Our aim is not to be the biggest real estate firm in your market. It’s simply to be the best.
A Message from John Aaroe
Thank you for giving us the opportunity to meet with you. We’re honored that you’re considering us to represent you, and excited by the prospect of putting our integrated marketing abilities, connections and resources to work for you. Our aim is not to be the biggest real estate firm in your market. It’s simply to be the best. When you choose us, you can rely on receiving careful counseling, skillful representation and the utmost respect. Your agent shares our high standards of integrity and personal service, and is backed by our entire management team and staff — every member dedicated to giving you a smooth experience and a rewarding outcome. We look forward to the privilege of representing you. Sincerely,
John Aaroe
Representing You
About Katia De Los Reyes Working with Katia feels like working with a friend — a friend who’s fiercely dedicated to meeting your needs. Licensed since 2005, she has a proven track record of success in representing sellers and buyers of Los Angeles real estate. Katia began her career as a corporate property management executive in Century City in 1998 and transitioned to residential real estate in 2005. Both buyers and sellers greatly appreciate her easy, assured approach to complex challenges. “You make it all seem so easy,” says one client. “Without your calm professionalism during our two transactions taking place simultaneously, right before the holidays, we would have lost it many, many times. You kept us on track.” Her clients also value the range of skills she applies to every phase of the real estate sales process. “We were impressed with her brilliant marketing and smart approach to the entire process of prepping for sale, staging, photographing the property,” remembers a couple whose home sale she handled. “Her negotiation skills were instrumental in allowing us to make the best deal possible.”
As a Director of Aaroe Estates, Katia draws on a network of international connections and specializes in European as well as local clients interested in acquiring properties in the Los Angeles area. As a native of Finland, she understands the unique challenges foreign buyers encounter when purchasing properties in the US. Recently, she represented a Swedish billionaire in his purchase of the highest-priced home in Beverly Hills history, closing the transaction in six days. When she’s not working with clients locally and abroad, Katia enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband of 17 years, and their mini menagerie: two dogs and two Parrotlets.
661.313.2001 | katia@aaroe.com katia4re.com
PROPERTIES SOLD BY KATIA DE LOS REYES
North Hillcrest Rd, Beverly Hills $70,000,000
Iron Canyon Road, Canyon Country $1,400,000
25248 Jasmine Ln, Stevenson Ranch
21125 Mill Ridge Dr, Saugus
28151 Anvil Crt, Valencia
22828 Fir Ct, Saugus
29185 Valley Oak Pl, Saugus
23601 Falcon Crest Pl, Valencia
25760 Hammet Crt, Stevenson Ranch
23625 Del Monte Dr #322, Valencia
33624 Steele St, Agua Dulce
21753 Bene Dr, Saugus
24927 West Hearth Crt, Valencia
21752 Bene Dr. Valencia
29260 Black Pine Wy, Saugus
27102 Teton Trl #82, Valencia
9372 Southshore Dr, Huntington Beach
6938 Laurel Cyn Bl #212, North Hollywood
27834 Lassen St, Castaic
21749 Bene Dr. Valencia
27249 Golden Willow Wy, Canyon Country
9653 Crebs Ave, Northridge
28433 Oak Valley Rd, Castaic
5325 Newcastle Ave #329, Encino
6473 Ellenview Ave, West Hills
27940 Tyler Ln #461, Canyon Country
1640 Bel Aire Dr, Glendale
20008 Northcliff Dr, Canyon Country
8448 Quartz Ave, Winnetka
4501 Cedros Ave #109, Sherman Oaks
27423 Whitefield Pl, Valencia
18740 Vista Del Cyn #A, Newhall
25809 Nashau Wy, Valencia
32045 Quartz Ln, Castaic $
23820 Daisetta Dr, Newhall
1421 N. Screenland Dr, Burbank $
28755 Raintree Ln, Saugus
24528 Mc Bean Pky #26, Valencia
Katia is that rare realtor that can be counted on to do exactly what she says. She doesn’t just act like she cares, she shows it with her actions.
CLIENT REVIEWS
We had a very positive experience with Katia representing us as our realtor, for both sale and purchase. The marketing for the house we sold was of a very high standard. Katia advised us on the staging and employed the services of a first class photographer to present the house in the best possible way. The result was that the house was sold for more than the asking price. Katia is very well informed about the formal paperwork and guided us smoothly through the buying negotiations to an acceptable purchase price. She has a charming, friendly personality as well as a calm, professional approach, never losing her cool in the face of aggressive behaviour from other realtors.
- P. Gunner
This is the second time we have worked with Katia and would highly recommend her. She helped us sell our townhouse 3 years ago and she worked just as hard then as she did this time around when we were the buyers. She was very responsive to our needs and was able to get us access to all locations we were interested in a timely manner. She kept us focused and motivated as we were tiring with the hunt. Had it not been for Katia leading us into areas we were not originally considering we would not have found our dream home. She is no longer just our real estate agent, She is a friend. Our 3 year old daughter calls her auntie Katia.
- Mr. & Mrs. Goodin
I hired Katia to help rent out my Valencia property. Since I live out of town, she saved me a lot of the time and hassle associated with fielding prospective tenants. She was a huge help! I was impressed with her responsive, pro-active approach, and it was great that she always had a positive attitude. I highly recommend her leasing agent services.
- J. Patterson
Katia is that rare realtor that can be counted on to do exactly what she says. She doesn’t just act like she cares, she shows it with her actions. We came to trust Katia completely as she has been a faithful partner in our real estate transactions. We were impressed with her brilliant marketing skills, and smart approach to the entire process of prepping for sale, staging, photographing and finally negotiating the offers and subsequent sale of the property. Her attention to detail and consistent feedback put us as ease with confidence that everything was under control. She always stay ahead of the process so we didn’t have to. Further her negotiations skills were instrumental in purchasing our new home. Her insight into what was feasible allowed us to make the best deal possible. We couldn’t imagine a better realtor.
- Mr. & Mrs. Hansen
Being locally owned and managed allows us to act quickly and knowledgeably to meet your needs.
Our Story
John Aaroe Group is a Los Angeles owned and operated real estate brokerage with over 300 agents in six strategic locations in Beverly Hills, Brentwood, Sunset Strip, Sherman Oaks, Pasadena and Downtown Los Angeles. Established only five years ago, we’re on track to close over $1.2 billion in sales this year. While technology, marketing, research and statistics play important roles in any successful real estate transaction, the most critical element of all is people. When you bring the right buyers, sellers or investors together, the result is a solid deal with a rewarding outcome. Our agents are experts at creating this synergy — and it’s the aspect they love most about what they do.
Our Mission
John Aaroe Group intends to be the preeminent real estate firm in select affluent markets throughout Southern California. We will reach our goal while reflecting the core philosophies of our founder: every agent is experienced and committed to upholding our high standards of integrity and personal service…every client is carefully counseled, skillfully represented and treated with respect…and our expert management team is dedicated solely to helping our associates and clients achieve their goals.
From his early days with the elite Jon Douglas Company to his dynamic vision for John Aaroe Group, he has relentlessly set the bar for agent productivity and impeccable client service.
Our Founder
On the vast and complex Los Angeles real estate scene, John Aaroe has stood out as a symbol of impeccable representation and impressive results for over 30 years. Mr. Aaroe launched his career in 1975 as an agent with the elite Jon Douglas Company. In 1980, he formed Douglas Properties, the second luxury real estate division in the country, leading it to become one of the largest multimilliondollar high-end real estate firms in the US. From 1988 to 1993 he served as the firm’s general manager and sat on its board of directors, traveling to Asia to forge alliances with overseas companies and leading the company’s growth from three offices and 65 agents in 1975 to 31 offices and 2,000 agents in 1993. That year, he left the firm to launch Aaroe & Associates. By 1996, his young company was the third-highestgrossing residential real estate firm in Los Angeles County. In 1999, it was rated the most productive company in the US per agent by RealTrends, with average agent sales setting an industry record at $6.8 million.
In 2000, Mr. Aaroe sold the company to Prudential California Realty and was asked to join that firm as third partner and sole EVP. Heading territories from Santa Barbara to the Coachella Valley under the John Aaroe Division banner, he expanded the company’s base to 27 offices and 2,100 agents. In 2002, he played a significant role in the firm’s transition to an affiliation with Berkshire Hathaway. By 2006, his territories had attained $17 billion in sales. In 2007, Mr. Aaroe retired. Two years later, he returned to launch John Aaroe Group with the goal of making it the preeminent luxury firm in targeted Los Angeles markets. John Aaroe Group is on track to close over $1.2 billion in property sales this year.
We are a collection of remarkable agents and employees — who work together as a group to benefit our clients.
Our Offices
The locally owned John Aaroe Group is one renowned real estate expert’s vision of how a Los Angeles brokerage should serve its clients. We are a collection of remarkable agents and employees — who work together as a group to benefit our clients. As a local company, we have an unusually keen understanding of the differing neighborhoods that make up the fabric of Los Angeles. Our offices, strategically located in key markets, keep us closely engaged with the areas where we live and work.
