Real Estate Pro Increases Value, Reduces Stress
"EMOTIONS RUN HIGH WHEN YOU'RE GETTING A HOUSE ready for sale,” says real estate agent Brian Ades. “It’s my job to get my clients through the transaction smoothly.” Experience counts in real estate, and Brian comes well-equipped with decades in the business, a mind for numbers and an unshakeable demeanor.
A love of data plays a key role in Brian’s success. He studies the latest market trends to determine what’s most relevant to each home’s characteristics and location. This research-driven approach has paid off—in 2019 Brian’s sales volume was ranked in the Wall Street Journal’s list of the top half of one percent of all real estate agents in America.
Brian keeps his clients’ best interests in mind: “I’m like a flashlight, helping people see their options. Sometimes it’s a practice run and they’re not ready to sell. Maybe it’s time to keep and lease, or remodel. It’s a privilege to be part of people’s life transitions."
Brian’s staff ensures all paperwork is handled precisely, and his roster of tradespeople can help you do everything from painting to planning an estate sale. “I get the most value for my clients with the least aggravation.”
| NAME | Brian Ades |
| LICENSE NUMBER | BRE 01347985 |
| PHONE NUMBER | (310) 503-8080 |
| brian@legaciesofla.com | |
| WEBSITE | https://www.brianades.com |
| SOCIAL MEDIA | |
| FORMS OF PAYMENT | |
| SERVICES PROVIDED | Real Estate Agent, Eco-Broker, Certified, Seniors' Real Estate Specialist, Leasing Agent, Commercial Agent, Bank-Owned Broker, Buyer's Agent, Condominiums, Equestrian Homes, First Time Home Buyer, Fixer-Uppers, Foreclosure, Listing Agent, Horse Properties, Lease-To-Own, Lease Options, Luxury Homes, Owner-Will-Carry Properties, Realtor, Rental Agent, Seller-Will-Carry, Short Sales |
| SERVICE AREAS |
Central Atwater Village • Baldwin Hills • Bel Air • Beverly Grove • Beverly Hills • Boyle Heights • Century City • Cheviot Hills • Chinatown • Commerce • Culver City • Dockweiler • Dodgertown • Downtown • East Hollywood • East Los Angeles • Echo Park • Edendale • Fairfax • Firestone Park • Gramercy Park • Griffith Park • Hancock Park • Hollywood • Hollywood Hills • Inglewood • Jefferson Park • Koreatown • Ladera Heights • Larchmont Village • Leimert Park • Los Angeles • Los Feliz • Macarthur Park • Mid-Wilshire • Miracle Mile • Mount Olympus • Oakwood • Outpost Estates • Palms • Park Mesa Heights • Pico Heights • Pico-Robertson • Pico-Union • Rancho Park • Rimpau • Silver Lake • University Park • Vermont • Vermont Square • View Park • Watts • West Adams • West Hollywood • Westlake • Westwood • Whitley Heights • Windsor Hills San Fernando Valley Arleta • Bell Canyon • Burbank • Calabasas • Canoga Park • Chatsworth • Encino • Granada Hills • Granada Hills North • Hewitt • Hidden Hills • Lake Balboa • Lakeside Park • Mission Hills • North Hills • North Hollywood • Northridge • Pacoima • Panorama City • Porter Ranch • Reseda • San Fernando • Shadow Hills • Sherman Oaks • Sherman Village • Studio City • Sun Valley • Sunland • Sylmar • Tarzana • Toluca Lake • Toluca Terrace • Tujunga • Universal City • Valley Glen • Valley Village • Van Nuys • West Hills • Winnetka • Woodland Hills San Gabriel Valley Alhambra • Altadena • Arcadia • City of Industry • College Hills • Crescenta Highlands • Cypress Park • Duarte • Eagle Rock • East Pasadena • East San Gabriel • El Monte • Flintridge • Glassell Park • Glendale • Happy Valley • Hastings Ranch • Highland Park • La Canada • La Crescenta • Lincoln Heights • Monrovia • Monterey Hills • Monterey Park • Montrose • Mount Washington • Pasadena • Rosemead • Rossmoyne • San Gabriel • San Gabriel Valley • San Marino • San Rafael Hills • Sierra Madre • South Pasadena • Temple City • Verdugo Viejo • Woodbury Westside Brentwood • El Segundo • Fox Hills • Lennox • Malibu • Mar Vista • Marina del Rey • Montana • Ocean Park • Pacific Palisades • Playa del Rey • Playa Vista • Santa Monica • Sawtelle • Topanga • Venice • West Los Angeles • Westchester |
- Overall Satisfaction
- Quality of Work
- Customer Service
- Value for Price
Chris G
Mar Vista - September 20, 2023
Brian Ades is my leasing agent, but more than that he is my real estate mentor. There are a million realtors out there, but the one who really encourages you to look carefully at your investment is rare. I have been working with him for about 20 years now. Whenever I have a question about my properties I run it by Brian.
