Los Angeles Business: Creating a Winning Career in Real Estate
Want to be successful in the business of selling homes? Here are 3 success strategies to help you increase your prosperity and joy:
1. Trust yourself.
How do you trust yourself? Honor your word. I have challenged those that work with me at Partners Trust to “speak only the truth with every word that comes out of your mouth.” Don’t make a commitment you are not willing to back up, don’t say you’ll be somewhere knowing full well you are not going to show up. Say it and do it. Because in all candor, if you don’t trust yourself, how can you possibly ask others to trust you?
2. Share your passion for excellence.
How many times have we been told words to the effect of, “Do what you love and the money will take care of itself”? The quality of your life — not the quantity — defines the degree to which you enjoy it. So, in terms of real estate as a career, ask yourself:
~ Do you love homes and architecture?
~ Do you love strategy and negotiation techniques?
~ Do you enjoy people and engaging with them in meaningful ways,
both intellectually and in play?
Forget whether or not in this moment you think you are “good” at any or all of these elements. Simply put, do you enjoy the prospect of learning how to be better in these capacities? If so, fantastic, because that’s all you need to get started. In my experience, most of those who get into Real Estate just for the money end up frustrated and negative. No thanks.
3. Be Bold in the way you share your vision of service.
Real Estate is a “people” business. You thrive because you have many clients that trust you and “get” your caring for them (see points 1 and 2). We live in a very transparent world. The internet exposes us all — so take full advantage of the opportunity. For those of you who already engages in social networks, you are well on your way to executing this third stage of success. This short video speaks to the types of social networks that can serve you well!
For those of you who have yet to create these networking opportunities, don’t fret. If you think you are at a disadvantage, you are not. A friend of mine gave me a great perspective on the perceptions of some who are born into wealth, “Yeah, the guy was born on third base and thought he’d hit a triple.”
For those who don’t follow the baseball analogy, it’s not so much where you start but how you how you finish. Sure, we may start at different vantage points, but what do we do with the opportunities that present themselves? Do we take things for granted? I’m not a “rest on my laurels” guy and have been hugely instrumental in the creation of my success — and there are always more and more ways to refine and harness what I’ve achieved.
The video offers the springboards to meet and greet. Sharing your passions and truth in authenticity resonates with all whom you come in contact. If you’ve had that experience, you know you can trust that. If you get the spirit of this message, I would like to meet you. At Partners Trust, we’re in the business of Trust and Excellence and we want like-minded players around us. From there, we all rise, we all shine and the qualities of our lives are further enhanced, because we have the pleasure of each others company.
Towards your success!
Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can follow @nicksegal on Twitter and connect with him on Facebook.
Real Estate Comedy: Funny Video about Los Angeles Home Buying and Selling
~ This is part of an ongoing series called “Life in the Start-Up Lane,” revealing true life adventures about launching a real estate brokerage during a recession! ~
Let me tell you something about mixing business with pleasure:
We are often asked during the course of our day, “How’s it going?” A simple and rather innocuous question on its face and yet, when asked in relation to our new company that is now one year old, the answer is far more intricate.
Taking a moment to gather my wits around the vast array of possible answers, I settle for, “exhilarating and exhausting.”
For starters, we are about to open our second office in Beverly Hills while simultaneously mounting a magnitude of new concepts and ideas all designed to make us stronger, better, and faster than our competition. Clearly, we are transcending the concept of simply surviving our first year to actually thriving as we launch into year two.
But, I really want to talk about the fun we’re having and how we can use our real estate platform to spread more humor as we reach out to our global audience. (It’s true that you can mix business with pleasure, after all!) And what better way to do it than with the premier talents of George Segal and Richard Benjamin.
I had this idea for a comedic short video that would inspire laughs while also providing valuable tips for anyone looking to sell their home. I started by showing George two pages of dialogue that set the table for the piece, never in my wildest dreams imagining that he’d actually want to be a part of it. Well, silly me, he started laughing right away and from there we were off to the races. Everyone contributing their talents — improvising, laughing, brainstorming. The creative process was a blast.
So, now we invite you to take a look at our first video in what could become a series — if popular demand yearns about what really goes on when a home seller and a real estate broker get together to talk about pricing a home. We hope you enjoy it.
And as always, we’d love to know your thoughts, so feel free to comment below and share this with anyone you know who might find it funny or valuable.
Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can connect with him on Facebook.
Los Angeles Home Search: Where is the Best Place to Live in LA?
In this short video, Nick Segal goes through some of the possible non-negotiables you may have and why making a list of these can help you in your home search.
