This is round #3 for us with the Motley Team. Here's what we learned this time. Who you pick as your broker has EVERYTHING to do with your experience, whether buying or selling, and there aren't a lot of ways to find that out without testing some (and few of us buy and sell enough to make that a meaningful option) or relying on other people's opinions. The Motley team are top-ranked brokers who will work their butts off for you and provide the highest level of service. My prior affirmation of their skillset I hereby reaffirm to the power of 10. I've worked in real estate for 30 years, and Saraya and Simon are simply the best. Put as much work into picking your broker as you do buying your house. If you want to talk, please contact me. I'd be happy to answer questions or share my experience. My wife was a realtor for Re-Max and Coldwell Banker in Atlanta and feels the same. read more

We attempted to buy a house right when everything started skyrocketing (early 2021) in the East Bay. That ultimately fell through (and now we are relocating out of the Bay Area), but the few months we worked with Simon and Kelly were fantastic. Now that we are relocating, we're going through the motions again of finding a new real estate agent, and everyone I've talked to is being held against the bar that is Simon and Kelly. They know their market, their neighborhood, the other agents in the area, and brokers/bankers. Exactly what realtors should be able to provide. Had we started our search back again, I know we would have signed with them again. Hopefully we'll find someone just as good for our new neighborhood :) read more

I will give it to them, when we met them back in January 2019 they did not come off like typical aggressive realtors, and maybe that's what disarmed us and allowed us to trust them. Even though we weren't seriously looking or even pre-approved, we emailed Saraya, the seller's agent, to take a look at the disclosures since the house was unique and we felt connected to it. A couple days after the offer review date, they reached out to us directly to ask if we were interested in the house and would like to put in an offer. Saraya even offered to let her husband, Simon, step in and take us on as a client because as they explained, he only represents buyers.  Well, if you've ever tried to secure a loan and bid on a house in a day with a full time job and a 6 month old baby, you'll know how insane it is. This was my first house purchase, so the paperwork was overwhelming, and quite frankly, life was already quite chaotic before the Motleys came knocking on our door. We received very little support from Simon, who thinks taking 75% of our calls on speaker in his car is appropriate when we couldn't hear him very well, or so he would use to defend himself later. When we asked for his advice, he was very passive and didn't point out anything we should pay attention to in the disclosure, and when we asked whether we should get our own inspection, he shrugged it off and didn't say one way or another. After we showed concern over the totally rotten decks, he did get us 2 bids, but that's pretty much where it ends. When we moved into the house, it was a huge mess. Simon did the final walk through after the sellers stayed in the house hours after closing (without our permission) and okayed it. It was filthy. Early on, one thing broke after the other, and we realized the sellers had neglected their duty to disclose. We came back to the Motleys for support and advice, and of course, perhaps not surprisingly, Simon went on the defensive and throughout it all insisted this house was perfect for our little family. There's probably at least $40k of work not disclosed, mummified rats and feces in the basement and between the floors, a wood garage door with no safety and installed by a nonprofessional and duct taped to the wall. I know what you're thinking, how did the inspector or I not see this? Well, I don't know about the inspector, but I hadn't slept since the second trimester, and the sellers personal items were stacked and strategically hiding flaws. I mean, we knew the house had been a little neglected, but wow. I was livid. After I badgered him, Simon hesitantly bought us a home warranty, which just so you know, most realtors buy their client as a gift right from the start. Even a couple months later when trying to contact the sellers, he was very hands off, whined that he was kind enough to pay for a deep cleaning and that I seemed grateful before. After a few delayed interactions, he told us to do it on our own because we were no longer in contract. Well, I can't imagine I'm the only one who says he is as useless now as he was in contract. As a side note, after looking more closely at the house listing, Simon is listed as co-listing agent, so we realized that they were going to try and protect the commission they made on this house since it was double agency. I have now talked to various people in the industry, and they had said, if the agents had screwed us this badly, Simon should give us his commission since he really did so little in the process, and actually did us a huge disservice. I really do believe they seeked us out because we were young and vulnerable. How else do you get rid of a money pit?  Simon told us 2 other people were bidding on the house and that was used to negotiate the price up. Months later, another realtor told us that we were the only bid, and seemed confused when we told her there were others, and then looked upon us with pity when she confirmed yeah, we were the only ones. I cannot verify that as I clearly didn't see the other offers, but honestly, as shady as they are, I wouldn't be surprised. I highly recommend staying away. Don't let the Pottery Barn bathrobes gift be the only way they earn their commission. read more

