Kudos from Clients

Marin County Realtors Barr Haney, Whitney Potter and Allie Fornesi did a great job of tag teaming together as we went through the process of some renovations per their recommendations of simple bathroom fixtures, paint and floor refinishes. The Concierge program they have was a big help when they fronted the costs for some of the upgrades that eventually came out of the closing costs - no fees, no interest! They also put us in touch with a great stager that filled the house with a continuous style and flavor of decor that tied the house together. They were on top of the inspections that were required which were immediately followed by the open houses on Sat and Sun, then 4 offers by the following Tuesday--all over the asking price. Their follow-up guiding us through the very short negotiation stages led to a quick acceptance by all parties. I would of course use them again!

- Doug O.

In July we started the process of looking for a new home in Marin, but being relatively new to that area, we knew we needed someone with an intimate understanding and knowledge of Marin. Look no further that Own Marin and Julia! From the beginning, we felt very comfortable with Julia, she took time to understand our needs and was able to answer all our questions about the local area. She was there with us throughout the whole process, going above and beyond, and when we found the perfect place, it was all hands on deck from her and the team to make sure everything went smoothly! We can't say enough great things about Julia Fitzpatrick and Own Marin, they are a top notch team, you can't go wrong!

- Ryan S.

Julia Fitzpatrick, Allie Fornesi and Barr Haney are truly "top notch" Marin County real estate agents. We sold our home in Hamilton in less than a week as their team of professionals including stagers, painters, handymen etc. swooped in to create a "house ready for market". They have the right attitude and knowledge for the job. Besides, they are easy to work with, up-front and informative on all levels. If you are thinking of selling or buying in Marin, contact Team Own Marin for the best results. You won't be disappointed.

- Nancy B.

My partner and I had the most wonderful experience purchasing our first home with Allie Fornesi and Team Own Marin. Of all the realtors we researched in Marin and Mill Valley, Own Marin stood out from the rest. Allie's energy is contagious and you can tell she truly loves what she does. She has a unique perspective as a Marin native and a keen eye for design. Allie made sure to show us neighborhoods we weren't familiar with not only at our budget but also under our budget. With other realtors, it seemed like they were only showing houses in their portfolio but with Allie, we felt like she really had our best interests at heart and helped us make a smart investment for our first home. As first time home buyers, she is a great listener and guided us through all of our questions and concerns. She knew exactly what we were looking for and we wish we could have bought every home she showed us! Allie is definitely someone that we would enjoy a glass (or bottle) of wine with after work. We've made a great friend who has our back in Marin real estate. If you're looking for an amazing real estate agent, look no further! Allie and Team Own Marin are as good as it gets.

- Michelle B.

Barr and Whitney are a great team and very professional! I worked more with Whitney who is very thorough and has a vast knowledge of legalities surrounding inspections, liability, documents. I felt like I had an attorney on the team. He was on top of every detail and solved last minute issues expediently. I highly recommend these guys!

- Karen B.

It’s people like Barr and Whitney that make me feel good about returning home to live in Marin. Now I can finally say that I have friends in the real estate business. They’re thoughtful, clever and hard working enough that you’ll find success with whatever you do. For now, we’re just glad they’re in real estate.

- M. & O. Hass

Their professionalism, knowledge of the process, and commitment to our interests was evident throughout. We are thrilled with our new home and wholeheartedly recommend Own Marin’s services to anyone looking to buy or sell a home in Marin.

- Andrew & Louisa G.

In a very difficult market for sellers, Barr and Whitney prepared the property for sale and found a buyer in record time. I was impressed with how much they knew about preparing the property for sale, and how quickly they arranged for it to be upgraded. They made all the arrangements for remodeling, painting, replacing appliances, etc. As a result, the property showed well, and sold quickly at a good price. In addition to being a very competent real estate agent, Barr and Whitney are efficient, honest, forthright and delightful to work with. I would recommend them without reservations.

- George D.