I was having a conversation recently with a colleague — Dane Findley, our Marketing Director — who explained, “I like to be able to walk places, so it’s essential that I live in a pedestrian-friendly area. My idea of a nightmare is living in a community area where I have to drive to everything. And, believe me, there are neighborhoods where you have to do just that.”
I was intrigued to hear somebody “boil down” his reasons for why he would choose a particular neighborhood.
He continued playfully, “I can consider, at this point in my life, only living in neighborhoods that have a Whole Foods or Co-Op for daily marketing, a Trader Joe’s for the once-a-week shopping, and a decent yoga studio.”
This got me thinking about my own list of non-negotiables, things I feel I must have in the neighborhood in which I live.
And what’s on other people’s list of non-negotiables?
For Dane, Brentwood offers an attractive scenario, with Whole Foods as the main grocery in the community, and Pilates studios all around. (Brentwood is also an extremely active community with people constantly exercising outdoors, and jogging around the Brentwood Country Club or down the center lane of San Vicente, past the coral trees.)
When you first begin a home search, just the sheer number of properties on the market can be disorienting. The prospect of wading through page after page of listings seems daunting.
Many successful home-searchers have found it helpful to create a list of those characteristics in a house or neighborhood that they are simply unwilling to do without.
Examples of “non-negotiables” can be anything from:
- minimum square footage
- number of bedrooms
- location within a particular school district
- number of restaurants within a walkable distance
…really anything that is important to you and your family’s personal happiness.
Creating your own list will help to trim down the number of properties that fit the bill, making your list that much more manageable.
When considering a move to Los Angeles, there can be so many items to consider that it’s almost overwhelming; but have no fear, just sit down and craft your own list of “non-negotiables.” Probably everyone can come up with at least three items for their own list! Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can follow @nicksegal on Twitter and connect with him on Facebook.
Los Angeles Lifestyle: What’s It Like to Live in LA?
To even begin to sum up all that Los Angeles has to offer is a preposterous effort in its own right, but there are certain highlights locals rattle off to tourists by default:
Santa Monica, with its beautiful beaches and exciting nightlife; Hollywood, the home of the film industry; and downtown Los Angeles, with its recent resurgence of first rate restaurants, museums, concert venues, sports arenas, and 5-star hotels are but a few of the many must-see locations.
I could go on and on for hours, but my favorites include the Getty Center, The Grove, Griffith Park, and Olivera Street. See you there!
Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can follow @nicksegal on Twitter and connect with him on Facebook.
Los Angeles Lifestyle: 4 Myths About Living in LA
So you have made the move to sunny Los Angeles. You are not alone. Whether it is the allure of Hollywood or the mild, sunny days, Los Angeles attracts people from around the globe. If so, there are a few things you should know about living in LA and how to best adapt.
MYTH #1: Everyone drives in LA
The thing Los Angeles is most notorious for is traffic, and rightfully so. The US-101 and I-405 interchange is one of the worst in the world. The interchange sees 318,000 vehicles pass over it daily and it results in 27 million hours of delay each year.
Why is the traffic so bad? Relative to other major metro areas, Los Angeles is devoid of a functional subway system.
REALITY: Though most drive, walking and mass transit are options
While the automobile is the dominant mode of transportation in Los Angeles, it is not the only way to go. Walkscore.com lists Los Angeles as the ninth most walkable city in America. And getting around without a car is entirely possible, as evidenced in this NPR piece about living in LA sans car.
With either choice, be prepared to arrange your life, work and errands around peak traffic times!
MYTH #2: Everyone in LA is a fitness expert
Dust off your yoga mats and take out your pilates equipment because, in Los Angeles, healthy living is key. If you do not already eat organic, you soon will. In LA, fruit smoothies and salads are meals, not side dishes. And wheatgrass is a healthy liquid boost of energy, not something to give to your cat.
REALITY: Los Angeles is filled with foodies who are interested in more than just what is “good for you”
Though it is true that health food is a big deal in Los Angeles, you will find endless number of great-tasting, less-healthy options. In moving out west, Tonight Show Host Conan O’Brien discovered what Angelenos have known all along. “In-N-Out’s an amazing hamburger. That may be one of the best things about Los Angeles,” said O’Brien. That is all well and good, but I prefer Fatburger personally.
MYTH #3: Everyone in LA is blonde
LA is filled with beautiful people. A quick stroll down any beach and you will often see people twice and old and yet three times as fit as you. While it’s not always Pamela Anderson running across the beach, it isn’t deep fried doughnuts at the Iowa State Fair either.
REALITY: LA is a melting pot of cultures and people
Los Angeles is filled with beautiful people … and ugly people and skinny people and overweight people and everything in between. Variety is the spice of life and, with almost 4 million residents, Los Angeles has variety covered.