When we met with Simon Motley, we were feeling pretty vulnerable. Tired after a long day of work and stressed because we had been given notice of eviction from the house we'd been renting for over 4 years. We were also under a significant time pressure to find a new place. As we went through the contract, the first surprising thing we found was that it stated that we would make up the difference between the commission received from the sale of the house and 3%. When we asked about it, we were left with the uncorrected impression that: 1. Less than 6% commission (overall) on home sales was unusual, and 2. This was a common provision for buyers agents. We accepted this provision. Later, as we were (on our own) visiting various open houses, I asked about the commission (so I could understand my costs) and found out was that for home sales in our price range, %5 was not rare, and was in fact the norm. When the other agents asked why I was asking, and I told them of this provision, we got reactions of surprise. Apparently, this is not a provision most had even heard of. One agent even wondered aloud "whether it is even...." then stopped themselves. The other provision in the contract was an agreement that we would use this realtor exclusively for a year and, if I remember correctly, indemnify them if we ended up buying a home using another broker. So once we signed with the Motleys, we were pretty much stuck unless they graciously let us out of the deal. So you'd think paying this kind of money (as it turned out, many thousands of dollars) would get us exceptional service. Well, for starters, Simon informed us that he doesn't work on Saturdays, but someone else from his team would be available to help us if needed. A real estate agent who doesn't work on Saturdays? Really? The one time we did go see houses with Simon, he showed us a couple of homes that were in our price range, but nothing we wouldn't have done ourselves. None of the homes resonated with us. During this outing (which was cut short because of Simon's busy schedule), I talked to him about the .%5 difference we'd have to pay and said I was unhappy about it. He weakly grinned and said he'd have to make sure the services he provided made it worth it. They didn't. We found four houses that we were seriously considering, none of which were suggested by Simon and visited them on our own. He did print out some comp sheets for us, but we found equivalent information on Zillow. He did visit the house we ended up buying with my wife before we put in an offer. Honestly, we got no help from him with negotiating strategy and, for all we know, ended up paying more than we should have. (Zillow thinks so... but I really don't know.) Bottom line, I wish we had been far more diligent and deliberate in picking an agent. We ended up losing over $5000 over other agents who could have done the same or much more for us. I felt played. I would recommend you look elsewhere. read more

We worked with Simon Motley from 2009-2010 in buying our first home. My husband and I were aiming for a 3 bdrm/2 bath in a good school district and we had limited funds to work with - not exactly a realtor's dream client. Simon was really patient and a good listener. I found that I did a lot of searches at night to see what had just come on the market - and could get someone on Simon's team (if not Simon himself) to show us the property very quickly. I think Simon's strengths are his people's skills. He worked very hard for us during the presentation of the offer, negotiations that lead to acceptance and escrow process. These are things we couldn't do for ourselves - and it is this that sets him apart. I would recommend the Motley Team to anyone looking for a house in the Bay Area. read more

I primarily worked with Simon in 2008. Throughout the entire process, he was insightful, conscientious and motivated. His thorough work was very comforting. I was a nervous buyer, but always felt as though my concerns were handled with care. I also appreciated his flexibility with scheduling, diligence in returning phone calls, and timeliness in addressing questions and fact checking. In addition, Simon was a great resource for advice when it came to choosing a good location, assessing the condition of a home, and comparing various home values. I was also very pleased with the home inspection and loan recommendations Simon sent my way for review. The inspector was friendly and informative, and the lender was helpful in securing an excellent rate. As well, when the time came to tackle the paperwork, Simon's calm demeanor and knowledge of the process guided the home-buying transaction smoothly. The quality of service provided was courteous, professional and encouraging. I enthusiastically recommend Simon and his team. read more

