Selling a condo in this market was difficult but Gretchen made it the best it could be. Her knowledge of the market, her staging, and her willingness to “get it ready” in my absence (while I was thousands of miles away) was great. Her use of electronic technology enabled me to quickly sign and transmit documents from Connecticut (even over the Thanksgiving holiday). With her fabulous photos, my unit was only listed 48 hours before I had an all cash offer. If you are planning to list your property, do what she says – it’s worth it!
Heather Beljean
My husband and I became fans of Gretchen before we ever thought of selling our home. We followed her newsletters and kept current with the market for several years. Her savvy business sense and exceptional knowledge of the Island and housing market is truly impressive. When I found myself needing to sell our wonderful home after the death of my husband, Gretchen was my go-to agent. She streamlined the whole process and secured a winning closing price… in spite of the fallen market. Gretchen is your woman, no matter if you’re selling OR buying!
Kennette
You not only sold our condo in no time at all but saved us from having any due diligence re-negotiations by using the prelisting home inspection so the buyers knew everything about the condo. The process was as painless as could be. You’re the WOMAN!
J & E Knister
Buying a condo in Hawaii had been a goal of ours for the last year, but navigating the options was overwhelming. HOA fees, leased land, short sales and more made it seem like a very big risk to know which one to buy. Having Gretchen guide us and hone our options down to the ones that worked, it made the final choice obvious and certain. She is like having a district attourney on your side. Very professional, very knowlegable and she keeps you informed and prepared each step of the way. Two of our friends are now using her services and they also noticed how hard she works and how well she knows the market here.
Darrel and Renate Whitcomb
Thanks for all of your help. Efficiency and attention to detail are so often absent, it is a joy to work with you, my dear.
Edy Campbell
When it comes to knowing the Real Estate Market in the Hawaiian Islands, Gretchen is the person you want to be working with! My wife and I had been talking for a while about what sort of property would suit us. Gretchen was able to guide us though this journey we were on to find the perfect home for our family. She is very patient and encouraging and always available for our questions! She is very confident and truly loves what she does!
Thank you for making our dream come true!
Alister & Jade
Aloha Kona Property Owners:
We would like to share with you our recent experience in selling our Kona home.
We interviewed several local brokers and selected Gretchen Lambeth.
She was the only one who exhibited that combination of personality and professionalism that we wanted. Gretchen’s knowledge of the local market is comprehensive and in combination with her technological skills she is able to present market data in formats that are thorough and easy to understand.
She has developed effective working relationships with all of the local professionals who support the real estate business. And she was very willing to tell us who she thought was the best plumber, electrician, appraiser, attorney, surveyor, etc. and she will arrange for them to contact you.
She also provided free staging of our home. It took her over 8 hours of packing and toting materials into our home but, when she was finished our home was truly “market ready”.
We just could not have been more pleased with all aspects of her performance from listing presentation to closing!
Karon & John Wesolowski
From the moment we met Gretchen we knew that she would be our Realtor/Broker of choice. She handled our transaction in a totally efficient, professional and ethical manner. Moreover,she is warm, nonjudgmental and a lot of fun.
I & K Wilde
Greetings
February 8th, 2011:
I met Gretchen during the summer of 2009 after moving to Kona as a full time resident in April 2009. I had owned in Kona since 1999 but had not lived here locally until then.
My goal was to determine if my Wife and I wanted to:
A: Stay put in our existing ocean view condo.
B: Move to a bigger/better condo
C: Move to a house – and sell/not sell our existing condo
AND – What the heck was going to happen with the market in the future??
No person has the crystal ball to effectively answer accurately but Gretchen provides the necessary tools and patience required for the answer to evolve.
Knowledge: Gretchen lives, breaths and probably dreams real estate? As an Engineer I want data – charts – graphs, etc. I received them in record time.
Responsiveness: We have all had a realtor that promises responsiveness. When Gretchen sets a time she will be there, on time and ready to go. When another party (other realtor, finance person, etc. is not pulling their weight Gretchen will professionally repair the issue. She operates 24×7 and will be there when needed (in person, on the phone or over email as appropriate).
Industry Leader: Gretchen is well known to all realtor’s in Kona so if you are looking for an informed source she will know it or find out if it can be found. Her motto: “never underestimate the power of a redhead” is right on!
Tactfulness: Gretchen will tell you her opinion if asked but in a positive manner. She reads a client and understands how to approach and work with them for a win win end solution. She knows she does not have a crystal ball and readily separates facts, educated guesses and rumors from incoming information.
You want a Realtor that at least pretends to like your jokes. Gretchen not only pretends to like them but actually appears to appreciate them (or at least has me fooled that she does?).
End result: After a year of looking we came across the right Ocean Front Condo at the Kona Bali Kai complex and closed quickly despite the Foreclosure Bank Owned Status and the selling realtor being out of state and not available for Phone conversations 90% of the time.
Regards – Lynn Noffsinger
My husband, Geoff & I , Hilo-Town folks, were affected by the downturn in the economy just like everybody else. We had purchased a Kailua-Kona property, we had decided that when the market was right we would sell a condo unit we had purchased. I had been receiving Gretchen’s Newsletter that she mailed Island Wide for a couple of years. I was impressed by her marketing savvy and contacted her. She graciously invited me to meet with her to talk about the state of the market. That was more than two years ago.
She had printed out the area real estate statistics and during our almost two hour consultation helped us to the conclusion that spring of 2009 was not the time to sell. We stayed in touch and we met once more to go over the statistics, and again she helped us to see that spring of 2010 was not the time to sell. We appreciated that she wouldn’t tell us what we wanted to hear unless she truly believed that it was so. By the late summer of 2010 a glimmer of hope, she felt there would be a chance, maybe even a good chance that we could sell.
Now even with close to 300 condominiums on the market at that time, we did not hesitate to trust her opinion and abilities and decided to sell. She swung into action, the unit was readied, cleaned, necessary repairs attended to quickly and appraised fairly with her at the unit to promote all of its special features. Then we received a call – and it was Gretchen asking if we could have a real estate caravan come through right then even though the unit wasn’t quite all staged. She encouraged the exposure, as the next caravan in the complex would be weeks away. We said “absolutely” and buyers came in with an agent on caravan and she negotiated the sale. We couldn’t have expected anything better than that! Thank you Gretchen!!
In summary:
1. She told it “like it was” and graciously gave informed advice even though it forestalled an immediate attempt at a sale for her early on.
2. She was happy to update us on the market whenever we asked.
3. When the time was right she was professional, enthusiastic & timely .
4. Aggressive without being pushy.
5. Informed of caravan activity, which was a deal maker for us.
6. The actual sale process was a dream. Hourly or daily monitoring and up-dates as necessary. Any sales-related issues were addressed and resolved immediately.
Would we do business with Gretchen again? The answer is that we will be doing business with her again. Hopefully very soon.
D & G Casburn, Hilo
We have been so blessed to have Gretchen Lambeth as our Realtor. She came highly recommended from several sources, but little did we know how efficient and professional she is. The selling of our Condo in the worst of times was done in record time, at our asking price, and without any contingencies. From the time we first talked to Gretchen, through the close of escrow we were amazed at how fast and thorough she performed the important tasks that got the job done.
We certainly understand why she received the distinguished award of “Broker of the Year.”
It is also worth mentioning that she is a vivacious young women with a wonderful personality. Our family is forever grateful to Gretchen. In fact we are so pleased with the outcome that we will be happy to talk to anyone who is considering Gretchen to represent them as a buyer or seller of any Real Estate transaction.
Burda
Gretchen, there are no words to express our appreciation for the wonderful service you provide to your clients. Your knowledge of the market trends and help in pricing our unit was the ticket to a successful and FAST sale. Your staging presented our property to the very best advantage. When seller’s follow YOUR lead, they will be happy with the results! B. & H. Beljean: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
Thank you so much for guiding us through the sale of our condo. It is because of your knowledge and expertise that we were able to sell our condo in such a relatively short time even in this tight economy. I appreciated your regular newsletter updating us on the condition of the real estate market in Hawaii…especially since I was living off island. I always felt you were looking out for my best interest and your quick response to any questions or ‘problems’ that arose made me feel as though I was always a priority. I would highly recommend you to anyone needing the assistance of a real estate professional. D. Andrade, VT
Short sales are a reality of real estate life these days. Unlike traditional sales they require different terminology, strategy, and lots of patience for all parties involved. I can’t say enough about how Gretchen handled the sale of our unit encompassing all of her knowledge in this specific area and used her inside connection with our lender. This process could have ended is disaster, but Gretchen pulled us all together and we sold our place to a happy new buyer while avoiding foreclosure. Once again I can’t thank you enough!!! Former homeowner in Kona
I never imagined homeownership but as home prices continued to drop, my dream of buying a home began to come alive. Gretchen had more patience than anyone I’ve known and worked diligently to find a place that would work for us. I never would have gotten through this without her. She’s the absolute best!
Eaton
I don’t know what I would have done without Gretchen. She was great, and just kept pushing that paper until she closed a short sale for me. I would highly recommend her for your real estate needs, and I would not hesitate to call on her when looking for a real estate agent. Thank you so much, Gretchen. Harrison
Gretchen and her staff along with their terrific marketing campaign really made the difference in selling our oceanfront condo. She successfully sold and closed the escrow for us in just 70 days! Every interaction with Hawaiian Isle was pleasant and professional . . . we definitely recommend them!
CW: Boring, OR
Gretchen was exactly what we needed! After being on the market for a year, we listed our lot with Gretchen and she put it into escrow in only 15 days. She analyzed the market, the area, and the land and told us exactly what needed to be done. She and her team are fantastic: professional and proactive. The close of escrow was seamless due to the attention to detail and preparation taken beforehand.
Castro: Orinda, CA
Gretchen we loved your get it done attitude. The time and effort you put into our condominium purchase from start to finish was outstanding. We feel that we have a new friend in Kona who just happens to be a great realtor. Mahalo Cusick: Wenatchee, Washington
My husband and I are both real estate brokers in California. We invest in different states and have very high expectations when dealing with other agents. Gretchen is the best we have ever dealt with; her team is professional and responds quickly. Maybe it is the red hair. Call Gretchen if you would like to talk to us personally, she has our cell phone numbers. Jones: Rancho Santa Fe, CA
Gretchen removed our fears of purchasing off island, with her knowledge, integrity and walking us through every aspect of our purchase. Through e-mail, Gretchen educated us about the history of the various condo projects, from construction to rental history’s. Gretchen e-mailed us pictures she herself took at our request of various condo’s. Gretchen saved us hours and days by showing us only the listings that met our specific needs. She went above and beyond for us; she made our 27-year dream a reality. Mahalo, Gretchen!
D & J: Brookings, OR
My associates at work were amazed when I described the level of professionalism and service that Gretchen provides to all her Sellers and Buyers. After multiple transactions with her as our family’s agent, I know we will never use anyone else on the Island
Kane: Kailua-Kona, HI
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Testimonials
Selling a condo in this market was difficult but Gretchen made it the best it could be. Her knowledge of the market, her staging, and her willingness to “get it ready” in my absence (while I was thousands of miles away) was great. Her use of electronic technology enabled me to quickly sign and transmit documents from Connecticut (even over the Thanksgiving holiday). With her fabulous photos, my unit was only listed 48 hours before I had an all cash offer. If you are planning to list your property, do what she says – it’s worth it!
Heather Beljean
My husband and I became fans of Gretchen before we ever thought of selling our home. We followed her newsletters and kept current with the market for several years. Her savvy business sense and exceptional knowledge of the Island and housing market is truly impressive. When I found myself needing to sell our wonderful home after the death of my husband, Gretchen was my go-to agent. She streamlined the whole process and secured a winning closing price… in spite of the fallen market. Gretchen is your woman, no matter if you’re selling OR buying!
Kennette
You not only sold our condo in no time at all but saved us from having any due diligence re-negotiations by using the prelisting home inspection so the buyers knew everything about the condo. The process was as painless as could be. You’re the WOMAN!
J & E Knister
Buying a condo in Hawaii had been a goal of ours for the last year, but navigating the options was overwhelming. HOA fees, leased land, short sales and more made it seem like a very big risk to know which one to buy. Having Gretchen guide us and hone our options down to the ones that worked, it made the final choice obvious and certain. She is like having a district attourney on your side. Very professional, very knowlegable and she keeps you informed and prepared each step of the way. Two of our friends are now using her services and they also noticed how hard she works and how well she knows the market here.
Darrel and Renate Whitcomb
Thanks for all of your help. Efficiency and attention to detail are so often absent, it is a joy to work with you, my dear.
Edy Campbell
When it comes to knowing the Real Estate Market in the Hawaiian Islands, Gretchen is the person you want to be working with! My wife and I had been talking for a while about what sort of property would suit us. Gretchen was able to guide us though this journey we were on to find the perfect home for our family. She is very patient and encouraging and always available for our questions! She is very confident and truly loves what she does!
Thank you for making our dream come true!
Alister & Jade
Aloha Kona Property Owners:
We would like to share with you our recent experience in selling our Kona home.
We interviewed several local brokers and selected Gretchen Lambeth.
She was the only one who exhibited that combination of personality and professionalism that we wanted. Gretchen’s knowledge of the local market is comprehensive and in combination with her technological skills she is able to present market data in formats that are thorough and easy to understand.
She has developed effective working relationships with all of the local professionals who support the real estate business. And she was very willing to tell us who she thought was the best plumber, electrician, appraiser, attorney, surveyor, etc. and she will arrange for them to contact you.
She also provided free staging of our home. It took her over 8 hours of packing and toting materials into our home but, when she was finished our home was truly “market ready”.
We just could not have been more pleased with all aspects of her performance from listing presentation to closing!
Karon & John Wesolowski
From the moment we met Gretchen we knew that she would be our Realtor/Broker of choice. She handled our transaction in a totally efficient, professional and ethical manner. Moreover,she is warm, nonjudgmental and a lot of fun.
I & K Wilde
Greetings
February 8th, 2011:
I met Gretchen during the summer of 2009 after moving to Kona as a full time resident in April 2009. I had owned in Kona since 1999 but had not lived here locally until then.
My goal was to determine if my Wife and I wanted to:
A: Stay put in our existing ocean view condo.
B: Move to a bigger/better condo
C: Move to a house – and sell/not sell our existing condo
AND – What the heck was going to happen with the market in the future??
No person has the crystal ball to effectively answer accurately but Gretchen provides the necessary tools and patience required for the answer to evolve.
End result: After a year of looking we came across the right Ocean Front Condo at the Kona Bali Kai complex and closed quickly despite the Foreclosure Bank Owned Status and the selling realtor being out of state and not available for Phone conversations 90% of the time.
Regards – Lynn Noffsinger
My husband, Geoff & I , Hilo-Town folks, were affected by the downturn in the economy just like everybody else. We had purchased a Kailua-Kona property, we had decided that when the market was right we would sell a condo unit we had purchased. I had been receiving Gretchen’s Newsletter that she mailed Island Wide for a couple of years. I was impressed by her marketing savvy and contacted her. She graciously invited me to meet with her to talk about the state of the market. That was more than two years ago.
She had printed out the area real estate statistics and during our almost two hour consultation helped us to the conclusion that spring of 2009 was not the time to sell. We stayed in touch and we met once more to go over the statistics, and again she helped us to see that spring of 2010 was not the time to sell. We appreciated that she wouldn’t tell us what we wanted to hear unless she truly believed that it was so. By the late summer of 2010 a glimmer of hope, she felt there would be a chance, maybe even a good chance that we could sell.
Now even with close to 300 condominiums on the market at that time, we did not hesitate to trust her opinion and abilities and decided to sell. She swung into action, the unit was readied, cleaned, necessary repairs attended to quickly and appraised fairly with her at the unit to promote all of its special features. Then we received a call – and it was Gretchen asking if we could have a real estate caravan come through right then even though the unit wasn’t quite all staged. She encouraged the exposure, as the next caravan in the complex would be weeks away. We said “absolutely” and buyers came in with an agent on caravan and she negotiated the sale. We couldn’t have expected anything better than that! Thank you Gretchen!!
In summary:
1. She told it “like it was” and graciously gave informed advice even though it forestalled an immediate attempt at a sale for her early on.
2. She was happy to update us on the market whenever we asked.
3. When the time was right she was professional, enthusiastic & timely .
4. Aggressive without being pushy.
5. Informed of caravan activity, which was a deal maker for us.
6. The actual sale process was a dream. Hourly or daily monitoring and up-dates as necessary. Any sales-related issues were addressed and resolved immediately.
Would we do business with Gretchen again? The answer is that we will be doing business with her again. Hopefully very soon.
D & G Casburn, Hilo
We have been so blessed to have Gretchen Lambeth as our Realtor. She came highly recommended from several sources, but little did we know how efficient and professional she is. The selling of our Condo in the worst of times was done in record time, at our asking price, and without any contingencies. From the time we first talked to Gretchen, through the close of escrow we were amazed at how fast and thorough she performed the important tasks that got the job done.
We certainly understand why she received the distinguished award of “Broker of the Year.”
It is also worth mentioning that she is a vivacious young women with a wonderful personality. Our family is forever grateful to Gretchen. In fact we are so pleased with the outcome that we will be happy to talk to anyone who is considering Gretchen to represent them as a buyer or seller of any Real Estate transaction.
B. & H. Beljean: Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
D. Andrade, VT
Former homeowner in Kona
Harrison
Cusick: Wenatchee, Washington
Jones: Rancho Santa Fe, CA