Reviews

We bought a condo for our daughter in May 2023, in Madison, Wisconsin. We did everything remotely and it would not have been possible but for Grant. Grant knew the market well and made sure to meet our specific requirements and our daughters’ likings. He took the time to find out about these prior to the start of our search. Madison being a sellers’ market, timing was crucial, and Grant had the insight to give advice for the best competitive offer, and in a months’ time, my daughter is in a wonderful townhouse/ condo. He has been an incredible source even after our purchase and still helps my daughter find vendors to do house related services and helped find house mates for my daughter. Not to mention Grant is witty and easy to work with. Thank you, Grant!

Liz & Francis, New Orleans


Grant is an amazing realtor, and it was a pleasure working with him!! I didn’t know much going into the process, and he always explained things in detail, not only about the buying process but also general homeowner information. I was in a unique situation where I was personally seeing places in Madison and my parents were out-of-state but heavily involved. Grant was super communicative and worked with our varying schedules. He’s also just a really nice, fun person which made the fairly stressful process much more enjoyable! Additionally, Grant has continued to provide support even after closing, which I really appreciate. I would highly recommend Grant to anyone looking for a realtor in Madison!

Mariza F, Madison


I worked with Grant to sell my condo in McFarland. This is the third condo I have sold in the past 20 years and I can honestly say that my experience with Grant was the best. He helped me stage my place so I didn’t have to spend $ to stage. He also held two open houses in the first weekend it went on the market. In a tough housing market we had an overwhelming response that weekend and ended up with three offers within 8 days of listing. I accepted one of those offers, however the buyers decided to back out of the deal two days before closing (I know, who does that??). Grant was able to find another buyer within 24 hours and was able to close two weeks later. I highly recommend Grant. He does his homework, is honest and forthright, and works hard to find the right deal for his clients.

Beth B., Milwaukee


Once I listed my lake house property with Grant, the house sold within a month after being on the market with other agents for two years. Grant combines marketing knowledge and experience with a passion for design, to find the right buyers for an architect designed mid-century modern property. I  have bought and sold five properties over the years, and Grant is the only realtor that understood how to market this special property to find the right buyers. I wish we had connected sooner!

Kristie L., Rhinelander/Lodi


Since my wife is an academic we have to move often for her job. The only thing that made this bearable is Grant Samuelsen. He not only helped us get a beautiful house in the wonderful Marquette neighborhood for $13,000 below asking price but sold it, 18 months latter (within 36 hours), at $11,000 above asking price, and for $148,000 above what we originally paid. He promptly returned all our calls, answered our questions honestly, and dealt with problems that always arise in any real estate transactions. In this time of great stress, it is reassuring to know there are good people like Grant who are there to help you. He did everything he could to help even to the extent of driving me to the airport upon leaving Madison. USE GRANT SAMUELSEN; you will be glad you did.

Vince and Phyllis E., Madison/Portland


Grant handled both the sale of our single family home in Madison, and a few years later, a purchase of a small condo. As sellers already living part-time out of town, Grant took the reins on nearly all the cosmetic improvements we needed to make before listing. He managed cleaners, handyman work, and landscapers, keeping us apprised of costs, schedules, and the completion of work. When it came time for showing, Grant presented the mid-century split level in its finest light, and made sure to call attention to the vintage details that made the house special.

On the other side of the coin, as buyers, Grant was equally helpful. We were surprised to find a place worthy of an offer so quickly and called Grant on a weekend with zero notice. He dropped everything to visit the condo the next day, advise on pricing a competitive offer based on multiple market considerations, and draft an offer that night. Again, we were mostly out of town while doing all this, and he handled all the details right up to the closing. Afterward, with the little issues that pop up (replacing a wall A/C unit, giving the place a top-to-bottom cleaning while still vacant, changing locks, etc), Grant provided all the hands-on service we’ve come to expect.

When adding in all of his knowledge of schools, architecture and design, city trends, contractors, and the cultural scene around town (he’s a fixture on the music and arts scenes), we can only say that Grant has earned our highest recommendation.

Dan W., Los Angeles


Grant’s knowledge of the Madison market played a key role in the successful sale of my house. My house was a gem of a property in an excellent location, but small square footage required I access a niche market of buyers.

Grant makes a point to establish relationships with community members,  local businesses, restaurants, and cultural organizations which gives him incredible knowledge of what different people are looking for in their real estate searches. He uses this knowledge to build a unique marketing strategy for every listing and cast a targeted net within a wide group of contacts.