They never grew impatient with us and never suggested we settle for a house we were not truly happy with. They were very patient with all of our questions and walked us through all of the legal documents (usually twice as I called from work and Nikki called from home). They took extra time in the evenings when I was working late to take my calls and keep me appraised of the many details which go along with closing. Most importantly, when we encountered difficulty with our financing two weeks prior to closing, they worked tirelessly to help devise a solution. Barr and Whitney were a real advocates for us, in dealing with both the bank and the seller.

- Scott & Nikki L.

A friend referred us to Barr and Whitney to help us purchase our first home. They had a firm grasp of our needs and were very strategic in showing us properties that met our checklist. They were extremely patient with us and acted as trusted advisors and friends throughout the entire process. In addition, they were fantastic during the negotiation process and helped us manage our expectations. I highly recommend using Barr and Whitney and have passed their contact information along to numerous friends.

- Mike & Michelle M.

Allie is a great listener, flexible, and attentive. She helped us feel cared for during the whole process of buying our home. It was like working with family!

- Chandra A.

We spoke with several different Marin County real estate agents before deciding to go with Whitney Potter. We are thrilled that we did. Whitney provided a concise and clear plan for us for the sale of our home. He was spot on with every suggestion to get the house ready to go on the market. As a result the house had several offers and sold very quickly and smoothly to a family that was truly elated. It was a terrific experience all around. Whitney Potter's expertise and efficiency are evident from the get go, and we highly recommend him as a realtor.

- E B.

I cannot say enough good things about Barr, Allie and Whitney. They were simply as good as it gets. We had put our house on the market with another agent and our home did not sell. I contacted Barr and his team and they could not have been more professional from day one. They recommended that we do some work on our home and every recommendation paid off and more. In addition the team was with us side by side every step of the way during the renovation. The house turned out beautiful. We started by having the house listed off market and before you knew it we had a full price offer. Barr then helped my mom purchase a new home and again he was there every step of the way. He NEVER pressured us to make any decisions and instead presented the facts along with his sage advice. The closing process was very streamlined and easy. In addition they connected us with an incredible interior decorator who has helped us decorate our new home out of state. This team is the gift that keeps giving and more.

- Alexis G

The folks at Own Marin did a fantastic job from start to finish at handling the sale of our family home in Mill Valley. Real estate transactions are more complicated than ever, so my wife and I were so glad to have such a skilled team handle the details. Whitney, Barr, and Allie were a pleasure to work with. They let us know whenever we needed to do something of course, but mostly stayed behind the scenes and let us go on with our lives. They made so many smart decisions, starting with exactly how to upgrade the house, then moving on to staging the house, and finally, dealing with the many inspections on the house. Thanks to them, we ultimately received an offer that was way, way beyond our expectations. The entire process was incredibly smooth and free of surprises. Thanks Own Marin!

- Stephen K.

We had the pleasure of working with Barr, Whitney and Allie on 2 transactions this year in Kentfield and couldn't be happier with the level of service, attention to detail and consistency throughout the transactions. Barr uncovered both properties off market which allowed us to finally purchase in this community and ultimately found us our dream home. He made this process less stressful by sharing his insight, contacts as well as having the patience to make sure we understood the contracts. This team truly exceeded our expectations. Thank you Team Own Marin!

- Tara B.

Barr and Whitney have represented me as both buyer and seller of homes ranging from fixer-uppers to ready to move in. They helped me sell my family home and buy the next one, helped me with my selection of investment homes for rehabilitation both sale and purchase. I found them to be incredibly knowledgeable about local values and a big resource as to the most effective way to add value. They provide a concierge service in effect and were able to organize the preparation and sale and staging of my rental home while I was out of state. They have consistently put their client's interest first and are very protective in their representation, I would not hesitate to recommend them and find them extremely professional in their dealings with me.

- Sue T.

My husband and I were amazed time and again at the innumerable obstacles that they were able to smoothly overcome. We had a very challenging escrow that required our agent be incredibly diplomatic, knowledgeable, and on top of it all a very tough negotiator. No matter how difficult things became, Barr and Whitney were not only able to negotiate win-win situations, but consistently did so while remaining calm, warm and generous of spirit.

