Brett Aka, Ra
Real Estate Agent; Team Lead (Lic #RS-75473)
Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Advantage Realty - Honolulu
4211 Waialae Avenue
Honolulu, HI 96816
Customer Ratings & Testimonials
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"We were on a tight budget and timeline for getting our home ready to sell. Brett and his team came by our house and gave us a priority list of things to get done, and helped us select paint colors and materials they thought would be most marketable. They were great at getting contractors in to complete work that we could not do in a very timely manner, and they were always polite, helpful, and responsive, even when we called or texted from Home Depot at insane hours of the day or night. They came by the house multiple times to check on our progress, make suggestions, and offered to send help if needed. Brett really studied the market and gave us a really good idea of a possible fare market value for our home. He kept us up-to-date and informed on what was happening and how things were going. Brett implemented a great sales strategy for our home, and we ended up selling for over our original asking price. I really can't say enough about how fantastic everyone on the team was. We are incredibly happy with the work Brett and his team did for us."
Mindi Shoemake Juneau, AK (Seller) Sat, 14 Sep 2019 04:07:47 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett and team were excellent, they really made this purchase seamless for me. I have full trust in Brett and the team, this was built on his strong attention to detail, transparency, punctuality, and personal interest in what we wanted. Superb job, would highly recommend Brett to friends and family."
Muta, Hawaii Kai (Buyer) Fri, 16 Aug 2019 07:37:26 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka and his team are outstanding. He and his team are meticulous, always available, and work harder than any others I've known. They were always on top of everything. Top notch!!! Brett's understanding of the island property trends and knowledge of statistics are amazing.
He is the hardest working person I know. Sometimes I work long hours and on weekends - he was always super accommodating. He and his team work really well together and they have it running like a well-oiled machine. Whenever we needed a specialist of some sort they always knew who to call and arranged it for us in a timely fashion.
Brett is "good people." He won't just sell you any old product just to get a commission. He takes time to analyze your style and what fits your needs. Don't let his calm, nice demeanor fool you - when it comes to bargaining, he won't back down!"
Kahealani Rivera (Seller) Mon, 24 Jun 2019 18:39:48 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka, Ra and his team made my first home buying experience a very memorable and exciting adventure. The communication was excellent, and the team made sure that any questions I had were answered promptly. Everyone on the team is fun to be around and we made sure to have a good time with the experience. There were parts of the process that I thought I would have to worry about on my own (i.e., electrical renovations, pest control), but Brett and the team ensured me that they would help out in any way they could. Brett even recommended furniture stores and gave advice on how to save a ton of money! The team was extremely knowledgeable in prospective areas I would want to buy based on my wants and needs in a home. Buying real estate isn't always just fun and games, however. Fortunately, Brett and his team ensured me whenever there was any discrepancy that they were behind me in whatever decision I made. This was important to me because having a real estate agent who looks out for you and puts you before the sale is reassuring and makes the whole experience feel much more comfortable and pleasant. Overall, I would highly recommend Brett and his team."
Eugene Moniz, Aiea (Buyer) Fri, 21 Jun 2019 04:36:03 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"After years of renting we needed to move out of our home because our landlord's son was moving back to Hawaii and was going to stay in the house we were in. At first, we looked at renting a home, but the cost to rent was ridiculous! We thought we should look into buying a place but had no idea who to hire as an agent. My son and his wife recommended Brett Aka and we are so glad we took their recommendation!
To say Brett was knowledgeable, professional and accessible is an understatement! We felt that his expertise and training in the financial field was a plus in determining what we could afford; whenever we had a question he responded almost immediately!
This being my first real estate transaction in over thirty years, I was apprehensive and not sure about how to proceed. Thank God we were referred to Brett! Out of the many favorable impressions Brett made on us, the one that stood out to me was when we widened our search from Oahu to the Big Island and we actually found a home in Hilo we really loved. After having our offer on the Hilo home accepted, we had second thoughts being that our family was on Oahu. I called Brett to ask him about getting out of our offer and he patiently explained our options without any predisposition or bias; I knew then that his desire was not to make a sale but to help us do what was best for us. Every other aspect of working with Brett, Kandace and Katherine was like that; we never felt that our home search was anything other than finding the right property for us!"
