Stellar service for over 10 years. Perfect transactions. Perfect tenancy. Alway on time. Excellent explanations. read more

I had a very disappointing and uncomfortable experience with this broker Kimmy. While she was warm, attentive, and engaged with a white American family, her behavior toward us was completely different. I am an Asian and my husband is Arab American. We were largely ignored, and when I tried to ask questions, she either pretended not to understand or gave very short, dismissive answers. As clients, we expected equal treatment and basic professionalism, regardless of background. Unfortunately, her conduct made us feel unwelcome and disrespected. It was very noticeable and upsetting. read more

We are renters seeking a new unit and toured a couple properties from Ask Rentals. Kimmie was rather condescending and seemed annoyed at our simple questions. For example, a listing specified only washer/dryer hookups, but on the tour we saw machines, so I asked if the machines came with the house. Kimmie gave a very diplomatic lawyer-like answer saying she couldn't presume whether they worked or not. Then, because the house was very cold when we toured, I wanted to confirm the heating worked. Again, she said she couldn't presume whether or not the heat was in working order. Operational, safe, and adequate heating is a legal requirement for California rental properties, so this vague and dismissive answer did not inspire confidence. We (a queer, interracial couple) felt brushed over and looked down upon and will try to avoid Ask Rentals in the future. read more

In mid-March, I moved from Seattle to the Uptown area of Oakland. I had a 3-mo lease to begin with, to give me time to find an apartment that would work for me long term. Then the pandemic hit and everything closed down. My apartment complex instituted a policy that prevented me from lowering my rent with a long term lease, so I ended up moving out, putting nearly everything I owned into storage and living in Union City while searching for a new apartment. In mid-September, I happened to be searching Craigslist a few hours after Kimmi listed an apartment in North Berkeley that was exactly what I was looking for. I sent an email that night and had a response the next morning. The following weekend I was one of many that viewed the apartment. I asked only a few questions, and got straightforward answers from Kimmi. I found her to be professional. I was extremely (pleasantly) surprised when the owner offered me the apartment. Kimmi was communicative and responsive the entire time. We exchanged and signed the lease agreement over email, and I coordinated with the owner to pick up the keys to the apartment. (She even called me to review one small aspect of the rental.) For transparency, Kimmi encouraged me to share my experience, which I was happy to do, since my story is a happy one. I read through the other reviews of ASK Rentals on Yelp, and was surprised to see so much variability. Here are my unsolicited impressions: - This was the first apartment I've rented that wasn't part of a complex. (This property only has three units.) Having to wait for a viewing and being one of many to apply felt more like buying a house than renting an apartment. So, while the process was different, and it would have been nice to have someone tell me what was normal, I went with the flow and was okay in the end. - Kimmi didn't spend a bunch of time "selling" me on the apartment or doing a lot of hand-holding, but honestly, she didn't need to. I had very carefully looked at the many photos from the listing, which included a floor plan, as well as Google Maps to understand the location and orientation of the unit. The listing didn't include the size of the apt in sq ft, but one could fairly easily calculate it from the floor plan. - She didn't personally know every little thing about the apartment, such as what the inside of the small (garage) storage closet looked like. (I overheard another viewing party ask about the closet.) But again, that didn't matter to me. The quality, size, price, amenities and location of the apartment was exactly what I was looking for; a garage storage closet was not a significant factor in the overall listing. After viewing the apartment and before heading back to Union City, I asked Kimmi about similar properties that ASK Rentals might be handling. (I figured there were too many others interested in this unit for me to get it.) Without hesitation she declined to steer me to specific properties, explaining she was constrained by regulations designed to prevent redlining. I appreciated her honesty. She gave me what advice she could, and I went on my way. Overall my interactions with Kimmi were very positive, and I will definitely be checking ASK Rentals for future apartment needs. For people currently looking for apartments, I found apartments listed with ASK Rentals to be great value. read more

My husband and I moved out of our Berkeley house in the summer of 2023. We are novice housing providers and needed an expert to help us navigate all the Berkeley housing laws and help us list and show our home. Kimmi came recommended by a local real estate agent and a friend who rents out multiple properties. Kimmi provided us her lease template, gave us advice for repair work around our property, and also advised us on particular items to check in with our insurance provider. We very much appreciated her professionalism, her thorough approach and her dedication to quickly show our home, respond to potential renters, and do all the financial and background checks. I believe her service fees are very reasonable for all her time and work. It was very reassuring to have professional advice in this new challenging and busy time for us. At the time we hired Kimmi, there were multiple properties for rent in our neighborhood, and she had wonderful prospects for us within 1 month. We are very happy with our renters too!! Thank you Kimmi!! read more

