I was helping my parents to sell their existing home and was caught in a situation on whether to sell it to a relative or go thru the process of listing it in the market. I was referred to Bernice by our Filipino friend. Also, she had helped my cousin with the buying and selling of his home and he had only good things to say. The first time I had met with Bernice, she immediately had put my mind to ease. Explaining the process and providing different options we have had at that time. Before she presented the options to my parents, Bernice had spent time a lot of time researching already. She then had met with me and my parents, presented a lot of market data with NO pressure to sell or sign anything. We talked a lot about it and she helped us understand different possible scenarios. She had been incredibly patient and understanding throughout the process and took the time to explain every detail and was available whenever we need her. There were few concerns that we had then. The goal was for my parents to get most out of the selling of their home and to do a rent back until their new home is completed so that they will not have to move twice. Eventually, my parents had agreed to list the house in the market. Bernice immediately started the process and laid out the step by step plan. She explained in details what was it entail to prepare the home for market. She connected us with her stager, Lisa who was awesome to work with as well. She was very involved and spent many hours with us. Lisa was very professional, helpful and has a keen eye for detail and design! She transformed my parents house and looked amazing after the staging has been completed. The house did so great on the market, finalized a contract in 48 hrs from the time it was listed! Much better than predicted and expected.Thanks to Bernice top notch negotiating skills. Bernice and her team truly exceeded our expectations! We were very impressed on how accurate the timeline Bernice had laid out to us. We will not forget to mention how delightful we were to also work with her Operational Manager, Emilie. She was in charge of a lot of the administrative details and communication. The whole team provided an exceptional customer service and went above and beyond to make sure all our needs, questions and concerns were taken care of. They turned what could have been a stressful process into an enjoyable experience. We truly made the right decision and will recommend Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings Team without reservation for all your real estate needs! HIGHLY recommended! read more

We met Bernice through the Filipino community and have known her for many years. She has helped many friends and has been involved in volunteering and sponsoring community events. When we decided to choose this awesome 55 plus neighborhood in a golf community in New Kent, we wanted to have representation. Most people go into new construction thinking they don't need anyone, but you don't know what you don't know. From the get-go, due to her experience, she knew what questions to ask. She knows the rights we have. She will advocate for you to get just that little bit more. Even though site agents are friendly and knowledgeable, they represent the builder so it's important to have someone on your side. From asking the right questions to picking options that give us the most bang for our buck, it's good to have someone who knows the going rate of adding another window, or getting a screened in porch versus just a deck, stair railing choices, choice of colors - especially with floors, kitchen countertops, and kitchen cabinets. It's important not just to pick what you like but also what goes together and what will be valued upon eventual resale. A good agent can give you insight into all the choices involved, especially when it comes to choosing the lot. In new construction, it's all about the numerous choices throughout and Bernice will stay involved to help with all of it. Bernice was there for our building meetings - design meeting, pre-drywall meeting, final inspection, walkthrough and our loan closing. We love Bernice how she is so hands on and involved with her clients. We're also glad we used one of the home inspectors she recommended. Most people think that since it's all new, it's not that important. But a third party home inspectors will point out roof and crawlspace flaws and so much more. In our case, ours found something that was not even visible and would have been easily overlooked! He discovered that there was a vent that had been inadvertently drywalled over!! It was definitely worth the extra peace of mind and the discovery of a few more punch list items for our builder to take care of before closing. If you want an experienced agent who truly cares and will go the distance, choose Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings team for your next transaction. read more

Catherine E Curran was our realtor for the purchase of our second home. It was a cross country move where I was local and my wife was remote throughout the buying process. Leading up to our first viewing with Catherine, I was concerned I wouldn't be able to focus on properly exploring the homes we were viewing while managing a live video tour for my remote wife. I'm not the type to impose myself on others, so it was very refreshing when I found that Catherine took that responsibility upon herself from the start. She flawlessly managed the back and forth questions of both an in-person and remote client who were at times focused on entirely different aspects of the homes. Her knowledge of all things home-buying and her perspective as an unbiased third party removed from the emotions that could cloud one's judgment were invaluable. And her management of the many time sensitive steps during the process eliminated a lot of stress for us. Over the past couple of years, I have had great success with utilizing Catherine's network of local plumbers, electricians, general contractors, etc for various projects we have done on our home. Her extensive experience with multiple individuals in the various fields above has allowed her to find trustworthy and expert contractors, saving us a great deal of vetting time and helping us avoid negative experiences while maintaining and improving our home. Happy New Beginnings, the real estate team with which Catherine is an agent, has been extremely supportive of us over the years. They have amazing get-togethers for all past clients, generous and thoughtful giveaways throughout the year, and extremely helpful information posted on their social media page. Their love of real estate and customer service has made them the perfect partner for all home buying and home selling needs! Now for some fun: If Catherine was an eBay seller in the 1990s, she would receive an "Excellent seller!!!!! A+++++++++++++" review from us! If Catherine was a director showing her film at the Cannes Film Festival, she would receive a 23-minute standing ovation. If Catherine was a realtor, we would use her for all our future home selling and home buying business! ;-) read more