MYTH #4: Smoking is banned in LA
Well, actually, this one is mostly true. You are not allowed to smoke. Angelenos do take health more seriously than other cities. Restaurants do not have smoking sections. You are not allowed to smoke outdoors when in public places. This includes parks and beaches. Now, we can’t speak for what surfers in Malibu smoke in their vans.
If you find that you are starting to generalize about the population of LA, you have not explored enough. Walk down Melrose and into a vintage clothing store. Head up to Fairfax and sample some Ethiopian cuisine. Make the drive across town to Monterey Park and enjoy dim sum. Los Angeles likely has more to offer than you first realized.
So, if you are planning a move to Los Angeles, come with an open mind. Oh, and, leave your cigarettes at home.
Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can follow @nicksegal on Twitter and connect with him on Facebook.
Related Posts:
1. Are You a Yin or a Yang at Work? (productivity styles for success)
2. Aligning with the New Time Revolution (ultimate tip for increased success!)
3. Partners Trust named One of the Best Places to Work in LA (importance of company culture)
4. Avoiding the 3 Assassins to your Personal Productivity (get more done!)
5. When the Offer for Your House seems Too Low (5 tips for a winning transaction)
6. Connecting Los Angeles to the Arts: Riding the Getty Tram (most fun thing to do in LA!)
7. How to Find a Great Assistant and Grow Your Revenue (video series)
8. Home Buyers and Sellers Move Online (new habits, busier lives)
9. Social Media Connects People and Communities (culture shifting as behavior changes)
10. Twitter Ninja: 4 Tips for Taking Your Tweeting to the Next Level (beyond the beginner level)
International Relocation: 4 Tips for Expats in LA
A major crossroads in the worlds of business and entertainment, Los Angeles has long been a destination for international travelers, whether for a quick trip, an extended stay, as a second home or a full-on relocation.
If you are coming from abroad, you should be aware of some of the realities of living in Los Angeles. For some, the only exposure they have to the second largest city in America comes from the small screen, with shows such as Baywatch and Beverly Hills 90210.
We’ve come up with the following tips and facts to help you prepare for the real LA. We don’t want you to suffer from culture shock! Daily LA life is not all “Baywatch moments!”:
- Los Angeles is not only clear skies and sunshine
Television shows project a city filled with beautiful people and year-round sunshine. While this is generally true (LA averages 329 days of sunshine a year), to the surprise of some, it does rain in Los Angeles. The city averages 17 inches of rainfall, with most of this coming in the winter months, where average temperatures can fall below 60°F (15.5°C). Be sure to pack some warmer clothes along with your sunblock and shorts. You won’t need a ski jacket, but maybe one sweater just to be safe. - Los Angeles is extremely multi-cultural
As a Japanese American, I have often had trouble convincing others that I am American when traveling abroad. “No,” they tell me, “You can’t be American, you are Japanese!” In fact, Los Angeles is predominantly Hispanic (not White) and has a Latino Mayor in Antonio Villaraigosa. Other evidence of this melting pot of culture can be seen in the number of ethnic enclaves in Los Angeles. With Chinatown, Little Ethiopia, Little Tokyo, Koreatown, Little Armenia, Tehrangeles and Thai Town, among others, a piece of home is always a drive away. - Most people drive, but there are alternatives
Though Los Angeles has a definite car culture (whereas East Coasters talk about the weather to make small talk, we talk about traffic), it is possible to get around without a car. Los Angeles was rated the ninth most walkable city in America by Walkscore.com. It also has the third largest public transportation system in the United States and was named Outstanding Transportation System for 2006 by the American Public Transportation Association. Don’t expect to ride the subway though. The Metro line still does not connect the Westside to anywhere Downtown or beyond. - It is possible to find green spaces in LA
While it is true that we paved over the Los Angeles River, green spaces and quiet trails are abundant in Los Angeles. Griffith Park spans over 4,200 acres of Los Angeles real estate, and is 3,367 acres larger than New York’s Central Park. Nature enthusiasts can also spend exploring the Hollywood Hills and Santa Monica Mountains, be it a short power walk, a leisurely stroll with the dogs, or a day-long hike.
With a diverse community, international business interests and the allure of the music and entertainment industries, Los Angeles will continue to attract an international crowd. With these tips and facts, hopefully your transition will be as smooth as possible!
Nick Segal is President of Partners Trust.
He loves chili-cheese hot dogs, and has been known to
hit golf balls down the office hallway while speaking on the phone.
You can follow @nicksegal on Twitter and connect with him on Facebook.