Beverly Hills 150 South Rodeo Drive, Suite 100 Brentwood 11601 Wilshire Boulevard, Suite 101 Sunset Strip 8560 Sunset Boulevard, Third Floor Downtown Los Angeles 548 South Spring Street Sherman Oaks 14242 Ventura Boulevard Pasadena 42 South Pasadena Avenue
Yet although we’re owned here, we’re connected everywhere. No matter what part of the world your ideal buyers live in, we have the network to find them. And while we’re a local boutique, our big-company technology, research and marketing tools deliver the power it takes to get results.
Since 1996, John Aaroe’s giving efforts have resulted in the investment of well over $2.6 million in the communities where his agents live and work.
Our Foundation
John Aaroe has established and been closely involved with charitable foundations since his days with Aaroe & Associates in the mid ’90s. Since 1996, these giving efforts have resulted in the investment of well over $2.6 million in the communities where his agents live and work.
The John Aaroe Group Community Foundation 501(c)(3) focuses its investments on health, community, education and the environment. To expand its impact, we collaborate with our agents to single out neighborhood organizations in need of our support. We will also gladly contribute to a client’s charity of choice on close of escrow. In view of today’s economic challenges, involvement like this is more vital than ever. In making this ongoing contribution to the well-being of our communities, we enrich all our lives.
Attracting Your Buyer
The most powerful home marketing strategy is one that creates demand for your property, attracting many buyers to compete for your listing.
We strategically market your home
At John Aaroe Group, we’re masters of multichannel marketing. Drawing on years of experience and proven results, we’ll create an integrated multimedia marketing strategy that’s custom-designed for your home. It will combine a range of powerful elements, including:
Direct from Seller 2% Print Advertising 1%
Real Estate Agent 33%
Other Sources 1%
Online media Mobile marketing Social media
Home Builder 5%
Print advertising Print marketing Industry networking
Friend, Neighbor, Relative 6%
How buyers found their home
According to the National Association of Realtors, buyers found their home through a variety of sources. Our marketing plan for your property will include each of these avenues.
National Association of Realtors Study 2013
For Sale Sign or Open House 9%
Internet 43%
Our expert approach to promoting your property is built on John Aaroe’s longtime skill for exceptional, breakthrough marketing.
Making a splash in the market
We have just one chance to see that your home makes a strong first impression — so preparation is essential. In addition to setting the optimal price, we must get your home ready for the spotlight. We will recommend updates aimed at enhancing your property’s perceived value. If necessary, we can bring in the services of a professional stager and landscaper. Then it’s time for photography and copywriting. Of course, we’ll schedule the photography session to capture your home at the time when the light is best.
We will ask you to tell us what you love most about living in your home. We’ll use your inside perspective, along with the key features of your property, to tell a story that stimulates the interest of buyers sifting through competing properties. The goal is to get them through the door and in love with your home. With these key marketing assets in hand, we’ll begin to produce the powerful marketing pieces detailed on the next pages.
90% of home buyers start their search online. Our digital marketing strategy makes sure your home gets seen…and it captures their interest.
The art of digital marketing
The moment we have professional photographs of your property, we’ll quickly turn them into striking marketing elements — then deploy them in highly strategic ways.
Property eMagazine
Not only will we draw on our set of proprietary email lists to get your home seen, but each component of the plan is designed for easy social sharing — to help spread the word that your property’s on the market.
eMail campaign
Property website Produced within 24 hours of receiving photography Your dedicated website will include all the HD photos we capture, plus a virtual tour, map and description of your home.
To preview a property website, visit 777Encore.com
We’ll email an eight-page online magazine filled with vibrant images, plus a written description of your home, to our list of active brokers and buyer prospects.
We’ll send an instant alert to our industry lists, including all John Aaroe Group agents and the top-producing agents at other firms in the area. We’ll follow up by emailing our proprietary list of active buyers.
We’re experts at marketing your home in a big way on a small screen.
On-the-go mobile marketing for your property
Most real estate companies talk about the online marketing they do for your home. We do that, too. But what separates us from the rest is our major focus on the fast-growing mobile consumer. With 1.2 billion people accessing the web from mobile devices* and 50% of mobile phone users making their device their primary Internet source, it’s critical to make sure your home’s marketing looks good and functions well on a mobile device. We’ll get your home noticed by mobile-searching buyers by: Producing a mobile website for your home According to NAR, 45% of home buyers used a mobile site or app to search for their new home. 22% of them found the home they purchased on their mobile device. We’ll design your home’s mobile site to deliver an optimal viewer experience for mobile searchers — one that includes photos and descriptive text, and allows them to call or email your agent with one tap. When buyers are near your home, they can locate it via a GPS search on our mobile website.
