Testimonials

“Erik went beyond our expectations. His service was excellent. He helped us review our contract and advised us on things to look out for at a very late time for something he wasn't required to do. He gave us some contacts for other services such as property management, contractor, and other vendors for home improvements. He introduced us to our neighbors which he wasn't required to do. He helped us pointed out things to look out for during inspection. He was open and honest. I can't think of any better. He gave us an exceptional service. We'd definitely refer him to any buyer/sellers. He helped us find a home that offered a great deal and that we are very pleased about. We highly recommend Erik Stanford. He was open, honest, very supportive, knowledgeable, and has great communication skills. Thank you for helping us to find a wonderful home!”

Michael & Gladys Matson

“Erik was awesome to work with! As a first time home buyer, I had a ton of questions, and Erik patiently answered every single one of them. He was very responsive, thorough, and perhaps most important, a great listener. Erik was there every step in the process, from knowing neighborhoods, finding the right home, making a great offer, and closing on time. He knew his stuff- from recommending places to look at, to bringing Purell to a total dump I just had to see! I would highly recommend Erik to anyone looking for an experienced, professional agent to buy their first home or their next home.”

Walter Haugland


“Erik, I just wanted to write and thank you for really helping me out earlier this year. While 2010 was a busy year with too much work and too little play, you made the process of buying my home nice and smooth. I just wanted to write and thank you for the hard work and the time that went into what is something that I've come to love every day I live here. But not any more than last night - New Year's Eve really brought out the best part of this house. In lieu of going to a bar, paying a ridiculous cover charge, and get a tiny glimpse of the fireworks at the Needle, my girlfriend and I opted to stay in from the cold. We popped a bottle of champagne, went up to the top floor, and talked, drank, and waited for the fireworks, looking out on the wonderful view and holding in anticipation. It was fantastic - the view of the mountains and the Needle from here was breathtaking when I saw it, but the view at night with fireworks around the Needle is just amazing. None of that would have been possible without your help and I thank you for it.”

“Very excellent - Erik was responsible and appropriately responsive to situations as they came up. Erik exceeded my expectations. He ran point on a lot of the problems we encountered with the property, including running down a plumber to fix the piping and handling a title survey that was incorrectly done by the county.”

Bill Dimmick


"We all know what an emotional and often demanding process buying a house can be. I have purchased four houses since living in Seattle and have come to realize the major importance of a great real-estate agent. The relationship that develops with a professional whose expertise is designed to guide in making some of life's most important decisions is truly one-of-a-kind. In my many dealings with such experts, I have never worked with anyone as knowledgeable, dedicated, dependable, efficient and caring as Erik Stanford. It has been a privilege to work with him and I would not entrust anyone else to guide me in finding the perfect home."

Christophe Chagnard, Music Director –The Northwest Sinfonietta


“I am still floored by how WONDERFUL Erik is. He is kind, funny, and really dedicated. He worked his tail off for us, and we ended up with our dream house as a result. Can't really beat that. He was ALWAYS available to us, showing us houses and answering our calls whenever we wanted, offering his time above and beyond our expectations. He went to bat for us in a major way. Erik was knowledgeable in all aspects of the transaction, a pleasure to work with.”

Jeff & Kate Stelling


“I highly recommend Erik Stanford. He is a consummate professional realtor and personal friend. Erik has helped with the sale of two of our previous homes and with the purchase of our current home. The thing that sets Erik apart from your standard real estate professional is his understanding and implementation of a high level of customer service. Working with him has always been a pleasure and he takes the extra steps necessary to ensure that the needs of his clients are met. The real estate industry could truly benefit from more professionals like Erik.”

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity

Jay Taylor


“Erik was my listing agent for an infill housing development in the City of Seattle. His attention to detail as well as his own personal input helped sell these homes in very trying time. From start to finish with each transaction he had made sure all the finite items had been addressed to insure a smooth transaction. I would not hesitate to recommend Erik's services if you want to be represented well.”

Top qualities: Great Results, High Integrity, Creative

Paul LaBellarte, Owner, Columbia Builders, Inc.

“Erik was very professional, looking out for what was best for us and provided us with excellent service from start to finish. He was very helpful throughout the processes and took the time to make sure things where done right and he fought for us to get the deal that we wanted. He also gave us advice that we might not want to hear, but it was advice which we benefited from. During this hard economic time Erik put us and our family first and not his agenda to sell a house. We could tell through his actions and the way he dealt with us that he was looking out for us and what was right for us. We have experienced other realtors who tried to get us to buy a house as much for their financial gain if not more than what we wanted. Erik never did this which created a high comfort and trust level. We trusted him that he would do what was right and he did. Integrity and professionalism are huge for us and Erik demonstrated these qualities. We have recommended him to others and will continue to do so.”