We worked with Saraya and her team earlier this year to sell our home and were very pleased with the process and the results. Saraya is very professional and a strong communicator, responding quickly and efficiently to the inevitable little bumps in the road as we prepared our house for sale. It was very helpful too that she has a team behind her, so there was always someone else who knew where we were in the process and could help if she were not available. But what puts Saraya head and shoulders above other agents is her deep knowledge of the local market and an excellent strategic sense. Heed her advice! When she urged us to get on the market earlier if we could, we listened, and although it required an effort on our part, it paid off handsomely. I wholeheartedly recommend working with the Motley team. read more

Simon helped us buy our very first home and we will be forever grateful for his help. He understood exactly what we were looking for and helped us set reasonable expectations about where we might need to compromise our vision. He made time to show us every home that we were interested in, even when it was less than ideal for his schedule. (True story: Simon showed us a house after coming straight from running in a race! I am sure he would have preferred to be resting.) It was not until we were actually past the offer stage that I understood what a rock star Simon was. He was on top of scheduling all of our inspections, making sure we understood the forms we were filling out and that we got them all in on time, he was at the house when we weren't, crawling around under the house to check for moisture when it was raining. He made time for every neurotic phone call, and answered all of our questions with ease and patience. He left no stone unturned and we were so very grateful to be in his capable hands. There's no one else I can imagine working with. We love our new home, but some day when we need to move on, I know who will be selling it! read more

We worked with Simon for a few months while looking for a home in the East Bay. He was totally great every step of the way. He is super knowledgeable and taught us a great deal about home-buying, what to look for, how to bid smart, and red flags to keep an eye out for. He is kind and funny and patient. We eventually found our home in Oakland and could not be happier. The day we picked up our keys Simon was waiting for us in our home with a welcome package full of goodies. The Motley team takes time to add those special touches that really make a difference. Home buying can be so intense and Simon and his team were so supportive and helpful. Everything is done efficiently and we felt really taken care of during each part of the process. We would HIGHLY recommend the Motley team! read more

I give the The Motley Team, TMT, a 5-star review because they consistently come through in providing high-quality work. They go above and beyond. They provide us with: -Information about the market and conditions -A clear process of the home sale and purchase process -Up-to-date information and time lines for keeping us on track -Regular and reliable communication -Referrals for additional services (loan brokers, staggers, movers, etc) -Additional information about settling into our new home -And last, but not least, a thorough assessment of our options so that we land in the best home possible. My family and I are thrilled with our new home and we could not have done it without TMT. I've also referred them to my friends and have always gotten glowing reviews. GO Motley Team! read more

The Motleys did the paperwork and kept the offer on track when we bought a few months ago--that's good. Didn't have to worry about a thing paperwork-wise; loved that we could do so much by electronic communications. And we totally love the house we bought. However, if 1) you're into doing your own research about the housing market and you can use Zillow with ease, 2) you know you can make a reasonably attractive offer in most circumstances, there are two things to note about the Motley Team: the commission they ask for is higher than the Bay Area standard (another .5% doesn't sound like much, but at Bay Area housing prices, it all adds up). And you're better off finding your own contractors for advice about any repairs or changes you want to make ("our guys" who were supposed to be helpful failed to provide any estimates or even just written descriptions of what work would need to be done to accomplish some of the things I was interested in, even after I made two efforts to get follow up from the one guy who finally showed up before we closed). From the rave reviews, it's apparent that they are a great team for a lot of people. If you have time and energy, I'd just say interview a couple of realtors before selecting one. And ask about that higher-than-most commission--it's maybe not the only reason to go with someone, but I wish I'd been alerted before signing that contract. Might have gone with the Motleys anyway (they came very highly recommended by family, Simon is personally very charming and seems like a very nice guy, and we were under a time crunch that added to a stressful sense of urgency), but at least I'd have been better prepared for it. read more

