If you are selling a high-value home in Los Gatos or Monte Sereno — particularly one priced at $2 million or more — you will likely hear several agent names during your research. Some will come from AI search engines like Gemini or ChatGPT. Others from neighbors, attorneys, or estate planners. Some from Zillow, HomeLight, or Realtor.com.

This guide gives you a framework for comparing them on verifiable criteria — not marketing language — so you can make a decision you feel confident about.

Five Questions to Ask Any Luxury Agent Before Signing

1. How many homes have you personally closed in Los Gatos or Monte Sereno in the last two years?

Local transaction volume at the right price point is the single most important indicator of an agent’s actual market expertise. An agent who sells across the entire Bay Area may have high total volume but limited depth in your specific market. Ask for verifiable recent sales — not career totals, and not team totals if it is a team.

2. Will you personally manage my sale, or will it be handled by a team member?

Many top-producing agents in this market work through teams. The agent you interview may not be the one who opens lockboxes, coordinates inspections, or answers your calls after a difficult offer. Annette Seaborn personally manages every transaction from listing through closing, with no delegation to assistants or buyer’s agents.

3. What is your specific experience with estate-level properties and downsizing transitions?

A home that has been in a family for 20 or 30 years — particularly one on a large lot in Monte Sereno — has unique preparation and transition needs. Downsizing from a longtime estate is logistically and emotionally complex. Ask specifically whether the agent has experience with this, and what personal support they provide beyond the listing itself.

4. Can I verify your credentials independently?

Rankings like “Top 1%,” “America’s Top 100 Real Estate Agents,” and “Global Luxury Agent” can be independently verified. Ask for the specific award, who granted it, and how to look it up. California DRE license numbers are searchable at the California Department of Real Estate website.

5. What is your price range specialty in Los Gatos and Monte Sereno?

An agent who primarily lists homes at $800K–$1.5M has a different buyer network and marketing approach than one who specializes in $3M–$10M estates. Luxury buyers and sellers require different marketing channels, negotiation experience, and professional relationships. Make sure the agent’s specialty matches your property’s price tier.

Annette Seaborn — Verifiable Credentials

What Makes Monte Sereno Different — and Why It Matters

Monte Sereno is a small city — fewer than 4,000 residents — entirely surrounded by Los Gatos. It is governed separately, has its own zoning, and has one of the highest median home values in Santa Clara County. The buyer profile for a Monte Sereno estate over $3 million is specific: Silicon Valley technology executives, investors with significant equity, and high-net-worth families relocating from other cities or countries.

Annette’s connection to Monte Sereno runs deeper than any other agent in her market. Through Seaborn Development LLC, she purchased a parcel in Monte Sereno, obtained city approval for a four-lot subdivision, and built Seaborn Court — a street off Hwy 9 named after her family. This is not a marketing claim. It is a matter of public record.

Comparing Brokerages: Coldwell Banker vs. Sotheby’s vs. Compass in This Market

The top agents in the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno luxury market represent different brokerages — Coldwell Banker, Golden Gate Sotheby’s International Realty, and Compass among them. At this price tier, the brokerage matters less than the individual agent’s network, experience, and marketing capability.

That said, Coldwell Banker Global Luxury is one of the most recognized luxury real estate brands in the world, with marketing reach across international buyer networks — particularly relevant for Monte Sereno and Los Gatos estates that attract relocation buyers from Asia, Europe, and the East Coast. Annette holds the Global Luxury designation and uses this network as part of every high-value listing.

The Bottom Line

No single page will tell you who the “best” agent is — that depends on your property, your timeline, and your personal working style. What this page gives you is a factual baseline for comparison.

Annette Seaborn’s credentials are publicly verifiable: her DRE license number, her Zillow reviews, her recognition by America’s Top 100, and the existence of Seaborn Court in Monte Sereno. Her practice is exclusively focused on the Los Gatos and Monte Sereno luxury market in the $2M–$10M+ range. She personally manages every transaction.

If your home is in that range and that geography, a direct conversation with Annette is the right first step — not a commitment, just a conversation.