We first connected with Bernice at an Open House more than two years ago. I kept her card and we used her to help us sell our little condo. We had hired a different realtor before and the experience was like night and day. The prior situation was chaotic, where seemingly anything and everything that could go wrong happened. There were many occasions where we were left scrambling to address issues and find solutions by ourselves. The previous home buying experience was extremely draining and disheartening, and we gave up for quite some time. Bernice was able to restore our confidence when we were ready to give home buying another try. Bernice truly cared about our wants and needs, and she instantly put us on an MLS search for the right home. It didn't take long for us to find our dream home - a gem of a house right in the middle of Short Pump! We fell in love. At the time, we bought it was a strong sellers' market, so we were nervous about losing this one. Bernice acted quickly to help us put together a strong offer....the whole process was SO SMOOTH all the way to closing. She was constantly available if we had any concerns or questions. There were several occasions where I texted or emailed her after midnight; and yet I always received a response right away. We always knew what was coming up next and there were no horrifying surprises. When Bernice told us what to expect, we knew we had nothing to worry about. She is extremely knowledgeable and she gives excellent recommendations for lending advisors, contractors, inspectors, and other professionals. Bernice is truly a wonderful person and a blessing to our family. We were dealt with several distressing obstacles outside of working with Bernice, and she was always there to give us words of encouragement. We are sincerely indebted to Bernice for her graciousness, and I can honestly say we started with a realtor and now we know we have a friend for life. read more

We have moved a lot - anyone who's military understands. In the last 10 years, we've moved about 8 times - so we have also met a lot of realtors!! We were SO glad to have been able to have Bernice and Sarah, who is part of her Happy New Beginnings team, help us. The situation was crazy! We found out we really wouldn't have time to find a house AND get settled once we got to VA, only about 10 days, so we were under a pretty tight deadline to say the least. We really needed a true expert in the area and someone we could like and trust and best represent our needs. We had high hopes. Our last real estate experience was so hectic and a lot of lessons learned and so we really wanted a home that we could just move into and love. And we found it. After flying into town for only 2 days, Sarah escorted us around and showed us about 20 homes. After deciding on a home and about to put an offer on it, at the last minute, another home came on the market. It was really a miracle and Bernice and Sarah were completely sympatico with our wishes, they knew this home was what we were looking for, they had found our dream home. To get it, it involved them tag teaming to make the deal happen. It was nerve wrecking, but we got it!! We had to make an offer on a home "sight unseen" - Bernice FaceTimed with us while Sarah was busy working on the paperwork - it was quite the adventure! They also made the whole buying process so easy and less stressful for us! Sarah attended the home inspection for us and scheduled so many things for us so we could worry about all the other things with the loan and getting packed up to move. All's well that ends well and I'm happy to say that we CLOSED on time, in less than 30 days, and couldn't be happier to start our Happy New Beginning in Richmond - and now we have two new friends here too. Thank you, Bernice and Sarah! read more

