We worked with Dana when buying a home in the Lamorinda area - a decision that we were a little nervous about, since we had to sell our home first and then look for a home in the area, which is a pretty competitive market. In addition, homes are older in that area and we weren't sure if we were going to find a house that we liked in our price range. Dana was simply amazing - she lives in Orinda and knows the area inside and out, and took me on a 3-hour drive through the area so that when I saw homes listed online I could immediately place which areas they were. She gave lots of insider tips and info that you simply cannot get by working with an agent outside of that area. As a mother of a toddler, she provided us with a lot of info on childcare, schools, and activities available to us as parents of two kids under 5. Dana was always available whenever we called, texted, or emailed her. When we finally did find a home, she was instrumental in coming up with a strategy for us to get the offer in quick (she had already walked us through writing up an offer weeks before), and what to ask for and what not to in our offer. We ended up getting into escrow in a home just days after getting into escrow on the sale of our home, and Dana was quick to get us scheduled with the necessary inspections, and she provided helpful guidance on which inspections are important in the Lamorinda area. Throughout the closing process, Dana kept us up to date multiple times a day, let us know in advance when we would need to provide information, and worked with our mortgage officer to ensure a smooth closing. She met with us several times before closing for inspections and to let us into the house for contractor estimates. Dana wasn't just an agent - she feels like a friend. I know we'll be keeping in touch with her after we move, and if we ever need a real estate agent's services again, we know we'll be calling Dana!