Liz, I just wanted to tell you that you 'stand out' among the Restaino realtors as a thoughtful and intelligent and well informed person.  I have always thought that.  Thought you would like to know how you appear to others.  When we admire someone, I think that they should know.

 


First Time Home Buyer Testimonials:

When I started thinking that I might be interested in buying a house, I dove right into the listings online and in the paper, soliciting showings from the selling agents and thinking I would probably do it all on my own, maybe with a real estate lawyer to draft some documents. 

 

But after a brief stint doing research on my own, I found Liz's explanations and insights invaluable.  Liz does an excellent job of demystifying the home purchasing process and helping you to focus on the aspects to which your own insights and preferences are keys to a sound decision. 

 

Beyond procedural information, Liz is a font of knowledge about all the things to look for and be wary of in a house.  We came across many things that Liz pointed out and that I wouldn't have thought to consider.

 

I was also grateful to be able to access Liz's list of contacts for basement repairs, home inspections, etc.  I was so happy to have the inspector that I found and I don't know that I would have selected his company otherwise.

 

At several moments, I would say I felt tempted to let my heart lead my decision making, knowing full well that my head was screaming Run away!!  It is a money pit!!.  Liz is fantastic at tactfully helping you to balance heart and head and to find a home with which you are truly happy. 

 

I was also impressed with the level of attention I received.  Emails were answered extremely promptly.  Important phone calls could sometimes happen late on weekend nights.  I felt I was always listened to and that my input mattered and really made a difference in the process.

 

Moreover, I have felt free to choose my level of decision making.  I was able to jump into negotiations with my own numbers, uninfluenced.  And when there were details I didn't have an opinion about or didn't feel qualified to manage, Liz was extraordinary at taking care of them with great judgment and care. 

 

When I asked to schedule a showing for a house, I found that I generally got in as soon as was convenient for me.  The house I finally made an offer on went on the market at 8:30 PM and we had a showing scheduled for that very next morning.

 

Looking for a home costing around $150,000, I always felt like I was getting the same service of someone looking for a million dollar mansion.

 

As someone who thrives on independence, I tend to be skeptical about so-called middle-men.  But we are each skilled at our own vocations and I have been thrilled with the professionalism, knowledge, and energy that Liz brings to this process.  I am very glad to have been smart enough to seek an agent to guide me through this process and happier still that I found someone so enthusiastic about helping first time home buyers.  I would recommend Liz (and have) to anyone looking for a house and particularly to first time home buyers feeling a little overwhelmed.  Liz is an invaluable resource and advocate! 

JZ
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Hi Liz,

 

This note is long overdue and I hope it finds you enjoying the holiday weekend!

 

We just want to thank you so very, very much for ALL of the time you put into helping Kyle find his place in Madison. We realize how much more was involved with this sale - and how much time and patience it must have taken to see it through. We are truly appreciative of your expertise and guidance with so many obstacles encountered along the way with buying a foreclosed on property...

 

...Once again, thanks so very, very much - we have told many people how accommodating you've been and will certainly let anyone know of a great realtor we know in the Madison area!

 

Take care Liz, thanks so much and Happy 4th!

 

Katie & John

Fond du Lac

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I recently graduated from UW-Madison and was lucky enough to land a job in the Madison area.  I was fed up with paying an excessive amount of rent and felt it was time to move away from the downtown area.  I decided to start looking at buying a house and investing my money in a property instead of throwing it away by renting.

 

I started looking online at houses, and had initially found a few that I wanted to go and walk through, but needed a realtor to help me out with that.  I contacted Restaino & Associates Realtors, and with luck, happened to have Liz Erickson contact me.  She was very nice and outgoing when I first met her, and she seemed to really enjoy working with first time home buyers.  Liz was great at gathering any type of information that I asked her for, be it pricing, condo documents, information about condo associations, setting up showings, or anything else that I wanted.  Liz was always readily available to answer questions via email, phone conversations, or even text messages.  Liz was always very prompt in her responses, which eventually helped me close on my condo/duplex.

