Testimonials

“Joan is nothing short of amazing! Her organizational skills and commitment go far beyond what anyone could expect. When we embarked on the journey of purchasing our first home—an especially tricky TIC (Tenancy in Common) deal—Joan took charge, overseeing every aspect of the process from start to finish. She worked tirelessly, often putting in extra hours, to make sure everything flowed smoothly and that communication with the sellers was always on point.

What truly sets Joan apart is her calm, caring nature, which made a potentially stressful process feel easy and enjoyable. Her expertise in navigating the complexities of a TIC purchase was invaluable. Anyone lucky enough to have Joan guiding them through a home purchase is in for an exceptional experience. She’s an absolute treasure!”

“Joan is an amazing realtor and I’m so glad we chose to work with her! We recently engaged Joan as our realtor to both help us purchase a new condo as well as sell our old condo in San Francisco. I quickly realized how valuable it is to have an experienced, savvy, creative realtor like Joan in your corner. We were able to purchase our new place at an ideal price point and she simultaneously sold our old place within 2 weeks of it being on the market for more than $100k over asking price. She was deeply involved in the details of fixing up/staging our property and oversaw all the work personally. She was also able to negotiate fair pricing with the contractors with whom she had good relationships which I really appreciated. Finally, she spent many hours ensuring the paperwork/disclosures were flawless. Joan is someone who really cares about doing a great job – she is detail-oriented, efficient and a problem solver and throughout the process became good friend. I know I will go to her for advice in the future, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking to make moves in the SF real estate market!”

“In the beginning, I waffled about whether I should try selling my house on my own, use Redfin (or equivalent) or find a real estate agent. But selling a house in San Francisco is, to put it mildly, a challenge – pricing strategy, scheduling, staging, and the labyrinthine city system must all be navigated effectively if one wishes to maximize profit and minimize hassle. In shopping around for real estate agents, I drew on my network and listened to (too?) many opinions.

It is near-impossible for me to imagine a better San Francisco real estate agent than Joan Laguatan. She always provided excellent input and intelligent critique on every facet of house selling, every step of the way. I was not in the country during this process, and Joan was “on the ground” organizing everything with contractors, painters, handymen, gardeners, etc. She always showed me multiple competitive quotes/offers for every job, and the results were always impeccable (from the photos she consistently sent to me in Denmark). She also had her own staging furniture, and between that and using some of my own mid-century Danish design furniture, no staging costs accrued. Whether in home improvements, repairs, or staging, no detail escaped her artistic and holistic – to not say spiritual – eye.

Her enormous efforts bore fruit. A lovely family bought my home for the price I had hoped for, and it all seems like a win-win for both buyer and seller. Joan helped oversee the sale to completion by, again, being present every step of the way. (Her extreme competence and wisdom even permitted me to take a small vacation during escrow.) Add to this that she is endlessly fascinating to talk to, with perfect people skills as well as powerful and subtle artistic, cultural, and philosophical sensibilities.

You will only regret NOT having chosen Joan Laguatan as your San Francisco real estate agent. Thank you, Joan.”

“Joan is simply the best. Smart, direct, efficient, and commercially savvy. From start to finish, she made selling my property an incredibly smooth and successful experience. Her work ethic is unparalleled–always going above and beyond to ensure every detail was handled with care. I have worked with many real estate agents in the past and Joan is the best, I could not recommend her more.”

“I have been involved in real estate for the past 40 years which includes owning and operating two apartment complexes with 400 plus units and a shopping center in Houston, Texas. Joan represented us in purchasing a foreclosed property. The whole process took less than 30 days and I was so surprised and amazed how Joan handled this transaction in such a professional and efficient manner. Although our initial offer was countered at a higher price, Joan never asked us to raise our offer price, but instead took her time to respond with a letter to the bank/seller giving all the reasons why the lender should accept our initial offer which the bank accepted with a competing offer. I truly believe Joan works in the best interest of her client. This transaction would not have happened if not for her.”

