About Don Adamson

Don Adamson worked tirelessly to help my son find the perfect house. I never once doubted his professionalism or knowledge during all of our interactions. His team made buying a house long distance from across the country a seamless process. I will always be thankful for Don’s kindness and patience.

Don and Kristen along with their team were excellent. Everything was pre-planned and very well organized from start to finish. Don kept me informed several times per week of my very short, thank you Don BTW, market to close of escrow experience. I met Don at another home he was representing and his professionalism led me to asking him to represent my home. Painless and profitable are two words to describe my experience.

Don did a stellar job despite a long and difficult escrow. He steadied the ship whenever the road got rocky (mixed metaphor). He is a keen negotiator and managed to get some extra work done on the house for free as well as the laying of a considerable amount of wattle. Highly recommended!

Don Adamson was my agent when I bought my home and he was my agent when I sold my home nearly 12 years later. He checked in with me every step of the way and was always immediately accessible if I had any questions. He’s got a big heart and I can tell how much it means to him to do what’s best for his clients. I was always happy to hear from him throughout the years during our annual check ins. He’s a master at coordinating all the things that need doing to prepare a home for sale. I won’t hesitate to refer him to anyone I know who needs an agent.

Don Adamson and his team knocked it out of the park. Our property had a very large task list to resolve and bring it to market. Don provided an array of options for each identified project. Even unexpected circumstances were tackled with the same process. We also discussed the marketing process and set reasonable expectations of the response. Don Adamson and his team represented our property well and we are very happy with the results.

We are so grateful for Don. He is very professional and thorough. He is an excellent communicator. Don took great care of us ensuring our home got great visibility and qualified buyers could meet our contractual expectations. Our home sold for more than 100k over asking price. That is attributed to Don's area knowledge and expertise. We highly recommend him for your real estate needs.

My wife and I met Don in 2011, and he was proactive in both setting us up for automated email alerts and in hand-picking places that he thought we would like to see. He was very responsive when we asked questions. We would quickly get the low-down on why some place was offered at prices that seemed inappropriate and he had great knowledge of the different areas (e.g. what was in a slide zone). We ended up placing an offer surprisingly quickly on a place in El Cerrito we all thought was a good deal, but our competitive offer was not accepted by the seller. Don was encouraging but after that we got an opportunity to rent a fantastic apartment so we de...

Your team was excellent from start to the finish line. I was amazed at how they were quickly able to make the house and property look fresh and contemporary so it would show well in today's digital real estate sales environment. The team kept in constant contact with me and kept me right up to date on the multitude of forms I needed to complete as part of the sale process. Their frequent visits to the property gave me assurance that everything was secure there, and would be until the property was turned over to the new owner. Don did everything he said he would and got a prompt sale. I would highly recommend him. He knows the local May Valley Real E...

Don is sincere, honest and and an incredibly helpful real estate agent. As first time home buyers, he helped us navigate what seemed to be a very complicated process. Don always took the time to explain parts of the process that were not clear to us and really listened to our needs and preferences. We so valued our experience, that when my sister was ready to sell her home in the Berkeley Hills, we immediately recommended Don, who promptly found a motivated buyer. There were certain complications, including foundation work that was needed. Don oversaw the whole process and interacted wonderfully with the contractors. Don, is now THE realtor for our ...

I have had the pleasure of working with Don on multiple occasions. In the Bay Area he has helped me secure a 3-0 offer letter/acceptance rate - a feat in this highly competitive market. In terms of trust and knowledge, seeing a home with is like viewing a house with an invested partner. He gets into the nitty gritty and takes copious notes on things that I have hard time noticing myself. He takes the time to understand what it is that you are looking for and take into account your financial situation in order to provide guidance on what would work best for your situation. I would recommend working with Don as he provides his honesty and expertise in...

I know home buying is beyond challenging in the Bay. It's almost like you need an 'in', someone who can make magic happen. Don was that person for me. As all the reviews say, Don is honest, knows his stuff, and actually cares. He advised me to outbid a listing price more than I was expecting. At the time, I didn't get it, but I decided to take a leap of faith. Don knew what he was doing - he did his research and knew where the market was about to head and where it will go.Long story short, he helped me beat out 28 other offers and the house worth had increased above my own offering within a year or two and has since appreciated beyond what I could h...

I am a Home Stager in the Bay Area and working with Don is an absolute pleasure! He is very professional and organized. He puts his all into his work and his clients love working with him. He pays attention to details and is very involved in ensuring the house looks perfect for open house. He is very reliable and I highly recommend him to anyone looking to sell their home quickly and for the highest amount!

