DR. DAN BERLAU, ASSISTANT PROFESSOR, UC IRVINE SCHOOL OF MEDICINE WE JUST WANT TO TAKE A MOMENT AND SHARE OUR GREAT EXPERIENCE WITH DON AND ELAINE STARK OF STARK TEAM REALTY. THEY ORIGINALLY SOLD OUR HOUSE TO US IN PORTOLA HILLS IN 1997. WHEN IT WAS TIME TO SELL, WE KNEW WE WOULD CALL THEM TO LIST OUR HOME. OVER THE YEARS THEY HAVE ALWAYS BEEN THE MOST RESPECTED REALTORS AND MOST PROFESSIONAL. WHEN WE MADE THE CALL TO ELAINE TO LIST OUR HOME, SHE MADE TIME TO SEE US IMMEDIATELY. WE HAD A LOT OF QUESTIONS AND THEY HAD ANSWERS TO ALL OF THEM. THEY WOULD RETURN ANY CALL WE MADE TO THEM WITHIN MINUTES AND NEVER KEPT US WAITING. OUR SALE WAS A SHORT SALE AND DON AND ELAINE WORK WITH THE MOST PROFESSIONAL SHORT SALES COMPANY MAKING SURE EVERYTHING IS DONE PERFECTLY. THERE WERE NEVER ANY GLITCHES AND EVERYTHING RAN SMOOTHLY. THEY ALSO HELPED US FIND OUR NEW HOME- EVEN TRAIPSING OUT IN THE RAIN ON SUNDAY MORNING TO SHOW US HOUSES. WE CAN'T STRESS ENOUGH HOW HIGHLY WE WOULD RECOMMEND THEM WHETHER YOU ARE BUYING, SELLING OR LEASING A HOME. NOT ONLY ARE THEY HONEST AND DISCREET, THEY ARE GREAT PEOPLE PERSONALLY! IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS, YOU CAN CALL US ANYTIME. SINCERELY,

IF YOU ARE LOOKING FOR A TERRIFIC ONE-TWO PUNCH FOR YOUR NEXT HOME SELLING ADVENTURE, THEN LOOK NO FURTHER THAN THE STARK TEAM. DON AND ELAINE STARK HAVE THE EXPERIENCE AND ATTITUDE NECESSARY TO MAKE SELLING YOUR HOME SUCCESSFUL AND PAINLESS! I RECENTLY SOLD MY CONDOMINIUM IN IRVINE IN WHAT WAS SAID TO BE A "BUYERS MARKET". AFTER SPEAKING WITH AN AGENT AT REDFIN, I WAS DISAPPOINTED IN THE LEVEL OF EXPERTISE AND COMMITMENT THAT I WITNESSED. I CALLED ELAINE STARK AND HIRED THE STARK TEAM, AFTER REALIZING QUICKLY THAT DON AND ELAINE WERE MOTIVATED AND QUALIFIED TO HELP ME SELL MY PLACE. THEY HELPED ME THROUGH THE LISTING PROCESS, SUGGESTING PRICING CHANGES, BUT NEVER INSISTING ON THEM. THEY LET ME BE IN CHARGE, BUT THEY WERE THERE TO HELP THE PROCESS ALONG. BECAUSE IT WAS A BUYERS' MARKET, I HAD PREPARED MYSELF FOR BEING ON THE MARKET FOR A LONG TIME - MONTHS OF SHOWINGS AND OPEN HOUSES - A BRUTAL OUTLOOK! TO MY SURPRISE, ELAINE TOLD ME THAT WE HAD RECEIVED AN OFFER AFTER ONLY A FEW DAYS! THE STARK TEAM HAD FOUND THE BUYER - AND WOULD BE REPRESENTING BOTH SIDES OF THE TRANSACTION. INITIALLY, I WAS CONCERNED - HOW COULD THE STARK TEAM HAVE BOTH SIDES' BEST INTERESTS IN MIND? I FOUND OUT QUICKLY THAT MY CONCERNS WERE UNFOUNDED - AS DON AND ELAINE WERE PERFECTLY BALANCED IN THEIR ROLE - ALLOWING FOR BOTH BUYER AND SELLER TO BENEFIT FROM THE SITUATION. AFTER THE PRICE HAD BEEN AGREED UPON - THE FIRST SNAG THAT CAME UP WAS THAT THE BUYER INSISTED THAT THE ENTIRE LIST OF HOME INSPECTION ISSUES BE FIXED! MY INITIAL RESPONSE WAS FRUSTRATION - UNTIL DON CALLED ME AND SAID THAT WE COULD TAKE CARE OF THE ENTIRE LIST AND IT WOULD NOT COST ME AN ARM AND A LEG. I ASKED HOW AND HE INFORMED ME THAT HE IS QUITE THE HANDYMAN! WITHIN A WEEK, DON CAME OVER AND TOGETHER WE REPAIRED 90% OF THE PROBLEMS - AND HE DID IT ALL FOR FREE! I HAD NEVER SEEN THIS KIND OF DEDICATION BEFORE IN A REALTOR. AFTER THE INSPECTION LIST WAS COMPLETE, THERE WERE NO MORE PROBLEMS AND THE SALE WENT OFF WITHOUT A HITCH. THE CONDOMINIUM SOLD WITHIN MY IDEAL TIME FRAME - ALLOWING ME TO PURCHASE MY NEW HOME FOR A SEAMLESS TRANSITION - NO RENTING! I WOULD HIGHLY RECOMMEND THE STARK TEAM FOR ANY REAL ESTATE TRANSACTION IN ORANGE COUNTY. I WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH MY EXPERIENCE AND WISH THAT MORE REALTORS HAD THE DEDICATION AND EXPERTISE THAT THEY DO.

