Palos Verdes Lifestyle - Norma Toering's PV Real Estate Blog

De-clutter is a subjective word--it means one thing to some people and an entirely different thing to others.  If you're thinking of listing your Palos Verdes home for sale and know you must tackle the ubiquitous "clutter" but not quite sure what qualifies, or where to begin, here's a terrific list compiled by a fellow agent.

Three money-making secrets for smart sellers.

The Palos Verdes sellers I work with are smart and savvy. They know today's real estate market is challenging. They are adapting to the new rules of real estate with a shift in attitude, increased market knowledge and by playing their property's trump card with pride.

1.  Shift your mindset: Pack your emotions away. You are now a seller and that requires a shift in attitude. You have a property to market and sell before you can move on with your life.

2.  Know what buyers want, and give it to them. Today's buyers are savvy and they want a good product at a fair price. Make sure your property meets or exceeds their expectations. Get serious about showcasing your product.

3.  What's your property's wow factor? If it's the view then accent it by orienting the furniture to showcase the view. Open the drapes and blinds to show it off. Lead the buyers toward your home's best features.

Maybe it's a wonderful outdoor living space, a spacious master bedroom or a breathtaking garden. Go ahead and be a bit of a show-off, and chances are you will soon be enjoying the pay-off. 

When I was a little girl my favorite uncle loved to hoist me over his head and toss me up in the air, and since he was well over six feet tall the ground looked far away from my skyward position.  My uncle never failed to catch me and soon I looked forward to those high flying moments because I trusted him to catch me.  Believe me, this trust was not built overnight.  It took time for me to release the fear, well most of it, and anticipate the joy and fun of the moment.

It is a common belief trust is built over time by making regular deposits into the "trust" account of family, friends, significant others, business associates and clients.  Keep your word, fulfill your promises, do the right thing and soon those accounts will be bursting with the rewards of your trustworthy behavior and performance.  Fall short and trust begins to decrease at a far faster speed than it took to build it.

My personal approach to trust is a bit different.  I begin every relationship trusting each person 100%.  Rather than enter every relationship wary of the newcomer in my life, whether business or personal, I let their words and actions determine whether they get to keep my trust, my business, my friendship and my respect.  My core belief is trust, but verify.  If I discover discrepancies, disloyalty, lies and other forms of betrayal their trust account with me dwindles to zero in a New York minute.  If I can't trust you there is no room in my life for you.  If I can't trust you, I can't do business with you.

Trust is the bedrock of life, and a relationship rooted in a strong foundation can flourish and grow.   We must have trust for any relationship to survive and thrive.

This post is a submission to the ActiveRain / Adobe EchoSign Trust Contest. I could possibly win a prize. You can find out about the contest by clicking here

Last weekend I enjoyed the luxury of spending a couple days at the Four Seasons Hotel in Westlake Village.  The hotel has a Wellness and Longevity Institute that goes beyond the typical spa treatments (although I did enjoy one or two of those too).  There are classes on nutrition, weight management and incorporating healthy choices into your everyday lifestyle. 

Voted one of the top spas in America by Conde Nast Traveler, the Spa at luxury Four Seasons Hotel Westlake Village, California near Thousand Oaks offers a nurturing retreat.  California Health & Longevity Institute offers a 12-month spa and fitness membership that provides opportunities for improved health and sustainable, long-term lifestyle change.

The photo caused me to pause as I was leafing through an upscale magazine in the reception lounge at the spa.  The photograph oozed serenity and peacefulness from the glossy page. It was identified as a home sanctuary and wellness room; wellness rooms are a growing trend in the luxury home market, and this picture made me want one--now. Later, I found myself wondering if a wellness room (or space) is really a luxury, or is it a necessity in today's fast paced world?


As I studied this new wellness room, there was no intimidating exercise apparatus in sight. There was a massage table beside an atrium filled with green plants. There were several yoga/exercise/meditation/nap mats rolled up and ready to be unfurled. Yes, a nap mat for those little refreshing catnaps or those power naps before an important event. Two body contouring lounge chairs were grouped amid a cluster of bamboo plants and other greenery. There was an adjoining steam shower, sauna, whirlpool tub and stacks of lush white towels, big thick bathrobes and bath accessories. There was soft lighting, relaxing music (no CNN allowed) and a mini fridge stocked with bottled water and nothing else. Cardio? You'll have to do that elsewhere. This room is for decompression, relaxation, self-tending, physical, emotional and spiritual restoration.


And napping. Didn't we learn to do that in kindergarten? Close your eyes, be quiet, remain still and rejoin the world refreshed and renewed in just twenty minutes.


Now that's a room I want to come home to every evening, not just on special occasions.