My open house was attended by exactly the right group of people and offers were on the table immediately. During the closing process Grant was always available for calls and did an excellent job at moving the process forward around my busy schedule. His communication skills (both with the buyer and with me) were fantastic. I closed in the time frame I needed and walked away with a sale price I wanted. I can’t provide a stronger recommendation.

Rachel H., Madison


Grant was simply amazing as our buyer’s agent when we downsized from a family home of almost 40 years to a condo. He not only heard us when we described what we were looking for, he went further. He understood how much our first home meant to us, and he encouraged and challenged us to not settle for something ordinary in our next. He guided our search toward a new home that not only exceeded our expectations, but that continues to bring us joy. He drove hundreds of miles for showings and to preview properties for us, and his communication was reliable and crystal-clear. We trusted him to be our eyes and ears when needed, we felt well-informed and educated about the process, and he was with us at every step. We were selling at the same time with another agent, and the difference between Grant and our listing agent was like night and day. We’re still so grateful to be in the lovely new home we found with him, and I can’t recommend him enough.

M.L., Wisconsin Dells, WI


I’ve worked with several other agents, but in only a short time I have found that Grant’s abilities, sensibilities, skills, knowledge, and professionalism stand alone. He has the skills to contribute to the process of home-buying, and adds a strong architecture and visual arts background which enables him to truly understand the type of home that fits the client’s taste and needs. I found him to be extremely helpful with thoughts and suggestions relating to the type of home that fit my criteria. In addition, he is personable, low-keyed but highly focused – the absolute opposite of the high-pressure agent.

Jack D., Madison


Grant is my go-to realtor. When I told him it was time for me to find a new home, he instantly replied with “I’ve got the perfect place for you!” He knew my personal and business interests and he was absolutely right! We went to see what would be my future home and I couldn’t believe it, it was more perfect than I thought possible! We tried to look at other listings, but I couldn’t forget the first place, everything else paled in comparison. But it was just out of my reach. Grant worked his magic and brought together all the involved parties and we hammered out a win win for everyone. I couldn’t have done it without him, he goes the extra mile for his clients and I am forever grateful for all that he did for me from beginning to closing, he helped me every step of the way. Give him a shot, you won’t be disappointed!

Ed L., Stoughton


Grant was a joy to work with! We found him through family and friends who had worked with him as first time homebuyers and their recommendations did not disappoint! Grant took the time to educate us, answer our questions, listen to what we needed in a home, and show us the ropes. He geeked out on architecture with us, gave us great recommendations for our lender, and got excited by the possibilities of what we could do to make a home ours. Grant has the expertise, warmth, and personality that made buying our first home way more fun than it ever felt stressful. We put in three offers with him before we were ultimately accepted on our fourth try, which in this crazy/ever-changing market felt like a complete triumph! We are so grateful to have worked with Grant who kept us in the loop regarding the market, and how to put our strongest offer forward. We were in great hands and can’t wait to work with him in the future when it’s time to sell our home (which won’t be for quite awhile). If anyone is looking for a realtor in Madison, we can’t recommend Grant enough!

Anna-Marie & Henry, Madison


Grant was wonderful to work with. He’s a great communicator, and helped educate us (two first-time home buyers with a lot of questions) while remaining patient and funny throughout the process. He truly made us feel like we were his only clients, even though he had plenty of other things to juggle. If you’re looking for a knowledgeable, friendly, smart, creative realtor then look no further.

Verónica and Scott, Madison


As first-time buyers, we greatly appreciated that Grant went above and beyond in explaining every step of the home-buying process. He communicated with us in a thorough and timely manner; especially when it came to scheduling showings. Grant respected our concerns and never made us feel like he was pressuring us into moving forward on a property. He was also extremely helpful when it came to communicating with our lender. We highly recommend working with him!

Melissa Aaron B., Madison


As first-time homebuyers, Grant took time to explain every step of the house hunting and bidding process to us and was always available to meet to go over particular questions we had. Grant’s knowledge of historic architectural trends helped us understand what surprises we might find when we bid on a house. Grant was a savvy strategist when helping us construct offers, using his network and knowledge of similar properties to help us make competitive bids. We ultimately bought a house in our top-choice neighborhood thanks to Grant. Since we have moved into our new home, Grant has been an excellent resource for all things house-related, including information on building permits, contractors, and good local restaurants! We thoroughly enjoyed working with Grant and have already recommended him to several friends.

