Some listings need paint. This one needed a conversation about the art.
I'm Breanne Wahl, a Los Angeles real estate agent with ACME | SERHANT. Early in my career, I represented the seller of 820 Oneonta Drive, a 1983 hillside home on Mt. Washington in Northeast Los Angeles with three bedrooms, two and a half baths, and 1,822 square feet.
A home with a lot of personality
My seller was a true original. He loved his home, and he had filled it with art he loved. Some of it was, let's say, not for every audience. Meaningful to him. A lot to take in on a Sunday open house.
The conversation every seller needs (and nobody wants)
Buyers walk into a home trying to picture their own life there. Anything that pulls all the attention, whether it's bold art, family photos, or a collection, makes that harder.
So before we went on the market, we talked about neutralizing the house. It wasn't about taste or judgment. It was about giving every buyer a blank canvas (pun intended). The art came down, the walls stayed simple, and the house got to be the star.
How it sold
It took patience: 93 days on the market and a price adjustment along the way. 820 Oneonta Drive sold for $516,000.
That was a very different Mt. Washington market than today's. The lesson still shows up in every listing I take.
What this sale taught me about getting a home ready to sell
- Buyers need room to imagine their own life in the house.
- Neutral doesn't mean boring. It means nothing distracts from the home itself.
- Have the hard conversations early, before photos and showings.
- Be kind and direct. A seller's home is personal, and so is what's on the walls.
- Pack the personal things first. You're moving anyway.
Getting ready to sell on Mt. Washington?
I'll walk through your home with you and tell you honestly what to keep, what to store, and what to fix. I personally help sellers with paint, staging, and fixture updates. Let's talk about your home.
Questions about this sale
Who represented the seller of 820 Oneonta Drive on Mt. Washington?
I did. I'm Breanne Wahl, now with ACME | SERHANT., and I represented the seller of 820 Oneonta Drive on Mt. Washington, Los Angeles.
What did 820 Oneonta Drive sell for?
820 Oneonta Drive, a three-bedroom 1983 hillside home on Mt. Washington, sold for $516,000 after 93 days on the market.
Should I take down personal art before selling my home?
Usually, yes. I recommend packing away bold art, family photos, and collections before photos and showings, so buyers can picture their own life in the home.