The best thing I can say about Akrum is that he was on our side 100% the entire house-hunting process. From combing through listings, to viewing homes and through the negotiation, he was looking out for us. He never pushed us to move quickly so he could get a commission and move on. He never showed any signs of irritation or being annoyed when we wanted to keep looking. He was so artful at pushing back against the other sides' claims that they had other offers and were going to accept unless we signed right away. My wife and I felt like we had someone fighting for us instead of for a quick deal. Akrum helped us get a home in Bethesda/Chevy Chase. Given the range of towns and neighborhoods in the DMV area, I was pretty suprised how well Akrum knew the area. It's a huge metro area and he knew the in's and out's of everywhere. Our search started everywhere: VA, MD and DC. We moved here from across the country and had no idea where to start. Before we arrived or even visited the DC area, he sent us links to houses so we could see what was available and so he could get a feel for what we were looking for. He was so generous with his time. We had many phone calls before we even flew out for a weekend to look at houses. He even went to look at houses for us while we were still in California. Our wish list would have annoyed just about every realtor in the world. If Akrum was annoyed, he hid it very well and was very patient with us. We settled on the MD suburbs and found a house that would have been fine. Like most of the listings, the photos made it look a lot nicer than it was. After going to see it in-person, we were very underwhelmed. We didn't have much time though and we started negotiating with the other agent. That was a challenge. The current owners and their agents were constantly rushing us and threatening to accept other offers. When we would ask a question or push back on a term of the contract, they would take days and days to answer only to send their response along with a threat to accept a different offer. Akrum never flinched even though we did. Each time we thought we needed to cave, he calmly told us that we should make sure the deal is to our liking before we sign. He pushed back and made sure that we had time to think. He never rushed us or encouraged us to give up on certain points unless we wanted to. Despite our lack of enthusiasm, we edged closer to that house because we were running out of time. Thankfully, instead of just plowing ahead and trying to close the deal, Akrum (as he confessed later) had feeling that we didn't really want that house so he kept looking for us. He suggested we take a look at couple other places that had recently come on the market. One of those new-on-the-market house was perfect. I'm not kidding. It had everything on our wish list. I'm writing this review in the house now! As soon as we saw it, Akrum could tell we loved it. He acted so fast to start the negotiation process with the other agent (including going to their office in-person first thing the next business day) that we were able to agree on a price and sign within days. Honestly, without Akrum, we would have probably ended up choosing a house that we regretted choosing. Most agents would have tried to close the deal as fast as possible even if they could sense we didn't love the house. Akrum really guided us to the perfect house for us. For such a big decision, it was so important to have someone who was on our side, even it meant the process took longer. We can't thank him enough! read more

I simply cannot provide enough positive commentary to suffice when recommending Akrum Ali as a fantastic real estate agent. With two weeks to find a home to rent in a new city, we were nervous about finding a suitable home. My husband and I were moving out of state along with our 4 year old son. We had done as much research online as possible, but knowing an area and reading about it are two separate things. With a laundry list of requirements (child friendly area, good school, safe environment, enough space but not too much, minimal upkeep, near Arlington...the list does go on!) we were beginning to panic. Enter Akrum, Ali, Arbour Realty. Arbour was recommended to my husband by a work colleague. I reached out to the company by email one morning, I was contacted less than two hours later by phone by Mr. Ali. What followed was quite possibly the most pleasant experience one can hope for - stressful circumstances or not. Mr. Ali ascertained our needs, heard our concerns, and acted extremely quickly to accommodate our requirements. Within a day he had provided a variety of appropriate options for our viewing, and two days after my original contact with Arbour Realty, we were viewing houses. Throughout the process Mr. Ali was personable yet professional, and it was clear that he really understood our needs and was determined to meet them. We found a lovely home and Mr. Ali took care of the rest. At all times he was unbelievably responsive, patient, and accommodating. The phrase 'above and beyond' is insufficient to describe his efforts, and I recommend him without hesitation to anyone looking for a home in this area. read more

Akrum is one of the best people I've had the pleasure to do business with in ANY service industry, I cannot recommend him highly enough. He made the entire process of finding an apartment quick and easy. He was very responsive and fast about answering any questions or concerns we had, and was always on top of everything during the process. Akrum is someone who really goes above and beyond what is expected of him. To give an example of his commitment to professional excellence and client satisfaction: I called him on a Friday afternoon around 2:30pm to ask him if he could arrange for me to move in to my new place the following morning, an earlier date than we had initially planned (due to unforeseen work-related circumstances, I needed to move in early). He was able to get the lease to my roommate and me only a few hours later, and he got in contact with the landlord that night to arrange for me to meet with the leasing agent and move in at 11am the next morning. The move-in went excellently thanks to Akrum's considerate adaptability and genuine care for addressing the needs of his clients, and I was able to avoid the problems I would've encountered otherwise. For someone like myself who was a first-time renter, it was reassuring to work with a realtor who not only knows the technical side of his business really well, but also sets the bar high for the people-side of the business. read more