Ray Oda Honolulu, Hawaii (Buyer) Tue, 18 Jun 2019 01:10:37 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka did a great job for me. He walked me through each step of the process in selling my family home. I was very please with the results and how quickly the house closed. I would definitely recommend Brett Aka, Ra to my family, friends and anyone else looking for a realtor."
Lance Suganuma, Honolulu (Seller) Fri, 12 Apr 2019 13:48:39 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Hats off to Brett Aka and his team for their GREAT assistance in my purchase of a unit in
downtown Honolulu. They let me know what was available, worked with me on my questions in terms and language i understood (not the document lingo). They also
guided me in my decision to choose what mortgager i wanted and what options I had
regarding down payment and corresponding interest rates. They worked around my
busy work and home schedules; met me at my office 12 miles away , kept their office
open after hours. The people at BHGAR were always polite and friendly when you
stepped thru their door.
I certainly would recommend Brett and his team to anyone looking for a RA. They
stand out in their knowledge , comprehension of my needs and see you thru completion
of purchasing your new home.
Thanks Brett and Kandace!!"
Lois Izumi, Honolulu (Buyer) Tue, 26 Mar 2019 12:52:55 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka, RA. and his staff at Better Homes has done an exemplary
job with selling our property. We would, without a doubt,
Recommend him to anyone who would be considering
Buying or selling property on Oahu."
Kevin Izumi (Seller) Fri, 18 Jan 2019 08:36:18 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett is top notch. Fully understood our needs and wants. He had empathy with us and other parties to help get the deal done! #1 in our book"
Scott D (Seller) Sun, 05 Aug 2018 03:28:54 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"When I met Brett for the first time, I felt that he was genuinely interested in helping our family. He did not fit my idea of the typical realtor; for Brett it wasn’t just about making a sale. He spent a lot of time finding out about us and our visions for the sale of our family home.
Brett helped in all aspects of getting the house ready to sell: both Kandace and he got packing supplies; Brett contacted places to take the items the family didn’t want; Brett contacted people for repairs and cleaning; Better Homes stages the home and took drone video and photos; Kristy took us through the closing and escrow part.
I was able to complete the house sale from the Mainland with all of their help. I heartily recommend Brett and BHGRE."
Lanette from Madison Wisconsin (Seller) Tue, 12 Jun 2018 09:36:34 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"In the search for a home for my family, Brett was the key partner in helping us choose the best possible home.
From helping us identify our needs and wants, to exploring various locations at differing price points for reference, to advocating for us during the negotiations and document reviews (while explaining in plain English what everything meant), Brett was the difference maker for in helping us move to our forever home!
He was ably assisted by Kandace Izumi; so kudos go to Brett for the positive outcome and a shout out goes to Kandace also!
I am recommending them to friends and family."
Jack Wong, Honolulu (Buyer) Mon, 30 Apr 2018 13:18:20 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"As a frequently relocating military family, we were happy to be finally "retiring" and thrilled it would be in Hawaii. We had purchased four and sold three homes over the past 25 years and have experience working with several realtors, both good and bad, from three different states. After 5 years of living in military housing on Hickam AFB, going to well over a hundred open houses all over Oahu on our own, and frankly being underwhelmed by many of the realtors we saw at them, we realized we needed to research and locate an expert who we could trust to guide us in this fast moving market. The expert we chose was Brett Aka and he delivered. After listening to our specific requirements and more importantly hearing what we were communicating, Brett not only found us a perfect fit within a month, he expertly negotiated a great price and helped us close early. We have been in our new home for approximately four months and we are still in awe at how smooth Brett made the purchasing process and how perfectly he understood what we were looking for in a home. We whole-heartedly recommend Brett Aka to our friends, family, and to anyone who is looking for a realtor who absolutely understands the Oahu real estate market, balances a warm professionalism with an astute business acumen, and above all else is respectful to you and your family as you are deciding where you will call home."
Shawn & Laura Scott, Kaneohe, Hawaii. (Buyer) Tue, 10 Apr 2018 08:40:27 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett and his team are awesome and we highly recommend him! 100% satisfaction with his top notch services!
We want to thank Brett for expediting the sale of our condo in Honolulu, Hawaii so quickly. His attention to detail and advice helped us preparing for the sale and we appreciated all that he did to get the unit sold in less than a month with full price and secured backup full-price cash offer less than a week!
It was fantastic! We are very pleased with all he did for us. If we have friends want to buy or sell properties in the area in the future, we would gladly recommend his services.