I was buying a home via the web from Washington D.C. I knew nothing of buying a home in Berkeley California. Saraya was a great help in getting me the home I could afford and really wanted. I came out for two weeks and worked with Saraya looking at the selection of homes that were in my price range. We talked about all the options and I made my bids and got the home I wanted. I have lived in my house for ten years now. I send all mty friends to their team. They are Cracker Jack! read more

Simon Motley is wonderful! He helped us find a beautiful home in Oakland after we relocated from San Diego a few months ago. We are first time homebuyers and were nervous to jump into this aggressive bay area market. However, from the beginning Simon walked us through the WHOLE PROCESS, in detail. Quickly we came to realize that Simon is basically a real estate guru, life coach, financial expert, and warm friend, all in one package. With his in-depth knowledge of the bay area he was able to show us neighborhoods that we never even knew existed (as bay area natives), and pockets of cities that we fell in love with. His practical tips, knowledgeable guidance, and fierce negotiating approach truly sealed the deal during our bidding war, and I am confident we would not have been selected as the "winning offer" if it wasn't for him. If you're looking to sell or buy I highly recommend the Motley Team, as they are professional, detailed, experienced, hands-on and caring. Thank you Simon for making our home buying experience so amazing! read more

We worked with Simon and Saraya for a short time because we luckily bought our house quickly, but they were very informative and helpful then and continue to be so. We had lots of questions and they answered quickly and thoroughly. They negotiated with the seller's agents expertly. We recommend them to many of our friends and colleagues. read more

The incomparable Motley Team has exceeded our expectations not once but twice! After assisting us to zero in and close on our wonderful, current residence in 2012, the Motley Team facilitated the location of the perfect tenant for our other property. In November 2016, when we decided to sell this property, we unhesitatingly contacted the Motley Team once more. The Motley Team was very supportive during every step of the selling process. They provided guidance on all aspects of the sale. They were always friendly, warm, caring, considerate, and professional. We love how they were always available when we needed their help. Not only did we sell our property quickly in November, the sales price exceeded our expectations. Thanks Motley Team!!! read more

The Motley team is the best. They are so easy to work with and completely knowledgable of the market. Saraya found us our current home. On paper it didn't seem like what we were looking for, Saraya convinced us to go look because she was sure it was a good fit. We took a look and fell in love with it. She made the bidding process seamless and we have been happily ever after! The Motley Team really takes care of you. read more

We were recently in the market to buy a new home, and were beat out on many offers that we made before the Motley team made it happen. We now have our dream home, and they made it easy and pleasant. They are extremely professional and willing to go the extra mile to help with client needs. What a different experience than we had working with other agents! And once we were settled in, they surprised us with a house warming gift, and even brought over a pizza to celebrate. We couldn't be happier in our home! read more

It was a pleasure working with the Motley team on my first home purchase. It was a long and tedious search, but they didn't give up on me! Simon, Saraya, and Lindsey work extremely well together and complement each other. They are very professional, personable, and attentive to your needs. They will do their best to get you the best offer possible for the home you want! Collectively, they were very supportive and resourceful during the whole process of searching and finally finding a home! The Motley team goes the extra mile for their clients. I am very happy with my first home purchase and couldn't have done it without them! read more

I just want to add what a seriously quality service Simon and Saraya provide. Reflecting on my review from 2012, I am amazed at how they have consistently been my source of info and support for all questions big and small related to housing and mortgage. They have provided many hours of dialogue and continue to reach out to be sure we remain connected. These are folks who will be with you for the long haul and who I now consider friends. You will not go wrong with their service. read more

I worked with Simon on the purchase of my first home. I actually considered going without an agent and I'm glad I chose to work with him and his team. The process was slow and stressful but he made it much more less so. I always felt that he looked after my interests and that he gave me good, solid advice. I did not have the opportunity to work directly with Saraya but my limited contact with her was also top notch. In the end, I got the perfect house for me and got it at the price I wanted to pay. I am really happy and thanks to him I have not had a single regret. I would not sell or buy again without them and will tell all my friends about them. I very highly recommend them. Simon went above and beyond for me and has set the bar high for any other agents. read more