Edit as response to Kimmi: Your response was in no way reflective of our interaction, and it is disappointing that instead of owning up to what you did, you instead wrote a response as attempt to absolve you of blatant racism. A browse through your reviews will indicate that this is not the first time you specifically have treated others this way, despite your ethnicity, values and ethics, none of which were on display here. Thanks for sharing those numbers- I do intend to use them so that other families will not have to feel what we felt. Weeks later, this still bothers me and instead of apologizing, you chose to try blaming me and my perception of a DOOR BEING SLAMMED IN MY FACE. It does not get more blatant than that. Speaks to me about your true core values, and that of the company. As I said, disgusting. Renters BEWARE. -- Let me share a story about my experience with Kimmi. It's been weeks and it hurt me so much that I would honestly be remiss if I didn't share and warn others before dealing with her and this company. I found a beautiful property via Hotpads, 458 Mount St, and was excited to view. As a single mom with two kids, it's been hard to find a home that meets our requirements, and I was happy to see that this unit fit the bill. I promptly sent notice via HotPads and scheduled an appointment. When I arrived at the property at the agreed time, there was another potential renter in the unit (for the purposes of this review, it was an older white couple, where we are a young black family), and Kimmi was not to be found. My kids and I chatted with the other potential renters before starting to tour the place on our own when Kimmi came out and introduced herself briefly, then gruffly walked us through the house. Our tour went something like this, "Here's the kitchen. This is the living room. Ok, here's the bedroom upstairs." There were no details given about the property and Kimmi seemed admittedly short, but I assumed it was because she was busy with the other potential renters (which I thought was weird to see- I don't want to see who I'm "competing" with on a potential rental). We decided to tour one more time sans Kimmi, and she went to finish with the other renters. After our tour, we reached the front door as Kimmi was finishing up with the couple and my heart sank. The smile on Kimmi's face (that she hadn't shown my family and kids), the engaging conversation that she had about how she'd help the family get into the property, about the area, the backyard, and details into the house's design...I didn't mean to overhear, but it was a STARK difference in how she talked to us. I decided to wait until she was finished with the other family to ask the same questions, to hopefully get more detail into the place. I had cash in hand that day and was able to make a deposit, so I wanted to get as much info as I could before leaving. When Kimmi turned to us, her smile faded. She looked at me with this pained expression, and as I asked some of the same questions that the previous family asked, she responded COMPLETELY DIFFERENT than she did just a minute ago, with short answers and an annoyance in her voice. My kids were present the entire time. They looked up at me and frowned, seeing how we were treated firsthand. I stopped asking questions as Kimmi was no longer receptive, and thanked her for her time. As my family turned to leave out of the rental... KIMMI SLAMMED THE DOOR WITH FULL FORCE IN OUR FACES. I was not all the way out of the door and nor were my kids, so we felt the wind of the door. The door almost hit me, it's how hard she slammed it. We stood there for a moment trying to figure out what happened. I walked back to my car and held back tears. I'd never experienced something so blatant and disgusting. I earn 125K a year. I had the money, references, and everything needed to rent that place with ease. I wasn't given a chance, however. At all. I'll let you draw conclusions here, but the stark difference in the way the white family and my family was treated was too blatant not to mention. We were still sitting in the car in front of the potential home reeling when Kimmi stomped out of the home a few minutes later. She noticed my car, looked over at us and ROLLED HER EYES before hopping in her car and driving off quickly. Rolled. Her. Eyes. Why? What did my family do? My kids asked me why Kimmi was so mean to us. She did this in front of my children, and on the drive home I had to explain to them that people are unfair. That people judge you based on the color of your skin and not the content of your character, and unfortunately that is the world that we live in. How disgusting of a company, of a human. I will not forget this, and I am truly saddened that people like this exist and continue to do this to people unchecked. I'll be sharing my experience widely, in hopes that no other family, and no other CHILDREN will have to feel what mine did. So disgusting. read more