“I have known Joan for over 15 years. She helped me to with purchasing a unit at the Promontory Point in Foster City. Throughout these years she helped me finding long term renters and preparing rental agreements. She helped me with locating contractors when the unit needed remodeling or fixing. Whenever I have any real estate questions Joan has always been there for me. She is current on the real estate market conditions and all matters related to the real estate market. Joan handled all my real estate matters with utmost professionalism and integrity.”

“We decided to sell our home in February, 2021 and chose Joan as our agent, listing our home with her in March after several discussions to understand her approach. We had been in our home for 15 years, and we knew it might be challenging to sell quickly for the right value due to the high monthly and special assessments in place – and a significant exposure to traffic noise. 30 days later, our home had 5 offers – all over asking price! And, at the time, our home sold for the highest value in the area for other comparable properties.

We found Joan to be one of the most knowledgeable and hardest working realtors we have ever known – (having personally listed 5 homes over 35 years with other agents in multiple parts of the country). She had many creative recommendations for getting our home ready to show and coordinated all of the work necessary along the way – while guiding us carefully (and with lots of data) toward establishing a correct listing price. Those of you who have sold homes before know how important it is to establish the right asking price from the outset.

Joan was a pleasure to work with and a true partner in every process of selling our home and moving into our new home. We can’t recommend her highly enough!”

“We have enjoyed working with Joan. She is very professional, helpful and responsive. She made our move easier and we would recommend her in any endeavor she chooses.”

“Joan Laguatan was the listing agent when I purchased my current residence. When I first visited the residence as it was being constructed, Joan toured me through and was extremely well-informed about the property, surrounding neighborhood, and market competition. Her articulation of the various legal contracts and disclosures between me, my attorney, and real estate agent was clear and concise. Joan was also the design coordinator and during our consultation sessions to customize my home, her guidance and impressive knowledge explaining the hundreds of interior finishes, upgrades, and options saved me a lot of time during what could have otherwise been an overwhelming and complicated task. It was due to Joan that I was able to make my purchase decision with confidence.”

“Joan represented me both as a buyer and seller during my latest move and did an exceptionally good job. In addition to her ability to sell my home in a very difficult market, she willingly helped with arranging for cleaning and remodeling of my new home. I have bought and sold well over a dozen homes, so am very familiar what can normally be expected from real estate professionals. Joan goes above and beyond that norm. I wholeheartedly recommend her.”

“For years, my only realtor was my best friend’s wife, who always looked out for my interests because we were good friends. Unfortunately, she passed away, and every agent I met since then seemed to be more concerned with their own agenda than my interests. Often times, other agents would recommend that I buy a property when I knew it didn’t make sound financial sense. Or, I would be rushed to buy properties knowing important details or loopholes were overlooked. Then I met Joan. It did not take long for me to realize that Joan truly looks out for her clients’ best interests while understanding their needs. Joan has guided me through the sales and leasing of my various investment properties, both furnished and unfurnished. She has provided invaluable advice and consultation on everything from design to improving my property cash flow. I would not consider using anyone else for any of my real estate transactions. She protects me and my interests more than a desire to get a quick sale. I completely trust Joan’s judgment and her concern for my interests.”

“I have been in the real estate business for 30 years, and had owned and managed all my properties in the past. However, after losing my husband, my life had changed so much in the past year, that I simply don’t have the energy nor the enthusiasm doing it on my own anymore.

I’ve known Joan for a few years and have always admired her professionalism, her expertise and thoroughness in carrying out her tasks and her communication is impeccable. She is always available and will always keep her clients abreast of the ongoing situation. This is the reason I selected her to rent out my property, amongst all the other professionals I know.

As expected, she rented my place out in less than 2 weeks, in fact, with multiple offers, and helped me to choose the tenants. She was always available to answer my questions, as well as for my new tenants, so we had an extremely smooth transaction. And needless to say, I was relieved to get it rented so quickly and got top rent for it.