James & Mary deMenezes


"Erik does everything in his power to help his clients in the way that he would help his family. He has a big heart and helpful ideas that really contribute to the way he does business. For these reasons, he will always be a success in my book. Thank you for helping me buy my home (and hopefully keep it), Erik!"

Top Qualities: Personable, High Integrity, Creative

Shawna Holman


“Erik went above and beyond for us. We had a fairly large list of needs in a new home and he was thorough and persistent in helping us in our search and finding a great selection of homes to check out leading us to the home we ended up with. I can't imagine having such success with anyone else.”

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, On Time

Sheri Day


“Erik is the best real estate agent to have at your side when buying a house especially for a first time buyer. Erik was very helpful during the process always taking the time to show us the houses at our convenience and working hard to find us our dream house. I like his work ethics, very serious, listen to your needs. Our relationship started professional but we ended up friends. I will definitely recommend Erik to my friends and family and I will use his services again when we decide to buy another house.”

Top qualities: Personable, Expert, High Integrity

Habi Diallo


“I am writing to acknowledge and appreciate your outstanding character. I have had the opportunity to work with you as a home inspector over the last decade in numerous transactions. You are so professional and so considerate and so dependable, that I am able to focus on my work with the clients and give them my best service. I feel you understand my needs as well as the other parties in the transaction and support us all with integrity. When I arrive at an inspection and find that I'll be working with you, I breath more easily. You would be an asset to any organization.”

Raj Hayden, Owner, Cardinal Home Inspection


“Erik is professional yet fun to work with. I appreciate his honest approach and the solid advice he offers his clients. We have worked together successfully for about 7+ years with Erik insuring every last detail is foreseen and taken care of. As a realtor/loan officer team we have smooth closings.”

Cari Anderson, Sr. Loan Officer, Sterling Savings Bank


“Erik is a true professional in his field and is completely dedicated to his clients. He remains very detail oriented throughout the transaction, making sure to catch the little things, and always listens to his client's specific needs. Erik is an agent that is always protecting his clients, and standing up for them, as well as guiding them through the process. He has had rave reviews from the clients I've talked to. Erik is a model Realtor and a trusted advisor.”

Alycia Narancic, Loan Officer, Sterling Savings Bank


“Erik worked with my husband and I to sell our home during a very difficult period of the recession. During this time, my husband was traveling frequently, so I made many decisions on my own. We were fortunate to receive multiple offers. Erik expertly guided me through each offer, giving me his professional opinion on the quality of each offer. He worked diligently to present our home to potential buyers in the most professional way possible. He also gave us wonderful advice on adjusting the pricing of our home, when offers were slow. Erik is a talented, patient, successful Real Estate Agent that I would recommend highly!”

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, High Integrity

Cynthia Cooper


“Erik is a true pro! Dedicated and detail oriented. There were tons of details on this transaction and Erik handled them all with a true commitment to excellence.”

Kristen Marie Schuerlein, Owner, Entrepreneur, Design Duo Inc.


“I had a great house hunting experience with Erik. He was very enthusiastic and thorough, and a great negotiator. Always in touch with me. Always ready for me. He followed up on all questions/concerns I had. He was excited about a house we found as if it's his own. Even after the sale is closed, he keeps checking with me, and remains available for help. He is great to work with.”

Mimi Watanabe


“I was caught in a tough situation with an investment property that I had. I was having trouble unloading the property like many people at that time and could see the real estate market as a whole was quickly taking a sharp dive. My sister referred me to Erik, who came in and did his thing. Within a month, I had competing offers, two of which included escalation clauses. I'm grateful for his assistance.”

Top qualities: Great Results, Personable, Expert

Stephen Anderson, Business Owner


“Hello Erik. My name is Deanne Wilson and I am a Windermere co-owner on the Eastside. After being out of town for a week I arrived home to find a neighbor's house with a sale sign in the yard. I was thrilled to see it was a Windermere sign. The sign was not a total surprise as the house had recently been spruced up with some yard work and fresh paint. Today I finally looked up the property and could not let the opportunity pass to tell you how impressed I was by what I found. What a fabulous job you have done on marketing this property. The house was very well prepared prior to going on the market, it is staged just perfectly, the photographs are high quality and very well done, your sign is clean and well maintained, and it was a wonderful touch to include neighborhood attractions in the photo gallery. Your attention to details and professionalism are the part of the reason Windermere continues to be a leader in the marketplace. Kudos on a job very well done!”

