuable in assessing all aspects of selling our home, including prepping the house, listing price, etc.
• Her negotiating skills are outstanding and always consulted and provided us options that we could consider before making key decisions.
• She is very direct which is good as we knew at all times where the process and issues stood, and at times, when I challenged her, she was
on top of every detail.
• Her team members, Jane Wang and Lisa Tokuda, were always aligned with the strategy and needs to ensure the effective execution of the
entire process and ultimate sale at a much higher price than list.
• As we relocated to another city, Jane was always going above and beyond to ensure our home was secure and that all work was being
done timely, whether it was after hours and/or weekends. And Lisa was on vacation outside the country during the process but still
continued her work and sending us e-documents to sign!
• She has a team of cost-effective vendors whom she and Jane oversaw that prepared our home for sale. Beyond the timely completion,
Janice has high standards of quality and did a superb job in holding all vendors to quality and timely work. Our home looked so good after
prepping that we told ourselves maybe we should not sell!
In the end, we were extremely happy with the process and the results, and many times during the process we told ourselves that the actions and the results of Janice and her team just continued to validate why we selected Team Janice. You will not go wrong in leveraging her services for your real estate needs, and we want to thank Janice and her team for the awesome service and outcome. We are grateful!
Thank you very much Janice, Jane and Lisa. No doubt you exceeded our expectations!
- Raymond and Kathy
"If you're looking for an experience that's beyond 1st-class,...
… then look no further than Janice Lee and her team! From the very first meeting with Janice, she made us feel like we were her only clients, attentively listening to our needs and goals. Having Janice on our side gave us confidence in an area that felt nearly impossible to enter, and she was absolutely an asset, especially if you are looking for a home in San Marino. Janice was able to navigate the complexities of the market with ease and secure us our dream home. We also had the opportunity to work with Jane Sha, who is part of Team Janice Lee. She was very attentive and detail-oriented, which made our closing process a breeze. Everything was handled flawlessly with the utmost attention to detail. We would highly recommend Janice Lee and her team to anyone looking for guidance and expertise in the San Marino market!
- Katie
"Look what my clients are saying…
Exceptional results . . . Beyond expectations . . . these concluded what Angela has done for our house throughout the whole sale process & representation. Angela and her responsive teams not only prepped the usual steps, but also handled the unusual protocols during these unprecedented, difficult, and challenging times of the pandemic, safer at home, no open houses, social unrests, and curfews.
Constant updates & progress from Angela kept us with the peace of mind throughout this complicated process and managed our concerns at ease. All these extra miles added up and are crucial to our success proven by the extraordinary end results way better than we anticipated.
Our trust in Angela simply turned out to be a smooth transaction and fantastic experiences that we appreciated so much!
- Belinda & Eric (Sellers)
We want to express our sincere gratitude for all that you have done for us. You were invaluable to us as first-time home buyers in a very competitive environment. Your experience showed at every step of the process.
You were very knowledgeable about the local market. You helped us understand all the little neighborhoods in Pasadena and suggested other areas that fit our preferences and personality in neighboring cities as well. We were thrilled to find out that you have relationships with many of the local agents, and you gave us great advice about the worth of various homes and strategies for submitting
our offers in multiple-offer situations.
As first-time home buyers, there were so many little things that we did not know, and you held our hand throughout the confusing process. Your guidance throughout the stressful escrow process was truly amazing.
- Connie & John (Buyers)
"To whom it may concern…
My wife and I would like to recommend Jane Wang as an excellent real estate broker.
We started to search for a home in the San Marino area nearly 10 months ago, and after months of house hunting, we found our dream home thanks to Jane’s diligence and passion.
We were so lucky to have Jane around us down the road. She knew the neighborhood by heart, she listened to our thoughts and needs and was attentive to them, she never rushed us into any decisions on the homes we viewed, she was very knowledgeable and always happy to answer in detail any questions we had. The most important part was that her sense of humor and professionalism made the complicated home purchase an easy journey.
We’d definitely ask for Jane’s help with our future real estate needs, and we’re happy to recommend her to friends and family too.
- Fred & Kate
"We are so grateful for all the work and insight…
…you have given us during our house buying and selling process!
We are now the proud owners of this beautiful home in the best neighborhood. We were so impressed to see your team close the deal artfully and seamlessly and we are forever thankful to you!
In selling our existing home, your team’s expertise helped us to sell the house at such a great price, and so quickly! Despite the rapidly changing market today, your team’s effort helped us enormously to identify the right buyer at a price greater than others in the area. We are beyond pleased with the outcome of the sale!
Special thanks to Greg for being SO patient and helpful throughout the entire process.”
- Jill & Yusheng
"First of all, I want to thank you from the bottom of my heart for selling my house in San Marino. You did a superb job from start to closing...
You were there every step along the way to make sure things were done correctly and perfectly before presenting my house to the public, and achieved a selling price that others said was impossible.
Over the years, I have done quite a few real estate transactions with multiple agents but no one can compare to your knowledge and expertise.
I didn’t know you personally, but over the years I have visited many of your open houses and followed your record of successful sales. So, I decided to go with you when I was ready to sell my last home in San Marino, even though I knew I would be alienated by all of my realtor friends!
During the entire progress, you and your team worked tirelessly everyday. Since I moved out of state the day after I signed the contract, my wonderful neighbors voluntarily reported to me almost daily to tell me how late you guys stayed to make sure the vendors were all doing their jobs efficiently.
I followed your curated services step by step, and at the end, the beautiful staging and the gorgeous pictures of the house were simply... breathtaking! And the record of attendance at the opening house was astonishing! My neighbors called and texted me photos of all the cars on the street coming to see the house... I believe your record showed that we had a total of 263 visitors in the 2 open houses in one weekend! You have done an incredible job with your amazing team members, Jane Wang and Angela Liang. Both of them are talented as well as hard working agents.
This house is very special to me because it’s my mom's favorite home in all the places she has called "home". When I showed my mother the 3 realtors I wanted to choose from, my mom picked you! You have made this whole transaction smooth and seamless and most importantly, you have fulfilled my mom’s wish. For that, I appreciate it with all my heart.
I wish you and your team many successes in the years to come, and I know you will continue to fulfill and surpass many people's wishes!”
- James Tan
"My introduction to Janice Lee came via a friend of mine…
… who highly recommended her to help me sell my 6000sf home in San Marino earlier this year. I set an appointment thereafter to meet with Janice after having a very frustrating and unproductive run.
My home had actually been on/off the market for the better part of three years, yet it never sold which somewhat baffled me.
Of course I questioned the sales price although it was significantly lower than my appraisal figure. My house had been painted, professionally cleaned and maintained, it was a beautiful and spacious home on a large lot with a pool, tennis court and lots of land, and in terms of the market overall, there simply was not much inventory in the 5M+ range at all. So why wasn’t it selling?
Upon meeting with Janice, I was immediately impressed; her demeanor, professionalism, mindful utterances, ability to listen, level of comprehension and intellect. Janice clearly possessed a much more sophisticated understanding of this market and the current buyer profile.
Janice helped me see that the failure of my home to sell previously was multi-factorial and such factors were often overlooked by other agents. Janice explained to me that San Marino buyers, particularly those of certain backgrounds, often will look for specific signs of care and workmanship or lack thereof. They are in most aspects, highly detailed, successful and discerning shoppers. However, we had lost the original shoppers and we could not afford to market a somewhat stigmatized property.
Janice proposed a strategy that required that I remove the home from the market and revive the home somewhat in appearance so that many of the minor flaws, pending repairs, and enhancements were performed. We would thereafter reintroduce the property with a fresher look, a new marketing campaign, a new price point, and of course, a new crowd of potential buyers. Janice’s comprehensive strategy for the new look included; staging the home, designing a more complimentary landscape design, curating and installing art to many of the large oversized white walls, removing clutter, adding similar styled window treatments throughout, addressing pending repairs and defects, and so much more. At every level of action, design, negotiation and planning, Janice was there and in-charge. Janice also made every effort to negotiate the best prices for me and was very respectful of my budget.
Within the original listing period, and a relatively short-time, Janice found me a buyer with a bona fide offer. A deal was struck and the house was sold. There were no contingencies other than loan and inspection, and escrow was relatively smooth and uneventful.
In the final analysis, Janice revealed to me that while there may be an abundance of agents that treat their responsibilities with some requisite amount of care and motivation, there are fewer, like Janice, that deliver an entirely elevated level of experience, expertise, knowledge, competency, motivation and results. By comparative standards alone, the disparity in performance and results are embarrassingly unflattering for the lesser agents.
I generally don’t expend such effort in writing reviews. In this case however, there is simply too much at stake when selling one’s home, and the right agent, can get you to the other side with less stress and much relief. I trust Janice and now consider her not just my agent who helped me through a difficult challenge, but also a friend.
Thank you for reading this and good luck in your next real estate move.”
- Sean Michael Acosta
"Janice Lee helped sell my parent's home...
in San Marino. She was proactive and often went far beyond the call of duty. Her advice, before, during and even after the negotiations was helpful and astute. Her knowledge of the market, of estate-grade homes, and of the probable buyers and sellers is superb….”
- Anthony Skjellum, Ph.D.
In the late summer of 2022...
…we decided to sell our home on Belhaven Road in San Marino, CA. After moving to Colorado in December 2020, we had rented our home with the intention of executing a 1031 sale at some point in the future. We knew Janice from our community volunteer work over the span of the 40 years that we had lived in San Marino. Her many talents and commitment to our community and its schools were long evident to us. Our discussions about how to sell our home confirmed our belief that, in addition to the qualities we had already known her to possess (her hard working spirit, her intelligence and diverse skills), Janice had the best insights into the San Marino market and the most effective approaches to executing the sale of our beloved home.