We recently had the pleasure of working with Catherine Curran and the team at Happy New Beginnings, led by Bernice Sims, for our home purchase. Our journey began in a rather serendipitous manner when Bernice attended one of my wife's yoga classes and generously offered to assist us in our search for a new home. Having had experiences with various realtors in the past, it's safe to say that Catherine, Bernice, and their team set a new standard for excellence in real estate services. From the onset, we were thoroughly impressed by their exceptional level of communication, proactive approach, and deep market knowledge. It's rare to find a team that not only meets but exceeds expectations in such a seamless manner. Their dedication and passion for what they do were evident in every interaction, making the entire process not just stress-free, but genuinely enjoyable. What truly sets Catherine and the Happy New Beginnings team apart, however, is their commitment to their clients even after the deal is done. Catherine has been an invaluable resource, graciously offering her extensive network of contractors to help us with various home improvement projects, from painting and floor refinishing to drywall repair. This level of post-purchase support is unparalleled and speaks volumes about their dedication to client satisfaction. I have since recommended Catherine, Bernice, and the entire Happy New Beginnings team to many friends, confident in the knowledge that they will receive the same outstanding level of service that we did. If you're in search of a real estate team that truly cares and delivers on their promises, look no further. We are beyond grateful for their support and will undoubtedly be using them for all our future real estate needs. read more

Being in the military, we have moved numerous times! This was our 4th home purchase so we are not new to buying real estate. Some of the things that stood out about working with Bernice are was her flexibility, promptness, and knowledge of the surrounding area. We were on a very short timeline, literally just outside 30 days of having to move. We called Bernice on a Tuesday and she was so amazing to speak with and basically got us situated to look at houses that Thursday. She lined up all of the houses we wanted to look at and even some that she picked for us just from our brief conversation. The day was long looking at so many different houses but by the time we were done with the last house, we pretty much already knew which one we wanted, so Bernice was able to submit our offer that very same day. Again, super-efficient and extremely knowledgeable. When we closed on our house, we walked away WITH money! This could only happen because Bernice got us ample closing costs and also recommended a great lender who helped us get an excellent loan product. We loved that everyone on this Real Estate Dream Team was so responsive, so professional, and just made this such an easy process all the way to closing and beyond. This home purchase experience has been by far the smoothest transaction we have ever been through. Thanks Bernice and Team! I'm glad we found a realtor we could trust, feel comfortable with, and even be friends with afterwards. Bernice truly cares about us and how we feel. We are tremendously fortunate to have gotten one of the best realtors in Richmond. Get Bernice along with the Team of professionals she works with to get you into your next home. read more

Bernice was recommended to me by an excellent consultant I was working with to help identify suitable senior living quarters for my mother. Following Mom's move, it was time to sell her house, but it was equally crucial for me to have a broker I could completely rely on, as I live out of state. From the beginning, Bernice immediately put me at ease. She was extremely committed and patient, helped me to identify needed professionals to declutter and sell the contents of the house, and even assisted a live-in family member find an appropriate apartment. Bernice also assisted with essential improvements to optimize the appearance of the house before we put it on the market. We discussed numerous considerations including paint, flooring, carpet, and more, evaluating which were most necessary to optimize the sale. The house looked beautiful after these interventions, and the monetary results were quite satisfactory. Throughout this entire process, I was able to trust Bernice and her team to support me. Of course, there were a few bumps along the way, but they were all handled professionally and with abundant communication. If you live away from Richmond--or even if you don't--and need someone to handle a comprehensive estate sale home process, I highly recommend Bernice and her Happy New Beginnings team, especially Catherine, who look the lead in this partnership. read more

After disappointing experiences with 2 prior big name realtors, we were more than ready to get our house sold. One of our friends recently used Bernice to help sell their house and raved about how happy they were, so we decided to interview her. She had really done her research, really listened to our grievances and goals, and laid out a plan. It was a breath of fresh air because she didn't overpromise - almost the opposite, in fact! We were worried about putting our house up just before Christmas but Bernice helped us stage the home and make it look awesome. As soon as we hit the market we had two showing requests and within hours we had an offer!! We were shocked and in disbelief. We had almost gotten used to waiting and feeling frustrated and disappointed, but, boom! Sold! So fast and what a smooth transaction all the way to closing... it was almost too good to be true. Some of things that we feel Bernice does best: Research - she is not guessing at the market or surprised by anything. Battle plan - she provides a multi-pronged attack and makes a splash when you hit the market. Communication - throughout the process we were kept informed and had constant contact with Bernice. Coaching - Bernice guided us through the entire process and never once were we worried or concerned about what was taking place. read more