- P & D Butler

We’ve purchased and sold several homes over the course of our 18 year marriage and our experience with you was by far the most pleasant and hassle free. This was rather remarkable considering that we were on the east coast, still owned property in the Boston area and required complicated financing to be able to purchase our $1.2+ Million home in Novato. We could not have purchased it without your help. You always kept our interests at heart and showed a sincere interest and enthusiasm for us. It came out in all that you did. We really appreciated it!

- S. & D. Bartels

It is sad how many people are so under represented. They learned exactly what we wanted even with our unusual creative desires and complex needs. They negotiated for us in the way it needed to be done when so many others wouldn’t have followed through as you so exhaustively, intelligently and thoughtfully did. Thank you ever so much. We never really dreamed we would get all that we did for the right price.

- J. & S. Manetta

Barr and Whitney were really valuable resources for my wife and I as we navigated the CA real estate market. They are great guys, with a high level of integrity and know how to get deals done. I would recommend them to anybody.

- Steve & Kristin R.

Some sales people are more interested in their own commissions that in serving their clients. This is certainly not the case with Barr and Whitney. They consistently worked out a fair price for us and worked to make sure that we would be happy. Even after the sale was completed They was still willing to provide us with valuable information that helped us.

- Ralph & Iris B.

My wife and I worked with Barr Haney at Own Marin for several months as we searched for our Marin County dream home. Barr is more than a real estate agent, he's a true partner. He understood our priorities and didn't waste our time pushing properties that didn't make sense for us. Barr grew up in Marin, so he's deeply connected to the community. His connections here meant he was made aware of off-market opportunities, which is how many sellers in Marin transact. In our case, this allowed us to act quickly and avoid multiple offer situations, and that's how we snagged our Marin Country dream home with some money left in the bank for remodeling. If you're looking for a Marin County realtor, look no further!

- Jason M.

Selling a home can be one of the most stressful things one can do in life, especially when you've already moved across the country and when the country is in a pandemic. Yet, we got lucky. We hired the right professionals. Barr Haney and his team did a tremendous job on so many levels. It started with that first phone call about a month before we were actually ready to list. Barr is knowledgeable, professional and easy to do business with. He was always available and response time was lightening fast. He paid attention to every detail. He made sure our home looked it's best with beautiful staging, a little tidy up in the yard, quality inspections up front so there were no surprises and more. Best part was the sale. The buyers loved our home as much as we did and we all felt that the end result was a win/win. We are grateful to Barr, Emily and all the folks at Own Marin for their hard work. We would hire them again in a heartbeat.

- Lorraine P.

The three critical things that we wanted in a buyer's agent were integrity, market knowledge, and strong relationships. Whitney Potter is strong in all three. 1. Integrity It sounds obvious, but you want an agent that truly has your best interests in mind before, during, and even after the transaction. Whitney lays it out for you and ultimately lets you make the decision. No pressure. Just honest advice and guidance with your best interests in mind. 2. Market knowledge Mill Valley is a market made up of lots of sub-markets (Tam Valley, Sycamore Park, etc.). You want an agent that understands what's going on in each of these sub-markets. Whitney knows Mill Valley street by street. 3. Strong relationships Here's the deal. Sellers' agents want to deal with a straight shooter that's a known entity. Chances are, the sell side agent will have dealt with Own Marin in the past and that's going to work to your advantage to get you the property you want. It did for us! The results speak for themselves. After a two-year journey, we have exactly the right home for us, and we couldn't be happier.

- Elias T.

Julia was the best partner we could have asked for in our home search. We waited almost 10 years since moving to CA from the East coast, so we really appreciated her knowledge, patience and great sense of adventure! Although the agency is located in Marin, we ended up finding the perfect home in Sonoma, and Julia was with us every step of the way. Barr Haney and Whitney Potter also jumped in with advice and expertise. We would recommend this team, and especially Julia, to anyone needing a Marin County real estate agent to look for their next, first or forever home.

- Marybeth H.

Team Own Marin was highly recommended to us by several friends and they did not disappoint. Drawing on their many years of experience and expertise, they meticulously guided us through the entire process of selling our house and finding our new home. With multiple offers, our house sold quickly, and at the highest price per square footage in the area! Simultaneously, they found our new home and were able to negotiate a great price and swift closing. The Barr Whitney team was amazing to work with, they are a professional and talented team who always puts your needs and concerns first and we will definitely use them again!