I worked with Don Adamson for purchase of my house during spring of 2012.Don was excellent in every way.  During the whole process of the home buying, Don provided the best guidance and his honest opinion.   Don had our best interest in his mind and he understood our concerns and needs very well.   I thank Don for an awesome job and would recommend him to anyone buying or selling a house.

Don is simply the best at what he does and he is also one of the kindest people I have met.  I read the guiding father figure comment in another review and feel this is spot on.  He looked after us like family.  We met after being referred to him by another realtor from Southern California and he took care of everything.  I mean everything. He has an amazing team that he works with to take care of every detail to get your home ready for sale.  We have had a hard time finding anyone to do any work on our home over the years and Don has connections with high quality people for whatever you might need and they are also skilled and reliable.  He respect...

When I first met Don I knew almost nothing about buying a home. With only a vague idea of what I was looking for, he introduced me to what was out there and helped me gain perspective on what I truly wanted. We took a careful and considerate approach to each property we looked at – all the while Don providing thoughtful analysis I could not have done without. By the time I put in my final offer there was no doubt in my mind that I found exactly what I wanted. When it came to the complicated stuff, Don did all the heavy lifting for me. He explained the process, had all the documents ready, made the necessary calls, and got things done! I feel extreme...

Don was extremely professional and genuine.  He facilitated a reverse 1031 exchange without a hitch and worked with me to produce an offer that was in my budget.  I'd highly recommend him for anyone looking into real estate in the bay area.

Listen up everybody!! Looks to me that everyone LOVES their realtor and leaves them 5 star reviews. But in a review for Don, the stars should be unlimited!He recently helped us sell our home in El Sobrante. The outcome was terrific, but what we will remember is what a pleasure it was working with Don! First and foremost Don is honest. He never oversold anything, nor did he make promises he could not keep. His advise was always right but he also had the ability to listen and respect our ideas. He was always available to us , answering our calls immediately. His entire team was superb. Better yet, he coordinated them all for us. Just on a another note...

Don and his team were masterful. They navigated this complex process perfectly, got ahead of problems, dug in and did their research on anything and everything that came up, and did a ton of leg work for us. I cannot recommend them enough.

I cannot reccoment Don and Christine enough. They were thorough, diligent in getting ahead of problems and solving them before they arose, persistent in their follow-ups, and brought a great team and impeccably organized process to our sale. We could not think of a better group to help us navigate this complex process, keep everyone on track, and in the end get the best possible result. If you are buying or selling in this area, you need to speak to Don.

We met Don when we moved to California and was shopping for a home. Don ended up selling us the house we wanted instead of our own realtor and he worked out the best deal for both us and the sellers and made the process seamless. We kept a relationship with Don throughout the years since he is so knowledgeable and well connected and was kind enough to help us with anything we needed even after the house was already purchased 3 years later when we decided to move out of state, we knew that Don would be the one to sell our house for top dollar. Unfortunately for us, the rate hikes had started and the odds were against us to sell the house for what we ...

Finally closed the sale of our house!! Don was amazing. I worked with Don previously on purchasing a property several years ago. When it was time for me to sell a house, I didn't hesitate to call Don up! I bought this house in Richmond seven years ago with an ex-boyfriend. It has been a very messy situation for the last seven years. Don was very professional. And was able to handle him and the situation very well! We were able to sell over $20,000 above asking. And in less than a month. It was honestly the worst time to sell, but Don was able to do it. It rained and poured during the two open houses. We had a fence that was connected to the neighbor...

We are so grateful to have Don as our agent. He helped sell our home in El Cerrito. He is very knowledgeable and he is a natural in the real estate business. He laid out a timeline for us, kept us on a track, all the way to the finish line. He was so professional and warm at the same time. He really understood where we were coming from and we really appreciated his suggestions. He was at our home every day to make sure the contractors did their job. He took out our trash because we had moved to get the house ready. He was there when we needed him, and was never too busy for us. We trusted him completely. The home stager that worked with him, Voni Gi...

When we decided to sale our home, we had been receiving flyers from Don Adamson, Red Oak Realty. There were two things that caught our attention: many of the home sales were in neighborhoods in and around where we lived, and majority of sales far exceeded the listed price. From the moment we contacted Don we found him to be personable, well spoken, knowledgeable and genuinely interested in helping us achieve our goal. After our first in person meeting Don orchestrated the preparation of our home for public viewing (mls, open house and flyers), and necessary inspections. Throughout this process Don kept us informed every step of the way. Our home was...

Don has an encyclopedic knowledge of property in the Bay Area and we would recommend his services highly. We were looked after superbly throughout the whole process and it was very apparent that Don was always working with our best interests in mind at all times.

