TESTIMONIALS

Derek is everything you could hope for when selling or buying a home. We called him to initially get advice on a neighbor's off-market home we were interested in purchasing. He came over the next day to walk the property with us, pull comps, and give us the direction we needed to make an informed decision we were confident in. This turned into a huge (unplanned) leap to buy and sell in a very short timeframe (during Covid)! He and his team called in resources as needed from a beekeeper, to handymen, inspectors, etc. to tackle anything that came up and had it handled immediately. He got our house photographed, listed, and sold within 2 weeks!! It could have been a disaster, but he kept us updated daily with what was happening, going to happen, and what needed to happen next. The constant communication was everything we needed to weather the whirlwind we got ourselves into! Not only that, but he calmly helped us through negotiations with the sellers and buyers of our new and existing homes and got our purchase price down to where we needed it. If that was not enough - the cherry on top was selling for $60,000 more than we expected! What more could we ask for? I would highly recommend Derek and his team to anyone in the market - or, maybe not in the market and just looking for guidance like we were! We couldn't be happier with our experience and our new home.

My husband and I decided it was time to buy a home in San Diego at the end of October 2018. We met with Derek in early November and moved into our home 4 months later! During our first meeting, Derek helped us organize our wish list and using his knowledge of San Diego neighborhoods, suggested various areas for us to check out. Within a couple of weeks, we narrowed down our search to a 1-mile radius in La Mesa, CA. Derek kept us in the loop as properties got on the market and quickly arranged showings. Nothing was quite what we were looking for, so Derekand his team took the matter into their own hands with innovative search techniques including mail initiatives and calling owners to assess their interest in possibly selling their homes. Derek took it a step further, driving through our desired neighborhood scoping out prospective properties when he stumbled upon an empty home under construction. Through his persistence, Derek was able to meet the contractor and get more information about the home to learn it was exactly what we were looking for! He quickly got in contact with the current owner, told her about our family and our wishes and arranged a showing that weekend! We knew this was the home for us and put in an offer the next day. A couple of days later, our offer was accepted and we were on our way to closing on this beautiful house! Now, many things make this an even more unique circumstance thanks to Derek's perseverance. This was an off-market deal... we were able to take advantage of seeing this beautiful 3-bed, 2-bath home on a 10,000 sf lot just a half-mile from the highly-desirable La Mesa Village before anyone else! Our new neighbors are constantly telling us how many people would drive by asking about the home expressing great interest in it going on the market. If we didn't get ahead of it as we did, we doubt we would have been able to compete. In addition to getting our foot in the door early, this home was under a complete renovation. Derek stayed on top of every little detail, working with the seller and her contractor to make sure our timeline would be met and we would be able to close on time. Derek and his team are the reason we are in this home, comfortably enjoying our backyard this evening and the reason why I got emotional on our short walk to the Farmer's Market Friday night while dreaming of all the memories our new family will make as we join the wonderful community of La Mesa! Thank you, Derek, Laurence, and Compass Realty, you truly are the best!

Conventional wisdom says, “Don’t judge a book by its cover.” But when I first met Derek, he presented me with a beautiful book prepared just for me. It contained a detailed analysis of market sales for my property. When Derek started to turn each page of the book along with his narrative, I know he would be the one that helped me to get the highest return on investment for the sale of my house. From a start, Derek provided me a list of recommendations to get the house ready for market, a game plan, and a promise. Once I trusted his inside knowledge about real estate, I realized that it’s my turn to execute his game plan. I completed the recommended repairs, prepped the house with his professional staging company. He was always there to provide guidance and inputs. Then it’s showtime. On the day of an open house, a very high turnout of potential buyers came. And next day was also a phenomenal day too. Then within a week, a recorded number of offers were presented to me in his war room at his office. I was pleased and impressed with his work ethic and real estate knowledge. We worked together as a team and get my house sold with the right buyer as planned on schedule. It was a sweet deal and I really appreciate that. Thank you, Derek. I trusted him, enjoyed working with him, got my house sold the way I wanted. Best of all, he became my dear friend now. I believe any potential buyer or seller would have a similar experience if they chose Derek as their agent.

When I first began considering purchasing a condo, Derek came highly recommended to me by a friend. As a first-time buyer, I didn’t even know where to begin, but Derek immediately put me at ease during our initial consultation, patiently explaining the process and answering my many questions. What struck me the most was how well he listened and took the time to understand my lifestyle, concerns, and preferences to make sure he could match me with the perfect home. It was obvious that he placed my happiness and satisfaction above all. Over the course of just a few weeks, Derek showed me several options that I would have been pleased with, clearly demonstrating his extensive knowledge of the San Diego housing market. In a remarkably short time, he worked his magic and managed a showing for a gorgeous, brand new townhouse just a day before it was to go on the market. It was my dream condo, and Derek worked closely with the seller to ensure that it would be mine. From start to closing, he went above and beyond, coordinating every detail and calming my anxieties to guarantee a smooth closing. I moved in just yesterday and couldn't be happier. Thank you, Derek, for holding my hand through this exciting process and for finding my dream condo!

Let me start by saying that Derek renewed my hope in agents. I had started my search in San Diego with another agent and it hadn’t gone well. I was beaten down, had lost a place I wanted and was almost scared to get back into the market. Derek was referred to me, and he knew my situation and tailored his initial introduction into slow and steady check-ins until I was mentally ready to get back into the market. Derek was with me every step of the way, listened to all my frustrations and demands during the stressful process, and made sure each and every detail was taken care of for me. He also helped with some very difficult negations with positive results. I would say Derek is a top agent in the San Diego area and if you’re in the market or looking to sell, he should be the person you go with. I could go on and on, but in the end, his care, approach, communication, and great personality will prove the worth!

Mr. Harms exceeded my family's expectations of a realtor. My family has gone through a few recent home sales and Mr. Harms easily stands out as the top realtor we've worked with. Mr. Harms is very detail-oriented and delivers what you want, and more. For instance, not only did he have the place staged beautifully but his marketing was on point and really captured the full glamour of our unique property. almost made us not want to sell. We had a buyer within one week of listing and the escrow process went smoothly. He's a professional in his field and I imagine many more pleasant experiences for his future clients. Thanks a ton, Derek.