Akrum took me on as a client when I had very, very few other options. My previous property manager unceremoniously broke our contract after the tenant she'd put into my house stopped paying rent. After finding Akrum's information on Yelp and sending an inquiry, Akrum responded within an hour. Less than 24 hours later, he had done more for me than my previous property manager had done in two months, including getting the co-signer on the lease to send a good faith payment on the rent owed. In the last ten months, he has helped me navigate an incredibly complex and frustrating eviction process, got the non-paying tenant moved out, facilitated all repairs to prepare the house for listing, and secured a new tenant. Throughout, Akrum has been incredibly conscientious of my family's financial situation since we had no rental income for almost a year. He worked very hard to get multiple bids for all work done to make sure that everything was done well AND at a reasonable price. Most importantly, he always treated me with professionalism, kindness, and empathy throughout a very challenging time (anyone who has had a nonpaying tenant will understand that struggle!). My family and I are incredibly grateful for all that Akrum has done for us and are happy to recommend him. read more

Everyone knows the first rule of thumb in real estate is 'Location, Location, Location.' In my opinion, the second rule of thumb is, 'Five percent of the real estate agents do 95 percent the work.' Akrum is a Five Percenter. He is motivated, dedicated and will work for you as if you are his only client. If you're in need of a real estate professional in Washington, D.C., Maryland or Virginia, Akrum is your one-stop, all source agent (Broker) for any and all things related to real property. I don't easily throw out recommendations for real estate agents and attorneys because there are too many of them, and with large quantities of any item, you're most likely to run into a few bad apples. Akrum is a true real estate professional. His finger is on the pulse of the real estate market, market trends, neighborhoods, and the factors affecting areas in transition. Because purchasing and/or selling a property is a very big deal, and most likely one of the most important financial decisions you make during your lifetime, don't risk your savings with an unknown, untested realtor. These decisions require the guidance of a true real estate professional. Put your trust and faith in Akrum--I did and I have no regrets. read more

My husband and I are very happy that we had Akrum as our real estate agent. He is very professional, always timely, knowledgable about the current market and extremely responsive. As first time home-owners we had a LOT of questions and concerns, and Akrum was always available to discuss them with us. Whether by phone, email or text, early in the morning or late at night, we really appreciated the amount of attention he gave us. When we finally found our home and wanted to place an offer, Akrum was very respectful of what terms we wanted. He negotiated a full inspection for us (which is not as easy in the crazy DC market) and arranged the inspection. We were very happy with the home inspector he selected, who did a very thorough job. Akrum was very diligent in following-up with the repairs, providing status updates for us regularly. He even took the initiative to solve some of the repairs that the seller refused to do. We are very happy with our home and are grateful to Akrum for helping us secure it. read more

I strongly recommend Akrum due to his professionalism, sense of urgency, and commitment to his clients. I worked with Akrum to locate a suitable apartment in Arlington in April of this year. I am very detail-oriented and gave Akrum a difficult list of "must-haves" given the average rent in my search area. Though Akrum usually focuses on houses, he was enthusiastic about helping me with my search for a suitable rental unit. Akrum was very flexible in scheduling time to meet around my work schedule, and he went out of his way to help me find the optimal rental unit. He also provided keen insights into the Arlington rental scene. Most importantly, he helped me to navigate a difficult post-signing process with my landlord - he truly went above and beyond in doing so, and he did this purely out of commitment to his clients. I reiterate my strong recommendation of Akrum and Arbour. I anticipate enlisting his help during my next search for housing in the Arlington area. read more

If I could give Akrum ten stars, I would. Akrum helped us sell our condo in the COVID market when we thought it wasn't going to be possible. Not only did he help us make it happen but he got $25K above the asking price. Beyond the real estate transaction, Akrum has exceptional people skills and he knows how to listen to and connect with his clients to serve their best interests. He is incredibly service-oriented and demonstrates true compassion and care for his clients at every point in the journey. He is very accessible and treats your real estate needs as he would treat his own. If I had to put him against larger real estate companies, I would chose him every time due to his subject matter expertise that he leveraged on our behalf during advisory, his honed soft skills, and his work ethic that yields results. I recommend Sunny Day Real Estate and Akrum Ali 1000%. read more

Akrum's professionalism, promptness, and patience helped us secure the most convenient place in DC, fitting of our exact style, needs and budget. We are truly indebted to him for his work, especially given the incredible roadblocks we faced including being halfway around the world while closing the transaction, the intensely time-pressured situation, and a last minute fall out on a deal. As first time movers to DC and knowing very little about the city, we really cannot thank Akrum enough for navigating this difficult process, exhibiting the highest degree of professionalism throughout, and for always going above and beyond his call of duty. When I feared that we might not be able to move in time for Fall, Akrum assured me that he would take care of everything, and he sure did! Endless thanks to you, Akrum. read more

