With Don and Deb's reassurance and supportive information about the area and comparable homes for sale, we learned to be patient in the offer process and not to get overly excited or look to far forward. It was hard to wait after making an offer, not knowing for a few days if the offer had been accepted - but there was no second guessing about the offer we made due to our new found knowledge. We also learned to stay objective about the offer/counter offer process and not pursue a property any further if the whole situation did not make perfect sense for US. At a point, we realized, this may not be the right situation for us and we were confident in finding something else out there that suited our needs more.

Again, Don and Deb were very supportive in our decisions and in helping us handle these new experiences. We thought we were taking too much of their time since we were having trouble finding a property and thought that we might be frustrating Don and Debbie... But this was not the case at all. They were happier to see us make a confident decision and not chase down a bad offer on a property but instead be patient and give the entire process a little time, relax and let the market refresh. Another alternative Don and Debbie had recommended was to look in a different part of the Bay Area, suggesting the Antioch and Oakley areas. While I had thought about these areas in the beginning, I was not sure of my comfort level living in these areas because I was not familiar with them. We agreed to look into Antioch and Oakley, and after seeing a few properties and getting a feel for the surrounding areas we were more willing to expand our search there.

Now, a new wave of information was provided to us in regards to commute times, quality ofthe local schools, various road and infrastructure tax, potential road and town improvements, environmental hazards, and new home developments that may impact these areas. This became a wealth of knowledge and information to consider and helped us to weigh the positives and negatives of different areas to live in. Along with the information we now had and armed with an attitude of "We will know it when we see it", we were finally excited to find a beautiful home in a nice neighborhood within the town of Oakley.

Sensing our excitement, Don and Deb were very thorough in helping us understand all about the home we would potentially make an offer on. We toured the home three or four times and scrutinized it each time with a more critical eye. This helped us to understand that some potential issues with the home may still exist and not to be blinded by the simple fact that we had found something we liked. To our satisfaction, the deeper we investigated into the property and the more we discovered, the uncertainty started to fade away. We soon became very confident that this was the home and the property we wanted to own for ourselves.

We understood the time to make a serious offer was now. Don and Debbie were really focused on getting an offer done properly and helped us negotiate items with the seller that would be fair to both parties. They were very thorough with the necessary disclosures that accompany a real estate transaction and, most importantly, made sure that we fully understood all the information we were given. We were guided and informed every step ofthe way through the process of inspections, escrow, tips on maintaining the property and the logistics of finally taking over the residence when the time arrived.

We are now very happy in our new home and extend our special thanks to all of the personal attention given to us from Don and Debbie. With their friendliness, knowledge and patience, Kathy and I were able to make some difficult decisions very comfortably and now could not be happier. I cannot imagine searching for a home without the guidance of Don and Debbie Forrester. We not only have discovered a real estate team for life, but very good friends for life as well.

John Mazur & Kathy Bentz

James M. Davey Construction

360 Lindsey Dr., Martinez, Ca 94553

To all perspective clients of Don and Deborah Forrester,

We want to express our appreciation for their foresight, rock solid advice, and dogged attention to detail in the promotion and FULL PRICE SALE!!! of our home at 360 Lindsey Dr., in Forest Hills of Martinez, Calif. This sale was achieved more or less against the odds as this was a record setting price for the neighborhood, shattering all previous sales, by greater than $250,000. The home was lovely and worth the asking price but suffered from a lack of local comparable sales.  Wet seemed that  local real estate agents either lacked the vision or were unwilling to devote the energy to find local comps. to support our asking price. Don & Deb Forrester did a masterful job of research to secure the necessary comps. They gathered the information into an impressive portfolio, and met with appraisers to make sure that no stone was left unturned in the appraisal process. This extra effort provided the needed intangible push to gain financing approval. They were flawless in their communications with us, the lending institutions, and buyer’s agent. Always staying one step ahead during the entire closing process, eliminating  any chance of oversight, misstep or misunderstanding. Don & Deb ‘s  sensitivity and team work approach allowed us to have the confidence that experienced hands were always at the helm,  piloting a safe course  threw the difficult, complex, and often times the emotional sale of our family home. We cannot give you higher marks, or a stronger recommendation.

                                                                           Thanks again

                                                                    Mike & Debby Davey  

 August 6, 2:005

Mr. & Mrs. Don and Debbie Forrester Century 21 Hosking Associates 3003 Citrus Circle

Walnut Creek, Ca 94598

Dear Don and Debbie,

Once again on behalf of my wife and We, we would like to give the both of you a big THANK YOU for helping us sell our house on Sun View Terrace. As we look back on the whole process, several things stand out in our minds that make us thankful and appreciate that we choose the right team for what usually is a very stressful experience. The speed and the ease of the sale, the top dollar we received (as you pretty much 'promised'). Most importantly, your honesty, integrity and pleasantness.

My wife and We remember consulting with you back in February, not exactly sure if we were even ready to give up our home at that time. Even after the first few discussions, Peaches and We kept tossing up the idea of just renting it out. Reflecting on certain personal goals we wanted to achieve, we decided to sell. There was something you guys DWeD NOT do that helped us to make a clearer decision to sell, and that was PRESSURE US. From start to finish, you both gave us sound advise and options from which we could choose from and never tried to push us one way or the other. We think lots of sellers go through a period where they, for many different reasons, feel like changing their mind about selling. Again, what helped us stay focused was the lack of any pressure (at any time) to sell.

Once we went into contract, we also appreciated the strategy for prepping the house and giving us a very reasonable schedule for the deadline. Basically, "go at a pace that is comfortable for us". We originally asked for a couple of months to keep it manageable and to keep our sanity! Of course my family and We still had to put in some 'elbow grease' but the list of "things to do" was great and helped us to put our time and energies to best use. Also the flexibility to extend the deadline when we really needed to, helped us tremendously. Oh, and thanks for tlle both of you rolling up your sleeves to help us when we were running behind just an hour before the first open house!

 Your strategy to receive offers only after 2 open houses worked out really well. Wet gave us a chance to get to know who was interested in our home and why, which in the end was key for us in choosing the new family that we wanted in our home. We choose the one that we actually liked the most, which just happened to also be the one that bidded 20k over our asking price. We remember at one point my wife thought we might be taking too long on getting the house on the market, your constant reassurance that our house was still appreciating in value was right on. Who would of known for sure that we could even ask about 40k more in just a matter of a few months? Or that our house would sell in only 2 weeks?

Well Don and Debbie, we could go on and on, but hopefully we've said enough to let you know both again how much we really appreciate everything tlmt you've done for us. You both were the best people we've worked Witll on such an important business and personal matter! We wish you both continued successes in your professional careers, and your own personal endeavors. Thank you!

 Sincerly,

Laural and Peaches Trias

 We had read once before that two of the most stressful events that can occur in one's life is the selling of one's home and the buying of another.  We couldn't agree more.  My husband and We underwent a venture that would combine not only the above two, but the expectation of a new baby as well, all the while caring for a rambunctious toddler.  Needless to say, we definitely were under the heat of it all.  But after enlisting the help of Don and Deborah Forrester, we were able to get through these life changes with our sanity in tact.  Bumps along the way were to be expected but Don and Deborah helped to make the transition less scathing.  Kudos to the Forrester Team in not only helping us find the perfect home but being there as we said goodbye to our old!  \par
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Thanks again!\par
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