WHEN WE FIRST DECIDED TO SELL OUR PROPERTY, THE FIRST QUESTION THAT JUMPED TO MY MIND WAS: WITH THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION, HOW LONG WOULD IT TAKE TO SELL OUR HOME? THEN I FOUND OUT THAT MY NEIGHBOR’S REAL ESTATE AGENT SOLD HER HOUSE WITHIN 5 DAYS. I IMMEDIATELY CONTACTED THE "STARK TEAM" - DON AND ELAINE STARK. DON AND ELAINE ARE VERY PROFESSIONAL AND HAVE MORE THAN 30 YEARS OF REAL ESTATE EXPERIENCE. THEY ALWAYS PROVIDED US WITH THE MOST UP-TO-DATE MARKET INFORMATION AND HELPED US DECIDE ON A REASONABLE LISTING PRICE. BECAUSE OF DON’S STRONG CONSTRUCTION BACKGROUND, HE EXPLAINED EVERY DETAIL OF THE HOME INSPECTION REPORT AND EVEN HELPED OUT WITH SOME OF THE REQUIRED IMPROVEMENTS. AFTER THE PROPERTY WAS PUT ON THE MARKET, ELAINE KEPT ME UP-TO-DATE EVERY DAY AND ALWAYS PROMPTLY RETURNED MY NUMEROUS PHONE CALLS. BOTH DON AND ELAINE ARE VERY ORGANIZED AND EXPERIENCED. THEY MADE THE TRANSACTION AND ESCROW PROCESS EASY AND STRAIGHT FORWARD. WITHIN ONE MONTH, WE SOLD OUR PROPERTY AND WERE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE PRICE. I NEVER KNEW THAT SELLING A HOUSE COULD BE SO FAST AND EASY UNDER THE CURRENT ECONOMIC SITUATION. BEFORE I MET DON AND ELAINE, I WAS VERY WORRIED AND HAD NUMEROUS UNANSWERED QUESTIONS. HOWEVER, DON AND ELAINE TRULY MADE THIS A WORRY-FREE TRANSACTION. BESIDES BEING GREAT REAL ESTATE AGENTS, DON AND ELAINE ARE ALSO GREAT PEOPLE AT HEART. THEY ARE VERY CONSIDERATE AND CARING AND WILL ANSWER ANY OF YOUR QUESTIONS, WHETHER THEY ARE BUSINESS-RELATED OR NOT. WE BECAME FRIENDS AND KEPT IN TOUCH EVEN AFTER CLOSING ESCROW. I FEEL SO LUCKY TO HAVE THEM BOTH AS MY AGENTS AS WELL AS MY LIFETIME FRIENDS.