Evan L., Madison


Grant was awesome to work with. My family relocated from Phoenix to a small town outside of Madison. He was very knowledgeable on Madison, the areas surrounding and Wisconsin as a whole. He is super nice and kind. He made our move as effortless and comfortable as possible. He was extremely easy to work with and we wouldn’t hesitate to work with him again.

Tucker N., Beaver Dam


I had been in and out of the house hunt for a few years before I met Grant. He was the first realtor who really took the time to understand me and my unusual combination of interests and aesthetics in house hunting. We immediately clicked over Mid-century Modern architecture and Asian influences (Japandi) and he was very good on finding that odd combination in an otherwise architecturally bland market (and importantly also in my price range.) Our conversations on things to look out for (like tall family members and low ceiling/stairwells, how to spot quick remodeling covering water damage, etc) really helped me become a better buyer and feel more confident about putting in an offer.

He was EXTREMELY patient with me, over two years and dozens of house viewings to find the ‘just right’ property. Acting as my therapist and voice of reason on several lost bids and a few overly ambitious options in the craziness of the recent market.

JW, Madison


Grant guided us through our first home purchase process from start to finish, honing in on neighborhoods likely to meet our specifications using his expert knowledge of the Dane county housing market and showing us great properties that fit our budget. The first offer we put in with him was accepted, and he guided us through the entire closing process with professionalism and insight. I’d recommend him to anyone looking to buy a house in the Madison area.

Carol and Ben H-D, Madison


As first-time home-buyers, we were incredibly intimidated by the process of finding our house. However, Grant was with us every step of the way and made the process fun and exciting! His vast knowledge about homes and building materials, ability to break down the home-buying experience to an understandable level, and expert advice about negotiating made the whole process so easy and fun. He was very easy to get ahold of, and he especially took our wants and needs for our home to heart. We love our house, and we loved working with Grant. You will, too!

Molly and Matt S., Madison


Grant is an outstanding real estate agent. We recently bought our first house, and with Grant as our agent, we felt comfortable, informed, and confident that we were making the decision which was right for us. We met Grant at the UW Credit Union First-time Home Buyer Seminar, and it was immediately  clear he is excellent at his job. He is incredibly knowledgeable about the real estate business and the current market, including a vast knowledge of architecture and the neighborhoods in and around Madison. He helped us to be sure we were making an informed decision about a major purchase, and he was our advocate during each step of the process. Grant diligently researched the house we were interested in and provided thorough explanations and recommendations. He took the intimidating experience of being first-time home buyers and made it accessible and smooth. Grant is also very personable, and easy to get along with and talk to. He is trustworthy, reliable, and was there for us 24/7 if we had questions or concerns. You can tell he personally wants to ensure his clients’ happiness and peace of mind. We absolutely recommend Grant to any home buyer.

Patrick T. and Sarah T., Madison


Grant was a friendly acquaintance before we asked him to sell for us. Being a supporter of arts and culture in Madison, he could appreciate the charm of our 1961 split level with lots of vintage details. Grant rates highly and has a good market sense. But the truly outstanding quality is his hands-on approach. If something needs to be adjusted, a color matched, or a leftover object disposed of (as in, re-homed), Grant’s totally on it. We were out of the area before the house was ready to be listed. Grant supervised all the spruce-up work and regularly checked on the house. We were in regular communication across the time zones. We’ve purchased three times and sold twice; Grant’s among the hardest working of our agents.

Dan W., Madison (Los Angeles)


I am an attorney and can be very critical, but I also believe that when a person does a great job that should be acknowledged. My wife took a job as a professor in December of 2018 and we had to move to Madison ASAP. Grant did a great job. He not only found us a great house at a great price, but  assisted us in all other aspects of purchasing a home (eg. inspection, helping us relocate from Seattle, recommending repair persons, etc.) and got us a lower price due to some necessary repairs to our home. Grant did a really good job because he is a really good person; and his integrity shows in his work. USE HIM and you will be well pleased, we are. Thank you Grant Samuelsen.

V.E., Madison


[Grant is] amazing to say the least. He is attentive and knowledgeable. He takes time with you as a buyer. He gets to know you and doesn’t rush or pressure you. He gets creative people who need artistic space. He worked with us for a total of 18 months, through one of the most challenging years I have had in my entire life. I cannot say enough good about this man. If you are looking for a house, this is the only agent I would recommend.