As a first-time homebuyer, I was feeling pretty daunted about how to navigate the particulars of the housing market in the Bay Area and how to find the perfect property that would fit my needs and budget.I should not have worried. I contacted Don Adamson at Marvin Gardens Real Estate. Don listened carefully to areas I was interested in and what I was looking for in a home. We decided that a condo would be a great option for me. He set me up on an email listing for newly available properties and we began to visit ones that interested me. In the meantime, he gave me contact info for lenders he knew and trusted, and valuable advice on which lenders to ...

Don is the best!!! He and his team did an excellent job in every way. My husband and I highly recommend Don and his team to anybody and everybody who is considering the sale of their home.

Recently my Mom passed and my sister and I were left to sell her home which needed many repairs. Donald Adamson was referred to us by another realtor who lived in another county. Don was the best realtor I have ever done business with. His communication skills are excellent, keeping us up to date on the progress, disclosures and his knowledge of the area and the market plus tradesmen whom he uses for house repairs was extraordinary. He’s honest and a man of his word. I would recommend him to anyone and use him again many times over. Thank you Don, Linda Staples and Janice Statham

Don was very helpful throughout the entire process of my home purchase. He followed up with all the parties involved, from making the appointments for inspections, calling my loan agent, corresponding with the title company, making sure all the papers were complete and filed. He even made calls to me while he was on vacation from the ski slopes to ensure that everything was being completed according to schedule. The transaction closed successfully and he even dropped off some custom-made announcements for me to send out to my friends and family. I was very pleased to have Don represent me on the purchase of my first home.

Don & Christine have been a pleasure to work with for this home sale. As with our previous home purchase, Don is that special kind of professional who exemplifies calm confidence with excellent knowledge and skill in managing every aspect of our transaction.

Being first time home buyers in the Bay Area, we really didn't know how competitive it could be to pursue our dreams of owning a home here! Don provided us withall the information we needed to start our journey and make sure we were able to view a good number of homes before we made a decision on what kind of home we were going to invest in.  We found a beautiful home that fulfilled all of our needs and Donhelped us to navigate the process of inspecting the home and getting all the right people to make sure it was in good condition. Don is very knowledgable about the East Bay market and has a solid list of contacts that were all very helpful in our ...

The process from start to finish was clear and met or exceeding our expectations. Don Adamson walked us through his plan and we discussed our thoughts, and he was able to explain where we could find the best outcome based on our goals. The choice of supporting staff to optimize the property and stage it for opening to the market could not have been better. The process of accepting an offer and processing the sale was also well discussed and at least to me as the buyer, was straightforward and easy.

Don led us through an amazing journey to find our dream home!  We had worked with other realtors for over a year, but didn't know what an amazing realtor was like until we met Don.  We cannot imagine a higher level of professionalism, responsiveness, and genuine care for clients.  He ensured we were steps ahead of each point in the process and his warm demeanor helped to ease our first-time-buyer worries.   Furthermore, his countless list of professional-grade connections ranging from house inspectors to locksmiths is to be desired.  It amazes us to think how fortunate we were to have Don recommended by a friend and we also will recommend Don to any...

Early on in our house search we decided to check out an open house in the El Cerrito hills… we had no idea that we would end up meeting the best realtor around. Don always went the extra mile during what ended up being a year of ups and downs in our home search. We know there are countless hours work that Don did for us that were behind the scenes, including dozens of phone calls, emails, and meetings on our behalf. Don never pressured us in our search. In fact, he would be the first to alert us to concerns he might have about any property. It was weird not seeing Don regularly after moving into our new house. We missed him so recently surprised him...

I can’t say enough great things about Don Adamson. Professional, honest, went above & beyond! I would highly recommend him to anyone. He made this easy, stress free from beginning to end. If anyone would like to call or email me regarding a recommendation I will gladly give it. Thank you Don & Red Oak Realty. Janice Statham

We met Don at an open house in Richmond. 3 weeks later we closed on that house. Don is fast, knowledgeable, personable, and I never feel like I'm bothering him with any question or phone call. He also knows the area well and has many contacts when we needed a plumber, inspector, electrician, etc. After we moved he sold our previous condo in Richmond Marina that had many challenges - HOA was in litigation, changing companies, required a non-conventional loan - but Don got us through it. He arranged the staging, photographer, and selling was a breeze from our end but I know Don was working hard behind the scenes! Highly recommended.

As a first-time homebuyer, I had no experience or confidence buying property and was in constant need of re-assurance and hand-holding.  Don Adamson took great care of me throughout the entire home-buying process.  He was never out of reach, answering all of my little questions, as soon as they came up, and managing my concerns with ease and enthusiasm.  In the end, I got the house I wanted and couldn’t be more pleased.