There was a commercial development being built next to a duplex I own. I called Brian because I was worried I would never be able to rent it and wanted to sell. Brian always says “hold on to your assets” and came up with the idea to just rent to the construction company instead. He figured their VIP's would be comfortable in my Spanish home instead of in a trailer on Jefferson. It was a brilliant idea and a perfect union. The construction company was thrilled because they had a place to stay and I had happy tenants. Brian suggested to up the price $500 because it became a commercial lease. A win-win like that is rare. They were so happy and I have a great relationship with my neighbor. Construction just ended after 1.5 years. I did a renovation and have just placed a new tenant with Brian’s help. Most realtors would have jumped at the chance to make a profit and sell the property. Brian thinks long term and creates relationships—not deals. And when it’s time, deals end up happening because of the relationship.
Brian is able to think fast and come up with good solutions because he has so much experience. He is also super professional, funny and charming. And he clearly has a longer vision for the people he works with.
Rich W.
Chatsworth - June 2, 2023
Brian is the utmost professional. He helped me look for a home in a robust market last year. He taught me what to look for when buying a home. He knows the neighborhoods and pointed out items that I would not have guessed to look for. He treated me as if I was his only client which I know is not the case. He always acted like my needs were the most important thing on his calendar and never pressured me into making any decisions. This is one of the many reasons why he’s one of top salespeople in his company. He always has his ducks in a row.
Even though looking for a home can be a tedious process, Brian always had good energy and was well organized. It’s been almost a year since I purchased my house, but I still call him with many questions on a variety of topics and he still answers my calls and has the solution that I need. Brian has an impressive rolodex of people, so if you need a plumber, painter, electrician, etc. he can refer you to someone he has known and worked with repeatedly.
I’m a big proponent of bedside manner and Brian has it 10x over and I like his down-home, boy-next-door demeanor. He isn’t one to brag about himself. A number of other realtors will say that they sold this multi million dollar property or to someone famous, but Brian never acted like he was 'big time'…Brian makes you feel like I was a 10 million dollar budget client. Will eagerly and happily work with Brian again and again!
Elizabeth & Gabriel
West Hollywood - June 1, 2023
We recommend Brian with all our hearts!! Whoever gets Brian on their team should consider themselves lucky. You will be in the best hands.
We found Brian at an open house in our neighborhood. Selling our home was emotionally hard, but he made us feel very comfortable throughout the process.
Brian offers top-tier service. He is highly competent, has exceptional knowledge, experience, and a very much needed human touch. The way he led the process, managed resources, commitments and challenges was very reassuring, and he yielded excellent results. He always respected timelines, and has great follow up, offering help and ideas to get tasks done accurately and in a timely manner. He kept us updated on his progress.
His customer service is outstanding. He is immaculately polite and kind. He was reachable and always got back to us promptly. His vast experience and knowledge of the real estate industry steered us in the right direction. He always had solutions to challenges. His expertise led us to the best possible outcome in the sale of our home.
Brian was worth every penny and then some! His humanity is rare and so needed in this world. We are grateful we got him to represent us in this sale and to get to know someone as competent, professional and kind as he is.
Jacques and Diana
Hollywood - May 11, 2023
I found Brian in Neighbor2Neighbor. We were looking to rent our house on a temporary basis. Brian took his time and we went through 7-8 candidates until we found the perfect tenants. He was in charge of the interviewing process, and it worked really well. We started the process at the beginning of January and the house was rented by March 1st.
He gave us some feedback about small improvements that we could do for the house, and was always able to provide the names of quality services that could assist us with the work. He was able to find what was unique about the property that no one else had pointed out to me, which helped us to market the place. He was always able to provide the names of quality services that could assist us with our home improvements.
Brian is easy to talk to and interact with. He is a good person, and he knows his stuff. It's hard to find any criticism. He spent enough time figuring out exactly what our end game was supposed to be, and he was very helpful throughout the whole process. He was a great counsel.
Andrew S.
Hollywood - April 26, 2022
Brian has been the leasing agent for my parents’ house for the past four years. My Dad is in his 90s and Brian is great with him. Brian walked him through getting the house rented the first time. At this stage of the game I am doing most of the work so I am in contact with Brian. He will be realtor we use when we eventually sell the property.
Brian takes more of a personal interest in people than other agents. There have been all kinds of challenges with the house because it is old. Brian is always there to help whether it’s brokering a roofer or meeting So Cal Edison at the property, or being there when the plumber comes for a repair if the property manager can’t be there. I don’t think I could have pulled off everything I have without Brian.
Brian puts the client’s needs first. I asked him for a referral for an agent in the Bay Area and he put me in touch with someone from Sotheby’s. I ended up going with someone else, and Brian didn’t care one bit. He just wants what is best for me. I am in the middle of the transaction now and Brian has been great to bounce things off of.
I’m a little cynical when it comes to realtors. Once they get the commission, they are gone. I don’t feel that way with Brian. When looking for tenants for my dad, Brian worked hard to find the right people. There were initially people he could have recommended and made a quick commission and then repeat in a year when they moved. But Brian kept looking for people who wanted to stay longer term. We really liked one family, but we weren’t sure they would be able to afford the place, even though the husband thought he was getting a raise. We needed to make sure they would be able to pay because the rent finances my parents’ assisted living situation. Brian thought about it a little and came up with a creative solution: the couple prepaid a portion of the rent for the year and then they had a lower monthly payment that we were sure they could cover. It’s terrific that we don’t have to keep going through the hassle of getting new people every year.