We just sold out family home in Lafayette and were so pleased with Saraya Motley as our listing agent. Not only did they deliver multiple offers, Simon Motley also had a buyer present an offer. Saraya helped us prepare our house for sale and made great referrals for painting, cleaners, minor repair work etc... She kept us on track and pushed to get our house to market at the optimal time. The Motley team - Saraya, Simon and Lindsey were all available to do what was needed. I feel so good doing business with the Motley team I know that their business ethics and their attention to detail is impeccable. read more

We worked with Simon and the Motley Team had a great experience. He was patient and thoughtful as he walked us through the process of buying our first home. He was always available to answer all of our questions, no matter how small, and the rest of the team was responsive, helpful, and supportive. He was our advocate and guide and we couldn't imagine someone better to work with through this process. We would work with him and Saraya again without hesitation. read more

The Motley Team are AWESOME! Very flexible, totally accepting of a one year old in the office during our first meeting. Simon and Karen walked us through all the steps really clearly and were always available for questions. They showed us houses that matched what we were looking for and they were both so calm and helpful when we went through a crazy situation during our first attempt at closing on our home! We finally have the keys to a great home in East Oakland and wouldn't be here if it weren't for them! We'll definitely recommend the Motley Team to family and friends!!! read more

My wife and I have now bought and sold three houses with Saraya and Simon over the past 10 years . The experiences were fantastic. I trust them implicitly due to their expernience, professionalism, and the positive results we've had. I'm sure there are a lot of great real estate agents in the Bay Area, but I would never use anyone else. read more

As my family was deciding on selling our place, I decided to research a few real estate agents in the area. When I first spoke to Saraya, I really knew she was the one to sell our home. She answered all my questions and concerns and we did not feel pressured to use her resources. When we decided to pick Saraya, she and her assistant, Lindsey always promptly notified us of any updates. Although Saraya knew that we had a difficult sale due to our situation, including a sale decline from my lender, she was persistent and was willing to continue the sale and resale of the property. I believe Saraya and Lindsey did their best and could not have done any better. In short, they were able to sell our property in the end despite the difficultly and they made it as easy of a sale as possible for us. read more

Saraya is an outstanding realtor! I've worked with her for nearly 8 years. She sold me my first home and made what otherwise might be a stressful and complex process, easy and enjoyable. I continue to gladly send her referrals and look forward to working with her when I next sell and buy here in the Bay Area. I can't imagine working with anyone else. Saraya is a rockstar, incredibly detail-oriented and a pure joy to work with! read more

We love Saraya and Simon! They have helped us buy two properties in Oakland in the past four years, and we have nothing but positive things to say. They are impressively professional and know the market extremely well. On top of that, they are kind and down to earth people. Here are some reasons why we love them: They helped us buy both places at a lower cost than expected. They were patient when we needed them to be patient, and competitive when we needed them to be competitive. They are very well connected. They were able to get helpful background information which helped inform our offers. And they had a solid recommendation for every repair and service we needed once we bought the houses. We've recommended them to other friends, and they have all had positive experiences. They take the time to walk you through stressful decisions, searching for a home, and purchasing and managing a rental property - whatever the case may be. We emphatically recommend them! read more

Simon and Saraya are the real deal. They expertly guided us through the process of selling our condo and purchasing our new home. They were readily available to answer questions and provide expert guidance. We felt like we had friends in our corner fighting for our best interests. The Motley Team took what we expected to be a stressful, difficult process and made it easy. Real winners! read more

Simon and The Motley Team were wonderful to us. Patient, kind, intelligent, professional. Simon met us with grace and respect every step of the way. And during closing when we a bit stressed he was steady and so responsive to our needs. Explained everything. So straight forward. He helped us find the home that was ours. read more

We worked with The Motley Team on the sale of a condominium in a unique Julia Morgan designed six unit building in the fall of 2015. The sale came together within about 45 days and we felt we were well taken care of in the process. Saraya held an open house for neighbors which allowed us to get the word out in the neighborhood that a coveted building close to CAL Berkeley had a unit for sale. All these little details help in the sales process. Great professionalism and care for their clients is their trademark. read more