From the outset, Janice wisely guided us in establishing our asking price and in preparing our home for the sale. She also understood well the requirements for completing a 1031 sale effectively. The strategies used by Janice and her team helped us avoid potential pitfalls and delays during the sale process. We could not have asked for a smoother or more successful outcome than was achieved by her team at Berkshire Hathaway even with the complication of our being out of state during that crucial period.
Janice first carefully evaluated steps that should be taken to make our home more marketable. The updates that she recommended were both attractive and cost effective. In addition, Janice advised us to have our home inspected for potential problems so that all issues could be effectively addressed PRIOR to placing our home on the market. These strategies resulted in a quick sale with no delays or problems to be solved.
Even more importantly, due to our absence, Janice and her team had to take care of all arrangements for and scheduling of work to be done. In particular, her team member Angela Liang spent countless hours at our home supervising work with an attention to detail and a cheerfulness that were outstanding. Both Janice and Angela demonstrated a commitment to us that went above and beyond in every respect! There are not enough ways to convey the depth of our gratitude to them.
Once the upgrades and repairs were completed, Janice arranged the staging and photography necessary to place our home on the market. Every room was staged with tasteful and attractive furniture and decorations highlighting the special features of our classic home with modern touches. She also arranged for finishing touches to our drought-resistant landscape with plantings that “popped” with color. Janice added outdoor furniture that highlighted that wonderful space for prospective buyers. The photography was superb, capturing the beauty of our home for all of the marketing materials. (We did not recognize our own home when we saw it on Zillow!) Finally, the marketing was extensive and effective both in print and online.
The result of all of these effective strategies and diligent work was an outcome that far exceeded our expectations. We received multiple offers, several of which were above asking price. Janice deftly negotiated with the parties involved and guided the process to a sale price that exceeded what we had imagined it would be. The investments that we made, at Janice’s encouragement and advice, prior to placing our home on the market led to multifold returns. These returns were further enhanced by Janice’s wise and experienced guidance in the final steps of the sale.
We always felt well informed and well advised by Janice and her team. Their communication was superb...keeping us posted every step of the way. They were always available when we had questions or concerns. Whenever documents were needed, team manager Lisa Tokuda made sure that they were accurate and provided in a timely fashion even if changes needed to be made in the late hours of a long day! It was such a relief to place everything in their capable hands! Selling a home, especially in today’s market, is so stressful. However, this incredible team guided and supported us with wisdom and great care minimizing that stress and worry.
We unconditionally and eagerly recommend Janice and her team at Berkshire Hathaway as realtors. They are extremely knowledgeable, highly experienced, amazing to work with and exceptionally responsive with all the care and support that a client would need. Thank you again, Janice, Angela and Lisa for all that you did for us!
- Linda and Howard Speil
"After having lived in our house for more than 22 years...
…it was time to downsize with kids all off to college and our retirement just beginning. Seeking the most qualified realtor for our home, we chose Janice Lee of Berkshire Hathaway. We have known Janice from her extensive community involvement such as PFA and San Marino City Club and her 30 plus years of experience as a local bilingual (Mandarin) realtor with a keen knowledge of the San Marino and SMUSD unique residential real estate market. We have not been disappointed. She patiently guided us through the entire process, from market analysis, home staging, and open houses to the escrow process and closing. Her prediction regarding estimated final sales price was spot on. She was a tough negotiator once multiple offers were received and closed escrow just 4 weeks from the date the house went on the market, without any surprises or delays. We could not have been happier. A month after our home sold, a nearly identical home a block away and listed by another broker sold for 10% less. We attribute the difference to Janice's remarkable marketing, staging and negotiating skills. Without reservation, we can highly recommend Janice Lee and her outstanding team, including Angela Liang, office support staff, staging firm, and escrow company. All were highly professional and made our home sale experience a pleasant one.
- Jack & Birgit Gabig
"How Angela's Expertise Made It Possible…
“We had the pleasure of working with Angela after losing in bidding wars on four houses. The first house we saw with her became our home -- thanks to her guidance and ability. We found exactly what we were looking for, in our budget, because she took the time to understand our needs and connect with the seller’s agent to fully understand the seller’s needs as well. Her timely advice, persistence, and deep knowledge of the area and of other agents sets her apart from the rest. Angel exceeded our expectations and I’ve already referred several friends and colleagues to her.”
- Nirav R. Shah, MD
"A Testimony of Jane’s Dedication and Expertise...
Thank you for helping us find a home. You assisted us in souring Arcadia, Temple City, and Monrovia before finding the home of our dreams in the Rosedale area of Azusa.
You really showed professionalism when we felt discouraged. You constantly kept in touch and E-Mailed properties that you felt matched what we wanted.