My biggest pet peeve is when people are not responsive. Brian is ON IT. He texts and calls back promptly. But the most important thing about Brian is that he makes my 95-year-old dad happy.
David D.
La Cañada Flintridge - April 18, 2022
"Brian has represented me and my wife on the sale of one home and the purchase of another. Everything he did for us was really excellent. He really helped us to ensure we understood exactly what we were getting into when we were buying our home. He was able to bring in the best people for us to hire and walked us through the inspector’s reports. He strategized with us on how to go back to the seller with the information from the reports and that saved us a lot of money. Thanks to Brian, we understood exactly what we were buying when we closed the deal.
When I was selling my house, he helped me get way more than I expected. He handled the buyers really well, communicating with them and with me. The result was great in every way. In real estate, there’s always paperwork. He explains it well and helps minimize the pain throughout that process.
I would emphasize that he really communicates well. He stuck with us for a long time throughout the negotiation process. If you’re buying a house, definitely hire him!"
Valerie Crooks
Woodland Hills - November 8, 2021
I'm very pleased with the service that Brian Ades provided during the sale of my home. At the start, he invested time in me listening attentively to my expectations and concerns. He looked at the house and offered suggestions for sale preparation. He took time to make sure that I was prepared and informed every step of the way. Brian was accessible, responsive, and flexible with all forms of communication. He has a confident but soft-handed approach that I appreciate. I never worried that things would play out any different than he said they would, and he was right! Things moved very quickly, and thankfully I was sufficiently prepped for it. Brian is more than your everyday realtor – he is patient, sensitive to his clients' needs, and works tirelessly to do a great job.
R. Simon
Laurel Canyon - October 26, 2021
Brian Ades represented me in the sale of my Laurel Canyon home and he was fantastic! We connected at the recommendation of a friend and later I found that Brian has many friends and connections in Laurel Canyon. He’s respected in the community, and I knew that I could trust him 100%. Brian is proactive, informative, and thorough. I never had to set foot on the property in preparation for the sale because Brian took care of everything. He kept me apprised of all potentials and clearly laid out my options. I’m happy with the final sale and the entire process. It was just easy with Brian – night and day compared to previous real estate transactions.
Leah
Laurel Canyon - October 22, 2021
Whether it’s your first time selling, buying, or leasing a home or you’ve got many real estate transactions under your belt, Brian Ades is an invaluable asset to have at your side. He's exceptionally knowledgeable and experienced, motivated only by what’s best for his client, equipped with all the tools and resources needed to make a potentially challenging and complicated process run smoothly. Brian is easy to work with, unflappable even when tensions run high, and he’s responsive and generous with his time, always making you feel welcome when you’ve got a question or need his help. He immerses himself in the history of a property, teasing out the details that make a home unique and that maximize its value. He believes in full disclosure, is determinedly focused on the details, and always conducts his business with integrity. Brian will never pressure anyone on either side of the transaction; he maneuvers through the process of buying and selling homes at just the right pace, making all the right moves, and getting incredible results on behalf of his clients. Over the last several years, through a number of real estate transactions, I have been grateful for his wise and insightful counsel and for always doing an outstanding job. It would be a pleasure to work with him again.
Lauren Sarafan
Laurel Canyon - June 21, 2021
Brian Ades is a true master at what he does. At the recommendation of a friend, I hired Brian to represent me in selling my Laurel Canyon home of 20 years. Starting with our first meeting, Brian over delivered and exceeded expectations though the entire process. He even won the trust and respect of my 91-year-old father who is still active in LA real estate development. Brian contains an impressive wealth of knowledge about Laurel Canyon properties and their histories. Listening to him actually made me think, “what is my legacy in this neighborhood?” Brian also brought all the skills, connections and ideas to make the sale of my property happen. As in most real estate dealings, there were a few times clouded with high emotion, but Brian calmly guided us and helped keep focus where it was needed. He has a way of diffusing volatile situations with ease and turning them into something beautiful. He’s a closer and I also felt like he was our ‘Sherpa,’ guiding me and my father on this path. I can’t offer a recommendation that’s high enough for Brian Ades. He’s that good.
Joanna Billington
Hollywood Hills West - December 17, 2020
I live on the East Coast, but I still own a home in the Hollywood Hills. I’ve known Brian since 2017 and he has represented me in both listing my house for sale and also leasing my house. He found me a tenant and has helped me with some of the management. I’m the first call if the tenant reaches out, but Brian is always willing to help if needed. If I called right now and said “Hey Brian I need something” he would hop in his car right now. Brian is a consummate professional. He always picks up his phone and if not he will send a text stating that he will call me right back. Every interaction that I’ve had with him was smooth and anytime I’ve needed him he was there. He reads people really, really well. Here’s the biggest thing that sets Brian apart from other realtors and why I like to use him so much: when you get a high-end realtor like Brian, handling multi-million dollar properties, they will usually gladly take the listing, but then you hardly ever see them again. You’re often left to deal with assistants with questionable skill sets. This is not true with Brian. I don’t even know if he has an assistant. He handles everything including open house events. In the LA market, this is unusual and greatly appreciated. My experience with realtors is that there are maybe 5% that do work as good as Brian.