Try our mobile marketing for yourself! Text “sample” to 85377
*Source: Digital Buzz, 2013
Establishing a unique text code for your property’s mobile site We will assign a custom text code home buyers can use to access your home’s mobile site. We’ll include this code on all marketing for your property so buyers can instantly pull up information about your home. Creating a Quick Response (QR) code When buyers scan your unique QR code on your home’s For Sale sign, direct mail piece or property brochure, they’ll be linked directly to your property’s mobile site.
Your home will get attention on all the most-visited real estate sites and key social media.
Broad Online exposure for your listing
43% of home buyers find the home they buy on the Internet. Your property is competing for their attention online, so it’s essential to get it seen at its best in all the right places. aaroe.com: Your home will appear on both our main and mobile-enhanced websites, capturing home seekers at their computers and on-the-go. Our technology is GPS enabled, so home seekers can search and map your open house showings while they’re on the road. realtor.com: We’ll see that your home is given showcase status on this high-traffic site, the most comprehensive source of real estate listings. A growing number of home buyers use social media like YouTube, Facebook and Twitter as key search and information sources. We’ll make sure they learn about your property by sharing information on these, and other social sites.
Explore user-friendly aaroe.com. Pretend you’re a buyer and search for a home like yours!
We’ll give your property far-reaching exposure on key real estate sites. Among the most highly visited in the mix:
Home seekers consult many sources. We stay on their radar by investing in promotion for your listing on an array of channels.
Aggressive Print Advertising
Newspaper and magazine advertising is one of many ways to attract buyers to your home. To launch your listing, we’ll advertise it in the LA Times. On an ongoing basis, we choose properties we think will generate immediate interest among active buyers and crosspromote other similar listings. You benefit whenever we advertise homes like yours. Every ad in which your home appears will include your property’s exclusive text code, so buyers can find out more about it fast. Your agent will be alerted to every prospect who texts for more information.
John Aaroe Group advertises nearly every week in the LA Times to capture the attention of local buyers.
Our aggressive print advertising strategy drives buyers back to our website, aaroe.com, where your home will be featured until it is sold.
Our in-house marketing team will combine professional photography and compelling copywriting to create impressive pieces that keep your property top-of-mind with buyers.
A powerful print showcase
Property brochure
Direct mail postcard
Our marketing experts will produce a vibrant full-color property brochure highlighting the unique features of your home. It will include both your property website URL and its exclusive text and QR codes, so mobile buyers can get more information and additional pictures of your home.
We’ll send a full-color postcard announcing the availability of your property to our prospective buyers and proprietary contact lists. It will include your property web address, text and QR codes.
Our company’s marketing materials are printed on paper certified by the Forest Stewardship Council as the product of sustainably managed forests.
33% of buyers find their home with help from a real estate agent. So it’s critical to keep your home on the radar of agents working with active buyers.
It’s all about connections
A solid network of contacts is essential to successfully marketing a property. We maintain proprietary contact lists of active agents in Los Angeles, Southern California, across the country and around the world — and collaborate with them to locate qualified buyers wherever they may be.
These exclusive lists include: • Local top-producing agents • Southern California top-producing agents • Top luxury agents from other firms nationwide • International brokers serving high-end markets
Your buyers could be across the globe. We have the connections to find them.
Reaching the International buyer
Your home is here, but your buyer could be anywhere. Through our relationship with Proxio, the largest international MLS, we can market your property in 140 countries. We also network with more than 700,000 agent members worldwide via a sophisticated online buyer/seller matching marketplace. Your property information will be translated into their choice of 19 languages, 55 currencies and metric measurements.
Your property will be promoted on the international website of the International Consortium of Real Estate Associations, worldproperties.com, with over 3.4 million listings worldwide.
Pricing Your Property
We deliver the market intelligence you need to make smart decisions.
We track where the market is headed
Before you embark on one of the largest and most complex transactions you will ever make — buying or selling a home — you need the best and most current picture of the market. Our team continually analyzes the market to ensure that John Aaroe Group buyers and sellers make the most informed decisions possible. Published each month, the Aaroe Market Report delivers an in-depth look at local real estate activity in over 65 areas across Los Angeles. The report goes beyond a simple snapshot of market activity in an area to spot important patterns and trends that could influence the buying decisions of our clients. It includes a graphic representation of the defining statistics of a particular marketplace, including historical perspective in graphs tracking trends over the last 24 months and sales history over the past three years.