Seeing Lyn's review has given me the courage to also discuss my experiences with Ask Rentals and Kimmi in particular. Two years ago, I had an appointment to view a single room apartment at Cove at Marina Bay. I arrived, and so did a few other potential applicants. Kimmi appeared a few minutes after our scheduled time and proceeded to show us the area as well as the apartment. Her treatment of the other applicants starkly contrasted mine. Kimmi was very warm and attentive, offering many details to the other applicants. The responses to my questions were short and cold. The only difference? You guessed it. I was the only person of color, all the other applicants were white. Looking for apartments is a stressful situation for many. I was already very well aware of housing discrimination. I had hoped, given the bay area bubble and Kimmi being a person of color, that the treatment of applicants would be fair. I was wrong. In spite of walking away feeling like I was just a waste of time, I still tried to apply. I was in a short time frame and needed housing. I fit all the requirements, I thought: why not? I never received a response or even an acknowledgement of my application. That sealed the experience for me. Kimmi, before (or even if) you respond: A person's ethnic background doesn't absolve them from discriminatory and racially insensitive actions, whether intentional or not. Your perception also doesn't dismiss the impact people have felt. read more

Very helpful and efficient rental representative. Kimmi made the lease signature process simple and painless.

Having worked with Kimmi for some time now I refer ASK to anyone seeking clear precise information delivered on a straight and solid level of professionalism. Quality is quality. As as renter in this time it does not get any better working with Kimmi read more

I sent my emails to askrentals@gmail.com, so whatever happened it wasn't due to craigslist. No worries, we found a great place for less money in a better location. It's just a shame that we were treated badly. read more

My family and I have had nothing less than great service from Kimmi since 2009. She has been kind, professional, and courteous every step of the way as she assist us in finding tenants for our rental property. We have had great tenants because of her thoroughness and skillful screening of tenants that make a great fit for our rental needs. I am rather shocked and surprised at the negative reviews she has received around purported racism against people of color or giving preferential treatment toward a certain race of people. I am a woman of color...specifically African American, and I nor my family members have never felt any type of discrimination from Kimmi. Her service has been great from beginning to end and I will continue to use her service for all of my rental needs. I will also continue to refer her to others who may be looking to rent or looking to fill their rental need. Regardless of the negative reviews (In which everyone has an opinion, rightfully so), please know there are many more people who appreciate the way you conduct yourself and the great service you offer Kimmi. read more

I first met Kimmie when I was seeking a rental home for my family last summer. We were looking for a 3 bedroom home in Berkely and we had an older dog. Out price range was between 3000 up to 4500. I contacted Kimmie to see if she knew of any homes that could meet our requirements. She was adament that it was impossible to find a home in that price range and we would need to seek a home in 5000 range. She was quite certain that no landlord in Berkeley would rent a home to me. She was rude and aloof and very discouraging. I did find a fabulous home under our price range through Korman and Ng, who were extremely helpful and respectful of my needs. Recently, a friend of mine was seeking a rental home and had the misfortune of having to deal with Kimmie. She had a far worse experience and was mislead by Kimmie which resulted in my friends loss of time and money. If you see a listing through Kimmie of ask rentals, think twice. read more

Be very careful with this woman specialy if you are a minority. first when we arived she was walking on the sidewalk talking on her phone, we did not know who she was, then she came to us with a very rude attitude and said I only have 5 minutes I have to be somewhere else. Then she opened the door and she pointed the unit and in 30 seconds she was walking us out. she did not have the education to be nice and anly pointed the laundry. My wife and I had a very bad impression and we think she uses racial profile to rent the units. Read the rest of the comments and many have almos the same complains. It is sad to have persons like that here in the bay area. read more

Kimmi and ask rentals were super helpful and patient with us and showed us some amazing homes in Berkeley. They have the best listings. Kimmi was very helpful during our home search and was very understanding. We highly recommend Kimmi and we look forward to working with her again in the future!! read more