Chris Hawes
Hollywood Hills West - December 1, 2020
When we put our house on the market with Brian Ades, it sold within one month. I researched Zillow to see which agents were representing similar properties in the area and I found Brian. He was very thorough with marketing across all appropriate platforms—in the same day, our property could be found listed for sale everywhere. Right off the bat, our house was shown to multiple parties and we received two bids. Brian balances being aggressive and laid back at the same time perfectly. The process went even smoother given that I was able to visit a satellite Sotheby’s office near me to sign papers, so I didn’t have to make it across town to Brian’s office. I probably would have sold my property a year earlier if I had found him at that time.
Meghan U.
Pasadena - November 5, 2020
After he was referred to me by a colleague of mine, we hired Brian Ades as our agent for the purchase of our first home. I was really impressed by how smooth the process went once we found the right house. As first-time home buyers, it was reassuring to have Brian guiding us and taking the time to clearly explain things. Brian's service was flawless from start to finish. We’re really happy with the process and our home.
Stephanie
Studio City - October 27, 2020
When we decided to sell our home of 16 years we met with Brian and he immediately put us at ease. He is knowledgeable, kind and incredibly attentive. He gave us great advice and was as much a friend as a respected professional. His insight was spot on and he got us what we wanted for our home. Four years later, he helped us buy another house, and once again Brian was the calm in the storm as we navigated the process during the coronavirus pandemic. We cannot recommend Brian Ades highly enough.
Betsy Cochran
Woodland Hills - October 27, 2020
After my mother fell ill, Brian Ades made a difficult time in my life easier. For five years, he managed my mother’s home by locating and screening renters and overseeing maintenance of the property. He kept me informed of any needed repairs or potential issues. I was impressed by Brian’s thoughtfulness from our very first meeting. After my mother passed, Brian not only helped me sell the house but he also took care of items left in the house that weren’t sold. He is unusually responsive and one of the most patient and understanding people I’ve dealt with.
Deborah
Studio City/Laurel Canyon - October 27, 2020
I have nothing but positive things to say about Brian Ades. He has represented me in two home sales and one home purchase. The fact that I keep using his services is proof of how much I trust him. Brian has a warm demeanor, is understating when things get tense and knows how to de-escalate situations. I’ve also been impressed by the thoroughness of his prep work and willingness to share ideas. I’m happy to recommend Brian to others—he’s a good guy.
Bernardo
Venice - October 12, 2020
We trust him. What else is there to say?
Lonnie
Westside - October 9, 2020
Brain Ades has been managing two of our rental properties in the Hollywood Hills since 2014. He does an admirable job of screening tenants and going above and beyond with the service he offers. Since Brian also owns rental property, I know he understands the importance of finding suitable occupants. Additionally, he has a long history with the Laurel Canyon area and knows how to ask the right questions and weed through any nonsense. He is always plugged in and available to the point that I’ve never had to personally show the properties to potential renters. Altogether I find Brian to be trustworthy, steady and reliable.
Sarah C.
Santa Monica - October 25, 2019
I can't say enough good things about Brian Ades. He helped me sell my house after I realized — for the second time — I had bought the wrong house and the wrong agents had "helped" me buy them. I was fed up and exhausted and had quite a bit to do to get ready for market. Brian went above and beyond — from finding, booking, and meeting with multiple vendors to advising me when to stop spending money. As a single female, I find this kind and level of help not only rare but invaluable. Always available, his calm, upbeat personality helped me get to the finish line at full asking! Now I am searching for a new home and so much more confident with Brian on my side. He is the only real estate agent I have ever met (and I have worked with quite a few) who puts my needs above his own. He has already talked me out of several properties. That's called integrity. I also must mention that he is whip-smart and super funny! He is a joy to work with and we have had a lot of good laughs along the way. Perhaps most importantly though, he has restored my faith in a person's ability to be both a good businessman and a good person. You would be lucky to work with him. I'm so grateful I met Brian Ades.
V.
Hollywood Hills - October 22, 2019
We have two houses in LA that Brian has helped lease. He is the person to go to. Leasing may not yield the commission he’d get with sales, but he’s in it for the long-term relationships. Anything we needed he was more than willing to help us out whether it was advice in staging or help determining who would make the best tenant. We have known him almost a decade. He is very measured in his response and won’t give his opinion until he has evaluated the current market—not how it was, but as it is at the time you meet him. We were considering selling one house and Brian advised us to lease for the time being because there is a lot of development in the area and the house will likely be worth more in the future. Telling us to lease may have been counter to his immediate income, but he wants to do what is best for his clients. He has no ulterior motive, which I think is rare nowadays. I would recommend Brian to anyone who has real estate needs.
Erika Schickel
West Hollywood - October 21, 2019
Brian Ades handled a complicated trust sale for my sister and me. I really enjoyed working with him. It was so helpful to me that Brian is always so calm! He never goes into panic mode and there was never a minute when things went wrong. He helped me figure out what should be done to the house to increase its value and talked me out of making some improvements that wouldn’t have been worth it. He has a group of professionals at his fingertips who help his clients, for example, his estate sale guy who dealt with those belongings of my father that we wanted to sell. Brian’s staff is so professional—when anything needed to happen, it was done immediately. Brian is a rare combination of easy-going and completely on the ball.
Carolyn DeRiggi Peterson
Hollywood-Universal City - December 11, 2016
Brian Is wonderful to work with. He has a great business sense while still maintaining a personal connection as well.
Angela Kelly
West Los Angeles - November 29, 2016
After the death of my mother, I was responsible for Trustee duties which included selling her house. Brian was a great help, walked me through the process, explained paperwork and the fine details involved. He took a very stressful situation and handled so many calls for me that it was almost painless. He was considerate of not only of mine and my sibling's feelings but the feelings of the grandchildren as well. It meant the world to me.
Andrea
Hollywood Hills - November 28, 2016
Brian Ades is a great realtor! Through, informative, and trustworthy.
Dey
Hollywood Hills - November 28, 2016
Brian helped us find our new home. He was very patient, detailed and didn't waste our time with properties that weren't a fit for us. He was very easy to work with and made himself available to us always. He helped navigate us through some challenging circumstances with the sellers and helped us buy our ideal home. We couldn't recommend him enough!!
Georgene
Beechwood Canyon - November 28, 2016
It is hard to find the superlatives to describe Brian Ades. It was a tough and emotional decision to sell my home of 21 years. Brian helped me think through my decision. Once I decided, he promised to make the sale as easy as possible for me, and delivered spectacularly. He engaged all the consultants needed to prepare the house for sale. He kept in touch on a daily basis. I felt like we working as a team —picking the best staging company for the house, etc; and deciding on the listing price together. I had a deal that vastly exceeded my expectations—well above the asking price. I attribute that to Brian's expertise in negotiating and in attracting high-quality brokers and their clients. He is the absolute best in the business. I have bought and sold many houses, and he is the best!
Neil Norman
Hollywood Hills - December 3, 2015
Brian has helped me with several rental situations and also sold my last residence. Brian has a vast wealth of experience and is super knowledgeable. He is able to gracefully juggle buyers and sellers like someone from Cirque du Soleil. Brian stays calm and keeps his steadfast attitude no matter what storms come on the horizon. He can truly handle anything and I’m impressed by his versatility. He remains very optimistic and is a fun guy to be around. Wonderful!
G.B.
Hancock Park - December 2, 2015
I have bought and sold about 15 properties and the experience of selling my house with Brian was the best real estate transaction I ever had. It was not because the client was easy—he wasn't! People get emotional in home transactions and often the real estate agents get pulled into it, too. Brian’s ability to step back and see the situation clearly was a real gift. He understood what made the buyer pick our house and advised us accordingly. He assessed what was important for the buyer and what was not. He advised us to make certain improvements over others and in the negotiation he was able to cut through the emotions and get right to the issues. I was happy with the price we got. Brian has my highest recommendation and I don't say that easily. Anyone can list a house and put a picture on the materials. It’s Brian’s ability to handle a situation when things get a little hairy that makes him stand out.
Martin VonDurante
Hollywood Hills - December 2, 2015
I found Brian’s services to be excellent. He went far beyond the call of duty to make things simple for my very elderly father, who was having quite a hard time in deciding to sell the house. He was very patient and really did a lot of personal things to make sure everything went smoothly. Brian handled all of the issues with inspectors and was very knowledgeable about the overall transaction. He let us know when other offers were coming in and shared behind the scenes information with us. He was prompt to return calls, never put any pressure on us and was really the consummate professional. We worked with Brian for several months before we placed the listing with him. I knew he would be great to work with from our initial interview over the phone.
Bill Johnson
Silverlake - December 2, 2015
My experience with Brian Ades was ideal. I was a 25-year resident in Silver Lake before deciding to move and knew I wanted to sell my house six to 12 months before I did. It was a big deal for me and I did a lot of research before choosing Brian to represent me. I had seen his flyers in the community for several years. I went on line and looked up other real estate people working in the area, then interviewed the top three prospects before selecting Brian. He was really interested in helping me meet my needs, not pushy like some of the others. He was very knowledgeable; he presented the information very clearly and was great to work with. I was totally happy working with him. He kept me very informed throughout the whole process. This was key for me because it was often long distance back and forth between Denver and LA for several months and we concluded the sale while I was in Denver. I can’t think of how the experience could have been better.
Bruce Winkelman
Hollywood - December 2, 2015
Brian was the listing agent when we sold our parent’s property after they passed away. He was terrific. I was very happy with Brian. He was attentive, responsive and sensitive to our needs. Brian helped in getting the property cleared, cleaned and staged. There were three other co-trustees for the estate and the selection process was actually quite involved with a written questionnaire and an interview with four different prospective realtors. Brian was both the most personable and the most qualified of a pretty diverse group of realtors we interviewed. Brian showed an eagerness to really work with the property and I would absolutely recommend him to others.
Sara Greene
Silverlake - December 2, 2015
Brian is amazing! He’s super knowledgeable, he’s very professional and we’ll be sure to work with him again in the future. He first leased our home and then sold it, opposite ends of the spectrum for real estate and he was great for both. He did such a good job with the lease that we knew he’d be great selling our house. We interviewed a bunch of people and he was still far and away the best candidate. His pricing was fair, especially considering the amount of work he did for us. I’ve recommended him to a bunch of my friends. Can’t say enough good things about him.