ELAINE AND DON, I AM WRITING TO SAY THAT I WAS COMPLETELY SATISFIED WITH YOUR HANDLING OF THE SALE OF MY HOME. DURING OUR INITIAL MEETING, YOU LISTENED CAREFULLY TO MY SITUATION AND IDEAS ABOUT HOW I WANTED TO POSITION THE HOME ON THE MARKET. YOU PROVIDED DIRECT FEEDBACK ON HOW THE HOME WOULD BE RECEIVED BY BUYERS ACCORDING TO MARKET ANALYSIS, THE EXPERIENCE OF THE NEIGHBORHOOD, COMPARABLES, AND CURRENT REAL ESTATE TRENDS. WE THEN AGREED ON A SALES STRATEGY, AND THE WHEELS STARTED ROLLING. EVERYTHING YOU DID TO SHOWCASE THE HOME WAS "RIGHT ON", THE PHOTOS WERE TOP NOTCH AS WELL AS THE HELPFUL HINTS. THE HOME SOLD QUICKLY AND AT THE RIGHT PRICE, ALLOWING ME TO MOVE ON TO THE NEXT STAGE OF MY LIFE. YOUR EXPERIENCE, DIPLOMACY, KNOWLEDGE OF THE MARKET, PATIENCE IN DIFFICULT NEGOTIATIONS BROUGHT A SUCCESSFUL CONCLUSION. YOU ENCOURAGED ME ALONG THE WAY AND KEPT ME INFORMED AT ALL TIMES, I COULD NOT HAVE ASKED FOR MORE. I WOULD ALSO LIKE TO SAY "THANK YOU" FOR HELPING ME FIND AND PURCHASE ANOTHER HOME AFTER THE SALE OF THE PREVIOUS ONE. WORKING WITH YOU BOTH HAS BEEN A MOST REWARDING EXPERIENCE OF SELLING AND BUYING HOMES. I WHOLEHEARTEDLY RECOMMEND THE STARK TEAM FOR THEIR HARD WORK AND DEDICATION, THANK YOU. SINCERELY,

DEAR DON AND ELAINE, DENISE AND I WANTED TO EXTEND OUR DEEPEST APPRECIATION TO YOU BOTH, FOR ALL OF YOUR EFFORTS IN THE SALE OF OUR HOME. DECIDING TO MOVE AWAY FROM THE PLACE WE'VE CALLED HOME FOR 10 YEARS WAS DIFFICULT, BUT DECIDING ON WHO WOULD REPRESENT US IN THE SALE WAS NOT. ALTHOUGH WE HAD A CLOSE FRIEND AND ADDITIONALLY A NEIGHBOR, IN THE REALTOR BUSINESS, WE NEVER CONSIDERED ANY OTHER OPTION THAN STARK TEAM REAL ESTATE. YOUR INDUSTRY EXPERIENCE, IN ADDITION TO YOUR KNOWLEDGE AND EXPERTISE IN THE PORTOLA HILLS COMMUNITY, MADE OUR DECISION VERY EASY. THIS WAS THE THIRD HOME WE HAVE SOLD IN OUR LIVES, AND WE KNOW FROM EXPERIENCE THAT THERE ARE ALWAYS "HICCUPS" IN THE PROCESS. HOWEVER, YOUR ATTENTION TO DETAIL MADE THIS SALE AS SMOOTH AND EASY AS POSSIBLE. YOUR CALMING INFLUENCE ON TWO HYPER "NEW YORKERS", ALLOWED US TO CONCENTRATE ON ALL OF THE OTHER ASPECTS OF MOVING CROSS COUNTRY.THROUGHOUT THE PROCESS, ANYONE THAT WE HAD TO INTERACT WITH (TITLE COMPANIES, ESCROW OFFICERS, REALTORS), ALL COMMENTED ON HOW METICULOUS AND THOROUGH YOU BOTH WERE. WE ARE GRATEFUL FOR YOUR EXPERIENCE IN THE PROCESS AND KNEW THAT YOU ALWAYS HAD THINGS UNDER CONTROL. WE BOTH WISH YOU CONTINUED SUCCESS IN THE FUTURE AND DON'T JUST CONSIDER YOU OUR REALTORS BUT OUR FRIENDS.