Some prospective buyers enjoy the thrill of the unassisted house hunt. It is their sport of choice for a Sunday afternoon. They plan and plot their route with the closest attention to details. They check the Internet sites for advertised open houses, pour over newspaper ads, route their chosen path and wait for the appointed hour the doors will open. Armed with a full tank of gas and a GPS the adventure begins.

There is something primal about the hunt for shelter. The drive is strong and hopes are high. I know, I've been on a few of those hunts myself. In my pre-real estate days I was an open house junkie. A full-on addict. I looked at open houses when I was not remotely in the market to buy; I even bought a house when I was not in the market to buy.

Pssst. Here's an insider tip. There is an easier way to narrow the search, eliminate the misfits and find your perfect match. If this sounds a lot like online matchmaking, it should, because it is. All you need to do to receive your first set of potential matches is answer a few question regarding your wants and needs, likes and dislikes, deal-breakers and deal-makers and the hunt will be restricted to the location, price, view and condition you desire. This is your hunt and you are in charge.

Here is a perfect example of how this works to the buyer's advantage. I'm showing a client a property she received via email from the personalized search my office set up for her. She is viewing the house when it is convenient for her schedule--not on the Sunday 1-4 open house schedule. She received the information on her computer and reviewed it in the comfort of her home. Her agent (that would be me) arranged the appointment and sent comparable sales for her to peruse prior to making the decision to see the property. She knows it is in her price range, she knows she likes the neighborhood. She knows the price is close to market value. She is a busy executive and does not have time to waste and I respect not only her time but also her search criteria.

The chase can be thrilling, but it also takes time and energy, and often ends in disappointment. House hunting is an expensive sport and mistakes can be costly. Equipping yourself with a good agent is a smart time management move and one of the most efficient ways to succeed during your house hunting season.

By the way, the buyer is opening escrow tomorrow on her dream house.

The City of Palos Verdes Estates, incorporated December 20, 1939, is the oldest of the four cities on the Palos Verdes Peninsula.

New York financier Frank A. Vanderlip, Sr. purchased the land from the Bixby family in 1913 with the idea of building a planned, residential community. The new community was laid out and landscaped by the famous Olmsted Brothers, sons of Frederick Law Olmsted, Sr., who designed Central Park in New York City. Gently winding roadways, green hillsides, paths, stands of eucalyptus, pepper, and coral trees were established, and a full 28% of the land area was dedicated to be permanent open space. This early planning and dedication of parklands gives the City its unique rural character and has resulted in its international reputation for scenic beauty. This excerpt taken from Palos Verdes Estates website.

The City of Palos Verdes Estates contains four primary areas:

1)  Lunada Bay

2)  Monte Malaga

3)  Malaga Cove

4)  Valmonte   

For individual reports on each neighborhood visit my Palos Verdes Lifestyle Blog.

166 Single Family Homes sold in Palos Verdes Estates during 2011.  Price breakdown as follows:

Under $1,000,000:  35 PVE homes sold in 2011

$1,000,000 to $2,000,000:  95 PVE homes sales

$2,000,000 to $5,000,000:  23 PVE home sales fell into this category

Over $5,000,000:  1 Palos Verdes Estates home sold in price range during 2011

There are currently 47 Palos Verdes Estates homes for sale and 26 pending sales.

For your personal tour of homes and estates in Palos Verdes Estates contact Norma Toering & Team.

Valmonte neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in December 2011.

Homes for sale: 3 Homes are listed for sale in Valmonte priced from $1,099,000 to $1,199,000.

Pending sales: 14 Houses are in escrow in Valmonte priced from $825,000 to $2,399,000.

December sales: 4 Homes sold in December 2011:

Malaga Cove neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in December 2011.

Home for sale: 9 Homes are listed for sale priced from $999,000 to $3,750,000.

Pending sales: 4 Homes are in escrow in Malaga Cove priced from $1,610,000 to $3,100,000.

December sales: 3 Houses sold in Dec. 2011:

Monte Malaga neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in December 2011.

Homes for sale: 10 Homes for sale are available priced from $1,099,000 to $10,500,000.

Pending sales: 4 Homes are in escrow priced from $849,950 to $2,199,000.

December sales: 3 Homes sold in Monte Malaga during Dec. 2011:

Lunada Bay neighborhood real estate and home sales report for Palos Verdes Estates, CA in December 2011.

Homes for sale: 23 Homes are listed for sale in the PVE neighborhood of Lunada Bay priced from $1,059,000 to $5,800,000.

Pending sales: 5 Homes are in escrow priced from $1,095,000 to $1,999,000.

December sales: 3 Houses sold in Dec. 2011: