Elisabeth Watson

Elisabeth came to real estate relatively late in her career, in 2014. Prior to becoming a realtor, she consulted to small businesses and non-profits on strategic execution. In English, that’s developing a deep understanding of their customers’ experiences, on operational, financial, and marketing strategies, and on structuring their organization and leveraging their resources to achieve their goals. In shorter English, that’s what do they do that people need, what have they got to do it with, who should do it, and will they be successful doing it.

Elisabeth grew up in Wilmington, Delaware, which she tells you because now you can say that you know someone from Delaware. Unless you’re acquainted with Mr. Biden, of course.

She moved to the East Bay almost 25 years ago after she graduated from Business School. She came to live in a beautiful place and work in an entrepreneurial, innovative environment that is home to some of the smartest people in the world. She wanted to live, work, and be with people who are constantly thinking about how they can do things better and make things better.

Buying their home in Berkeley prompted some major changes in her life. She got very focused on their financial stability and at the same time flourished the sanctuary that their home provides. A few years ago, her Elisabeth and her husband realized a lifelong dream and bought a home at The Sea Ranch. That too has changed their lives in ways they never expected. In particular, their homes prompted a deep commitment to their communities that translated to meaningful and rewarding community service.

Where they live is central to all of them, no matter what the circumstances of their lives are. It is their safety, their respite, and their challenge. It is essential to their family lives and their financial stability – there is no other material thing that is both as fraught and a source of joy, or is as singularly important to them.

Elisabeth’s own home buying experiences made her realize that buying a home is a catalyst. It creates the infrastructure for their home and family lives. It’s an investment decision. It fosters their involvement in their communities. She wanted to play a supportive and integral role in that process. She also wanted to take her experience in process improvement, change management, and risk analysis to make the buying and selling process easier.

She likes her clients. No, she loves her clients. She is so lucky to work with such great people every day. She loves their stories, their ideas, their decision-making processes, their desires. She loves it that she helps guide critical transitions in their lives and to celebrate the reasons for those transitions. One client got a promotion and is moving closer to work. Another fell in love when she least expected it. Not all stories are happy ones, but they are all deeply moving and important, and Elisabeth is honored to be a part of them.

Communication, planning, execution, anticipating and avoiding issues are critical aspects to her success. She also stays calm. Problems arise and emotions can run high but one advantage of having been around the block a few times is that not much fazes her. Great relationships mean that she has many resources to solve problems. Also, she loves the quantitative and analytical aspects of the job, which helps navigate a crazy market.

When she’s not engaged in helping her clients, Elisabeth is out on the trails or at the beach with her dog and her husband. She’s conducting culinary experiments on her friends. She also loves to travel, which is good as she has an international family. And she loves a good book and a cup of coffee on a quiet morning.