- Dave & Sheila

I can’t thank you and your team enough for your terrific work in selling the Greenbrae condo held in a trust that I administer. We interviewed a number of real estate brokers before selecting your team, primarily on the basis of your immediate responsiveness and thorough preparation of the listing proposal. Your advice in recommending stagers and repair crews was invaluable and the property looked terrific during the marketing period. Each of the multiple bids we received was above the listing price and the winning bidder (who submitted an all-cash bid nearly 15% above the listing price) closed escrow in a remarkable seven days. As a trust and estate attorney I’ve helped clients sell over 50 homes in probate and trust proceedings and none of the sales has gone as smoothly as this one. Thanks once again for your thoroughly professional work.

- Kim S.

In listing our Mill Valley home for sale, Barr and Whitney put together an incredible marketing package: beautiful sales flyers, strategic online advertising, and consistent networking. It was their proactive networking that finally cinched it – coaxing a buyer, who had been interested for months, into moving forward with their dream home. They exhibited a level of service, tenacity and exceptional follow up that is admirable, even in today’s highly competitive real estate market.

- Rich H.

Their follow through, knowledge and clear sense of integrity came through immediately. Their comprehensive understanding of the inventory allowed us to smoothly narrow down our options. They were always timely, gracious, and extremely professional. We highly recommend Barr and Whitney to anyone looking to buy or sell a home, and if we ever decide to move they will be our first call.

- Jane & Maureen

I have been in commercial real estate for 38 years and Whitney is a fine salesman. I recognize these talents as I have hired over 75 agents during my time in the business. Tell him this!

- Herbert D.

Barr and Whitney are entirely client-focused. They put the customer first and would first die rather than have an unhappy client on his hands. We worked together on a transaction that had to close in 14 days, and they jumped through every possible hoop to make it happen on time and with as little stress to the client as possible.

- Natasha Lovas

Barr and Whitney’s passion for their business is evident in every transaction. They treats every client as if they were a childhood friend, while still being the consummate financial custodian. Their deep personal knowledge of the Marin real estate market, coupled with extensive networking to find the perfect property for their clients always gives Barr and Whitney the ability to source, negotiate, and close their client’s dream house.

- Adam Wise

While working with Barr and Whitney to purchase a home in Mill Valley, we were very pleased with their hard work, persistence, diligence and resourcefulness. They ended up finding us a wonderful home off market. Also, Barr and Whitney continue to do a good job at consistently checking in with us about the house and otherwise.

- Michelle & Frank Y.

We had a great experience working with Barr Haney the Principle of Own Marin. We started working with Barr as our Marin County realtor after he helped our friends land a property off market in Larkspur. Barr was able to offer guidance throughout the process and actually ended up finding us our home in Kentfield off market in our top neighborhood. Highly recommend Own Marin and Barr Haney if you are looking for a Marin County real estate agent.

- Brent K.

We are incredibly grateful to Julia Fitzpatrick and the Own Marin team for helping us find our perfect home in San Rafael. We met Julia at an open house in the early stages of considering a move from SF to Marin. We naturally struck up a conversation and found her to be very down to earth, knowledgeable, and genuinely interested in getting to know us and what we were looking for in a home. About a year later, once we were ready to get serious about buying, Julia was there for us every step of the way, providing the guidance we needed as first-time buyers. Through COVID restrictions, she was proactive, flexible in accommodating many showings and provided honest feedback, always with our best interest in mind. She was incredibly calm and patient, particularly during the stressful moments that presented themselves throughout the process. Julia's relationships and experience within the Marin County real estate market are very strong, which we felt to be critical to our successful home search. Perhaps most importantly, Julia was highly skilled in helping us strategize and craft a strong offer for an off-market opportunity, enabling us to go in with confidence and ultimately secure our home. In an extremely competitive environment that can feel discouraging at times, we couldn't have asked for a better outcome: a home we adore in a wonderful neighborhood - at a price we feel great about! Thank you, Julia!

- Emily S.