 

Liz and I visited several houses, condos and duplexes in the five months that I worked with her.  She was always very accommodating to schedule showings that fit my schedule even if it was on the weekend so my parents could see the property as well. Having Liz as my buyers agent was very helpful because she was always working in my best interest and I felt very confident having her knowledge and expertise on my side.  She has a keen eye for judging properties and was always truthful about the amount of work that would be required to remodel a property.  She provided several resources to help me determine what part of the city or surrounding area I wanted to look at - and even tailored an automated search for properties that met my needs. 

 

It was a combination of doing my own online research of houses that were on the market, and diligently checking the daily emails from the automated property search that eventually lead to my first home purchase.  The first time I toured my condo/duplex, I could see that the property was in good condition and had everything I was looking for.  That evening Liz was able to set up a second showing so my parents could walk through the property, and she even drafted my offer to purchase that night.

 

Throughout the entire closing process, Liz was great at making sure everything was progressing like it needed to.  She made sure that I had all the proper paperwork completed and kept a close eye on the sellers documents as well. She even dealt with the mortgage broker when needed.  Liz made the entire process run smoothly and less hassle for me.  I am so appreciative that she was my buyers agent and would recommend her to anyone in the future!

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Amazing! I love the place. I can hear the fish jump at night from my window, very cool...

 

Thanks Again for all of your hard work. We are truly very happy with our decision.

 

B.H.

I just wanted to thank you again for all the help in purchasing my half of the duplex.  It is really coming along these days and even had a chance to meet the new neighbors last night.  Thank you again for everything that you did to help the last half of year!


K.B.


"Thank you so much for your help and support during the process of selling my Mother's home...As you know, the sale of the house was emotional for me and I was not looking forward to the ordeal. 

From our first meeting you impressed me with your professionalism, courtesy and caring.  I really appreciated not having to worry about the specifics of the transaction; you kept me "in the loop" without drowning me in details.

I will happily and whole-heartedly recommend your services to family and friends looking to buy or sell property."

Cory O.
"The value of a Realtor:
 
Our house sold for 161,900.  The people across the street,(the ones who took down your sign the day of closing), sold their house through a Do-it yourself service and got 156,000.  They had a bigger house with 3 bedrooms, 1.5 story too!  Plus they spent $1000 in advertising the house.

They also paid...the realtor that brought the buyer to them, so they cleared even less."

Dave & Colleen


"You obviously know what you're doing.  You've made everything seem so easy even when we had what we thought were difficult questions.  It was a pleasure.  Thank you!"

Lonnie & Bridget


"We just wanted to thank you again for all of your help & hard work.  It was much appreciated!   If we know of anybody buying or selling we'll give them your card."

Dennis M. & Amanda K.


"Thanks so much for all your help this past year with the sale of the house and the purchase of the condo.  It was great knowing I was in such good hands.  I appreciate your care and kindness...more than you know."

Cathy S.


"First let me say, you're the best!!!  We're too excited for words and can't thank you enough for your honest style and commitment.  You are sure to have our future business and a standing reference!!!"

Brian C. & Terri E.


"...Liz paid attention to details, was prompt in her communication, and was a great resource for me during a very hectic time..."

Michelle S.


"Liz...took the mystery out of buying a home and proved to be a remarkable coach...She listened to my concerns and went to great lengths to help me...Liz's persistence really made me feel I had a partner who was committed to helping me...I'd been lucky to have Liz on my team..."

Becci M.


"...I appreciated Liz's expertise in the Madison market and her patience when answering my numerous questions...I won't hesitate to call Liz again for her assistance...She is very organized, thorough and communicated with me every step of the way..."

Kari V.


"Liz is a first class Realtor.  She is very professional, helpful and resourceful in getting the job done.  I would recommend her to anyone looking to sell or purchase a home.  Liz was there to answer all our questions and find the right people to get the job done.  She sliced through the mountains of paperwork involved in closing and made the whole process seem effortless."

Dave G.


"Thank you so much for all your effort and earnest advice...we will once again be entertaining options and you will be hearing from us...Thank you again for all your hard work."

Kathleen L.