THANK YOU AGAIN SO MUCH FOR ALL YOUR HARD WORK IN THE SALE OF 38 LEHIGH AISLE. AS A REALTOR MYSELF, I ALWAYS HAVE A VERY HIGH EXPECTATION OF THE "OTHER" AGENT WHEN I AM INVOLVED IN A TRANSACTION WHERE I'M INVOLVED PERSONALLY IN THE SALE, AND YOU AND DON WITHOUT A DOUBT, COMPLETELY EXCEEDED OUR EXPECTATIONS. I APPRECIATE YOU ALWAYS KEEPING US INFORMED, ALWAYS PROBLEM SOLVING, AND MOST IMPORTANTLY ALWAYS BEING AVAILABLE WHEN WE HAD A QUESTION OR CONCERN. WE FELT VERY CONFIDENT IN OUR DECISION TO HIRE YOU FROM START TO FINISH. I'M HAPPY TO GIVE YOU A GLOWING RECOMMENDATION ANYTIME YOU NEED IT, AND FEEL FREE TO GIVE ANY PERSPECTIVE CLIENTS MY PHONE NUMBER OR EMAIL ADDRESS ANYTIME! THANKS AGAIN FOR EVERYTHING, AND IF YOU FIND YOURSELVES UP IN LAKE ARROWHEAD ANYTIME, PLEASE LET US KNOW.

THERE’S AN OLD PROVERB THAT TWO HEADS ARE BETTER THAN ONE. WELL, WITH THE STARK TEAM, YOU GET THREE. ANNE AND I WERE DELIGHTED WITH THE PROCESS AND OUTCOME OF OUR RECENT HOME SALE IN LAKE FOREST. WE HAD RENTED THE HOME FOR SIX YEARS AND IT NEEDED A QUICK, COST-EFFICIENT, TARGETED MAKEOVER – AND THAT’S WHAT HAPPENED. LET’S START WITH ELAINE’S INCREDIBLE “HANDY LIST” OF CONTRACTORS: YOU DON’T GET ONTO THAT LIST UNLESS YOU ARE TRUSTED TO DELIVER THE GOODS. HAVING HAD PLENTY OF POOR – OR UNDERWHELMING -- EXPERIENCE WITH CONTRACTORS OVER THE YEARS, I WAS IMPRESSED WITH JUST HOW RELIABLE THESE GUYS WERE. THE STARK TEAM STAYED RIGHT ON TOP OF ALL THE WORK I COMMISSIONED, LEAVING ME FREE TO ADD VALUE WHERE I COULD – AND DEAL WITH MY FULL-TIME JOB IN DOWNTOWN L.A. BUT LET’S BACK UP: WHAT WAS THE WORK? IT WAS NO MORE AND NO LESS THAN WHAT NEEDED TO BE DONE. SIMONE OFFERED UP TARGETED SUGGESTIONS LIKE QUARTZ COUNTERTOPS, A “FARMER’S SINK”, UPGRADED LIGHT FIXTURES – CONTEMPORARY ITEMS THAT REQUIRED RELATIVELY SMALL AMOUNTS OF MONEY THAT TRULY PAID OFF. YET, I WAS NOT PRESSURED INTO ANYTHING I DID NOT REALLY WANT TO DO: ELAINE, DON AND SIMONE WERE PARTICULARLY GOOD AT TAKING ME OUT OF MY OWN HEAD ABOUT WHAT I LIKE. RIGHT DOWN TO THE COLOR SCHEME OF THE PAINT AND CARPET, THEY GENTLY STEERED ME INTO A RESULTS-ORIENTED MAKEOVER THAT WOULD APPEAL TO THE WIDEST NUMBER OF POTENTIAL BUYERS. WHERE I DIDN’T NEED TO SPEND MONEY THEY TOLD ME NOT TO WASTE MONEY. QUITE REFRESHING. THE STARK TEAM SOLD OUR HOUSE IN FIVE DAYS, BRINGING IN SIX OFFERS TO CHOOSE AMONG – TWO OF THEM ABOVE LISTING PRICE. SIMONE AND ELAINE CAREFULLY EXPLAINED THE PROS AND CONS OF EACH OFFER (CONTINGENCIES, ETC.) AGAIN, THEY DIDN’T PRESSURE US – THEY JUST PRESENTED EVERYTHING LOGICALLY, AND WE ARRIVED AT THE SAME CONCLUSION THAT THEY DID. I HAVE WORKED WITH MULTIPLE REALTORS OVER MY 35 YEARS OF HOME OWNERSHIP (MULTIPLE HOMES AND RENTAL PROPERTIES). I GIVE THE STARK TEAM MY HIGHEST RECOMMENDATION. THESE GUYS ARE THE BEST.