I am very pleased with her service and I recommended her to my family who also have properties that need management, because she is a top-notched professional that I can trust.”

“Joan, thank you for a job well done! My client and I were fortunate to have your professional assistance with the lease of his home. You were clear, concise, and timely on all your contracts, and your negotiation and presentation skills were the icing on the cake.”

“My wife, Liz, and I have purchased and sold homes a number of times during our 36 years together, and feel we well know what a difference a good sales agent can make. Joan Laguatan made a huge difference for the better in the move we made.

Joan was always available and responsive, even during her “days off.” She was unfailingly cheerful and pleasant, while consistently professional. Her follow-through was quick, determined, and thorough.

We were extremely pleased with all aspects of our dealings with Joan. Looking back at all the trials, tribulations and choices facing us in our big move, we do not feel it is an exaggeration to say that we may well not have made the move were it not for her extraordinary service and charm.”

“Joan has been our realtor for our rental property for the past several years. We have had nearly zero vacancy period with excellent tenants that she screens and selects for us. There is never a sign in front of the property. Joan is so professional and efficient at her job that we highly recommend her to our friends. It is always a pleasure to work with her!”

“Thank you very much Joan. We appreciate everything you’ve done for us. You have truly made our hectic lives less complicated and less stressed. We have worked with many real estate people over the decades, and we can honestly say to you without hesitation or reservation that you are a polished professional of the highest caliber. You should be very proud of the work you do.”

“Joan helped me purchase a home my parents used to own. She is knowledgeable, detailed, and communicates very well. The purchase of the home was complicated due to family issues that was tied to the home but Joan made everything go smooth and easy especially for a first time home buyer like me. Joan responds very quickly to texts, phone calls, and emails. She is very helpful, patient, and kind. My family and I cannot thank her enough for everything. She truly goes above and beyond her work. I would recommend her to all my coworkers, friends, and family. She is the best!”

“Joan Laguatan is a terrific broker! She has provided real estate services for us on two separate occasions and in all of our dealings with her we have found that she delivers a level of service that is far higher than our expectations. Joan really knows the real estate market. In our experience, she is knowledgeable, intuitive, hardworking and very diligent. She has great attention to detail so things get done accurately yet they get done fast. She also has a wonderful personality and is a highly effective negotiator. I strongly recommend Joan Laguatan and Canvass Properties.”

“Joan Laguatan was the real estate broker who helped us purchase our residence. Not only is she knowledgeable about real estate transactions, she is also very responsive and helpful in many ways. Joan is always available to answer our questions and concerns, and she always keeps her promises. She handles our requests in a timely manner and to our satisfaction. Moreover, Joan is a very pleasant person to do business with. There is no doubt in our mind that if we have to pick a real estate professional for our transactions, we would definitely choose her again.”

“We had a wonderful experience with Joan as our agent and wholeheartedly recommend her to any home buyer! Joan is a very genuine, no-nonsense realtor whom we could trust and rely on to get things done correctly and quickly. As first time home-buyers we had a lot of questions and hesitations, but Joan was always patient and more than willing to help guide us in the right direction, while anticipating our next question and providing the requisite solution or answer. With her expertise, we were able to purchase our first home – a bank owned (REO) property – with ease. Although our property had several bidders while at foreclosure auction, we truly believe it was Joan’s savvy-ness that was the determining factor in winning the bid for us. Joan made our home-buying experience relatively stress free and for that, we greatly thank her!”

“Joan is amazing and would get more than five stars from me if Yelp would let me give them.  She helped us buy a sizable home in San Mateo and the whole experience was wonderful and allowed us to feel comfortable, despite how daunting such a purchase can be.  She is hard working and extremely knowledgeable about the real estate market, the SF Peninsula, and is well connected within the industry.  I could not more strongly recommend Joan!”