Pleasure to work with Don and his team for a successful sale.

Don is amazing! Thanks to his great advice and tireless work we sold our home for $175,000 over asking. This was our first time selling a house and we were nervous about having to sell from 2 states away. As soon as we met Don he made us feel at ease. He guided us every step of the way and took great care of our house after we moved out. His knowledge of the market and contacts in the industry helped to make a smooth transition from moving out, to painting, staging, open houses, offers and closing in less than 6 weeks. He went above and beyond, even going so far as to stain our front deck himself when we ran out of time and going to the house every ...

Don is an awesome realtor. I have used him both as a seller’s agent and a buyer’s agent. He is equally adept at both roles. Don understands the market deeply. He is also just the nicest guy. He is a good communicator and has fine attention to detail. I have trusted his instincts and he delivers. I highly recommend Don.

I can't thank Don enough for all of the work he did to help us find the perfect house in Hercules... he had helped my sister find a home in El Sobrante a couple of years back, and she had nothing but good things to say, so when the time came for my wife and I to look, we contacted Don, and he proved to be even better than advertised.  He's extremely conscientious and professional - I know we were not the easiest to work with, but he was always very patient and understanding even while under a constant barrage of questions.  He took the time to explain exactly how things worked, and very gently guided us through the whole process.  He knew the market...

THE DIFFERENCE IS ... $900,000!!!On June 2, 2019 I decided to sell my house in Richmond. I was planning on using the realtor that I used to buy my house, and we were going to do minimal cleanup/fixup and list at $650,000. I had spent the last week trying to figure out painters and floor guys with little success. Most did not reply, and the ones who did said they were booked for the next two months. I was frustrated, but determined. I did not know a lot about real estate, but I knew I needed my house on the market before summer ended. I went out with my best friend, Mary, who I have known for 23 years, that night and told her the news!Mary gave me th...

Don Adamson was the best thank you

Only one word that describes Don and his real estate work.....FABULOUS!  Right from our first interaction with him to the end as we sold our house in El Cerrito, his honest, ethical and client-oriented persona flowed thru. He listened carefully to our needs and concerns and helped us reframe them in context of the ultimate goal. His project management task oriented style and timely communications ensured that our home was market ready with all the appropriate bells and whistles to ensure smooth & successful sale. We found that Don has built a good professional network and business partnerships that allows him to tap into, to get his client's...

Don is amazing!! He is kind, patient, competent and thorough. I’m sure I received a greater sale price due to his diligence. He goes above and beyond the call of duty. I can’t recommend him more highly. I feel blessed he was my agent!!’

Don is a genuine craftsman in selling property. After first speaking with him on the phone and later interviewing him at my home I knew he was the right person to sell my house. He was immensely helpful in coordinating vendors to prepare the house for sale. From the open house and offers and advise he was responsive and on top of any issues and concerns that happened. If I need an agent again Don will certainly be the first person I contact.

We enjoyed working with Don, Christine and his associates. Don was very professional and knowledgeable. He was able to read the market and get our home sold!

I am a realtor/broker with my own firm for 45 years.  I chose Don Adamson of Marvin Gardens Real Estate to sell my brother's house to avoid a conflict of interest (I was the executor of my brother's trust).  After researching the best Realtor, I chose Don for his experience and integrity.  I'm so glad I did. I highly recommend Don for his professionalism, his attention to detail, his warm manner.  I wish Don was working for my firm, but I know Marvin Gardens, an excellent firm itself, is very happy with him! Don helped me pick the right price for the area (which he was intimately experienced with), helped to put together a team of people to do the n...

Don was great! My husband and I are new to California and were looking for our first house after renting in other parts of the country. He was able to answer many questions, not just about the home buying process but also about the East Bay area. He helped us to find a home in a great neighborhood that fit our needs and was within our budget. I think we will be in our new home for a while, but when it comes time to move, I'll call Don again.

Working with Don both as first time homebuyers and first time home sellers we were nothing but pleased. Don was always available for our questions as we were looking and, when it was time to buy, we won in a highly competitive scenario (10+ offers, counters, etc). Don's excellent network helped us with our home improvements and in preparing before it was time to move. We highly recommend working with Don!

Thanks to Don's thoughtful and conscientious stewardship of our recent home sale, we enjoyed a final sales price of nearly 20% over the asking price. We couldn't be happier! Don was attentive to our property, addressing questions from poential buyers and advertising it far and wide. The effect was a lot of very positive buzz. I would certainly recommend Don for your home-selling or -buying needs!