We were looking for something VERY specific and not easy to find, given the stringent criteria. The location had to be just right and there had to be a first floor master bedroom. Bernice put us on a search through MLS and eventually the ideal house came up, except that it was very much overpriced. Bernice pulled some comps and even though it was a long shot, suggested that we make an offer for market value. This was 40K below asking! The negotiation process was pretty intense with a lot of back and forth. Finally, we arrived at a great number, just a little above our initial offer. Everything progressed smoothly with the transaction until the end, when we discovered that there was a title issue that needed to be cleared up. This definitely was not fun, but thankfully Bernice continued to advocate for us and keep us apprised of what was going on. She also persisted on our behalf with one of the biggest banks in the country and was able to shake loose the title issue - something a realtor normally does not do. She was always very responsive and willing to make multiple trips to the property. As well, she was helpful in getting a good mold remediation person in to do the work necessary. If you want an agent who is easy to get along with and committed to your goals, then you've found the right person." read more

We had experience buying real estate in different countries but buying a house with Happy New Beginning was the most pleasant and flawless experience! When we met Bernice, we were pretty new to the country. Our kids took squash lessons together and we hit it off. Soon after, she welcomed us to her home by inviting us to her annual client Christmas party - we met a lot of her friends and clients there. We enjoyed a growing friendship and bond through "board game" nights. Before long, we began to dream of owning our own house. That's when she introduced us to David who helped us navigate the loan process very smoothly. The process was extremely smooth, Bernice and her team gave us step-by-step guidance and everyday support on the way from the moment when we decided to buy a house and to the exciting moment of receiving the keys. Buying a house is a big deal and can be stressful but she made it easy and fun. Bernice is a great person and a friend who always happy to help and she is a great professional which can provide a priceless advice at the right moment. We will not hesitate event a second to recommend Bernice as a real estate agent who can provide the first class service. Thanks you, Bernice, for your tremendous help and support! Alex & Elena read more

I started off with another realtor but felt ignored so I found Bernice - and I'm glad I switched. It was day and night difference! She was very hands on, which I needed because my house was a "work in progress." She helped me make decisions for paint, which upgrades would get me the most bang for my buck, and also helped identify some potential problem areas. She also has a great in house staging service that really brought the house to life and made it look like a home. The end product looked amazing. I was impressed by the quality of the photos and marketing. She even did a Zillow walk through tour, which is so important these days. Because of her, we were able to aim for a higher price point than I originally thought. We had so much interest and offers right away. The process wasn't easy and our first contract fell through but we regrouped and were able to get another great offer. Bernice and her team kept me up to date - this was not always easy as I am in the military and was on the field or traveling for most of the transaction. You really need someone you can trust and who will keep you updated and stay calm. Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings team is your one stop shop. It was a pleasure working with her and her team. Highly recommended! read more

Anyone who works with Bernice is both lucky and blessed. Her level of knowledge, passion, and access to resources is hard to beat! Let me just explain exactly how amazing Bernice Sim is... I just went through a crazy offer scenario, very complex and lots of challenges. I reached out to her because we're friends (not like talk everyday friends, but like I'm there if you need something type friends, even if we haven't spoken in over a year).. right, so she immediately responds, we hop on FaceTime call and I proceed to witness her operate on her natural frequency of what I like to call "super sagent"... similar to Super Saiyan (for all you Dragon Ball Z fans) but much more powerful... telling me what I need to do, who I need to talk to (the making the right connections part was a big deal and without it, I wouldn't have been able to make it happen). Anyways, she knows I'm not in a position to use her as an agent right now and she opted to give me full access to her knowledge and resources and for that, I'm forever grateful. Hopefully, this deal gets accepted and we can all celebrate when this COVID scenario passes. Since I wasn't able to give her the buyers commission, this is THE LEAST I can do. Make the right decision. Cheers! read more

Catherine Curran and her team at "Happy New Beginnings" was my realtor in helping me purchase my first home, and she was so wonderful throughout the process that she is who I picked to help me later sell it as well! She was extremely knowledgable in helping me navigate the steps and questions all first homeowners have, and she does it with the kind of genuine patience that you never are made to feel silly for having asked something! Richmond's market was red hot at the time I went to sell, and I'm sure the house would have sold the same day we listed it if she had wanted to make less work for herself, but that's not the kind of person Catherine is. Instead, she hosted an open house for me over a long weekend so that plenty of folks had the time to come see the house and that ended up in getting more offers to choose from! She went the extra mile and I'm sure I got better offers because of it. Beyond her professionalism and competence though, Catherine is just a great person to be around, so much so that I recommended her with confidence to family and later a colleague of mine. She's the kind of person you'll want have over to your house warming party when the time comes just to catch up! read more

