Brown Harris Stevens

Jacqueline DeVane learned the importance of customer service and attention to detail in her prior consulting career. Her own buying and selling experiences ingrained in her the resolve to provide a different kind of real estate experience to her clients - one that is full service and informative to both buyers and sellers. She is truly an advocate, advising buyers and sellers and guiding them through each step of the purchase and sale processes and beyond. Jacqueline ensures that her clients feel empowered and educated about their real estate prospects and that they know they can always turn to her when they need help even after the sale or rental is finished.

One of her most rewarding experiences is to see that sparkle in a buyer's eyes when they realize they've glimpsed their new home for the very first time. Once Jacqueline sees that look, she will leave no stone unturned in helping the buyer and seller come together to achieve their common goal. A proud Bedford Stuyvesant homeowner, Jacqueline's specialty is sales and rentals in emerging markets. Jacqueline is truly a dedicated agent, selling and renting homes throughout Brooklyn, Queens and the five Burroughs from Bed Stuy and Crown Heights to Ditmas Park, Kensington and Midwood, and from Ridgewood to Astoria and South Ozone Park.

Prior to becoming a real estate agent in New York, Jacqueline completed her Bachelor's of Science in Electrical Engineering at Drexel University and enjoyed a successful career as a Systems Engineering and Project Management consultant working with Satellite Communications, Transportation Management and IT systems with companies such as Booz Allen and Hamilton, Lockheed Martin, Orbital Sciences and Hewlett Packard. Jacqueline utilizes her well-honed planning and problem-solving skills, as well as her attention to detail to help her clients prepare for each step of their real estate transaction, from viewing to closing. She is an excellent listener and she has a keen ability to find solutions that bring parties together to find common ground and reasonable solutions throughout the buying and selling process.

Jacqueline has lived in several major metropolitan areas along the East Coast, growing up in West Philadelphia, moving to Massachusetts after college, and then spending many years in Washington DC. She always loved New York City, and she discovered her home in Brooklyn, falling in love with Brooklyn's many neighborhoods, the beautiful brownstones, and the incredible array of independently-owned restaurants, bars and cafes. She wants her clients to experience the joy she feels in being a part of this vibrant city.

Jacqueline's enjoys good food, travelling, suspenseful movies, streaming detective shows, live music, especially funk, R & B and Jazz, playing cards and board games, and playing and watching sports, like golf, tennis, basketball and football. A member of the Black Jewels Ladies Golf Association, Jacqueline escapes to courses around Queens and Brooklyn whenever possible. Browsing galleries and shops in Provincetown, MA and attending the Capitol Jazz Fest are some of her favorite experiences. She also enjoys collecting unusual decks of cards, shot glasses, coffee mugs, and sampling local rums in her travels, and is an avid Candy Crush player.

"I'm touching base to say thank you, to you and the Halstead family, but most importantly to make you aware of the amazingly satisfying experience I had working with Crystal Weston and Jackie DeVane in your Bed-Stuy office.

After a 13-month process, I closed a sale on my Brooklyn condo in November and I want you to know how much I appreciate everything they did for me during that time.

They are amazing problem-solvers.

The road to selling my property was fraught with multiple issues that needed to be addressed from beginning to close.

In October, 2016. I found Crystal and Jackie through Yelp. Having engaged potential agents digitally, I knew I would have to speak with each one to get a feel for their personalities and, to narrow down my list. They were the last of about five agents that I spoke with and mentally, I had already made my decision before speaking with them. After our first conversation I realized I had to change course and that they were the agents I was going to work with. It was a gut feeling, but they both made me feel comfortable.

Never more than a phone call, email or text away, they both kept a very challenging process on course, developing and maintaining multiple relationships, in an effort to secure and complete whatever task was necessary to move the deal forward.They were prompt, professional and thorough in keeping me abreast of progress and soliciting my input, when required. Being that I was out of state the entire time, this point cannot be emphasized enough.

They cooperated with the Condo Association (who BTW, were not big fans of mine) and the property management company and they supervised the contracting crew that prepared the unit for market, they literally partnered with the tenant-relations attorney (and her process server) I retained in an effort to address my recalcitrant tenant. When the process server was unable to get access to my very secure building, it was Crystal who went above and beyond the call of duty by posting and photographing the notice of service - twice!

Once the tenant vacated and the unit was empty, new issues with key copies, accessibility, and maintenance crew supervision cropped up. Again Crystal and Jackie answered the bell, hunting down locksmiths and collaborating with the maintenance crew to ensure the unit was customer-ready and that everyone who needed keys had them; tirelessly supervising vendors and housekeepers to ensure the unit looked good and the mechanicals functioned properly in time for the first open house.

Crystal and Jackie were able to conduct a sale price analysis and comprise a price-per-square foot that reflected my unit's unique features, while at the same time allowing for strategic pricing that drew in buyers. They even remained open to reviewing their suggested price until we settled on a number we both thought made sense. Thanks to their market knowledge and diligent analysis, we received our first offer two days after the first open house and sold the unit for more than my asking price!

As much as I appreciate all of the above-mentioned, tangible items that they handled during the time we worked together, it's the intangibles that I want to make you aware of. Crystal and Jackie were more than real estate agents in the time we worked together; they were consultants, confidantes, analysts, collaborators and most importantly, trusted friends. They are both tenacious in their own ways. They never left my side, even when my own schedule sometimes made it hard for them to keep up with me.

The bottom line is they got the job done and made the experience a pleasant one. Under stressful circumstances, Crystal and Jackie are both smart, competent, determined, diplomatic and likable professionals.

I would work with them again without hesitation, and I would refer them in a heartbeat!

I just thought you should know how I feel.

Thank you and all the best." - Eric W.