Not sure I understand some of these negative reviews. Racial profiling? Seriously? Kimmi rented the house I currently live in to an Indian dude, a Spaniard, and two Jews with no hint at all of profiling. That is a totally unfair accusation to make. Let me tell you about our situation. My roommates and I are UC Berkeley grad students who desperately needed to rent a house one week before classes were starting. We lucked out and somehow landed upon an amazing house that had just been renovated and was totally perfect for us. We were able to rent the house within 24 hours for the following reasons: 1) We were respectful and showed up on time for the viewing 2) We had all our paperwork in order (Kimmi WILL check all of your references so make sure you aren't fudging that) 3) Make her know that you are the most interested party in the house. If you show the most interest and pass all of the checks, you will have a better chance at landing the rental as Kimmi will make sure the landlord knows this before he/she makes the decision. Kimmi even negotiated with the owner to let us move in a few days before the end of the month without charging us for those days. She is definitely on the renters side and is sensitive to our situations. A couple weeks ago, one roommate had to move out due to a family emergency and Kimmi handled the lease change without any hassles at all and was very respectful about this. I had a wonderful experience with Kimmi and Ask Rentals and fully recommend her for your housing needs. read more

We looked at a lot of places before deciding on the right one, and this rental company was the only bad experience we had. Kimmi was nice enough when she showed us the apartment, but then in later interactions she was really rude. I'm Asian, but I didn't read racism as a factor - I think it's just a case of not being very nice. read more

My wife and I moved from the east coast to Berkeley in mid-May. We were looking for a two bedroom but Kimmi found a very nice place for us with three bedrooms that was very nice and not yet on the open market. We were able to put in an offer right away. This was in the middle of the shelter in place and coronavirus restrictions. She was very careful about being safe during the showing. Kimmi helped with the logistics of getting the background check and paying the deposit online, working with us, the owner, and property manager, all within a very quick timeframe. She really went above and beyond for us and we were very happy to work with her. read more

Kimmi helped my husband and I list and get renters for our home in Oakland. She was patient and very detailed with us. Her expertise was incredibly important for new income property owners. She put together the lease agreement and had renters in the house very quickly. We are very grateful for her service. Thank you! read more

Follow up to Kimmy's reply to my review. You should have been an actress Ms. Kimmy for you sure know how to spin a tale. You most certainly did not send me 7 emails about times to meet me. You sent ONE (1) saying either Mon. at 5p or Tues at 6p. As you mention I work 9 to 5p so ONLY Tues. worked. I did not verbally attack you. I remained completely professional rather than saying exactly what I felt i should have. You did NOT say what you said above about the windows OR the package deliveries, NOR the yard. You did NOT say you would get back to me/us. You were uncertain of the boundary lines of the neighbors property. You didn't seem interested in checking. When I approached the window (which you did not mention was for viewing), you snapped curtly, "That one doesn't work." And that was the end of that conversation. You explained nothing further. Don't try to lie & say you did. Such behaviour is unprofessional and appalling & I'm shocked you'd stoop this low. I did not arrive with my friend. I didn't know that woman. We were strangers. I did not say the location was too suburban for me. I don't speak that way & second, it's not! It's in the woods, which is why I was looking at it. I'm also sorry you thought you had to write me letting me know you left your son alone, with broken facial bones, in order to meet & perform your job. If that time wasn't convenient, please don't offer it, but don't make me feel bad about it. And lastly I had no idea you were Asian, let alone South Asian, whatever that means. I don't see people as a race or a colour, or a gender. I dont even see people by their names. I see them by their souls.I do not distinguish people by race at all. I distinguish people by how they treat me & others. I'm from Ktown, which means nothing to you however for those that do know what that stands for, it speaks all it needs to. I made my review on how you acted. I'm sorry for you if you cannot see yourself for who you are & take responsibility for your actions, & hold yourself accountable. I pray one day you will. Ps My reviews do not single out Asians. Now that I've reviewed my reviews, do you even know what an Asian is? Because there aren't really ANY in my list. And, my reviews vary with all types. Oh boy. I think you speak for yourself & I can be glad I don't interact with you. read more

My husband and I have been clients of Kimmi's for many years. When we needed a rental agent to help us find tenants for a house we had for rent we interviewed several different people. My Chinese husband was anxious to find someone who would not allow race, sex, or religion to color her recommendations. As a young boy during World War II he had experienced hate crimes because he was thought to be Japanese, so having a 'color and sex blind' agent was of prime importance. Kimmi is not only a person of color herself, she is very sensitive to the issues of discrimination, and therefore it was with a great deal of skepticism that I read the recent negative reviews of her service. She recently rented one of my properties to a person who is a member of the LGBT community, and two years ago found an African American couple and their young child for another property. Never have I heard any negative feedback from any of the people who have applied to rent my houses. I value Kimmi's assistance and advice, and recommend her, both to friends who have rental properties, and to those looking for a place to rent. She serves everyone. read more