Grace Kubo
Santa Monica - October 20, 2015
I found Brian Ades in Neighbor2Neighbor. I had nothing but bad memories of realtors, but when I met Brian, I had a lot of questions and he gave me such good explanations. I couldn't believe it. I met so many realtors in the past who were all business. Brian is very honest and sincere. He listened to my questions and he was patient with my English. I am Japanese-American and 89 years old and I still have a little problem with English. Brian also asked me many questions. He asked me why I wanted to sell my house. I said because people keep telling me I should sell it because my husband, my sister and my brother-in-law all died and I am alone. He told me I am healthy, strong and active so not to move now if I don’t want to. I was very, very happy. I told him this was the first time a realtor explained things to me. The others just want money. They have attitudes. Brian explained how good it is that I own property because the value has increased so much since I bought it a long time ago. But I don’t have to sell now if I don’t want. I asked him about the possibility if my property goes down? He told me not to worry. Especially in Santa Monica the property value won’t go down much. It is a valuable place. Even in Japan people don't know where California is, but they know Santa Monica. The next day after I met Brian, I went to my English class and I told my experience to everyone. I have such beautiful neighbors and I told them, too. Brian is very special. My sister and I used to live next to each other. I am all by myself, but the city of Santa Monica is helping me. And now I have Brian who is so good. I'm so glad I met him!
Chris Ghiatis
West Hollywood - January 22, 2015
I had sold private homes before, but as I found out, selling a Trust Home is totally different. What Brian provided me, as the executor of my parents' estate, was his in-depth knowledge of the very unique documents that must accompany the sale of a Trust Home. Brian's advice was indispensable during the listing and sales negotiations of my deceased parents' home. I could not have done it without Brian's guidance and I am extremely thankful for it.
Mike Trokey
Orange County - December 16, 2014
Brian is the ultimate when it comes to realtors. I'm a realtor myself and have been for 35 years. For me to say all this about another realtor is big. I didn't have a million dollar property. Brian deals with multi-million dollar properties as well as properties like mine, but he gave me the same level of service as if I had a more expensive place. Thanks to his excellent marketing, the property had multiple offers and sold for more than I was asking. I consider myself very fortunate to have found Brian! He sold a house that I inherited from my dad. I live in South Orange County and needed someone who knows LA. Brian knows how to incorporate what buyers enjoy about a particular neighborhood into the home’s description. His background in advertising really informs the ways he markets a property. He described the house better than I could have and did a great job setting up the open house. He is well known and respected by other realtors. 70 people came to the open house! As I learned more about Brian and his past as a commercial producer, as well as the level of people and companies he has worked with, I realized that I was working with someone who has special skills and is appreciated by many people. He was great about communicating with my tenant while the property was for sale. He was also great about getting back to me with feedback from open houses and other real estate agents. You want that communication to be there with your agent. I appreciated that he was always on time for his appointments. He also gives helpful advice, from the pricing of the property to how you should approach certain issues that may arise during the transaction. He suggested good people to work on the house. Mine was a tricky property on a steep hillside. Brian’s fantastic—an outstanding realtor with great people skills.
Melinda Earl
Los Angeles - December 12, 2014
There are plenty of people who have never been exposed to taking care of a loved one’s affairs. First of all, it’s heartbreaking, and then it’s overwhelming. If you have a place like Legacies of LA where you can go and find someone who can give you advice, it’s invaluable. Plus it’s nice to hear stories about people—how they treasure the moments with their family members. It’s a nice way to bring it all back and commemorate their life. ,
Steve Eshelman
Hancock Park - December 3, 2014
When you’re choosing a real estate agent, you want someone you can live with. For most people, the buying or selling of a house will be the largest financial transaction they make. That creates emotions, drain and neuroses—on an easy day. And it isn’t often easy. If you have a doubt, you want someone you can ask “Why did this happen?” Brian was great with that. If I ever had a question he answered it right away. You want someone who will give you information. There’s no end to adjectives. Adjectives are easy. Brian gives you nouns and verbs.
Christine Gallagher
Laurel Canyon - November 19, 2014
We had a beautiful and unusual place that was not your standard sale. It was very idiosyncratic, with old septic tanks, etc. I talked to about five or six agents. They were calling me all the time, but Brian didn't push me at all. He didn't even come in the house on the first visit. We just sat in the garden and talked and he just got it. He said, "Enjoy the house while you have it and call me when you're ready to talk." I liked his attitude. He was very creative in marketing the house to the particular buyer who would be attracted to it. He had a great photographer shoot it and put on a lovely open house with a gourmet chef. He has a rare blend of business acumen and sensitivity. He didn't want to be a shark with either us or the buyer. Brian has full integrity and is really above-board, and he really got me through the process emotionally. He was there for us.
Vincent Anzalone
Laurel Canyon - October 24, 2014
We interviewed three or four different realtors before we hired Brian to sell our Laurel Canyon home. Brian was organized and professional, his pitch book was very comprehensive and he came highly recommended by several of our neighbors.
Brian brought in contractors and got quotes for small cosmetic things that made the house more marketable. He brought in a photographer to take fantastic pictures, and helped us stage the house for a sale. He did a couple of private showings as well as an open house and within three or four days we had multiple offers above the asking price. Brian then helped us vet the offers and gave us professional guidance, telling us what to look for in good buyers, as well as how to manage counter offers.
