Tom Watson

Thanks Tom for truly going above and beyond for us before during and after our successful venture into the Oakland real estate market. Tom is part advocate, part level-​headed business man, part therapist, and part buddy.
He made himself very accessible during the house hunt and is very knowledgeable about residential construction and the greater Oakland area.
One thing that has meant a lot to our family is that TW has delivered terrific service after sale. We hear many agents vanish after you buy but he has been incredibly proactive in helping us gain access to our new place when needed and in helping us get situated in a new town.
Our family highly recommends Tom Watson as a real estate agent!

I highly recommend Tom Watson for your real estate transaction. Tom Watson has excellent negotiation and management skills. He knows real estate, but more importantly he knows people and how to handle them well.
Tom ensured that all of the details of our Oakland real estate transaction went very smoothly, and his judgment is just excellent. He’s experienced, he has a system, and you should just go with the program because Tom knows what he’s doing. Follow his suggestions, all of them — don’t suggest, «oh but I know a guy who can fix that for me» or «I’d rather use my bank for the mortgage». He and his network of service-​oriented professionals are a true team.
He handled the negotiations extremely well. Leveraging that team of professionals in his network, he was able to get us a great price for our Oakland home in a very tough sellers’ market.
Tom Watson should really be your Oakland /​East Bay real estate agent.

Tom Watson was an extremely professional, diligent, aggressive but sincere real estate representative. He gave us the confidence and knowledge to sell our home in a seamless manner. We could not have received the offers and ultimately final price if it we’re not for Tom’s pure determination. His experience, as a buying and selling agent, and dual real estate licenses definitely was an assets to selling our home.

Tom recently helped me and my husband purchase a home in Berkeley. Even though we hadn’t known Tom for long when we wanted to make an offer on our home, he was engaged, responsive, and enthusiastic as soon as we were introduced.
Tom is very knowledgeable about the market in the East Bay. He was communicative and easy to get in touch with throughout our home purchase. He is also a really nice guy, and was pleasant and easy to work with, even in a fast-​paced transaction with short deadlines. Tom did a great job at handling the personalities involved in our particular purchase. He was also excellent at following up with us and working with the vendors we used throughout the transaction.
If we need to sell or buy another home in the area, my husband and I will definitely use Tom again.

Tom is a great realtor. He knows what needs to be done to make a transaction happen. Tom represented us for the sale of our former home. He sat down with us to discuss what he thought we needed to do (and not do) to make the home sell. After we agreed to the work/​inspection items, Tom took over and arranged the bids, scheduled the work and managed the whole process. Tom takes care of the whole transaction!
Throughout the process we greatly appreciated both Tom’s advice on strategy and his attention to details. We were very pleased with the outcome of our sale.
In addition to his strengths as a realtor, Tom is a great guy and enjoyable to work with. We highly recommend him.

After reading his favorable reviews on Unilocal and meeting him in person, I decided to work with Mr. Watson to sell my condo in Oakland. Although I had little knowledge of the real estate market or of the process of selling a property, Mr. Watson walked me through the steps and ensured I was comfortable with every step of the way. Mr. Watson wasted no time in prepping and gearing up for placing my property on the market. I am confident that his advance work and preparation is what led to receiving more than I had initially anticipated for my property. Additionally, I sold the property within weeks of contacting him. I was pleased with how smoothly the process went! Working with Mr. Watson has been a pleasure and ease, so much so that my wife and I are now working with him on buying a house in the East Bay. On a side note, as a testament to his character, Mr. Watson was inspirational to many students of mine when he volunteered a day out of his busy schedule to present at a career day at my school. I would highly recommend him to take care of you through the entire buying and selling process.

Ok people. Let’s face it. Buying a house in the Bay Area can be pretty harrowing. This is why you should ask Tom Watson to be your real estate agent. We just bought a house in Berkeley and Tom saw us through every step. With housing prices going up and inventory low, there was quite a bit of competition and it seemed like we might be looking forever. However, Tom stuck with us, gave us some insight into some opportunities we might take advantage of, and we now, only a few months later, have a house that we are very happy with. If this is your first time buying a house, you will be shocked at how many details there are to manage and how much time is of the essence. You need someone who works hard, is on top of things, and above all, is in your corner and helps you understand and feel comfortable with the process. Tom does all of these things and, in addition, handles his transactions with you and other realtors with great integrity. He went above and beyond regularly, was constantly available, and made what turned out to be a very complicated closing easy for us.
Finally, Tom is a lot of fun to work with. He has a great sense of humor, is full of energy, and will teach you a lot about the home buying process. For 2 months, he was the person I talked with most frequently according to my cell phone. And I don’t know about you, but I want to enjoy talking to a person I have to talk to that much. Home buying can be stressful with lots of ups and downs, and it helps tremendously to work with someone who can help you keep things in perspective.
If you are serious about buying a house, call Tom. You will not be sorry.