You were extremely patient, and willing to help in any way possible. You were not pushy to get the sale and always looked out for our best interest.
When we finally found a home we wanted in the Rosedale community of Azusa; you went out of your way to make sure we were in the first position, locking out other potential buyers. As a result we got the best lot with the most desirable floor plan.
Homes in our community with our floor plan are now priced $50,000 higher than what we paid. The last 2 phases sold in one day (With people camping out for 2 days!)
We would be happy to recommend you to anyone who is looking to purchase or sell their home.
Sincerely,
Allan & Susana DeBlase
"Over the past ten years,
our family has lived in eight homes across the United States. Janice Lee is, without a doubt, the best real estate agent we have ever encountered. Her experience and enthusiasm is unsurpassed. Janice is a skilled and tireless strategist and negotiator. She is, in a word, FANTASTIC!!!”
- Wendy & Guy Glazier
"We cannot thank you enough...
…for all that you have done for us. You are the consummate real estate professional. You developed a strategic plan and executed it to perfection. Having been a banking executive for so many years, I appreciate driven, achievement-oriented professionals. I can conclude, you are ‘world-class’!”
- Esther & Dan Wee
"To say that Janice Lee is the best in the San Gabriel Valley is an understatement...
She and her team of real-estate professionals are MIRACLE workers. My wife and I have been very fortunate to have known Janice and her team for the last 20 years. She helped us purchase our 1st home in North San Gabriel (our offer was one amongst 13 offers, and we won despite not being the highest offer), and then she helped us move into San Marino seven years later by making our offer stand out in a sea of all-cash buyers. Most recently, Janice and her team member, Angela Liang, helped us make a “round trip” on our starter home, garnishing top dollar with multiple offers and completing the transaction within 100 days from the time of taking the house back from being a rental to closing escrow. She understood the emotional attachment that we had to our home, and not only did she hit the secret internal price point that she had set for herself to surprise us, she was able to help us choose the right family that will continue to care for the home and also create fond memories like we have.
Her innate ability to understand her clients, evaluate the situation, and bring her invaluable experience to bear made what one would think of as an arduous and daunting process a complete breeze, as Janice and her team handled ABSOLUTELY everything. Both being busy professionals ourselves, we had no time to coordinate contractors or get involved with the process. All we simply had to do was listen and trust her advice, and she never steered us wrong. She even bent over backwards and catered to our schedules, getting on a call with us around midnight to walk us through the pros and cons of the offers that we received!
All of the aforementioned results, which Janice can help anyone achieve if they are fortunate enough to have her as their agent and if they are willing to listen to all her years of wisdom, are fantastic and wonderful in their own right. All of this, though, pales in comparison before the lifelong bond that has been formed over the years between Janice and our family, not only as a trusted advisor, but as a true family friend, mentor, and life coach!
- Stanley & Annie Huang
"When my wife and I decided to buy a house...
…neither of us had any idea what we were doing. By an incredible stroke of good luck, we were referred to Janice Lee. Janice, quite simply, has been the most amazing realtor we could have possibly imagined.
I'm not sure how most people determine if a realtor is "good". I would guess most judge by traditional measures of selling price, transaction speed, and ultimately whether a deal gets done. If those were the sole criteria, Janice would certainly be at the top of the charts, as her track record speaks for itself.
However, it's the other intangibles that make Janice so special. Janice treated us like family since we first met. I have never felt that she was trying to take advantage or act against our best interests. She patiently answered all of our questions (at any hour of the day!), providing sage advice and prodding us when necessary. She happily put us in touch with her personal network of contractors, and personally made sure that we loved our house after we moved in. She built and earned our trust.
After we bought our first house with Janice, the relationship didn't stop. After all, she was a member of the family! Seven years after we bought our first home, we wanted to move to a bigger house. A true professional, she didn't just assume that we would choose her to represent us. She and Angela Liang brought their "A-game, and pitched us on why they were the right team for the job.
Since Janice and Angela knew us so well, they were able to find us the perfect home that matched the needs of our growing family. Janice knew we had to sell our current home as soon as possible, and beautifully staged and aggressively marketed our home. Although there was a lot of activity during this time, we always felt that Janice and Angela were effortlessly controlling the chaos. The final sale price of our home was more than we ever thought possible. So our second (and third) transactions with Janice were even better than our first! Thank you Janice and team for everything! We absolutely love our new home.
- Mark & Luda Kane
"A friend recently asked if I would recommend...
the realtor who helped my wife and I find our dream home. I told him I’d recommend Janice Lee the same way I’d recommend rainbows or oxygen. As a screenwriter, I spend my days conjuring alien invasions, international conspiracies, and star-crossed lovers torn apart by time travel and giant sloths. I have an overactive imagination. Yet I find it impossible to imagine a better realtor.
