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In the most recent episode of the RealTrending podcast, host Tracey Velt sits down with Claire O’Connor, team leader of O’Connor Estates with Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties.
They explore O’Connor’s personal experience during the Los Angeles wildfires, including evacuation efforts, as well as the current dynamics of the real estate market. This conversation has been edited for length and clarity.
Velt: Can you share your experience during the evacuation? Some Realtors mentioned how they only had time to pack a bag.
O’Connor: It was similar. I was at a sales meeting with Berkshire Hathaway, and our manager wrapped up the meeting. We were all sitting around, and I remember, it’s one of those things like, “Where were you on Sept. 11?”
I just knew that it wasn’t going to be good. My first inclination was to go to my father-in-law’s house because he lived closer to Malibu, and I thought we’d just bring him to our house. I got there and my nanny was putting my 9-month-old in the car.
O’Connor explained how her family remains invested in the Palisades community. She also mentioned that her family is still deciding whether they’ll return to the community. Velt follows up with a question on Realtors outside the area targeting the Palisades after the wildfires.
Velt: What are you seeing? Are you getting a lot of calls from Realtors in other areas?
O’Connor: I’m not getting that at the moment. There is agent behavior that I have found to be despicable. I think, as agents, it’s really important that we are conducting ourselves with extreme professionalism while considering the current discourse.
Velt: How has your practice changed since then? Have you changed your focus?
O’Connor: Around 20 agents in my office lost houses. And a lot of those agents were hyperlocal. They were Palisades agents.
My business has always been more design focused. I work with different designers and I do development as well. So, I’ve been flipping houses, but with more high-end designer partnerships. That’s been successful for me and I’m grateful for it, because I wasn’t as focused on the Palisades.
One thing I’m starting to see with buyers is that I think that there will be a boom south of Sunset, which is away from the hills.
Velt: Do you see any other buyer preferences changing? Have you had people asking you questions that you’ve never gotten before when looking for a house or working with a development?
O’Connor: I’m working with clients now who, at every listing, want to know what the evacuation routes are. For me, I don’t know if it’s the right mentality. I’m like, anywhere can burn, anywhere cannot burn. So, it’s really more about being prepared, having fire-resistant building materials, having sprinklers, etc.
To close the conversation, O’Connor offers advice to agents who may be experiencing trouble in the market.
O’Connor: Some advice I received was from a great agent on the west side who said that she wasn’t changing a thing post-NAR settlement. It’s helped me and my sister inform our approach and understand our value. I think it’s been great, honestly.
