By John Voket

Regions served: Palm Springs and Los Angeles

Years in real estate: 21

Number of offices: 9

Number of agents: 300

Best tip for getting the right listing price: Never “buy” a listing by telling a seller what they want to hear. Price the home accurately and know that your expertise will serve you when getting, keeping and selling the listing.

Top tip for running a successful meeting: Keep it brief and on its feet.

Can’t live without tech tool: My iPad.

Most effective way to motivate agents: Genuineness and positivity. This business can be tough, and every agent goes through dry spells, so it’s important to stay positive and keep moving forward.

How has your recent affiliation with Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) expanded opportunities for you and your team?  LeadingRE has significantly increased our global exposure from a referral perspective, in addition to providing us with access to a collaborative group of like-minded, independent leaders. This is a collective group of innovators who are eager and willing to share ideas, offer opinions and collaboratively problem-solve issues related to our business on a macro level. With all the incredibly talented and successful brokerages in the network, we were thrilled to be honored with the 2020 Most Innovative Brokerage award for our invention of plumBid.

Tell us more about plumbid. plumbid is a patent-pending online platform that provides greater consumer transparency and control. On the seller end, plumBid generates a higher sales price and better terms, all in a condensed time period. For buyers, all information is furnished prior to an offer – from inspections to disclosures, title reports, upgrades and repairs, etc. With guidance from their agent, the buyer remains in complete control of the negotiation. During the 90-minute plumBid, qualified buyers see and compete dynamically by creating and submitting competitive offers based on seller preferences. Unlike a traditional auction, plumBid monetized seller preferences so buyers can leverage each other. In the end, the buyer most closely matching the seller’s parameters with the highest price secures the property and escrow is opened. Results so far have been impressive, and we look forward to making it available to a wider audience.

How are things shaping up as the state begins to reopen? Sales have been steadily improving at most price points, which has us feeling cautiously optimistic. This catastrophic crisis has been tragically felt by so many that it’s imperative we remain empathetic, as well as confident about the underlying strength of the real estate market throughout Southern California.

What steps have you taken to sustain and improve the client experience while keeping everyone safe as business starts ramping up? We have made significant improvements to our business by creating a more focused, consumer-centric experience for our clients. From virtual open houses, 3D walkthroughs and live-stream showings, we’ve implemented strategies that meet clients’ needs in the current environment. As a company, we’ve been geared toward enhanced remote communication and exponential expansion of our digital marketing initiatives to more effectively target the right buyers.

By Kathryn M. 

Tucked away out of sight, the three-bedroom retreat is surrounded by a mahogany-planked forecourt and sweeping canyon views.

Another mid-century gem is now up for grabs in Los Angeles. Built in 1960, the historic property rests on a hilltop between Laurel Canyon and Sunset Plaza. The home offers 1,812 square feet of living space, split into three levels, along with an additional studio/guest suite with a private entry.

Inside, the spacious home features expansive floor-to-ceiling windows and sliding glass doors. Additional decks off of the living area and kitchen overlook sweeping views of Laurel Canyon. The walls are clad in original oak paneling, with matching wood floors.

The home offers three bedrooms and three baths, with one pair located on the main level and the others located on the second floor. Exterior stairs lead to the third level, which comes with its own private entry and an additional bedroom and bath. Complete with a kitchenette as well, the top floor can serve as a guest floor or home office. Keep scrolling to see more of the property, currently listed for $1,695,000.

To read the full article visit their website here.

By Jack Flemming

It didn’t take long for this Mid-century gem to dazzle a buyer. The Pasadena home recently sold to Grammy-winning DJ Christian Karlsson for $2.385 million after roughly two weeks on the market.

Karlsson, who performs as Bloodshy in the prolific production duo Bloodshy & Avant, must’ve liked what he saw. Records show the Swedish native paid roughly $200,000 more than the asking price.

There’s plenty to like. The estate spans nearly an acre and centers on a low-slung 1960s home by architect John Galbraith. Clean lines and lush landscaping draw the eye to the pergola entry, and a vibrant teal front door flanked by 9-foot walls of glass accesses the home.

To read the full article visit their website here.

By Claire Carponen

SCI-Arc founder Ray Kappe brings together post-and-beam construction and Japanese modernism in this Los Angeles property, which has a curved, glass-elevated roof.

Kappe designed the hilltop Sherman Oaks home in 1961 and then rebuilt it in 1996 in its original style after it was destroyed in the 1994 Northridge earthquake. The two-bedroom Meyer Residence is on sale for $2.395m with Deasy Penner Podley.

Clad in redwood, the 3,000 sq ft California property has a raised central roof that arcs over the building to create high ceilings and a double carport to the front.

Inside, it is light and cozy, with brick walls, extensive timber beams and glazed elevations that wrap around an outdoor pool.

To read the full article visit their website here.