When my wife and I decided to move to San Marino, the prospect of uprooting our lives on the west side and moving to a new community was a little daunting. We knew enough about the area to fall in love with it, but we didn’t know every street, every price point, every nuance of the highly competitive real estate market that makes San Marino so unique. Luckily, we didn’t have to. We had Janice Lee.
From the minute we started working with Janice, my wife and I knew we could relax. She took care of us as if we were family, and made San Marino feel like home even before we found our house. I’m not sure how she was able to pick up on our tastes so quickly, but within a week she knew what we were looking for better than we did.
By the time the perfect house came along, we knew we could trust Janice to steer us through what was sure to be a competitive bidding situation. Buying a home can be an emotional process, but when it looked like we might get carried away, Janice wouldn’t let us overbid. Her knowledge of the market and painstaking research led us to the perfect offer and the smoothest process we could have hoped for.
From start to finish, there was never a moment when Janice was anything less than a consummate professional. Fast, responsive, patient, courteous, knowledgeable, detail-oriented… there’s no question she loves what she does. I’ve never worked with anyone – in any line of work – who cares more about a job done right. It was honestly a learning experience for me, and not just about real estate.
- Jason & Amanda Tracey
"People are impressed...
when I tell them, “My mother’s home in San Marino sold in one day! With multiple offers! At our first meeting, you clearly outlined how the transaction should progress and everything happened just as you said it would. Working with you was a pleasure!”
- Mary Alice Downey, JD
"We have been even more impressed...
with your professionalism, energy, experience and myriad skills as you represented to as both buyers and sellers in the real estate market. Your negotiating skills with both our buyers and sellers were amazing, and we both, as lawyers, marveled at your abilities.”
- Joan & Pat Cathcart
"No words can really express my gratitude...
to you for everything that you have done for my family in the sale of our San Marino home.
We moved into this house 29 years ago when our son was only 9 years old. We had created lots of wonderful, fond memories there and thought it would remain as our family home through our retirement years. We had thoughts about remodeling the baths and the backyards etc. in 2011. Then suddenly our lives took a sharp turn. My beloved husband of 37 years passed away unexpectedly one day. As I look back on these 7 years since his passing, I find myself extremely blessed with so many Angels to protect and guide me along the way. Janice, you are indeed one of my Angels.
In April we interviewed 3 top real estate agents in San Marino and we chose you not just because of your impressive sales records, knowledge in the local market, confidence and professionalism. Most of all, your personality and poise make you stand out among your peers. During these months working with you, I am even more impressed by your work ethics, caring for your clients and always having client’s best interest in heart.
I am so glad that I listened to your advice to do some work to the house both interiorly and exteriorly before it was put on the market. The whole process of preparation was daunting and for sure, I would not be able to achieve on my own. You have acquired such an amazing team of workers of all trades working with you. I just love to call them, Janice A-team!
I remembered when I left the house for the last time, I could see the house smiling back at me. I knew the new owner is not going to demolish the house, but will remodel and upgrade it to the next level. You have definitely enabled the house to attract the right buyer. This is all because of your tireless attention to details, expertise in marketing, presentation and negotiation tactics.
You have no idea how much you have helped me reach this stage of my life journey so peacefully. I thank you from the bottom of my heart. My gratefulness & admiration to you will stay with me for the rest of my years.
Keep up your positive sunny attitude and continue to make a difference in the lives of all your future clients!
- Doris Cheng
"I can't imagine...
anyone more thorough and professional. Your suggestions were excellent, your marketing approach was comprehensive and it all paid off. Your knowledge of the market is superior. You know what questions to ask and what answers to offer. Your history of success speaks for itself.”
- Diane & Steve Feldon
"We want to thank you...
for the truly professional approach you demonstrated in selling our San Marino home in late 2018. We would recommend your service to anyone contemplating listing their home in San Marino or Pasadena.
Your approach to pricing, marketing, cosmetic refurbishment, and staging produced an outstanding final result. Your valuable experience, specific market knowledge, and negotiating ability were the key to our receiving the true value of our home in the end.
Furthermore, working with you was truly a pleasure. You were diligent, responsive, and personable. Your resourcefulness including access to key city personnel, handymen, painters, and the perfect staging company was extraordinary. We would not have received as many offers as we did without your proper positioning of our home.
We would be very happy to provide a personal reference for you and your team anytime.
