Coco 's LA Condo Lifestyle Blog

     The market is really interesting right now.  I see some people covering their heads while others around them are screaming "The sky is falling!"  Still others are sitting absolutely still, like statues - waiting for the "Right Moment".  I understand their desire, who doesn't want to buy at the absolute lowest and sell at the absolute highest? The problem is simple, if you have access to a really clear crystal ball.  It's important to remember that there is another group out there, a group of men and women who consider themselves investors.  They may be investing in property because they are sick and tired of renting and watching their money fund other people's dreams or they may be investing on a larger scale in order to build their portfolio.  It doesn't matter what the ultimate destination is, all of these investors are looking for the same thing, a great value.  Maybe they won't get the "ultimate deal" and then again maybe they will.  In any case, they are taking action. 

     People ask me every day, "Is now a good time to be investing?"  My answer is always, "If not now, When?" I also answer by saying that there are great deals out there you just need to find them. In the next month there are a staggering amount of properties scheduled to be auctioned in Los Angeles County, not to mention that Countrywide Financial which was just acquired by Bank of America plans to list over a billion dollars worth of REO on its website as ready for sale in the state of California.  Is their value in these properties?  You'll never know unless you look at what is available. If not now...When?

Because finding "The Perfect House" is an art form, not a hobby.

Because recognizing value in a neglected home can help to create a haven for a family's dreams.

Because negotiating a sale is a process that is both fun and exhilarating.

Because selling the property of a deceased loved one requires thoughtful consideration and respect. Helping the heirs work thru the packing up the home and coming to terms with the loss and letting go of the space is important and being of service in that way is really something very special.

Because helping people to find their homes is noble and meaningful.

Because everyday - every new seller and their listing and every new buyer is a new opportunity and challenge.

Because every client's dreams are different and I can make a difference.

Because every house deserves to be a home.

     I love the principles of Feng Shui and the amount of peace and harmony they can bring to any home.  I am especially fond of quick Feng Shui fixes for the bathroom as they are so sensible and relevant in today's society.  One of the basics in Feng Shui for the bathroom is keeping things clean.  Certainly we are all striving for a clean bathroom, but Feng Shui asks us to pay strict attention to the fixtures, that they are clean and functioning properly.  A leaking faucet is a huge no-no and should be repaired immediately.

     One overriding theme in Feng Shui is water, in very basic terms to waste or misuse water could become a money drain.  The idea is to minimize the effects of water running down the drains of your tubs, toilets and sinks.  First of all the toilet seat should always be kept down.  A red string can be tied to the piping under the cabinet. Silk flowers can be placed on either side of the toilet.

     You can also place a black or red rug at the base of your toilet and by placing an arrangement of pebbles or fresh flowers on the back of the toilet or on a shelf above the toilet.  Another quick fix is placing a mirror on the back of a bathroom door.  And if your bathroom is located in the center of the house, painting it red can minimize the effects of water leaving your home. Imagine a lovely red bathroom with fresh cut flowers in lovely crystal vase and delightful mirror mounted on the back of the door. Lastly in each of my bathrooms I have a nightlight which brings energy to the room. Sounds divine to me!

     A good friend reminded me of something really wonderful the other day.  We are all given the same 24 hours a day, and we all get to choose what we do with them.  I love it when I am reminded of something that I have always known, but somehow needed a refresher course.  I'm a big believer in being positive, and it is my goal everyday to live in awareness that I choose what my mind focuses on.  But isn't it staggering to realize that we all have the exact same 24 hours a day.  Regardless of our backgrounds, our race, our religious affiliation or the amount of money in our bank accounts, each and every one of us receives the same gift every day: 24 hours.

     To me it is incredibly empowering that I have the same 24 hours that Mother Theresa had, the same exact amount of time that Helen Keller had, the same hours as every man, woman, and child on this planet has.  How do I choose to experience them?  How do I choose to fulfill them?  And if I am having a bad day I can always choose to start that day over at any time during that day. Sometimes my mornings are not what I planned and things in real estate can change by the hour. So - at times I have to focus on one hour at a time.

     A long time ago I gave up on the notion that I would be able to help every prospective client.  Now I readily accept that the clients that I am able to help will find their way to me and that occasionally I am going to truthfully look a client in the eye and tell them I am not the agent for them.  It doesn't happen often, but when it does I prefer being honest and moving on to the method of trying to make the best out of a bad situation.

     I don't have a hard and fast list of reasons to let a client go, but in the past I have not taken listings because I felt the price was too high that they wanted. I have learned to always tell the truth. I have lost many listings to other agents that give the sellers a higher price and then 60 days later the price is the one I told them to start with in the very beginning. I have let clients go if they refused to listen to my suggestions as far as setting their asking price or negotiated with them to drop it in two weeks if there is no activity on the property.

     Sometimes I get calls from Buyers and I ask many questions the most important one being have they been preapproved for a loan. I explain to them that they need to know what they can afford before we go shopping as there is nothing worse than looking at a new home and falling in love with it only to find out that you can't afford it. Sometimes you need to look at the whole picture - the mortgage, the property taxes, the HOA dues if you are buying a condo and then your lifestyle. No one wants to be living in a new home and feel upset that they can't live the lifestyle that they want to live.

     Most of the clients that I do find or find me are willing to listen and appreciate my honesty and direction. Those rare clients - Sellers - are able to put themselves in the position of a Buyer and see that comps are not everything and that the market we are in today is not the market we were in a few months ago. 