Brett’s leadership, knowledge, communication, experience, time organization and professionalism surpassed all our expectations!"
Hong Nelson, Honolulu, HI (Seller) Sat, 31 Mar 2018 20:06:31 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett and his team went beyond our expectations. We had a fantastic experience.
Thank you again!"
Thierry Daupin, Austin TX (Seller) Sun, 24 Dec 2017 03:17:39 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett was referred to my husband and I by friends we consider family. From the get go, I was extremely impressed. He arranged a meeting same day, and showed extreme motivation to help us sell our home. We were moving out of the state, and had to sell our home from Maryland. Brett and his team made it feel like we were still in state selling our home with how well we were informed and how comfortable he made us feel. Not once did we have any inklings of regret in hiring Brett. Absolutely amazing experience. I look forward to any opportunities to work with him again in the future!"
Jennifer Root, Maryland (Seller) Tue, 03 Oct 2017 02:39:53 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett and team were extremely helpful in a very bad time for buyers. They took the time to locate and show a variety of open houses to us and educate us on the structures, neighborhoods, etc. I definitely have a better appreciation for the housing market.
The team kept us informed of new listings in real time and were able to accomodate all of our requests.
Would recommend this team to those in the market as they are attentive, organized and very knowlegeable. Overall very positive experience even in a poor buyers market."
MT, Honolulu (Buyer) Fri, 15 Sep 2017 18:15:59 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"As first time homebuyers, we were looking for a realtor who would understand our needs and help us find the best home for us in a market that seemed difficult to navigate. His attention to detail impressed us and his personality made us feel at ease. Searching for the right home takes time and patience. Brett's encouragement kept us going. He led us through the buying process and was always available to chat if we had questions. We would highly recommend Brett Aka to our family and friends!"
David & Jamie Ku (Buyer) Thu, 24 Aug 2017 03:22:51 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Professional. Well executed sales plan and able to take care of all the details."
Nick Youngleson, Oahu (Seller) Mon, 10 Jul 2017 06:46:41 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"This was my first purchase, so I literally had no idea what to expect other than what I found through internet searches. Brett walked me through every aspect of the process from beginning to close to get me comfortable with what was going on. He took me to see many open houses to get a feel for what I was looking for (I wasn't sure myself, all I knew is that I wanted to live in town to avoid the morning commute). We went over the pros and cons of each of the places we looked at, and started zeroing in on certain areas and buildings that fit me. I finally found the apartment I wanted, and during and after the closing process, Brett was very involved. I always felt like I knew what was going on. Both he and his broker-in-training, Kandace, helped me figure out what kinds of maintenance/repair work I wanted to do and how I would go about doing it (more worthwhile/cheaper to do myself, hire a contractor, etc.). They also helped coordinate times with contractors and helped me open up and close my apartment when I couldn't get away from work, which I really appreciated.
It was a great experience, I will recommend Brett to all of my friends, family and coworkers."
Gerick, Honolulu (Buyer) Tue, 07 Mar 2017 17:54:09 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"When my fiancé and I first met Brett Aka at one of his open house showings, we didn't even know where to begin our search for a larger property. All we knew is that we would eventually need more space and that we wanted to proactively start searching. We clicked with Brett right away and he made an excellent first impression on us with his knowledge and experience. Over the next few months Brett patiently worked with us, educating us on the market and providing his professional opinion to guide us through tough decision making. His positive attitude, willingness to make time for us, and clear communication made what should be a stressful experience very manageable which was a huge relief for us as first-time home buyers. We are so grateful to have found Brett when we did and would definitely recommend him to anyone looking for a great realtor. He did such an amazing job helping us, I would like to nominate Brett for the Aloha Aina Award! This journey with Brett has helped us start a new and exciting time in our lives and we are so happy to call Brett both our realtor and friend!"
Steven Mitsuyuki, Honolulu (Buyer) Sun, 05 Mar 2017 13:45:22 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka helped me in so many ways not only sell my apartment but also feel confident and relaxed throughout the entire sale process. This was my first time selling any type of property and I was initially a little overwhelmed by how much time and energy would be involved. However, from day one, Brett had a plan and walked me through the process step by step. It was such a relief to know that he had my back through tough decision making and the seemingly endless amounts of paperwork during the process. I would definitely recommend Brett Aka to anyone looking for a great realtor with a ton of positive energy, patience, and enthusiasm and a lot of experience to back it up. He did such a great job and works so diligently, I would like to nominate him for the Aloha Aina Award! It's been great working with Brett and I am proud to not only have him as a realtor but also as a lifetime friend!"