When I first spoke with Bernice about the idea of selling my home, I named a number that seemed impossible to me. You see, I had bought a fixer upper in Hopewell and we still had a lot to do on the house. There were some areas that were totally renovated while others were a work in progress. Well, guess what. She did the research and said that it could probably go for more than I believed could happen - even in this market. Then, amazingly, it went for even MORE than that. There were multiple offers and Bernice got us $60K above what I told her I would be willing to sell the house for in the first place. It was pretty amazing!! She gave us really good advice on where to spend the money in preparing the home and she even got us a brand new roof, practically free. Her team is incredible. Throughout the process there was a lot of good communication and we even got a free rent back so that it wasn't as stressful trying to get out by the closing date. The whole process was very smooth and went beyond my wildest dreams. I'm so glad that I had her and her team on my side. I know I have a friend and advocate for life - I'm ready for my happy new beginning! Thanks, Bernice!! read more

Selling a home from hundreds of miles away is stressful and daunting--especially an estate property with lots of moving parts. That's why we're so glad we had Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings team on our side. From day one, Bernice showed us she knows exactly what she's doing. She prepared us for potential challenges, kept us ahead of every step, and stayed incredibly responsive and proactive throughout the entire process. Her assistant, Heather, was equally amazing--always in communication and ready to help with anything we needed. We also can't say enough about Deborah who went above and beyond to help with the emptying-out process and relocate the former occupant, not an easy task. This wasn't an easy transaction--there were plenty of twists and turns--but Bernice held it all together and kept us focused on the finish line. Thanks to her marketing and guidance, we attracted lots of attention, had multiple offers to choose from, and ended up selling for more than we expected. If you're facing an estate sale or selling a home from out of state, you need a team that truly has your back. For us, that was Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings Team. read more

After my husband and I had rented for a few years, we were so excited and ready to begin the next chapter of our lives. The time had come for us to purchase our very own home but honestly, we were not sure where to begin. Thankfully, we were introduced to Bernice Sim, our wonderful realtor! It felt like we had known her for years. Bernice was warm, patient, extremely knowledgeable, and incredibly available to my husband and I whenever we had questions or concerns. Once we gave her a sense of our preferences in a home, she led us to just the right places to see. Additionally, she had long, compiled lists of excellent resources, including attorneys, inspectors and mortgage companies; all of her references were top notch. When we had doubts, questions and uncertainties, she was a great guide and comfort. She rejoiced with us when we found our perfect place that we are thrilled to now call home...and not to mention, she took some wonderful and fun pictures along the way to capture the experience. We strongly recommend her to anyone looking for a competent, experienced and realtor. Bernice truly led the way to creating our happy new beginning! read more

I was ready for a change and needed to sell my home. Thank goodness, my colleague introduced me to her realtor, Bernice. She came to my house to talk about things that I could do to help get it ready for market. We also looked at comps and discussed pricing it. I'm a very detailed person and Bernice came prepared. My house looked amazing in the photos - everything was well organized and followed a system. Throughout the process, Bernice marketed the home on social media, highlighting different aspects of living here. She was always involved, always available for what she liked to call "real estate therapy." I never felt like she was too busy... The process was stressful because I was also trying to buy a house. As you know, things don't always go smoothly with transactions and there were definitely some bumps along the way. That's really when you need someone trustworthy, kind, and experienced by your side. Look no further!! I wish that I could give more than 5 stars! Bernice was absolutely phenomenal!! I would recommend Bernice to anyone who is looking to buy and/or sell. Thank you so much Bernice!! read more

Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings Team did a amazing job selling my house. I was able to get a higher price point from the sale than I thought possible. Bernice was transparent and laid out the details of her approach at our initial meeting. She and her team did a great job of staging the house to make it stand out in a crowded community of over 500 homes. Once staged, her marketing team went to work photographing the house and community. The team used those photographs for a marketing blitz on numerous outlets including Realtor.com, multiple social media outlets and even Waze.com. My friends and neighbors were very impressed with how the how was presented and marketed. Bernice and her team made the process incredibly easy. They did the work and told me to get out of the way. I'm not sure who was happier after the sale, the neighbors or me. Like I said before, her approach got a higher price point than I expected. In doing so, we significantly raised the comps in the community. If you are selling your house, I highly recommend Bernice and the Happy New Beginnings Team. Thank you. read more