THE STARK TEAM (ELAINE, DON AND SIMONE) WAS OUR CHOICE TO LIST AND MARKET OUR PORTOLA HILLS HOME FOR SALE, AND WE COULD NOT BE HAPPIER WITH THAT DECISION. ALTHOUGH THE RESULT WAS OUTSTANDING, I.E., WE RECEIVED MULTIPLE OFFERS AND SOLD THE HOUSE FOR MORE THAN LIST PRICE IN JUST ONE WEEK, WHAT PLEASED US MOST WAS THEIR EXPERTISE AND THE SERVICE THEY PROVIDED. STARTING WITH THE VERY FIRST TIME THEY MET WITH US, THEY DEMONSTRATED A GENUINE ENTHUSIASM FOR WORKING WITH US AND REPRESENTING OUR PROPERTY. THROUGHOUT THE ENTIRE PROCESS OF HOME PREPARATION, LISTING, SHOWING, CONSIDERATION OF OFFERS, INSPECTIONS, ESCROW, ETC., THEY PROVIDED HONEST FEEDBACK, HELPFUL SUGGESTIONS, REFERRALS FOR A VARIETY OF SERVICES, AND TIMELY COMMUNICATION. DON IS AN OUTSTANDING PHOTOGRAPHER, AND WE RECEIVED SEVERAL FAVORABLE COMMENTS ABOUT THE QUALITY OF THE PICTURES HE TOOK FOR THE LISTING. AS OFFERS WERE RECEIVED, ELAINE AND SIMONE GAVE US EXCELLENT GUIDANCE AND NEGOTIATED SKILLFULLY ON OUR BEHALF. WHETHER YOU ARE BUYERS OR SELLERS, DON'T CHOOSE AN AGENT TO REPRESENT YOU WITHOUT FIRST MEETING WITH THE STARK TEAM. THEY WON'T DISAPPOINT YOU.

SIMONE IS EVERYTHING YOU COULD HOPE FOR IN A REAL ESTATE PROFESSIONAL; RESPONSIVE, OPEN, KNOWLEDGEABLE ABOUT HER MARKET, COMMUNICATIVE, HONEST AND TREMENDOUSLY POLITE AND RESPECTFUL OF OUR NEEDS. I WOULD RECOMMEND HER SERVICES TO ANYONE IN A HEARTBEAT. SHE WAS A PLEASURE TO WORK WITH IN OUR RELOCATION FROM NJ TO CA AND COULDN'T HAVE MADE THE PROCESS ANY SMOOTHER FOR US. 5 STARS DO NOT SAY ENOUGH!

WORKED WITH DON AND ELAINE ON A FEW PROPERTIES. THEY HAVE BEEN NOTHING BUT HELPFUL AND PROVIDED WONDERFUL BUYING EXPERIENCES! THEY GO OUT OF THEIR WAY TO HELP THE CLIENTS, EVEN VOLUNTEERING TO REPAIR SMALL THINGS FROM THE SELLERS. THEY WERE ALSO WONDERFUL AT FINDING AND SCREENING POTENTIAL LEASES FOR THE PROPERTIES. IF YOU ARE AN INVESTMENT BUYER AND ARE OFTEN OUT OF TOWN, DEFINITELY GIVE THE STARK TEAM A TRY FOR THEIR 5-STAR SERVICES!