We recently moved to Europe for work and hired Kimmi at Ask Rentals to help us rent out our home. We advertised our home ourselves for 8 to 9 days and got a lot of strange phone calls and inquiries that seemed like no one was reading the ad. We decided to call a few property management companies to get some help. Kimmi gave us a lot of great advise on the phone, helped us weigh out our options. Being a Landlord is not as simple as we thought, it was an easy decision to hire her. We had a signed lease in our hands within 8 days, great tenants and Kimmi helped us with all the move in procedures. We have contacted Kimmi for help even after her job was completed and she has been very helpful with all our follow up needs. We would hire this company again. read more

The very worst real estate professional I have had the misfortune of meeting: Kimmi. Unhelpful, aloof, unprofessional. Most certainly and inexplicably arrogant. We attended an open house and she new very little about anything concerning the home. The lights weren't working and it was night. This was the least expensive rental we've looked at and the leasing agent reflected the low rent attitude. Search elsewhere for someone with communication skills. Hire a professional who understands people. Don't waste your time with Ask Rentals. read more

Kimmi helped us get into an outstanding property after another property owner pulled out on us at the last minute leaving us potentially homeless. She pushed our application through very quickly and patiently guided us through the process of collecting the pieces necessary to get us approved. Such a great experience in this tough housing market! Thank you, Kimmi!!! read more

I wholeheartedly agree with T P's review. Kimmi was mute and detached throughout the open house, completely indifferent to people's inquiries and supercilious in her demeanor. I caught her looking me up and down and sneering at me more than three times while I looked at the apartment, and I was able to see a potential home for approximately five minutes before she said she had to rush to another open house. Her e-mail responses were slow, her statements demanding, and her tone acerbic. Does this woman even have a license? I'm extremely uncomfortable with the fact Kimmi has my personal information in her possession. read more

Apartment hunting in Berkeley is near impossible, but working with Kimmi at ASK Rentals made us much more optimistic about the process. She is very professional, prompt and thorough in her follow-up. She has the tough job of working with dozens of qualified applicants, but her process is fair, honest and open. We have really appreciated working with her during our apartment search. read more

This rental service was really unfriendly and unprofessional. The agent showed up late to open the house that they were showing and had scheduled everybody to come through at the same time. I was literally bouncing off of the other prospective renters while looking at the property. The agent volunteered no info about the property had to be prompted to disclose the details and was really rude and short when doing so. I would not recommend this service read more

I found Kimmi Kataria to be most helpful with our recent rental application. She was very easy to contact via phone, email, and text during the review process and follwed up extremely quickly with paperwork, support, and advice. When some challenges arose she was fair and patient and went the extra mile to represent our interests to the end. I would recommend Kimmi to anyone in need of a competent and caring agent in real estate. read more

I'm not even one of Kimmi's clients -- just a house-searcher moved by desperation to ask more persistently than might be polite, but she took the time to reply to my many questions, and rather than simply sending a terse rejection email, she personally called me to patiently explain her client's position. I've been house-hunting for three months now, and I am very aware that most people wouldn't bother replying to the second email -- and sometimes not even the first. The mark of a true professional: someone who's thorough and kind even when there's no gain in it for them. read more

I was advised by a fine business contact to reach out to Ask Kimmi was prompt and quite helpful She has a fine way and knows what to do The rental is now managed by her Quite pleased to have met her read more

I have met and utilized ASK Rentals on two occasions. Kimmi was professional and knowledgeable as well as friendly and kindhearted. Kimmi has gone the extra mile in her work with me and her demeanor has been warm and caring. Kimmi's job is to find qualified renters, she shows the apartments and then she gathers all of the credit, income and rental history. She then turns that over to the landlord for the landlord to make a decision. Kimmi does not make the decision as to who gets the apartment, that is the landlords sole decision. Folks need to remember renting an apartment or house is a lot like going to a job interview. A few tips: Show up on time for the showing. Be prepared to document your rental and employment history. Be prepared to have everyone over the age of 18 be ready to provide this information. Race, gender, sexual orientation and disability are NOT factors in making the rental the decision as to who rents the apartment. Rather the key components are credit history, income, rental history, employment history for all people who will live in the apartment are taken into account. read more