First time homebuyer here– and thank you Tom Watson– I would not have done it without you! If I could give more than five stars, I would, because Tom is truly a phenomenal real estate agent.
Tom is honest, real and actually looked out for my well-​being. When considering neighborhoods in SF and East Bay, he was concerned with my safety and quality of life– not just another deal for him– but really helped me consider what it means to buy as it was all new to me– and find me the right home. He would give me his honest opinion and insight from his obviously great experience and knowledge of the industry. He would point out flaws that I may have missed when checking out properties Tom has a lot of integrity, and was always responsive and diligent– helped me every step of the way.

Another plus– Tom is well sharp and well-​connected so when it comes to getting the place you want and closing, Tom is the agent you can count on. He is also an expert versed in ALL TRANSACTIONS– TIC/​Condo conversions (what I ended up getting), short sales (2^nd home I put an offer on), and REO (1^st home I put an offer in on). Whatever your situation, Tom is the expert and will make you feel at ease, AND make it happen.
I wouldn’t recommend anyone else looking to buy real estate in San Francisco and the East Bay. Tom is the best– he is your man if you are looking for the right person to work hard and do everything possible to make your deal work.

We are grateful that our financial advisor recommended that we interview Tom Watson to be our agent for the sale of our Oakland home. I have to admit, we were a bit intimidated at first after meeting Tom. Tom in person is very eloquent, confident, and a strong presence. After our initial meeting and during subsequent correspondence, we knew that Tom was true to his word and a «no nonsense» kind of agent. We unfortunately had to go through a short sale process, and Tom walked us through the whole process with wisdom and reassured us with his vast experience in the short sale process. He is so experienced and so good at handling the paperwork, the negotiating, the conversations with banks, etc.; Tom has earned our respect and successfully guided us through a very trying time in our lives.
We truly can say that we had all the trust in world of Tom, and despite the painful short sale process, he handled everything professionally, persistently, and faithfully. I whole-​heartedly agree with someone else who has already stated: That’s a five-​star realtor.

In our business, we interact with real estate professionals on a daily basis. Most are competent, and some are good. Fewer still are the truly passionate and committed realtors who routinely go above and beyond for their clients. Tom Watson is one of those few. It is easy to tell when talking with his enthusiastic clients that he has taken great care of them. His flexible approach, attention to detail, and especially his understanding of each of his client’s individual needs sets him far above other realtors. Tom Watson is the real deal. We are proud to be able to continue working with such an outstanding professional.
Carefree Moves
Orinda, CA

Last year, we were referred to Tom Watson as an excellent realtor serving the East Bay. We were first time homebuyers, so absolutely everything about the process was new to us.
When we began working with Tom in mid July, we had already seen at least 75 houses. Upon learning this, he asked us point blank why we hadn’t made any offers … and we had no answer. That was the kick in the pants we needed to take the next step.
Anybody in a home search last summer and fall knows that the market changed dramatically. Every house within our price range was getting multiple offers well over the asking price, immediately putting them out of our range. Tom encouraged us to stay positive and focused through several offers, tailoring his strategy on each.
Tom’s strength as a negotiator became evident the first time we got into contract on a house. Then, after a battery of inspections revealed the house to have problems beyond our financial means to address, Tom did not hesitate in counseling us to walk away, demonstrating clearly that he put our best interest first.
The home buying process can be stressful, emotional, and disheartening, especially in a highly competitive market. Tom listened to and assuaged our fears, remained supremely objective, and kept us moving forward. Due to his guidance and reassurance, we were able to keep the faith and persist in our home search.
In mid September, Tom’s expert and intuitive strategy allowed our seventh offer to become our final one, succeeding over numerous others, including offers higher than ours. After great inspections and a smooth and efficient escrow period, we found ourselves signing closing papers and moving in before the end of October. We are very happy in our new home, and we have Tom to thank for it.
So what will you get working with Tom Watson as your realtor?
1) A licensed, full time, professional realtor,
2) An agent extremely knowledgeable about real estate in general, and experienced in the local market/​neighborhoods in particular,
3) An intelligent, savvy, and innovative strategist and negotiator,
4) A man of integrity who is direct and straightforward, doesn’t sugar coat or pander, and isn’t afraid to challenge his clients when they need it,
5) A likeable guy with a good sense of humor, especially when it’s needed,
6) A proactive communicator,
7) A person who is by nature grounded, focused, motivated, and able to remain objective when his clients react emotionally,
8) A tenacious advocate on behalf of his clients,
9) A professional with a network of trustworthy service providers related to the home buying process, AND FINALLY
10) The home you’ve been looking for.
Believe us when we say, Tom is one of the good guys.

