Valerie Hirbod

Negotiation is not a coin toss. Valerie doesn't go in saying "let's see how it goes". She goes in to win, prepared to secure a successful deal for her clients.

Who knew, when she received advanced degrees in business management, marketing and Rumanian from a top university in her native Paris, that she would make her way to a happy real estate career in California? Certainly, not Valerie. As it turns out, her studies were perfect preparation: mastering contracts and understanding the nuances of legalese are an important aspect of Valerie's work today.

While Valerie's academic success gave her a strong business foundation, it's really her innate curiosity, and the people side of real estate that got Valerie hooked and pulls her forward. As an Oakland resident deeply connected to the community, she understands the complicated, fast-moving East Bay market. Living in the Millsmont neighborhood, where she runs a babysitting co-op and a gardening group and founded the neighborhood association, Valerie practices skills that she puts to use in real estate every day working with sellers: landscaping, interior design, construction, and great communication.

She knows it's a sellers' market, but she loves working with buyers, and she's good at it. Buyers shouldn't have to write 15 offers; they should write one: the one that wins! As an optimist, and someone who is solutions-oriented, navigating potential hurdles comes easily. She takes nothing and no one for granted. She thinks people can tell how much she loves this work and how much pleasure it gives her to solve problems.

And finally, a transaction should be fun! She tells her clients what to expect so there are no surprises. Then she handles the stress, the paperwork, and the negotiation so they can enjoy the ride, knowing she's got them covered.

Her childhood dream was to have the superpower of being able to be in two places at once (le don d'ubiquite in French). Now, as a realtor, she's making it appear true, by being highly organized and surrounding herself with the best possible partners.