- Tom Goff
"When we decided to list our house...
for sale due to our family job relocation, we interviewed numerous top real estate agents from San Marino, South Pasadena and Arcadia. Once we spoke with Janice, the decision of choosing which realtor became very obvious. Janice Lee and her team were professional, knowledgeable, and caring!!! From the beginning of our first meeting, Janice have been very thorough. She explained the entire sale process, provided us the statistics of prior sales in the area, current listings, the rationales of the listing price of our property, and gave valuable suggestions to help us prepare our house for sale. Janice had her teamwork with us to transform our front and backyard to an amazing picturesque landscapes admired by potential buyers at the open house. Janice’s attention to details and her creativities also help the staging of our house transforming it into a beautiful lovely living home!!! Once our house was ready for sale, Janice actively listed them on her websites, various websites and local newspapers etc. and allowing the house to the maximum exposure to the potential buyers. Janice is a truly unique and special agent that has taken our goal from the very beginning of the process and make it to become realty within the shortest possible time that we can ever imagine. In fact, our house was sold in less than one week!!! Without a doubt, we are truly grateful to Janice Lee for her outstanding performance in helping us sell our house in such a short time with a dozen offers from qualified buyers. What set Janice apart from other realtors in the area are the facts that she always works tireless and goes beyond her duties to support her client throughout the sale process until the transaction has successfully gone through. For example, during our escrow period, we had issues that came up which required quick solutions, Janice stayed on top of the problems and went beyond her duties to offer solutions, thus ensuring the smooth completion of sale process. At the happy ending of our house sale, we are extremely to say: “Janice has really exceeded our expectations in many ways!! She has been professional, responsive, caring, proactive, and gotten us the best price for our house”. We would highly recommend Janice Lee for any real estate transactions without any hesitations.
- Shou-Jiang & Tracy Gao
"Janice Lee, Luxury Properties Director...
of Berkshire Hathaway, recently sold our home in San Marino. She is a true professional. Under Janice's direction, her team of experts prepared our home for sale. Preparation included repainting inside and out, sanding and refinishing all hardwood floors, landscaping multiple areas in the front and back yards, repairs in the house and garage, advertising, and staging. All work done was completed efficiently, and greatly enhanced the beauty, charm, and sale ability of our home.
We moved out of our home so the work could begin. In less than a month the house was on the market. After twenty-seven offers, most of which were higher than the listing price, escrow closed smoothly.
Janice's knowledge of the real estate business, and her ability to interpret the needs of her clients is phenomenal. We are so thankful Janice Lee was our realtor because she is simply the best!
- Cynthia Swanson
"Your handling of the sale of our home...
and the subsequent purchase or our current home was handled with professionalism, creativity, and integrity beyond reproach! We felt first-hand the cumulative years of experience, relationships and techniques that you have so expertly developed and nurtured.”
- Susan & Bruce Weiner
"We had not been involved in a real estate transaction...
for over 20 years when our mother passed away and we faced the sale of our parents' home of 53 years. Luckily, we had strict instructions to engage Janice Lee when this time came. Janice was a godsend! She is the utmost professional with a keen ability to help us, as sellers, balance the emotional and business sides of preparing and selling a home. She is sharp, knowledgeable, and a great communicator (with a good see of humor!). She has solid history in the San Marino market and her experience was invaluable. Janice made sure we understood what to expect every step of the way. And her network of professionals helped us prepare the home for sale quickly with expert results. We sold the property in record time for more than our asking price! We strongly endorse Janice Lee.
- Cyndi & Dave Williams
"You were not only patient...
in educating us about the market, but were ethical, diligent and responsive to our requests. Your keen insight into the ever-changing San Marino real estate market was invaluable to us.”
- Lucy Huang & Tim Chang
"I never thought too high of real estate brokers/agents...
I always thought the commissions they asked for were unreasonable, especially when selling homes in a desirable area, which in most thought processes, would seem easy....but it’s not as easy as it sounds, as I learned, soon after deciding to put our modest home up for sale in North San Gabriel. Janice and Angela were introduced to us through a family connection...I knew they were ‘hot shot’ agents in the area, specializing in high end property and doing very well, so I didn’t expect them to be too interested in selling our small, humble home, but I was wrong! Yes, real estate professionals are trained to always smile and have a great attitude, which Janice and Angela did very well, but what impressed me the most, was the “game plan” they had already envisioned in their heads as they were touring the house. Janice suggested certain upgrades and fixes, that I first didn’t agree with, but I decided to ride the momentum of enthusiasm they had, and went with all of their suggestions, even though it meant unplanned out of pocket expenses on our end. After all was said and done with the house, Janice and Angela strategized on marketing and did so well, that my wife and I had second thoughts about selling the house! Ultimately, the house sold in a week for 12.5% over asking, while other homes in the area stayed on the market longer and didn’t sell for as much! Janice and Angela have definitely earned their commission and have squashed any misinterpretations I’ve had about real estate brokers/agents making too much money. Most do not deserve the commissions they’re charging, but Janice and Angela DEFINITELY earn theirs.”