Throughout the process I could reach him any time of the day for any reason, and he was proactive about updating me by email, phone or in person. During escrow we talked all the time and he walked us through every step of that process. I still keep in touch with Brian because he's a good guy and I really like him as a person. There really is nothing that I wish he would have done differently.
Tracy Woodford
Hollywood Hills - October 11, 2014
I am the trustee of a trust and when the trustor passed away it was my job to sell his house. I interviewed several realtors and hired Brian because he was smart, enthusiastic and had a great personality. Brian made the process easier than I could have imagined. He had amazing ideas how to market the property, he helped me set the price which was spot-on and we ended up selling it for a good bit more than the asking price. He always kept me informed and after the sale Brian tied up loose ends, making sure the utilities were switched off or switched over to the new owners. He made the process completely painless which I didn't think was possible.
Ryan C.
Silverlake - January 27, 2014
Our situation was unique and Brian's stable voice helped guide us smoothly through the process. He is an honest gentleman who does what he says he is going to do with the utmost professionalism. I've dealt with many realtors in my life, and they all seem as shallow as my bathtub. Brian is a regular, down-to-earth person who is looking out for all sides and wants to get the deal done, but he is also sensitive to the emotions behind buying a house.
Brian once said to me, while brokering a deal, "The most important thing for me is that you and your family have a safe landing." Its something I think about often, the term "safe landing" and what it means. He promised us a safe landing and he delivered.
Thomas M.
Silverlake - October 7, 2013
I had found a house I loved, but in order to purchase it we needed to sell the one we had. I remembered friends had recommended Brian, so I looked him up. He helped us thread the needle on the deal.
He was an excellent guide and gave us expert advice throughout a difficult process. If I had a question or concern he was always available. He really likes his job and takes his role very seriously. He's not a slap-dash realtor. In the end we got a good deal on the new house and sold the old house for above asking. I have already recommended him to my friends.
Rick Gauthier
Las Vegas, NV - July 12, 2013
Brian went above and beyond the call of duty. I found out about Brian when he sent a flyer in the mail that caught my eye. I ended up talking to him as well as various other real estate agents. The others came off as snake oil salesmen, but I got a really good vibe from Brian. I liked what he had to say on the phone and when we met he didn't make any promises—he told me the truth straight out. That is one thing I really like about Brian—he is honest. We were selling my mother’s house, which was not in the best shape. Brian gave me a price range, but it seemed low to me. He gave me a number of good suggestions for improvements to the property that would increase the value of the home. I still had a price in my mind that was above the market and above what Brian thought I could get, but Brian didn’t argue with me. He showed the house, and we had only one bite, which was quite low. We took it off the market and gave it another try eight months later. This time I let Brian come up with a price that was more in line with the market and I had made some improvements to the house. We had some good bids and we sold the house for quite a bit more than the original offer. I would recommend Brian for simple fact that based on our interaction he is a very honest man. Additionally, he got us an amazing price on a 100-year-old house.
Chris Dominguez
Sherman Oaks - January 23, 2013
Brian was my real estate agent and represented me in the process of buying a house. He was reachable 100% of the time, and immediately responsive if I reached out. Brian is very honest, thorough, and is amazingly good with all the details. There were a few tricky aspects to the deal. Brian guided the process and removed each issue as it arose. He was very adept at handling these situations. We are in constant contact about real estate issues, not just when going through the process. The relationship is ongoing. I absolutely recommend Brian.
Mel Moss
Laurel Canyon - November 20, 2012
Brian does a great job of marketing a property for sale. I’m a commercial real estate agent, and I've worked with him for two or three years now. I was getting letters all the time from realtors, but there was something about his initial letter that caught my eye. I started a dialog and he told me how he would market my property. When it was time, he did exactly what he said he would do and found suitable tenants for me. Brian is extremely competent, reliable and professional. Brian looks out for the client first—the sale is not his first concern. Brian always protects my interests. Based on my experience, I recommended him to my neighbor. Brian was patient, and when my neighbor was ready, they moved forward. Brian found a suitable buyer and the house is now in escrow!
Katie Garagiola
Hollywood - October 26, 2012
My husband and I were first-time homebuyers and we had no clue what we were doing. We were doing it completely on our own at first—didn’t know how to find a good realtor. As with making any major purchase, you feel like someone is going to take advantage of you.
We found Brian because we were looking at a condo he was representing. He had such a warm presence, not imposing, and so willing to be accommodating. We talked in detail and hit it off. I asked him if he could show us other properties. Patience is a big requirement for me—I read the fine print and ask hundreds of questions and a lot of people don’t like that. Brian was just incredible—so kind and patient with us. He explained everything. He helped us not only search for a home, but once we decided on a home, he helped us ask the right questions, and protected us from getting taken advantage of by the other side.
I know realtors work for the commission, but I never once got that impression or pressure from Brian. Our deal didn’t require any follow up but Brian checked in on us as a realtor and as a friend to make sure everything was still good and we were fine in our new place.
My husband and I have talked about this—if and when we sell our condo in five or six years we hope Brian is still a realtor because we will go back to him in a heartbeat. I couldn’t have asked for anything more. He was perfect.