Deanne Wilson, Owner, Windermere Real Estate/East, Inc.


“Erik. You were absolutely indispensable during my recent home buying experience. You went the extra mile when things were not always so smooth. As a first time buyer and a single woman, I don't think I would own a house without your help. I will without a doubt refer you to anyone who needs help with their future dreams.

Thank you so much (and thanks to Jessica for referring me to you)!”

Shawna Holman


“Dear Erik, Agnes and I want to thank you for the professional way you guided us through the process of selling our lovely home of 37 years. You are always responsive when we called or asked for information. In fact, you made many helpful suggestions and gave us wise counsel, never forgetting that for us, leaving our family home of so many years was a very traumatic experience. Step-by-step we worked together through all the forms and documents just as if this was not only our home that was for sale, but that in a way, it was your home too. We can honestly say we not only found a remarkable realtor, but also a wonderful friend. So again, we say thank you, Erik, and it is without hesitation that we recommend you to our friends and neighbors when they decide to sell their home.”

Reverend Mark & Agnes Duntley


“I recently went through purchasing my 3rd home. In the past, I have dreaded dealing with certain agents because they made me feel rushed, or uneasy, or just plain scared. Last month, I used Erik Stanford as my agent to purchase this new home. I have never gone through anything so smooth and easy before in my life. From the first day we began our search, to the day I received my keys, I never sweated out any problems, nor did I worry about anything during the closing process. In addition to this, Erik's service didn't stop on that end. He even has contacts to help in other areas like minor construction or maintenance for your home.

Erik was terrific to work with, and I plan on referring him to anyone who has the need for a real estate agent.”

Adam Gordon


“Erik Stanford acted as both the Listing Agent for our first home in Madison Valley and the Buyer's Agent for our second home in Seward Park last summer. Erik helped us through the entire process and always went above and beyond what we expected of a real estate agent. Since we both work full-time, Erik took care of many tasks we could not, for example, obtaining bids from three different electricians and making arrangements to have a garage door spring repaired, saving us countless hours and easing our minds tremendously. Even after the sale, he has always been available to help and advise us on any questions or problems that have come up with the house. He also did an amazing job marketing the home we were selling and it sold in five days with seven offers at a price 9% over asking. Erik is a skilled negotiator. He made great suggestions on how to get our property ready to sell and the quality of his marketing materials was outstanding. Needless to say we were extremely happy with these results. We have already recommended Erik to our good friends who just purchased their first home with his help. We plan to continue to use Erik in all of our future real estate transactions and will continue to recommend him to our friends and family. We can assure you that if you use him as your agent, whether selling or buying, you will receive the same professional and excellent service.”

Tom & Erica Siegel


“Dear Erik, Now that I've been living in my new home for about six months, I wanted to write and tell you how thankful I am that I found you and that you helped me find this house. Living here has been such a delight! This place is perfect for me and I love being able to make it my home. Before I met you, I had never seriously considered owning my own home. It seemed like something other people did, not something I could ever do, especially as a single woman. Even after talking to you, I still wasn't sure I had enough money or motivation, but you were incredibly patient and understanding with me. Home Street Bank, the lender you recommended, was excellent, but once we had looked at house after house and found nothing suitable within my range, I figured it just wasn't meant to be. Thankfully, we came across this little gem and I was finally ready to commit to being a homeowner. And then everything fell into place: our offer was accepted right away, the inspection went really well, the bank completed its fastest closing ever, and I was moving into my own home less than a month after finding it!

I don't think any other agent would have been able to make this happen for me. You understood my sense of humor, my concerns about buying a house, and the importance of getting to know me personally. I especially appreciated you after dealing with the seller's agent She was so disorganized and slow to respond, it seemed like you had to do twice the work! I think the best thing about the whole experience (besides ending up with a great place) was that we had fun together! You've become a good friend to me and I will definitely recommend you to everyone I know. I hope that you will use me as a reference when you have people considering you as their agent. I know that you will do the same great job for anyone looking to buy or sell a home. I don't want to move anytime soon, but once we outgrow this place, I'll be coming to you!