Related Posts:
1. Are You a Yin or a Yang at Work? (productivity styles for success)
2. Aligning with the New Time Revolution (ultimate tip for increased success!)
3. Partners Trust named One of the Best Places to Work in LA (importance of company culture)
4. Avoiding the 3 Assassins to your Personal Productivity (get more done!)
5. When the Offer for Your House seems Too Low (5 tips for a winning transaction)
6. Connecting Los Angeles to the Arts: Riding the Getty Tram (most fun thing to do in LA!)
7. How to Find a Great Assistant and Grow Your Revenue (video series)
8. Home Buyers and Sellers Move Online (new habits, busier lives)
9. Social Media Connects People and Communities (culture shifting as behavior changes)
10. Twitter Ninja: 4 Tips for Taking Your Tweeting to the Next Level (beyond the beginner level)
Frank Lloyd Wright’s Hollyhock House: “Architecture Like Frozen Music”
Aline Barnsdall’s family built an empire from their endeavors in the oil industry, which allowed her the luxury of commissioning Frank Lloyd Wright to design the marvelous Hollyhock House.
Barnsdall originally meant for the Hollyhock House to be part of an arts and theater complex on Olive Hill (a beautiful piece of property in eastern Los Angeles) which was never completed. Wright was overseeing construction of the Imperial Hotel in Japan at the time, so he was not present for some of the construction – which is very uncharacteristic of the architect.
The high costs of maintenance forced Barnsdall to donate it to the city of Los Angeles as a center for the arts, and it was maintained until 1942. It suffered damage from the Northridge Earthquake in 1994, but it was again restored and is now open to the public.
The house embodies the recurring theme of Mayan Revivalism found in many of Wright’s other projects – known for using large stones, introverted windows, courtyards, and ornately designed accompaniments. Water is meant to flow from a pool in the courtyard through an underground tunnel to this inside moat, and out again to a fountain. The Hollyhock plant is a repeating motif of the architecture and is used in many of the details around the property.
I highly suggest a picnic here – even if you are not an architecture enthusiast, the stunning views from the grounds will leave you captivated.
Nick Segal enjoys helping his talented team share their community expertise; you can follow Nick on Twitter, via @nicksegal.
Today’s Hot Properties: Open Houses in Los Angeles
Tuesday is the day for Broker’s Caravan, when we all head out into the city to check out the amazing new homes hitting the real estate market.
And before we do that, we all convene in our “bullpen” for our weekly company meeting — we call it a “Pow Wow.”
Spring always invigorates the housing market and this year is no different, with a fantastic selection of homes coming on the market each and every week. Now, as the summer season is just beginning, buyers have some excellent choices and opportunities.
In this video, some of our Associates discuss the fine homes that are showing in today’s caravan of open houses:
Follow the Partners Trust team on Twitter, via @PartnersTrust,
and also connect with us on Facebook, by visiting our Official Page.
Ride the Merry-Go-Round, Trains, and Ponies At Griffith Park
If you are a Southern California parent, you are probably always on the lookout for great places to take your children. Most people miss Griffith Park’s fantastic adventure land on the eastern side of the recreation area. It features a classic Merry-Go-Round, tennis courts, and wide open grassy areas ideal for a picnic.
The two main attractions, however, are the Miniature Train Ride and the Ponies. The train takes you on a scenic loop through lush gardens, through tunnels, over a bridge spanning a babbling brook, and, most exciting of all, through a wild west town. You’ll be reminded of Disneyland with all its character statues and detail-oriented building facades, and the kids will absolutely love it as well.
After the train ride, head over to the Pony Stable. There, the kids will be treated to a ride around the pony arena – which will undoubtedly bring a smile to even the crankiest youngster.
Once you’ve had a relaxing day at Griffith Park, be sure to grab a snack at the concession stand, which features a surprisingly wide array of foods, drinks, and desserts. (Nick Segal — see video above — loves the chili-cheese dog).
When you combine all these attractions with their proximity to the Griffith Park Observatory, miles of hiking trails, breathtaking views, and the Los Angeles Zoo, you’ll begin to realize that Griffith Park is one of the many gems of Los Angeles.
Nick Segal is President of Partner Trust; you can follow Nick on Twitter, via @nicksegal
Hot Properties: Today’s Open Houses
Each Tuesday morning, we have our weekly “powwow,” where we gather ’round and get excited about the gorgeous new homes that are launching in a few hours time on the “Broker Caravan.”
This spring has been especially thrilling, with an enticing selection of homes coming on the market each and every week. Now, as the summer season is just beginning, buyers have some excellent choices and opportunities.
In this video, some of our Associates discuss the fine homes that are showing in today’s caravan of open houses:
You can follow the team at Partners Trust on Twitter, via @PartnersTrust,
and you can connect with us on Facebook, by clicking here.