Chris Dominguez
Sherman Oaks - October 8, 2012
Brian was my real estate agent and represented me in the process of buying a house. He was reachable 100% of the time, and immediately responsive if I reached out. Brian is very honest, thorough, and is amazingly good with all the details. There were a few tricky aspects to the deal. Brian guided the process and removed each issue as it arose. He was very adept at handling these situations. We are in constant contact about real estate issues, not just when going through the process. The relationship is ongoing. I absolutely recommend Brian.
Ian McDonald
Atwater Village - October 2, 2012
Brian helped my wife and me buy a house. He helped us with securing the loan, viewing properties, making an offer, going through the inspections, and then with the back and forth with the sellers. Subsequently he helped me find tenants. For the rental, he showed the property, did the paperwork and helped choose good renters. There were various questions that arose and I knew I could always go to him. He was definitely fair with his commissions and worth it. With everything that comes up around my property, Brian is my first call.
Catherine F.
Silver Lake - October 1, 2012
Three years ago we started searching for a home. Brian was representing one of the houses we saw and we called him for the address. Instead of just giving us the address and sending us on our way, he said, “Why don’t you come to my office first?” We looked at his inventory and we were impressed that he redirected us, in a gentle, non-aggressive manner.
After about a year I became pregnant and we put the house search on hold for a year. Brian kept us informed the entire time, checking in with updates on the market, new listings and keeping us interested. Brian has a professional, easy-going, non-confrontational manner. He was never pushy, but assertive in the best possible way! He showed us a lot of homes and there were many times I was ready to just jump in and go for it. He would educate and advise me to wait for what I really wanted, the right one. When we seriously started looking again, it took almost another year because we found a short sale. I must have spoken to him every day for that year.
When it was time to sell our home, it was not easy. Brian was patient and persistent. He found a buyer in the first week, during the recession! Our house had a number of small repairs. I said my husband would take care of it, but Brian helped us find a handyman and we got it all taken care of.
I referred him to my neighbor and he sold her home, too. Since then he has sold a number of homes in the Silver Lake area. He is just great and we became friends in the process. I am an interior designer and deal with tradespeople all day. In three years, we did not have one problem with Brian. That’s amazing! I can’t say enough good things about Brian Ades.
Richard Sturges & Heidi Nolting
Hancock Park - September 30, 2012
Our experience with Brian was great. My wife and I wanted to test the waters of the market because we thinking about moving back to the east coast. But we were apprehensive because the housing market wasn’t doing well. Laura knew Brian from years ago when he was a commercial producer. Brian has a keen eye for architecture and recognizes good lines so he knows a gem when he sees one. And we had a gem. Brian thought we could get a good price for the house and in fact we did. He thought he could sell it in a day with minimal work on our end. Brian researched the house, which was designed by the architect Edward Flickett. He found out that the first owner was a composer for Disney so Brian developed an interesting marketing plan. He said we could start with a low price and sell fast, or higher price and it would take it longer, or try to bring both markets together with a price in the middle. The guy with the lower number would try to come up with more, and the higher guy with more money would try to outbid the others. Then Brian brought his creativity from his days as a commercial producer and for the first open house he hired a Cordon Blue Chef and made it a memorable event. We had 6 offers in a day. A bidding war ensued and it sold for well over the asking price! Brian really brings his experience as a producer to real estate. When doing a production there is no “no.” If something needs to be done and it seems impossible, you adapt and find a way to do it. I was an art director and my wife a producer. As an art director, I had done a number of things to the house and Brian added his creative input. He was best telling us what NOT to do – we were going to spend money on fixing the walkway and bigger projects like that, but he said people will overlook little flaws, and to focus on other things instead. He stopped us from wasting our cash on fixes that wouldn’t increase the sales price. Brian followed up all the way through to the end. Whenever something came up he had his army of people to call upon. Even after sale, he helped us rent a place for the summer. He won’t make money off of that—he was just being helpful. I am thinking about moving to New York and Brian is going to put us in touch with people there. I can’t think of a negative aspect of the whole process. We’ve recommended Brian to a number of friends and I will keep recommending him. Some ppl don’t want to listen or take his advice, he’d probably wouldn’t nec take on that property. He may not be the right fit for every property – he won’t just take it on to have a lot of listings. He feels a certain passion either for the property or the person.
Laura M.
Hancock Park - September 11, 2012
Brian was referred to us by some friends he had worked with on two homes. They had a great experience, as we did. We thought it was funny that he discouraged us from the home we were initially looking at. And when he said he agreed with our final decision, we felt confident with his approval.
He was very thorough and helpful in a number of areas, finding a contractor for us and rounding up inspectors. We were new to all this and Brian gave us every kind of helpful advice. He was personally interested and stayed with us, making sure we knew what we were getting into.
Bob Stephenson
Sunset Plaza - September 4, 2012
Brian is a fantastic realtor. We have bought and sold three homes with Brian. He is genuine, thorough, empathetic to the stresses of buying and selling and his taste is impeccable. Just a real pleasure to work with.
Carol Shih
Mar Vista - July 10, 2012
What sets Brian apart from other real estate agents is his patience. We spent about two years searching for a home that met all of our criteria. Brian was never pushy; he let us take our time. He handled everything competently, and the escrow was smooth. He’s a really nice person to work with.