I'm so glad you were able to attend my housewarming party, come bowling with all my friends, and take part in my wedding! Whenever you're in the area, be sure to stop by so that we can show you our new carpet upstairs and the flowers I planted in the backyard. Also, we'd like to have the exterior painted red with light blue trim this summer, do you have any recommendations? Good luck with everything and I'm sure we'll talk again soon.”

Beth Johns & Scott Braswell


“I'm writing this letter to recommend Erik Stanford, who helped me by my first home. The first night we went out looking at houses, he went around the outside with his flashlight and pointed out what he saw. That's what I was looking for: Somebody who would share professional insight and give me the information I need to make good decisions.

Erik was encouraging when it seemed like everything in my price range was terrible, or too far away. When I found the house I wanted I knew right away. When we left after seeing it the second time, he took leave of the owners by saying good-bye in their language, Ethiopian. I have no idea how he knew their nationality, or how he knows those words, but I was deeply impressed.

I saw a quote in the Windermere office that said: "Real Estate is not a team sport". Erik plays for keeps. He was relentless in representing my position, saving me $7000 off the price of my house and getting me everything I asked for after the inspection including a new hot water heater. But what really won my admiration was that he did this not by bullying, but by winning over the owners. I was so pleased that he could show them respect and kindness while getting me a good deal. It leaves me with a good feeling about my house, and the methods that were used to buy it.

He also went far above and beyond what he needed to do. When an appraisal technicality required some last-minute painting, he went to the house one afternoon with a scraper and ladder and painted it himself so that the loan could proceed. I was stunned. Work with this guy, I don't think you'll be disappointed.”

Pamela Wrenn


“After meeting Erik at an open house, my wife and I decided to go with him as our buyer's agent. He was extremely knowledgeable about the area in which we were interested (Columbia City). Being first time buyers, we were more than a little green about the process of buying a home. Erik literally made our first offer become our winning offer, and well under our ceiling price. We are confident that Erik's skills in crafting a solid, competitive bid got us our home. If you want the type of agent that will dig out your water meter with his hands in order to take a reading and help you carry things while you are moving in, Erik's your man. Oh yeah, he'll get you a home as well.”

James Parish & Darcy Ewers


“Dear Erik, Thank you so much for assisting me with the sale of my Mother's Lakeridge home in on Dixon Drive S. You're professional attitude and attention to details really impressed me. Each time I had a question you found the answer quickly so any problems could be resolved in a timely manner. No question went unanswered. I would recommend your services to anyone. You made the home selling process easy and enjoyable. Keep up the good work! Thank you for holding the open houses and your wonderful staging of the home. Many nice comments were made about the staging and warm welcome you give the people looking at the home. I wish you continued success and hope the future holds wonderful things for you.”

Janice Madsen


“Erik Stanford did an exceptional job selling my house. When I found a property I wanted to buy, Erik and I wrote up an offer contingent on the sale of the home I had lived in for more than 25 years. Erik gave me the information I needed to make decisions throughout the involved, totally foreign, and rather stressful process. Erik was able to assist in every detail of marketing the house: from pricing it correctly, to photography and advertising. He generated a lot of interest through flyers, his contacts with other agents and his web page. He reached the right people. After the open house we had multiple offers to consider. Erik arranged for me to meet with the buyers and their agents to go over the offers. This saved a lot of time going "back and forth" to firm up the final details of the sale. In addition he was able to set it up so that the same Escrow Company worked on both transactions: the sale of the old property and the purchase of my new house. This made the whole complex process much easier than it would otherwise have been. I would certainly work with Erik again in future should the opportunity present itself.”

B. K. Ulricksen


“I am offering a very strong positive reference for Erik because of his skills and his attitude. My wife and I looked at a bunch of houses and bid on two, winning the second in 2003. I met Erik early in 2003 at an open house, chatted with him, and eventually asked him to represent my wife and me largely because he seemed very knowledgeable and respectful (not pushy). These early observations were absolutely correct. Over 2 months, we looked at a couple dozen houses and Erik proved himself to be highly capable in finding and communicating listings, and extremely energetic about visiting houses and helping us evaluate them. He was great about making himself available to us on weekends, often on short notice, and about offering educated observations on the houses we visited, based on his astute read of our needs and expectations. When we bid on houses, Erik shined. He is very strong in helping put bids together, in explaining the paperwork, and in helping arrange for such ancillary services as inspections. Additionally, Erik is exceptional at negotiating. Twice he made low bids look attractive to buyers and in the second offer he was instrumental in convincing the sellers to accept an offer that was nearly 15% below their original asking price. I would be happy to speak with anyone considering working with Erik. I believe you'll be satisfied with his skills and efforts.”