That macro view, combined with your agent’s personal assessment of your property, can help you make intelligent, informed decisions about your real estate investments. In fact, if you’re curious about the value of any property in the area, your agent will be happy to provide a detailed market report for you.
John Aaroe Group is known for its exceptional skill in positioning a property to achieve the best possible price.
Defining market value
In determining price, we evaluate three key elements — location, market dynamics and sales activity in your local area — to determine the highest potential value for your property. Location This exerts the single greatest influence on your property’s price. We’ll assess the strengths and weaknesses of your home’s location to determine the most effective approach to marketing and selling it. Market conditions Home prices are affected by the current real estate market, the number of homes for sale, the number of buyers and the availability of financing. We’ll evaluate all four in developing a realistic price range for your property.
Competition Other properties currently on the market and recent home sales both affect how potential buyers assess the worth of your home. Our comprehensive market evaluation will help you determine where your property should be positioned amid the competition. Determining the listing price A competitively priced home attracts a far larger number of showings to qualified buyers. We’ll draw on all our skill, experience and information to help position your home to attract the highest possible price for the current market.
Your home’s initial listing price is a critical element of a successful property marketing plan.
Pricing your home to sell
Our goal is to achieve the highest possible sales price for you in the shortest period of time. To achieve that, we must generate maximum buyer engagement when the property first hits the market. If we price your property over market value, we risk losing the attention of active, qualified buyers. These illustrations show the effect of overpricing on both time on market and selling price.
A correctly priced home gets more buyer showings during the critical first two weeks on the market.
Pricing a home correctly shortens its days on market and results in a higher sales price.
Closing the Transaction
The inner workings of a real estate transaction can be daunting…unless you know the right experts.
We keep the complex process running smoothly
Once you’ve accepted an offer, our efforts focus on smoothly and swiftly closing your transaction. This process is complex and involves many players. Because we know your time is valuable, we’ll orchestrate these moving parts on your behalf, in collaboration with the best service providers in their fields. Overseen by your agent, these skilled firms will work together to ensure a smooth process and peace of mind for you. Chartwell Escrow With nearly a century of combined experience in the industry, the experts at Chartwell Escrow have the knowledge and experience to ensure that your escrow is processed and closed efficiently, professionally and securely.
Madison Lending Group A division of Skyline Mortgage Madison Lending Group is known and respected throughout California as an outstanding full-service mortgage brokerage that successfully meets the needs of real estate professionals, builders and individual home buyers. Lawyers Title This distinguished firm is a member of the Fidelity National Financial, Inc. (NYSE: FNF) family of title companies, which collectively represent the largest title insurance and escrow services company in the world.
John Aaroe Group agents specialize in overseeing the many complex details involved in closing a transaction.
The Sale and Escrow Process
Here are just some of the services your agent will provide to ensure your transaction closes successfully.
During the escrow process
During the offer
• Maintain clear, consistent and frequent communication with all parties in the transaction
• Have you review and sign Agency Disclosure Statements
• Take all available efforts to ensure buyer’s deposit arrives according to the contract
• Advise you during negotiation on price and terms of the sale
• Assist you in the review of instructions and all contract deadlines prior to distribution
• Assess realistic interest rate caps and review loan appraisal contingencies
• Coordinate and attend all inspections; in consultation with you, negotiate any repairs or credits requested by buyer
• Help you review buyer’s pre-approval qualifications and proof of funds documentation
• Meet appraiser and provide all requested documents including sales comparables
• Review how responsibility for transaction costs has been allocated and determine your approximate net proceeds
• Oversee completion of all disclosures and coordinate delivery within required time frames
• Negotiate for length of escrow and Escrow and Title Company requests per your instructions
• Meet retrofit company and confirm requirements are in compliance
• Help you evaluate and negotiate for items included and excluded from purchase
• Help you review all Escrow Amendments and Title Report
• Assist you in the review of Addendums and Area Disclosures
• Review City Report to check for sewer hookup, zoning and special assessments • Take all available efforts to make sure buyer’s closing funds are in escrow in a timely manner • Address any last-minute requirements for smooth, successful close of escrow • Coordinate final walkthrough inspection and deliver keys to buyer
©John Aaroe Group 2013