     Some clients only want to move if they get their price and if that is the case then they are not the clients for me. I have no argument with this type of client. I can understand their thinking. If in your mind it only makes sense to sell for a certain price and that is what you want for your home, and you are immovable on it, then you should absolutely seek that amount - just not with me as your realtor. I remember a woman that I met with who I had to tell that I was not the agent for her. She had already had the property listed with two or three other agents prior to her calling me. She told me that she needed a certain amount to buy a place in the desert and could not sell for less. I told her that I was sorry that I could not help her and that the other agents prior to me had given her false expectations. This was months ago and now her unit is probably worth even less than when we first met and yes it is still on the market.

     I could offer up a bunch of platitudes - Life is too short, etc.  But the truth of the matter is everyone deserves to have the right realtor represent them, and I am not that realtor, some of the time.  There are over 3500 realtors on the Westside of Los Angeles. I believe we attract people that are like ourselves. Someone who chooses me and is comfortable with me would not be comfortable with someone else and it is critical that any Buyer or Seller be completely confident and comfortable with their agent. For me a client is an investment.  I invest my time, my money, and my heart in my clients and helping them to fulfill their dreams.  I choose to invest wisely, with clients who are willing and able to accept my assistance and who are appreciative of the service I provide.

     You've spent some time reorganizing and inventorying your closet.  You've come up with a vision of how your closet should look and what it needs to contain.  So how do you get from the vision in your head to the actual reality of a gorgeous custom closet? While there are hundreds of different ways and countless do it yourself stores offer "easy" closet components, I am going to strongly suggest you call a professional closet designer and installer.  Unless you are an accomplished carpenter, this is not a job for an amateur.

     I don't suggest that you call the first ad that you find in the yellow pages.  Instead I suggest asking for referrals. Even when you have received glowing references I think it is wise to take a minute and check with the Better Business Bureau to see that a closet company has an excellent track record.  Closet installers are home contractors and it always worthwhile to make sure that any company working in your home is reputable. 

     It's my recommendation that you make appointments with the top three reputable companies you find.  Make sure the first appointment is with your first choice of the three.  When the designer arrives you'll want to share with them all of the choices about storage, display, hanging and functionality that you have made on your own.  A good designer will listen to your desires and incorporate them into the design.  Be up front with the designer and tell them that you have two other appointments scheduled but that you would rather give them your business if they can give you a price and a design that will suit your needs.  A good designer will give you a design and a price in the initial meeting, if they don't move on to the second appointment.  If possible you don't want to have all three appointments; it's an unnecessary waste of time, but a great negotiation tool.

     The first design that you like is the design you should focus on.  Now you need to negotiate the price.  Never, ever pay the first price a closet contractor offers you they are designed to be between 10-50% hirer than what they will actually sell the closet for.  Never be afraid to negotiate.  If you can't agree on a price you will have the option of the two other companies.  Once you have found your ideal price you will be on your way to seeing your vision become a reality.  My parting advice is never pay for the work in full until the job is finished to your specifications and approval.

     I hope that this series has helped you to achieve your ultimate California custom closet.  As always I look forward to your questions and comments.

     Congratulations, on your quest for the ultimate California closet things are really starting to take shape.  You've already purged all of the unnecessary items from your closet and have taken an inventory of the remaining contents in your closet.  You've sorted and measured your long and short hanging and you have made decisions about how you would like to store and display all of the contents of your closet that don't hang on a hanger.  At this point it's time to ask yourself if there is any other function you would like this closet to have? 

     Some people like to have a safe for valuables in their closet.  I have known several people who have chosen to put a fire proof file cabinet (beautifully disguised to look like a drawer) in their closet for storage of valuable papers.  I have a friend who installed a small desk in her large walk in closet. Some people choose to have a small vanity table in their closet.  I have a close friend who collects antique watches.  In his divine custom closet there is a specific location for his rather large watch winder. Frequently women, especially those with a large inventory of shoes, will want a seating area in order to slip on their prized possession with ease. What would make your closet function best for your needs and desires?

     Making your closet custom is all about designing it fit your every need, so take the time to dream about what would be ideal.  In the end you might have to make some compromises but it's always a good idea to know exactly what you want when starting any project.

     In the next installment I will cover the all important ultimate transformation - how to make your vision a reality.

     On your road to owning the perfect California custom closet you've already taken some big steps. Just to recap, by this point you've been through your closet and purged everything you no longer wear.  You've donated your cast offs to worthy charities.  You've identified and measured your short hanging and your long hanging and you have measured the height of you closet.  Now it's time to take inventory of everything else in your closet.  You are going to make important decisions about how you would like to store and or display everything in your closet that doesn't hang.  This is where your closet truly becomes customized.

     There is no right or wrong when deciding how to store or display your possessions.  There is only preference.  So ask yourself, when you walk into your closet what do you want to see?  Some people want slanted shoe shelves to beautifully display their gorgeous hand made Italian leather shoes.  Others want beautiful cabinet doors which open into organized arrays of cashmere sweaters. As you take inventory separate items into categories and ask yourself do I want this on an open shelf, in a cabinet behind a door or do I want this in a drawer?  Of course there are thousands of variations on these three themes but narrowing it down to one of the three will be very helpful.

     In the next installment I will be talking about designing your closet to include custom functionality.  I hope you'll check back.