Steven Mitsuyuki, Honolulu (Seller) Sat, 04 Mar 2017 18:37:37 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"My wife and I were incredibly fortunate to have worked with Brett in our search for a house.
We were new to Honolulu and also first time homebuyers. He helped familiarize us with suitable neighborhoods based on our requirements and expertly guided us through each step of the purchase process, from offer to inspection to closing.
Although we looked at dozens of houses over the course of two years, we never felt even a hint of impatience from him. His only concern was in making sure that we found the best house for our needs, within a time frame and at a price point we were completely comfortable with.
Brett is professional, organized, friendly, honest and incredibly knowledgable about real estate in Honolulu. I can't praise him highly enough, and sincerely hope that this review helps others benefit from his tremendous services."
Eric B., Honolulu (Buyer) Sat, 04 Mar 2017 11:46:37 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"We would give a higher rating of we could."
Mike and Karen Nadeau (Buyer) Fri, 03 Feb 2017 03:18:21 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka has a really good analysis of our situation: he is really efficient, professional, serious, very competent and very sympathetic."
Emilie Cannas, Honolulu (Buyer) Sat, 10 Dec 2016 22:17:47 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"My wife and I were first time home buyers facing an aggressive housing market in Honolulu. We had been looking for a very long time with no luck. Everything changed when we met Brett Aka, he immediately set up a time for the three of us to sit and talk about OUR concerns and wants. Next thing we knew we were on the road with Brett sometimes twice a week looking at homes that were not yet open to the public. Brett went above and beyond never loosing motivation or over looking our needs. Brett was able to find us the exact home we were looking for and with out him I'm positive we would have never found it. Brett has an excellent local knowledge and a very keen business sense that not only got our home for below asking price but put our minds at ease about our home not only being a home but an investment."
Dan, Honolulu (Buyer) Wed, 09 Nov 2016 05:03:01 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"If I ever leave Hawai'i, I'm going to try to take Brett with me, so that he can help me purchase my next home wherever that may be."
Nick Corrado, Kailua (Buyer) Fri, 19 Aug 2016 07:42:22 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett proved an excellent choice for selling my condo. Pricing the property correctly (to sell within 30 days, but maximize price) was challenging, because recent renovations far exceeded comparable sales. Brett researched the competition (e.g., Kaka'ako) and explained the logic for maximum sales price. With two offers (one at, one below listing) presented the first day, I'm convinced his recommendation was spot-on.
Brett also only accepted offers to present to me after the second open house. This strategy worked beautifully, as we received two offers that first day, providing critical information and a stronger sales position.
Brett's marketing strategy was great, from producing a video tour (including the sunrise view) to targeting potential buyers. His social media marketing resulted in one of the two offers. The competing agents intended to take a traditional list-open house-wait approach, which I seriously doubt is as effective in reaching younger buyers.
Finally, Brett was most responsive (even answering emails in the middle of the night), honorable, and dedicated to this sale. He coordinated excellent staging and appliance repairs, and even pitched in to help clean the property before final walk-through.
I not only would recommend Brett and the team to my friends - I already have!
Thanks, Brett!"
Sarah Schobeg, Honolulu, HI (Seller) Mon, 27 Jun 2016 06:19:06 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"We originally did not list Chinatown as one of the geographic areas that we were considering for our second residence, so when we decided to put an offer on a unit at Honolulu Park Place, Brett was very careful and deliberate in his questioning to make sure that we were OK with a Chinatown location. He even did so after all the inspections showed the unit was in great condition, just so we would not have any buyer's remorse. It is that honesty and integrity that makes Brett a terrific, trustworthy agent."
Warren, Seattle, WA (Buyer) Thu, 23 Jun 2016 11:28:38 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka has been an available asset to the whole process of us purchasing a property in Honolulu. Even though there were some issues and speed bumps along the way, we were able to get through all of this and made the final process complete. Brett and his team were very helpful from start to finish and all questions that we had were answered in a professional and timely manner.
Thank you for everything."