Spoke with Kimmie today. She seemed very attentive and although she couldn't provide the service I needed (too far away) she offered to give me the name of a group who probably could. Service an integrity is much appreciated in this business. read more

My husband and I have worked with Kimmi K for nearly a decade. We hire her services in publicizing our vacant apt rentals, showing units to prospective applicants, and making a good fit between the needs of the tenant and us. She is focused, diligent, and reliable as an agent. Tenants that have rented our units often later contract her services to find them their next best living space. We have referred our friends to ASK Rentals/Kimmi should they need to rent out their homes. Kimmi is focused, diligent, prompt, and reliable as a leasing agent. She has personalized our lease terms for our specific needs. She assures that any tenant who rents from us has strong financial credentials. She knows the pulse of the rental market - the supply/demand/seasonal issues which impacts the rates at which rents may go up or down during certain periods. She is also considerate of tenants' special requests/needs, and attempts to have both parties satisfied. I am stunned by the negative comments posted in some of the other reviews on this site- I have not once ever sensed or heard any word of discrimination from Kimmi during the screening of prospective tenants. She is of course, is a very busy person, thus it does not surprise me that at times, she may appear rushed. But how many of us are NOT? I highly recommend her services for both tenants and landlords, and will surely continue contract her services. read more

We used Kimmi for the house that we are renting. We originally had another house we were looking to rent but the owner had pulled the listing. Kimmi was professional and we are very very happy with the house we rented. We had a dog and it was difficult to find an house. I would use the services of Ask Rentals again. read more

Kimmi is incredibly professional! I highly recommend her business.

I had an overall very pleasant experience with ASK Rentals and Kimmi, the person who showed me an apartment in North Berkeley, for which I recently signed a lease. Kimmi was professional and polite, and always responded quickly to all my emails. She answered all my questions regarding the apartment and the application process in a clear and straight-forward manner. She was very up front about what the cost of the apartment would be and the requisite credit check the application entailed. When I was arranging to sign the lease with the landlord, she also helped us get back on the same page when some emails didn't get through. It was a pleasure to have Kimmi guiding me through the application process. She and ASK Rentals have my highest recommendation. P. Ph.D. student at UC Berkeley read more

Kimmi was fantastic at helping us get our apartment. We had seen an apartment we liked a year earlier, but were last in line at applying. When looking for places the next year, we simply inquired via email if we could be put on the waiting list if the unit came up, and she was wonderful at being professional and customer-oriented. We got the place! We are excited to move in, and she took all of the hassle out of searching for and acquiring an apartment. A+ read more

Kimmi is great. I've worked with her twice now to find and rent an apartment in the North Berkeley area. She really knows this market well and always seems to know what is coming on and off the market. For a local market that moves as quickly as N.Berkeley (it seems most good rentals are gone within 48 hours after they are listed), this is the type of agent you want to work with. read more

I'm a local Realtor and over the years have found Kimmi to be a wealth of great, current, very local information. She's helpful, prompt, responsive, and really knows her stuff. She's no doubt busy (because she's good at what she does), but she has always been friendly and approachable. I have recommended her to clients and will continue to. read more

We worked with Kimmi to find tenants for our house last summer -- I thought I had already posted a review for her! Whoops. Our experience with her was quite positive. I especially appreciated how responsive she was by email, phone, and meeting in person. Very accommodating of our schedule. At one point kind of late in the process, she had to go out of town for a few days for a family emergency but was very up front, communicated with us, and didn't drop the ball. Initially she came to view the house, gave us an estimate of what she thought it could rent for, and made some suggestions about priority repairs and such. She advertised our house on several sites, showed it a couple times for different groups of people, and screened applicants for us. We were new to the process and had lots of questions, which she answered patiently. I felt like she brought a level of professionalism and experience to the process that would have been difficult for us to muster on our own. The tenants that we ended up with have been absolutely perfect. All in all, we would certainly consider using her again! read more

Had an amazing experience with ASK Rentals, Kimmi was great in keeping us in touch and provided daily updates of our application. Would definitely recommend their services to anyone. read more