“Joan is the best real estate agent! She just helped us buy our first home in San Mateo. Joan is extremely knowledgeable about the San Mateo area. (Once we showed her an address for a condo, and she told us the history of the building) Joan is also very knowledgeable about the home buying process. We’re first time buyers and had many questions throughout the process. Joan has been very patient with us, answering every question from real estate value to rental market, home renovations, financing, insurance, etc.

Joan is always professional and very responsive to our requests. She always answers our phone calls and emails quickly, including nights and weekends (and public holidays). I’ve saved many of her emails because they’re so detailed and informative that I think I might need to reference them in the future. If we request to have a call or meeting with her, she always finds time to accommodate our busy schedules.

When we first started to look for a house, we got excited about everything we saw and wanted to put a bid on everything – some homes we could easily have overpaid for, and others we couldn’t have afforded. We’re so glad that Joan gave us honest expectations and realistic valuations of all the properties we looked at. We’re so glad that we didn’t buy some of the homes that we initially got excited about and ended up with what we actually bought.

Our home buying experience has been extremely positive. Thanks to Joan… we feel very well informed, very confident about our first big purchase, and very well taken care of throughout the process. Given we’re buying during a very difficult buyer’s market, we’re extremely grateful that we were able to find a home quickly and at a price that we’re happy about. We highly recommend Joan.”

“You accomplished what several seasoned realtors could not and you did it in a record three weeks. Bravo again for over delivering like I could not have imagined. You guided us through the chaos and uncertainty of prepping the house for its fourth attempt at a sale (after three previous failed attempts by other agents). Then to actually have competing all cash offers was amazing.”

“Joan has been my real estate agent for a few years now, and she is the best! No one I know in this business, goes the extra distance that she does. She makes your life when it comes to buying or leasing properties so simple. She’s so friendly, and she knows the market very well. She is such a pleasure to work with!

We had so many questions concerning the process, and she was extremely patient with us. She understood our needs and wants, and was very responsive and communicative throughout the whole searching process. She always responded to emails and phone calls very quickly, which we loved! Finally, and perhaps most importantly, she works really hard to secure the best deal for your purchase. Joan is very street smart, and you feel really confident in her being your spokesperson.”

“After several years of managing, leasing, and selling my investment properties, Joan convinced me that she could help ease my property expenses if i rented out one of my condominiums fully-furnished. She did an amazing job of transforming my condo from an “average” property to a breathtaking home. She presented me with a fee proposal, budget and timeline and met my goals while keeping me updated throughout the process.

I was surprised to see my rental income more than double after she completely remodeled, fully-furnished, and leased my property. Not only did she direct and supervise my remodel using her own in-house contractors while keeping every expense item accounted for and documented, but she amazingly also hand-picked each piece of furniture keeping my taste and decor in mind with the knowledge that one day I would retire there with the furniture still in place. It was an excellent investment. I felt totally confident in her ability to help me when I saw what she had accomplished with other properties. She is honest and truly cares for clients and what she is doing.”

Dear Ms. Laguatan, We did it! Or should I say ‘You did it!’ I’m not going to claim that I lucked out finding you to list and sell my REO penthouse in Foster City. I actually conducted a thorough search for a quality professional that understood the real estate market. I wanted someone who was comfortable and experienced listing, selling, and working with buyers successfully. Various people in your area with whom I consulted highly recommended you and confirmed my impression that you were a highly competent professional that really enjoyed her work!

The marketing plan and strategies that you presented in today’s changing world brought me the selling price I wanted. Your expertise and strong communication skills brought an immediate sale, without any haggling. Your screening of buyers was excellent! The paperwork to and from escrow was complete and precise. Your efforts hiring and working with the local eviction and legal services made for a much smoother transaction without my having to fly in from out of town. You saved me a lot of time, money and effort. Your meetings on my behalf with the superior court judge and astute knowledge of foreclosure proceedings really expedited the eviction and sale process so that I could finally realize my return on capital. If I decide to purchase more real estate in the Bay Area – you will be my first choice to either acquire it and/or market it.”