As an agent with Christie’s International Real Estate Southern California, my business partner, David Lubell, and I specialize in working with clients to renovate and sell homes in the Los Angeles area. One of our biggest recent challenges was renovating a historic home in the Sunset Square Tier 1 Historic Zone ofLos Angeles: 1635 N. Genesee Avenue.
Selling and renovating historic homes can be challenging, but it’s incredibly rewarding to breathe new life into these timeless properties. A skilled real estate agent understands the power of storytelling to connect with potential buyers — whether it’s the story of a home’s past, its heritage or the vision of what it could become. It’s the narrative that forges an emotional bond between a house and its future owner.
Here’s some advice for anyone looking to succeed in this niche -
Look beyond the wood rot. The property at 1635 N. Genesee was originally built in 1908 as a horse stable, complete with a keeper’s house, for a family living nearby. This was at a time when much of Los Angeles was still orange groves and farmland. By the time we started the project, the property was in disrepair. Much of the wood was rotted, the staircase was unsafe, the walls were bare studs and the house lacked a driveway — an unusual but critical need in LosAngeles. Fifty-year-old Ficus trees had outgrown their planters, pushing through the cement.
As a historic property, the house couldn’t simply be torn down. Every exterior change visible from the street required board approval, adding another layer of complexity to the project. Reimagining the space & Renovating historic homes often means working within the constraints of the existing structure, but don’t be afraid to think creatively about the floor plan. Rooms in older properties are often quite similar and can be repurposed to meet modern needs.
Patience is more than a virtue — it’s a necessity -
When dealing with historic properties, patience is key. Review boards and city planning bureaucracies don’t move quickly, and clients must be prepared for multiple reviews and changes. It’s essential to have a knowledgeable architect and team experienced with these types of renovations. Many historic preservation organizations can provide recommendations for professionals who understand
