I work with a fabulous bunch of people. Heather, you are my hero.

Please read below from our manager, Susan Jacobs.  Heather Wexler, pictured above, is our administrator, any my hero.

You may have heard what happened last Friday at the office.  Heather and Michelle were outside at the front of the building when a woman riding a Vespa hit the curb and she minus the Vespa went sailing into the planter and wall of the building.  Lead by Heather, the office mobilized to help this woman . . . called the paramedics, got her cell phone and called her husband and MOST IMPORTANTLY stayed with her and spoke comfortingly and reassuringly until her husband and the paramedics came.   Heather checked on her progress on Saturday and the woman said she could not remember too much that happened but what she did remember was that she didn’t feel alone—that she was surrounded by people who were looking after her and comforting her.  Special acknowledgement to the following: Scott Nell, Steve Sax, Dion Tretta, Vicki Watson, Ian Marks, Joel Vendette, Michelle Mandel, Rose Fahey, Tony Catalano, Rose Osman, Kevin Driscoll, Michael Razak, Joel our Valet, Mary Baldwin.  Please forgive if I have forgotten anyone.  We all agreed on one other important thing:  If you ever find yourself in trouble, please be sure that Heather is with you.  Never seen a woman mobilize so fast!  She never noticed until it was all over that she had blood all over her pants.   Thank you to everyone who dropped what they were doing to lend aid.

The year in real estate - part two

For those of you who can't get enough of year-end lists, here's part two of mine.  This will be more personal and have lots of love, plus a little dirt-dishing (you know you love it).

1.  More wonderful clients than ever.  This year, my relationships with many of my clients seemed to cross over from biz to friendship more often.  Sang and Anh, Jorge and Amy, Kara and Tom, I miss talking with you every day and am grateful that we've gotten to know each other.  Larry A, Frank H, Starr and Alex, Ryanne and Erich, David and Daniela, Mike and Hiroko, Ron S., Ryan and Misty, Sue and Mark, thanks for helping me love my job.

2.  More crazy people than ever, too.  What was it about real estate this year that made more people wacky? Are folks just nervous from the long recession? Either way, as I've said here before, either we need more drugs, or less, out here in real estate.

3.  More differences in Realtor skill sets and ethics.  Okay, there have always been differences, but this year the gap between good Realtor and bad Realtor seemed to grow.  Some of the lenders I met were no day at the beach, either. And on the subject, here's the dirt:

4.  I did a transaction with the most malicious Realtor in Studio City, Burbank, Sherman Oaks, Valley Village, Toluca Lake...maybe even the world. This Realtor was certainly the most awful person I've ever worked with.  No names or identifying details are mentioned here as I am sincerely afraid of retribution.  But this person was insulting to my clients and me, cancelled the appraisal twice which tipped us out of time frames, put the property back on the market during escrow for no reason, and tried to stop the closing at the last minute...for no reason.  I am suspicious about her relationship with her clients as well, but at this point it's a big 'ol WHATEVER.  My clients got the house they wanted, so at the end of the day, I suppose this person's maliciousness doesn't matter.

5.  I've been amazed and delighted by my brokerage, John Aaroe Group.  They continue to educate us and come up with new tools for us.  The management and staff are simply top-notch.

I hope all of your real estate plans go well in 2013. Onward!

3 Factoids about Los Angeles Architecture! Amaze and delight your friends!

John Aaroe Group's new architectural division is sponsoring educational classes for its Realtors (I know we all think Realtors are expert on everything, but surprisingly, that's not the case...). I took the first class yesterday, taught by expert Eleanor Schrader Schapa, and learned many, many things.  Among the factoids and tidbits about L.A. building styles:
 - We all know adobe is basically sticks and mud.  In the 18th century, the binder used to hold it together was donkey pee.  I did not learn how the donkey pee was collected.
- "Craftsman" homes were so named because any craftsman/builder/dad-that-could-swing-a-hammer could put them together.  Sears Roebuck even sold craftsman homes in kits that contained all necessary building materials.
- Many people, including me and Walt Disney, have been enamored by the French Normandy style homes with their turrets and "witches' caps." In Europe around WWI and before, those turrets were actually bird coops.
I can't wait for the next class.

Coming soon! Aaroe Architectural Properties Division and website

I'm thrilled that my company, John Aaroe Group, will soon be launching an Architectural Properties Division and website.  Even if you're not in the market for an architecturally notable house, the site will have lots of fun educational tools about L.A. architecture.  These will include bios of notable L.A. architects, a link for all architecturally significant cities and neighborhoods, a link to all historic preservation overlay areas, and more. The company is also offering classes to its agents on Los Angeles architecture, and you can be sure I'm going to take them.  Keep checking www.aaroearchitectural.com -- the site should be coming soon.

I'll be doing a presentation on blogging...

Tomorrow, I'll be doing a brief presentation on blogging and social media conversion for my Sherman Oaks John Aaroe Group office.  Any suggestions? Be nice now.

I'm set up in the new Sherman Oaks office!

I'm all moved in at John Aaroe Group in Sherman Oaks. New direct line: 818-453-9120, but the voicemail is not set up yet.  Same email, same cell phone.

I've joined a new real estate company!

Yesterday, I ended my eight-year long association with Dilbeck Realtors and joined Aaroe + Williamson, a division of John Aaroe Group.  My new office will be in Sherman Oaks, but I'll still be covering Burbank homes for sale, Studio City real estate, Toluca Lake, Toluca Terrace, Glendale, Hollywood Hills, North Hollywood, Valley Village, Valley Glen and Sherman Oaks real estate.  And of course, as needed, Pasadena, Eagle Rock, the West San Fernando Valley, Silverlake, downtown L.A., etc., etc.  I cover the waterfront for my clients.

It was difficult to leave Dilbeck Realtors.  I've been in that office for 8 years (10 if you count when it was Coldwell Banker) and the people there are like family to me.  I know that's cliche to say, but it's true.  I have been very comfortable there.  Too comfortable.  I am ready for new real estate challenges, a new outlook, and new clients, and the John Aaroe Group fits the bill. (Call me or email me offline if you want more details.) I'm thrilled to be with r.e. geniuses John Aaroe's and Michael Williamson's relatively new real estate company.

For those of you that are curious, yes, I investigated other brokerages (again, email me offline...), including Redfin. I think Redfin may indeed be the wave of the real estate future, but I was not ready to jettison my own online presence -- and that includes blogging for you, dear reader.  But I hope to become a "partner" agent for Redfin once my feet are on the ground at JAG.

I don't have a new phone number yet, but if you would like to contact me, please call me on my cell, email me or answer here.  And please wish me luck!