- Julie & Gen Miyano
"At the request of our church trustees...
we were asked to participate in the sale of a residence owned by our church in San Marino, which had been in the church’s name since it was built in 1948. The proceeds were to be used for the long-term sustenance of our church, so the careful selection of both the Agency and Realtor were crucial. Listing with Janice Lee and Angela Liang of Team Janice with Berkshire-Hathaway was the best possible move that we could have made! Both Janice and Angela have an outstanding knowledge of the San Marino market, having served this community as top Realtors in their professional capacity and as tireless volunteers for more than 35 years combined. Both were immediate in their pursuit to freshen up the home using a wonderful cadre of vendors that were both reliable and reasonably priced. Angela’s most unique trait is her ability to remember and address the minute details of a transaction while always being there for any needed “hand-holding”! No task toward the sale was too insignificant or unimportant for Angela to tend to. The home was freshened up with stunning color coordination and currently stylish enhancements, beautiful new landscape touches, and was staged perfectly before the listing. Nothing more could have been done to elicit a more attractive home and successful sale! We promptly received multiple offers significantly above our listing price. Janice carefully and skillfully reviewed each, and, where appropriate, asked additional qualifying questions and assisted us in making counter-offers. In the end we are certain that we ended up with the Buyer who was the best match for our church. Thank you Janice and Angela for your amazing abilities and dynamic work ethic!”
- David Crist, Chair - Trustees
"REALTOR® extraordinaire...
once in a while you meet a professional who defines the term. Janice Lee is one of such people. She had a strong understanding of what would be suitable for us, having spent hours learning our preferences. She is professional to the core. She expects, delivers, and is the best!”
- Dr. Pavel & Meeta Bindra
"Thanks a million...
for the remarkable job you did for my mom in selling her home in San Marino. I want to take this opportunity to share a few personal thoughts with you. I am 57 and have dealt with many realtors through the years. When we sold our home in Agoura Hills 3 years ago we dealt with a close friend of ours who happened to be the top residential realtor in our area. She did a dynamite job for us. Our house sold quickly, we came away with more money than we had expected and were totally pleased in every regard. Prior to working with you, it was inconceivable to me that a realtor could be any better than her. ...You are without peers in a special class all your own. It was absolutely amazing how every detail of your plan played out exactly as they had earlier been described.... You researched recent “comps” and did a thoughtful analysis based on many important variables and considerations. The asking price turned out to be “Right on the Money.” ...You delivered on each and every element we were told to expect. I want to thank you for your professional expertise, your tireless work ethic, your conscientious attention to even the smallest details, but most of all you were consistently thoughtful and sensitive to my (81 year old) mom’s situation in that she was selling the home in which she had lived for the past 43 years. ...You sold my mom’s home for substantially more than the asking price and our whole family could not be happier. And all because we had the good fortune of dealing with the Best Realtor in the Business! Janice, you will always have my gratitude, admiration and affection.“
- Bob Barlam
"Her expertise in real estate...
especially estate properties, helped us set targets in the sale of our home in every respect. Her skills in marketing secured the sale with multiple offers from qualified buyers. The highest offer far exceeded our expectations.”
- Nadia Lee
"Janice was instrumental in helping us...
with a complex move to the East Coast. It was of course an adventure to move across country after living in the same house for almost 30 years. To make it even more challenging, we were traveling out of the country during the sales process. What could have been stressful for us turned out to be effortless. Janice and her recommended escrow company planned everything out ahead of schedule so that all documents could be signed by us in Europe and instantly transmitted. With virtually instant communication, we conducted speedy and successful negotiations and were fully involved in the process. We could also share the experience with family members abroad, thanks to her constant e-mail communications, beautiful brochures, and a visual tour of our San Marino house. Janice made helpful suggestions about every aspect of the sale from the very beginning. She made us feel at ease from the outset because she is so knowledgeable and confident. She understands the marketplace thoroughly, is generous in sharing her advice and insights, and was sensitive to our particular needs. She and her team were always organized and responsive to questions. She also readily accommodated our schedule, which, with a lot of traveling planned, was quite constricting. The marketing and sale was a very disciplined and organized process that turned out exactly as Janice anticipated. She recommended very good crafts people to assist in preparing the property for sale. We were extremely pleased with the cross-country moving company she recommended. Perhaps what makes it such a pleasure to work with Janice, in addition to her consummate professionalism, is her infectious enthusiasm and the enjoyment she takes in her work. She is the perfect example of an optimistic and upbeat person, and this comes through in every detail of her work, from the initial market analysis, through planning the staging of the property, conducting skillful negotiations, and finally, closing escrow and facilitating the move. Working with Janice makes selling a house good fun!”
- Steve & Christine Morris
"We want to describe our experience selling my mother's home...
after her passing with Janice Lee as our realtor. It was the easiest and most rewarding experience we could have imagined. Janice guided us in every aspect of the sale for a great outcome. She directed us as to what needed to be done to bring the house up to par with what buyers would be looking for and expecting. We took her advice on everything from the colors the house should be painted both inside and out, to the hardwood floor refurbishment and stain color, to the upgrades of lighting, heating and air conditioning and the staging. We used the contractors she suggested with great results and wonderful prices. Janice told us from the beginning her marketing and pricing strategy, saying with how she wants to conduct the sale we would receive multiple offers. She was not wrong, from the house selling in less than a week with multiple offers much more than asking price. Janice told us to put our trust in her and we're certainly glad we did. We were kept abreast of every detail throughout the process with her hands on approach from beginning to end. Anyone who wants an easy and most rewarding experience dealing with a most trying and confusing experience of selling a house will definitely be pleased with how easy Janice will make it. Thanks to her and her whole team!!!
