It's A Small World: Up On The Roof!

Spring Is Here...

... and the 2022 real estate market is shaping up to be something closer to normal. While homebuyers may still face bidding wars, they aren’t likely to be as intense or as frequent as they were in 2021, when home values skyrocketed. That said, with inventory still at historically low levels, sellers who remain strategic and precise in their listing approach will continue to win big.

Read on for a few ideas that will help you ensure that your home is market ready and priced correctly as well as learning about a few primo locales from which to celebrate Spring in L.A.

The Price is Right

Pop Quiz: If you knew in advance that your home was going to sell for $2.5M would you rather get there by first listing at $2.2M or at $2.8M?

Pricing a home correctly is both an art AND a science. Rational buyers look at COMPS, worry about appraising, and wonder why a home hasn’t sold after 10 days-on-market. Emotional buyers are swayed by intangibles; the tree-lined street, the smart floorplan, the view from the kitchen that overlooks the backyard pool. But at the end of the day, you can’t fool anyone. The market is always correct.

You can, however, manipulate the system; taking advantage of the benefits of exclusivity before getting the widest exposure.

By using the COMPASS Private Exclusive Network, I’m able to do just that; share my listings among colleagues and their buyers before going live on the MLS. This means that your home will get solid exposure (26,000+ agents nationally) while we gather valuable insights about the property before appearing on public home search sites like Zillow or Redfin (thus, not accruing dreaded D.O.M.).

By the way, it’s also the best way to find All Cash Buyers who will write aggressively to avoid a multiple offer shootout.

Answer: I'd list at $2.2M to get to $2.5M. Not only will you create a bidding war amongst motivated buyers willing to remove contingencies (thus, mitigating risk), you'll likely close faster and be in the power position throughout, as opposed to dropping your price to chase a buyer who is now firmly in control.

Click through to learn more about the COMPASS Private Exclusive Network:

Is Your Home Ready For Showtime?

You’ve likely experienced this when searching for homes on Zillow. Let’s say your search returns 10 homes. Of those, a few come without interior photos; others with zero curb appeal. And there’s always one that has EXPIRED. I ask you, how does a listing expire in a market with historically low inventory?

Answer? The home wasn’t market ready, likely because the seller didn’t want to spend any money in order to make money.

Concierge is an exclusive COMPASS program that solves the “cash outlay” problem. It gives homeowners the ability to maximize their home’s value with improvement services like staging, flooring, painting, landscaping and more without out-of-pocket costs.

And, payback is a breeze. When your home sells, you simply repay the funds through escrow (up to $75k in SoCal) – no interest, no fees. EVER!

Click through to learn more about this game changing program.

Up On The Roof: Springtime in LA

Spring in LA is immaculate. The air is crisp and clear, June Gloom hasn’t yet arrived and jasmine is blooming everywhere (shout out to Seals & Crofts). It’s a fine time to hit one of the many rooftop bars and restaurants that are springing up everywhere as LA converts to a more vertical lifestyle.

Below are a few great options from Santa Monica to DTLA

Santa Monica: élephante

In Santa Monica, élephante transports guests from LA to the Mediterranean with a coastal Italian menu, ocean views, and a stylish interior filled with custom furniture and design pieces from Southern Italy and Northern Africa.?

Three bars offer wines by the glass that showcase the regions of Italy, along with classic cocktails like the Negroni (made with Sipsmith VJOP), Aperol Spritz on tap, and the signature élephante (Passionfruit, Lemon, Orgeat, Meletti, Calabrian Chili) - you pick the base spirit.

Culver City: Citizen Public Market

Opened in November 2020, Culver City's Citizen Public Market is housed in the landmark 1929 Citizen Publishing Company Building. The food hall's offerings include Nancy Silverton's Pizzette, goodboybob coffee bar, Jolly Oyster, Louella's Cali Soul Kitchen, Mexicology, and WEHO Sausage Co.

Citizen's rooftop bar, Bar Bohémien is inspired by the building's history, cocktail bars in Paris and New York, and the tapas culture of Spain. The 2,400 square-foot space is the brainchild of Andrew Corbett, Wade McElroy and Russell Malixi - the team behind Cafe Birdie, Horse Thief BBQ, Ichijiku Sushi, and the now-closed Ma'am Sir. Cocktails include the Moonchild, a Penicillin riff with Monkey Shoulder Scotch, Lemon, Banana-Ginger, Orange Honey, Walnut Bitters; and the frozen Parisian Cafe ( Rye, Mr Black Coffee Liqueur, Oat Milk, Cold Brew, Licor 43, Whipped Cream).

Hollywood – Bar Lis

Take a trip to the French Riviera at Bar Lis, which evokes the South of France with a chic design that includes a central water fountain, plush banquettes and dozens of cypress trees. Sip the spirit of the Cote D'Azur with a glass of champagne or cocktails like the French Riviera (Bombay Sapphire Gin, Green Chartreuse, Maraschino Liqueur, Pineapple Gomme, Lime) and the Strawberry Fields (Belvedere Vodka, St. Germain, Strawberry, Mint, Lemon, Rhubarb, Bubbles).

The kitchen is helmed by former Bar Temps chef Lincoln Carson, who serves up canapés like Blistered Shishitos, Kusshi Oysters, Hamachi Crudo and Regiis Ova Caviar. Indulge your sweet tooth with the Peach Melba, Bananas Foster, and “Sundae” Glacée.

DTLA – Cara Cara

From the golden daylight to the twinkling evening, all are welcome to experience the fresh bounty of Cara Cara. Chef Suzanne Goin’s seasonal menu showcases California’s best produce with her festive and irresistible rooftop fare.

The expansive outdoor space features an elevated dining area with endless skyline views surrounded by a lushly landscaped lower lounge. Slip into one of the many cozy seating arrangements or sit by the fire pit and enjoy an innovative cocktail, wine, or beer paired by award-winning sommelier Caroline Styne.

Why it's Good To Be We're #1

It’s official! In less than 10 years, COMPASS has become the largest real estate brokerage in terms of closed sales volume in the U.S.

It’s a testament not only to the hard work of the 26K+ agents across the country but also the innovative COMPASS technology platform, empowering us to deliver a best-in-class customer experience for every buyer and seller.

Last week I was in NYC meeting with great agent partners so that when your real estate dreams take you beyond Los Angeles, I can refer you to a trusted partner to help you realize those dreams. I’ll have more about that in a future article but for now, enjoy 3 minutes of hyperlapse footage on the High Line and marvel at how the city continues to bring incredible public works to its citizens. Just amazing.

A native Angeleno, I grew up in a "show-biz family" and began my career as a third-generation theatrical agent impacting the careers of actors and writers including the likes of Crispin Glover, Paul Haggis, Ray Liotta and Demi Moore. After beginning a family, I traded Sunset Blvd for Madison Avenue and spent the next 20 years in advertising, creating and implementing marketing strategies that drove new business growth, resulting in the successful onboarding of clients such as Coca-Cola, Comcast, Electronic Arts, Nike, Pinkberry, Princess Cruises and the US Army among many others.

I now apply those same principles of agency; integrity, accountability and perseverance to my clients as we work together to define and fulfill their real estate investment strategies.

You can learn more here: https://www.compass.com/agents/paul-small/

[email protected] | 310.717.8536 | DRE: 02074499