Christina K., Fort Atkinson


We worked with Grant as first-time homebuyers on a tight budget to buy a house in the competitive Madison market. Grant’s knowledge of neighborhood amenities and vibes enabled us to quickly identify places where we would be interested in living. Grant brought us on a tour of these neighborhoods early in the process to help us get a tangible feeling of these neighborhoods’ characteristics. We would highly recommend him to other buyers looking for an agent with an intimate understanding of Madison, keen eye for architectural detail, and excellent communication skills.

Emma G-L, Madison


It has taken me a while to share this, but here I go. Grant was recommended to me through a co-worker. At the time we reached out to Grant it was only about a day or two after we decided we were going to start looking at purchasing a home. We jumped in to the idea not having any background or knowing where to start. Grant provided us great guidance throughout the whole process. After our first session of looking at homes I felt very confident in his ability to find us the perfect Dream Home. As he continued to send us listings to look at, I know that he immediately know what we were looking and was able to understand our wants and needs in what we wanted. I think it might have only been about a month of us looking when we came across that perfect Dream Home. Grant provided us with the guidance we needed in putting in the perfect initial offer to receive an acceptance. I would highly recommend him to anybody looking to purchase a home whether you are a first-time home buyer or if you’ve purchased homes in the past. I could not be more happy with the overall experience and how easy it went with his guidance and expertise.

Amanda V., Madison


I’m so pleased to have hired Grant to usher me through my first home buying process and orient me to Madison. I’d never been to Madison or Wisconsin before deciding to move here and Grant was simply PHENOMENAL as a local guide and guru. He took time to honestly get to know me, learn about my history and lifestyle, and earnestly took an interest in ensuring my transition to Madison went as smoothly as possible. Not only did he get me into a house that is a great fit and which I LOVE but he also provided an excellent orientation to the city, it’s neighborhoods, and overall housing market.

Through seven different offers, Grant was dogged and provided perfect-pitch advice and counsel. During our time working together Grant learned to see homes through my eyes, so much so that I trusted him when it became necessary to purchase my home site-unseen. He was detail-oriented and provided the perfect blend of pragmatic, direct input and process-oriented conversation.

I feel like Grant provided an excellent crash course in local real estate and property purchasing. I couldn’t be happier with Grant’s professionalism, skill, and knowledge. He was a pleasure to work with at every step of the process and I truly felt (& continue to feel) valued—first as a customer and now as a friend.

If you want an agent who truly gets to know you and values your priorities Grant is your man. Further, he’s an outstanding choice for first-time buyers, families, artists, and alternative types. He is fluent in the language of real estate and architecture. You can do no better!

Lauren P., Madison


Grant helped me look for ‘just the right place’ for over a year and a half. While we looked a great many places none of them hit just the right combination of my long list of wants and needs. I had expressed interest in Mid-Century Modern style which is both in high demand and  relatively low availability. Grant would find a way to uncover that ‘hidden gem’ that covered much of my wish list.

We talked about the feel of a place and how certain elements that are not commonly thought of can be a significant feature. (I have a tall family and not having to duck walking down the stairs or getting a sore back when bending over to use low counter tops is a big deal.) As we went through one house after another he would incorporate those discussions into the features of the next.

After all of that, Grant patiently would listen how one place just didn’t ‘feel right’ (even though a sane person would probably have jumped at the opportunity.) He moved on cheerfully to finding me another house to look at, convincing me that ‘that’s ok, it HAS to feel right.’ (He has the patience of a saint.)

When houses were coming and going faster than I could get off of work to see them; he would offer to go on scouting missions and report back so we could prioritize the most promising listings.

We worked through multiple attempts to bid on houses and he taught me a TON about the nuances of making offers and the legal aspects of a sale. He even enjoyed when my parents would go see listings with us, and discussing the merits or issues with a particular listing.

Jillian W., Middleton


Grant’s local knowledge was flawless. He has a good sense of the history of Dane county as well as its architects. His process expertise was good, when we bought our house Grant was relatively new, I am sure he is even more skilled now. Grant’s responsiveness was reliable in every way. In  negotiation Grant was good, yet we didn’t fully utilize his skills as our house required little along those lines. I would really recommend him for his courtesy and skill while working with people. He was always able to anticipate our needs. It was overall an excellent experience.

Chris B., Madison