Karl Scheer


“Dear prospective homebuyers and home sellers: The purpose of this letter is to provide a strong recommendation for Erik Stanford of Windermere Realty. Erik provided invaluable assistance to me during the purchase of my first home. His professionalism and knowledge of the local market was a critical factor in my decision to work with him. Through all phases of the process, from selecting the right home for my lifestyle to closing the transaction, his diligence and attention to the details helped to make me more comfortable with my transition to homeowner.

For anyone fortunate enough to have chosen Erik, here's what you can expect: anything and everything, spanning the range from artful competence all the way to minor miracles. I am simply raving to all who might be interested in selling or buying a home about his professionalism, honesty, integrity, and incredible service. Always accessible and supportive, he worked hard for me and really helped to make things go smoothly. He kept me well informed throughout the sale process and provided valuable advice all the way through closing.

Windermere's Internet presence also helped me immensely in finding potential homes with the truly unique features I was looking for in my first home. Coupled with Erik's commitment to his clients and ability to understand what they are looking for, I was able to confidently make a choice and never once question or regret my decision. He protected my interests and provided invaluable advice along the way.

Erik, I want you to know I sincerely appreciate your hard work, attention to details, and professionalism in helping me with my first home. I would recommend you very highly to anyone who is looking for a true professional to buy or sell a home. It was such a pleasure working with you. You had the added challenge of representing both the buyer and seller in our transaction. I always felt I was well taken care of and well informed. Thank you for your efforts on my behalf. I love my home!”

Gail Dykkesten


“I am writing to you regarding the performance of Erik Stanford in our real estate transaction. We sold our Mount Baker home on Hunter Boulevard and subsequently purchased a new home. In both transactions, Erik was a huge help: In preparation of the sale of our old home, he was patient with us. It took us the better part of two months to prepare our home in spite of the fact that it was an as-is sale. This home was a family home and the accumulation was overwhelming. He checked in regularly without making us feel pressured and in fact offered his time (and back) to help move boxes into storage and help load our dumpster. Never once did I get the feeling that he felt as though we were taking up too much of his time or spinning his wheels. I don't know how we would have managed given our poor cash flow at the time and the fact that both my partner and I had physical limitations that made it impossible to do the labor completely by ourselves. It truly could have taken many more months had we not had his help.

When we began searching for a new home, Erik was sensitive to our needs and demands, which were many. We had many specific concerns regarding the choice of a new home, and I frankly am amazed he didn't throw his hands up and go screaming into the wilderness. Because of our physical limitations, we wanted a home that was primarily on one floor with a level lot "in Seattle!", if there is such a thing; specific about size, style, the whole nine yards. We also were very particular about the area of town we were willing to live in, having strong community ties and commitments. He never flinched. In fact, when he found the perfect house, he went far beyond many might have to get me to go see it as it didn't meet our location criteria exactly. Erik was always available to us at a moment's notice and when I would call up with some demand, out of the blue, regarding either house, he was always patient and thorough in his interactions with me. Needless to say we have been very happy with both the sale and especially the purchase of the new house. We couldn't have found a better place to spend the rest of our lives unless we built it ourselves to our own specifications. I can't tell you enough how pleased we were. Erik made easy, what for us was a scary decision and process.”

Sheri Day & Mona Ahto


“It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Erik Stanford, of Windermere Mount Baker. Mr. Stanford is hard working and efficient, which I feel are two of the most necessary qualities in a real estate agent and business associate. He places his client's needs first and is extremely patient, which I greatly appreciated as a first-time home purchaser. In short, he sets the standards of professionalism, integrity and client advocacy in real estate agency.

I would recommend Erik to my friends, to my family, and to anyone in the market to purchase or sell a home. When I purchase my next home, Erik Stanford will be the first person I call. After my experience with Erik, I am proud to call him my agent and my friend. I look forward to the opportunity to discuss Erik Stanford with any of his potential clients, and encourage any phone calls or e-mails.”

Douglas C. Hand


“Erik. Thank you so very much for helping me find a house that all I can ever do is think about. I've been so excited this last month. I really hoped that closing day would have been the move in day. I know it's been a lot of endless searching North Beacon Hill only, the views, hardwood floors, move-in-ready, etc. You made my dream come true. Believe it or not I am a home-owner now ~ what a feeling it has been! Thanks for not only being my real estate agent but for being a friend as well!”

Jenny Eng