- Craig & Kim Williams
During my husband's career as a lawyer and superior court judge...
we had many contacts and business relationships with real estate brokers. We were impressed from the very beginning of our relationship with your knowledge of the real estate market, your sound advice and your patient commitment to our needs.”
- Evelyn & Bernie Kaufman
"One of the best decisions my wife and I ever made...
was choosing Janice Lee and her team to be our realtor. Janice and her team/Angela Liang led a transformative remodel of our home, extensively promoted our home, staged and showed the home with great effectiveness, obtained 19 offers and negotiated a final offer well above list price. A complicating factor was that this entire process took place after we already moved to the Bay Area. We trusted Janice and they communicated with us and managed everything seamlessly. We could not have obtained this unparalleled result without Janice’s vision, experience, savvy and work ethic…
Janice was also a very savvy and tough advocate. She treated our money like it was her own and only advised us to spend money when necessary and economical. Janice carefully reviewed our 19 offers and sent us a spreadsheet listing various factors to consider for each offer. She expertly maneuvered the back and forth with opposing realtors and many potential buyers upped their best offers to stay in the negotiation. When there were last minute complications with the ultimate buyer, Janice was prudent and deliberate in successfully guiding us through that process…
In sum, we received an exemplary level of service, guidance and professionalism from Janice and Angela. Although our home in Alhambra is modest in comparison to the homes that Janice and her team usually handle, Janice told us early on that she enjoys working with younger clients such as ourselves. We are grateful that Janice felt this way and we thoroughly enjoyed working with her too. We received the highest dedication and expertise from her and Angela. On a personal note, Janice is also warm, smart, witty and personable and we felt we made a good friend during this process as well. For anyone looking to buy or sell a home, we wholeheartedly recommend Janice and her team.
- Hoyt & Rebecca Sze
“Kevin and I have been involved in many real estate transactions...
but none has been as organized, professional and enjoyable as our experience with you in San Marino. Your advice throughout the process was thoughtful and insightful. You listened to our needs and goals and exceeded them.”
- Keri & Kevin Cameron
"How do you sell and buy a new home whilst 6 months pregnant during a national pandemic?...
With TEAM JANICE LEE!
My husband and I decided to plunge into the aggressive home buying/selling experience during the COVID-19 pandemic. Since Janice Lee had found my parents’ home for them about 30 years ago, we got connected with Janice through our parents. When we finally found our perfect home for our growing family in Pasadena, we were in the thick of a competitive bidding situation. With Janice and her team member Angela Liang’s solid knowledge of the market and area, we were able to purchase our new home with the best offer we could have hoped for.
Then we were on to the next project of selling our first home! From start to finish, Janice Lee and Angela Liang gave us their undivided attention on how to promote, stage, and manage the selling of our home. Within 7 days of putting it on the market, we received 45 offers! I know we would not have received that many so quickly, if it wasn’t for Janice’s approach on pricing and expertise on the market. Janice held our hand throughout the offer selection process and gave us her knowledge that only experience of her caliber can bring. What is already considered a stressful and arduous process, Janice and her team handled everything with such ease – all we had to do was trust her.
Thanks to Janice and her Team, my growing family and I are so happy with our home. There is no doubt that we will be seeking and recommending Team Janice Lee for any future home transactions..
- Lisa Maki & Eric Tome
"It should be easy to sell your house in this market but to get the maximum return...
…you have to know someone who is dedicated and knows the real estate business better than your average agent. I have so many friends and relatives that are real estate agents and in the past, I have used them, but never satisfied with the outcome.
This time I reached out to Janice Lee for selling my townhouse in Monrovia. I have known Janice for about fifteen years and I am so mad at myself for not using her service in my past real estate deals.
Janice and her team did an amazing job selling my house. They prepared, cleaned, and staged my place so beautifully that I almost changed my mind about selling it. I was happy to sell it at $580K since the last unit in the compound sold for $555K about 5 months ago, but with her amazing pricing strategy and negotiation skills, she was able to get me $650K!!! That's 17% above the last sold unit! The house was only on the market for 4 days and I received 22 offers in the short time frame and closed the deal in 2 weeks!
Janice operates like a neurosurgeon; always checking with her Team Member, Jane Wang to make sure every aspect of the house is precisely “ready” for the “big day”.
Janice, Thank you for everything and you know that I will refer you to everyone that I know.
- Henrik Voskanian