Chuck Williams, Elizabeth, CO (Buyer) Fri, 15 Apr 2016 04:00:48 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett Aka was our realtor for the purchase of our first home. When we first met Brett at an open house over 2 years ago, my husband and I were just starting to look at homes. We were immediately drawn to his warm, friendly personality and willingness to help a clueless young couple. Brett patiently and enthusiastically took us through every step, from researching different neighborhoods, to choosing between a condo or house, and learning what characteristics were important to us. He gave us countless hours of his time and never expected anything in return. Throughout the 2 years we worked together, not once did Brett make us feel rushed or pressured into making any decisions.
We did eventually find our dream home. Brett knew it was the one, even before my husband and I saw it! He knew us that well. Once we decided to put in an offer, Brett's true strengths came into light. His negotiating ability and interpersonal skills were critical in navigating a time-constrained, tricky, and competitive situation. Without his direct efforts, which went far beyond what is typical in the industry, our offer would not have been the winning one.
Brett Aka is a model of integrity and hard work. He has gone above and beyond our expectations of a realtor. I would recommend him to my closest friends and family members. Anyone looking to buy a home would be in good hands with Brett."
Lisa M, Honolulu (Buyer) Thu, 14 Apr 2016 04:21:32 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"In making my selection, it was most important to me to have someone that 1) I knew would look out for my best interests and 2) I trusted. I knew Brett prior to this and based on that (and feedback from others that had purchased a home with Brett), I knew he was the right person for us.
Brett did a phenomenal job keeping me in the loop of where things were and what the next steps were. He helped us get a credit on our purchase price after the home inspection regardless of the fact that I just threw it out there not thinking the seller would actually give us anything. Brett also helped negotiate a price for us well below asking and also below appraisal. Brett was very detailed throughout the whole process, followed through on everything he said he would do, and always kept us updated; we were very happy with his performance! He really went above and beyond for us, providing us with contacts to help us renovate and following up continuously with the association to make sure our window was fixed prior to moving in.
Brett was always professional, respectful and accessible. He also had great knowledge of the Hawaii Kai area (where we were buying) and had answers to any questions we had about the market. I really thought he did a great job just being available to us, always offering to meet us at our house or after hours. Brett was great throughout the entire process!"
Cody Noyama, Honolulu (Buyer) Mon, 11 Apr 2016 05:26:24 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Excellent all around! Outstanding real estate agent!"
Jae, Honolulu (Buyer) Sun, 06 Dec 2015 15:33:48 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett was recommended to me by my friend who recently purchased a home with him and I am so grateful to have found him. Brett is super knowledgable about the market and spent a lot of time explaining things to us as first time home buyers. What I like about Brett is that even though he may be busy or have a lot of other clients, he always makes you feel like you're his only client with the amount of attention he gives you.
With our recent home purchase, we had to negotiate with a difficult seller. Brett worked hard to negotiate a price reduction and even helped us with closing costs! He is a genuinely good person which makes him trustworthy and the perfect agent who will only have your best interests in mind. That is why I will definitely recommend him to my family and friends!"
Anasofia Vu, Honolulu, HI (Buyer) Thu, 22 Oct 2015 04:11:55 +1000
-
Satisfaction
-
Performance
-
Recommendation
"Brett assisted my brothers and I in selling our parents' home in Hawaii Kai. We heard about Brett from our Hawaii Kai next door neighbor who happened to go to an Open House that Brett was hosting. They were so impressed with him that even months later, they remembered his name. We are so thankful that his name was given to us.
I asked for a FaceTime listing presentation since we live in Washington State. He stated during the interview process that he will "out work anyone else out there". He went above and beyond anything imaginable. He took the time to take photos of what was in the house and helped pack items, give items away to neighbors/friends and essentially emptied the house for us! All of this in addition to having the interior and exterior painted, trouble shooting dead circuit, installing new cabinet pulls/new door knobs, coordinating the redo of the landscaping of the front yard and pressure washing of the driveway. The staging of the house was unbelievable. He had an Open House every Sunday and was present for 100% of the private showings. The house was sold in less than 2 weeks from the time of listing.
Brett is kind, honest, caring, super- organized, professional, reliable and extremely patient. He has a strong business and financial background since his prior work was with Advisory Services Management at Ernst & Young's Honolulu Office. This background provides him with strong strategic negotiation skills.
If anyone is looking for an ethical, energetic realtor who is not burnt out, we would highly recommend Brett. If we were to buy or sell another home in Hawaii, we would not use anyone else but Brett. It would be worth few minutes of your time to meet him. You will not be disappointed."