We are so grateful to have found Simon and his team to guide us through the home buying process with confidence and ease. When we set out to purchase our first home, we were overwhelmed and intimidated by the process. The Motley team guided us through every step of the way - from setting realistic goals and priorities to identifying properties that met our criteria. Simon patiently educated and mentored us throughout the entire process, always keeping our best interests at heart. Today we are proud owners of a beautiful home in a great location that is well within our budget. We cannot thank Simon, Saraya, and Lindsey enough for sticking with us through every question, phone call, and home visit. We couldn't have done this without the Motley Team - we truly valued the patience, persistence, responsiveness and full transparency that they demonstrated from start to finish. read more

These guys are AMAZING. Period. We have a great little home, closed a couple months ago and we still are getting helpful emails and tips from them. We even received a thumb drive in the mail last week with all our documents on it from the purchase! Simon is very kind, patient and charming. Karen was also a great help and so sweet. I actually want to hug these people. read more

Saraya and Simon are great at what they do! They are professional, knowledgeable, and easy to work with. We had bad experiences with realtors in the past, so we're a little cautious. But there was no need to worry. They made the experience as smooth as possible and were flexible enough to change the selling timeline when we had a conflict. We can't recommend them enough read more

I highly recommend The Motley team. I worked closely with Saraya and her team during difficult times. I had a complicated trust, and Saraya was wonderful and professional at helping my family work through the issues and sell our home. We ended up getting over $100,000 more than I ever expected we could possibly get. If I ever had a question Saraya would get back to me very quickly. If there were any updates, I learned of them immediately. I couldn't have asked for any better customer service. When someone broke in the back door, Saraya immediately personally showed up, had it secured, and fixed professionally. Clearly, I was in the best hands with The Motely team, and highly recommend them to others. There is a lot of legalize in selling a home and Saraya was great at explaining each item, and I was totally confident she had my best interest in mind. During negotiations with buyers and other agents it was clear that Saraya and The Motley team are great at what they do. I'm very grateful! read more

Several years back, my wife and I found our dream home. There were many people interested in this beautiful property and we feared that if we didn't get the ball rolling soon we could lose the opportunity to obtain this amazing place. We were referred to Simon and Saraya because we were told "they were the best" so we made the call to the Motley Team. Immediately, they put everything into perspective for us. They explained the market, they outlined the "true" value of the home and ultimately helped us write an offer that landed us our dream house. It was a great experience. We couldn't be happier with our home or the people that helped us get it. read more

Saraya Motley helped my two co-owners and me sell our Oakland triplex, which was held as a tenancy in common (TIC). This was a very complicated transaction -- three co-owners who didn't always see eye-to-eye, two sets of tenants, and a complex financing and governance structure. It took us two years. Throughout the process Saraya did a great job of providing savvy information about the market, diplomatically smoothing over conflicts, pushing us when we needed to be pushed and hanging back when things needed to work themselves out. When we were finally all ready to sell, Saraya swung into action and provided terrific information and support. She was unfailingly professional, returning phone calls and texts promptly regardless of the day of the week or the time of day. She was also unfailingly upbeat, friendly, and positive. In the end all of us got great prices for our flats, and I am very pleased with the outcome. I would definitely recommend Saraya Motley if you are trying to sell a home in the East Bay! read more

Can't recommend these people highly enough. My wife and I went to them because several of our friends had successfully bought houses with their help, and recommended them. Our financial situation at the time was such that home buying was going to be a long shot for us, but we wanted to give it a try. Simon and Saraya were upfront and honest about our chances, but worked with us, regardless. Simon and Lindsey primarily helped us, taking time and effort on our behalf even though they were unlikely to get any commission, much less the kind I'm sure that they are accustomed to. Because of their help and timely action, we were in fact able to purchase a home, and we feel incredibly fortunate. What impressed me most about Simon was his perfect combination of honesty, kindness, and impeccable professionalism. Despite our financial situation, we never once felt second-class. There is a cultural notion that in order to be a ruthless competitor one must lack heart and ethics. The Motley Team defy this stereotype on every level. They are the very best, both professionally and personally. read more