As a first-time condo buyer with a nutty work schedule, Akrum was patient, helpful, flexible, informative, and so supportive throughout my entire buying process. He would respond to my 11:00pm emails and would schedule last-minute showings when I figured out I could get out of work early. He at no time put pressure on my to buy a place and encouraged me to pursue my goal amenities/location/size even when I was wary that I wouldn't find what I wanted for my price range. We ended up finding exactly what I was looking for for a price range that was well within my goal price range. I have already recommended Akrum to my closest friends as the whole process was easy and comfortable and if/when I decide to buy another place, I will absolutely be coming back and seeking Akrum's expertise. read more

I had a terrible experience with MEET AKRUM. I reached out to MEET AKRUM to purchase a Property that has his contact listed (7649 Crofton St). I called him for info and he hung up on me and instantly blocked my number. I reach out to him from a different number to make sure his phone didn't just go die as he has no reason to be rude. I was very respectful so I didn't understand. I reach out with the other number staring he is unprofessional. He called me every name under the sun. once I told him I was going to post he text he starting lying as if I was the issue. This is unprofessional and unacceptable. be careful with this guy. I have the messages thread of everything he said but I'm not able to post it her. He called a bit**, homosexual, hustler...etc read more

We're so glad to be working with Akrum. We needed help renting our DC condo and Akrum made sure everything went smoothly and by-the-book. He helped us determine the appropriate rental price, acted as a liaison between us and our tenants, made sure we completed all the required legal forms, and did it all for a nominal fee. Now that we live in another state, Akrum's gone above and beyond by delivering keys for us, inspecting handyman work on our behalf, taking care of small fixes, and helping to renegotiate/renew our tenant's lease. It's a relief to know we can call Akrum with any question or ask any favor, no matter how small, and he's genuinely happy to help however he can. read more

Two years ago Akrum helped me find my studio apartment in Washington DC. He was so wonderful to work with that my girlfriend and I reached out to him again to find our new home to live. He is the consummate professional. We sent him our selection criteria (must haves & would like to haves) and he was able to find the perfect location for us. Akrum has been transparent throughout the process and negotiated on our behalf. We feel we received an amazing deal and it was all because of him. I STRONGLY recommend Akrum and his associate's services. I intend to work with Akrum again in the future and I would advise that you do the same. Keep up the great work! read more

We put our condo on the market with another realtor and for a month could not get any traction. We ultimately fired her and hired Akrum. Within two weeks, he had secured multiple solid offers -- in the middle of COVID no less! He is brilliant, has fantastic communication skills, and has a customer service mentality. This enabled him to be able to both meet our needs as sellers and make potential buyers' agents feel comfortable. All in all a platinum experience all around. Hiring a realtor means putting one of your life's largest assets in someone else's hands. With Akrum you are in good hands. read more

We learned of Akrum through a friend and he did not disappoint. He assisted us in renting out our house, which required his direct involvement in every step from finding prospective tenants to satisfying local rental regulations in our property. The latter was especially tedious but he took care of these tasks (handing in documents, overseeing repairs/fixes) as we were out of state. We appreciated his knowledge, transparency, work ethic, and genuine dedication to our interests throughout the process. Based on these virtues, we know that we can count on him for future real estate endeavors. read more

My husband and I were under pressure to find a home in a short period of time. From the moment we reached out to Akrum, he was professional, insightful and gave us full confidence that we would find a place. Akrum has excellent knowledge of DC neighbourhoods and a thorough understanding of DC real estate law. Despite our time constraints and the very specific needs of our young family, he helped us find our perfect home. Akrum was prompt, good humoured and his market knowledge was excellent. We would absolutely recommend him to anyone who is looking for property in the DC area. read more

Working with Akrum was such a pleasant experience. He has incredible knowledge of all the nuances in the DC real estate market, the negotiation process, landlord/tenant laws, and standard procedures. But above all else, his attitude and professionalism are what make him such a joy to work with. He was always eager to answer questions, listen to our concerns, make recommendations, and assist in any way possible - above and beyond what is standard for an agent. I would recommend his services to anyone on the apartment hunt in the DC area! -Patrick & MM read more

Akrum helped me sell my condo, and dealt with a tenant and a very particular buyer. He took care of most of the details so that I didn't have to. When it came to buying, he went to bat for me so that I could get the townhouse I had my heart set on. Even after we closed, Akrum continued to problem-solve on both the condo and townhouse sales, so that I could focus on moving and settling in before I gave birth. I could not be happier with my experience with Akrum! read more

Akrum is wonderful to work with. As a first time home buyer, I didn't know a lot. From the offer to closing, Akrum was there to provide the perfect amount of information and guidance. The negotiation process was particularly daunting since I had no idea what was reasonable or fair. Akrum walked me through everything and made sure everything went smoothly. I initially contacted him on a friend's recommendation and I can't recommend him enough to others. read more