Tom is an excellent realtor and trusted partner in the often crazy world of real estate. We had a really difficult situation with the sale of our condo and Tom was able to pull it off. There were many times I wanted to give up on selling our home because of the all upsets from the buyers or the bank, and Tom was able to guide me through the process. There were many times I was calling him late at night in a panic to hear his feedback on situations that had me up at night. He answered all my questions and always returned my calls in a timely manner. He is always professional and works really hard at giving you candid advice even if you don’t want to hear it.
On a personal level he is a genuine, honest, good person. He is successful for a good reason!

I didn’t think Realtors were supposed to be ethical and righteous! Tom has proven me wrong — he is a fantastic guy and works incredibly hard for his clients. I would recommend him to anyone.

Tom Watson is the best!
Relators make me nervous– like really nervous. I hate feeling as if I need to doubt or mistrust people’s intentions, and in the sales market it is so common to meet people who are always pitching you deals or trying to get you to buy/​spend what they want.
Tom is nothing like that.
He is very straight forwards and always made me feel as if my best interests were the most important. He listened to us– listened and heard our concerns and apprehensions. Because of that we were able to find a perfect fit for us.
I highly recommend Tom– really he is the best.

Tom is a fierce advocate for his clients. His knowledge of the current market dynamics with regard to short sales and REOs has proved invaluable to some clients who I have referred to him.

If you are looking for the exceptionally smart, honest and dedicated agent — look no further. As soon as we have decided to sell our property — Tom has called me within twenty minutes. He always has everything ready, never skipped a bit. Me and my wife are busy with our two kids and have no time for real estate «stuff» — so Tom IS THE SOLUTION. Seriously. Honestly. I will recommend him to anybody in any time.

Tom is great, he understands his clients needs but most importantly knows how to get the job done. He is best at understanding the fit for his clients. We have nothing but great things to say. He understands the city and surrounding areas.

I just purchased my first home in San Francisco through the representation of Tom Watson. I was completely new to the real estate market and a bit overwhelmed. Tom, with his deep knowledge and experience was able to shepherd me through the learning process and took the time to explain the local market, his recommendations, and what to expect. Tom is perfect for first time home buyers becuase he takes the time to understands the clients’ specific needs.
Tom is very prompt and professional. When he says he’s going to do something, he does it. He sticks up for his clients and will give you his honest opinion on everything. I highly recommend Tom for the first time home buyer or any buyer for that matter.
Thanks Tom

Looking for a professional, knowledgeable, honest and hard-​working realtor? Tom Watson is the agent for you. While on our home search with several different realtors, we were seriously tired of hearing how «beautiful the bay window is» and how «nice the crown moldings are.»
It was a breath of fresh air when we met Tom. Unlike most realtors, Tom pointed out the flaws of the property and gave us realistic and useful advice (i.e.-how much it would most likely cost to fix something and if it would really work for our budget). For me, being a first-​time buyer (and someone who really doesn’t look past the pretty and shiny floors), his counsel, has been extremely helpful and appreciated.
Other helpful information you should know about Tom:
1) He promptly responds to email/​calls.
2) He’s a great negotiator-​firm, but not pushy.
3) He ventures outside of his specialized area (s)! I’ve dragged him all over the East Bay. Haven’t heard a single complaint from him.
4) He’s extremely patient and thoughtful (he got us a pumpkin for halloween!).
Tom’s the best… and you really do need the best to be part of YOUR team.

Review:
What are the qualities of a good realtor? Knowledge, both of the market and of home repair and construction. Good customer service: calling or e-​mailing back promptly and making appointments to fit your schedule. Listening to your needs and goals, instead of pushing you to buy this or that property so they can get their commission. Being a sharp negotiator, but also having good relationships with other agents. And finally, going the proverbial extra mile so that you feel taken care of and valued.
Tom has all of these qualities, and my wife and I have wholeheartedly recommended him to all of our friends who have been interested in buying a house. Now the decision to work with Tom was not a hasty one; he was the third realtor we interviewed, and we went with him because while buying us lunch, he impressed us with several of those qualities I mentioned above, and we’ve been happy about that decision during the entire process and also in the months since closing. He took the time to show us over twenty houses (coming over from his office in SF to Oakland to do so), on our schedules. We looked at a fixer-​upper that was about $ 150k more than we’d thought, but Tom didn’t push us to do it, but honestly pointed out the pros and cons of what such a project would likely entail.
So did we get the right house? Absolutely – in our price range, and with all of the key features that we wanted. But it’s been since then that Tom has continued to prove why he’s a professional worth recommending: he took us out to dinner to celebrate our closing, he co-​sponsored our housewarming party, paying for catering, and after I was laid off he also invited me to his networking group and sent a card reiterating his desire to help however he could.
That’s a five-​star realtor.