Adam Janeiro is a Los Angeles real estate agent who specializes in older homes. He was kind enough to indulge my curiosity about buying and selling older homes, and the impact of the economy on the real estate market in Los Angeles’ historic neighborhoods.

1. 1912 Bungalow: You seem to have a passion for older homes. Where did that start?

Adam Janeiro: I grew up in Oakland California. My parents were teachers and we would often summer elsewhere. I was energized by Manhattan and bored by Montana. I was powerfully drawn to cities. On weekends, I would take BART to San Francisco, exit a station and begin walking, without plan or destination. Later, I realized I was most often drawn to those sections of the city wherein the buildings were oldest.

2. 1912 Bungalow: You work in a niche market, representing buyers and sellers of older homes. Are there any differences within this market compared to the traditional real estate market?

Adam Janeiro: The neighborhoods (wherein older homes are found) often feature a more complex web of uses, which create greater differences over smaller areas. This requires navigation and an understanding that often transcends the immediate visual experience. Also, value is often vested—or realized differently.

A thorough knowledge of the styles are essential too, because the thing that is the most unusual frequently holds the most value. An agent has to be able to identify and quantify those elements to which the most value is attached. Certain alterations, celebrated elsewhere, might have grave re-sale implications in historic districts.

3. 1912 Bungalow: You run a wonderful blog, Recentering El Pueblo. First of all, what does Recentering El Plueblo mean? What prompted you to start your blog?

Adam Janeiro: Los Angeles, and certainly the Los Angeles real estate industry, tends to be very West-centric; yet, the historic center of the city (of the Pueblo) lies elsewhere. It began not as a marketing tool—nicely it’s become a bit of one—but as an intellectual regimen, a discipline.

4. 1912 Bungalow: What is the biggest misconception about the real estate market right now?

Adam Janeiro: The biggest misconception concerns inventory. Inventory while abundant in some markets is sorely lacking in quality. Real estate reporting is frequently focused on quantity, rather than quality.

5. 1912 Bungalow: Are people putting off buying a home because they are waiting for home prices to drop further? Are people afraid to buy?

Adam Janeiro: Some are delaying, some are afraid, others are licking their chops. Some homeowners are also putting off selling too.

6. 1912 Bungalow: What advice do you have for home owners looking to sell in today’s market?

Adam Janeiro: I give different advice to each and every client, based on their singular life situation, including not to sell or not to buy—or to buy at once and sell now.

However, if one is truly interested in buying pre war housing stock (particularly pre WWI), one needs to look in all market climates and let opportunity be the driver. Because the number of available fully realized houses, with a high degree of original fabric, and sensitive, system updates, is often quite limited. I’ve represented many a buyer and seller on properties with three or four title changes in 100 years. I’ve a listing upcoming for a property owned continuously by one family since it was constructed in 1912. The inventory doesn’t always cooperate with whim, demand or macro economics.

7. 1912 Bungalow: In your experience, what are the things that most buyers desire or look for when shopping for an older home?

Adam Janeiro: Integrity, that is, a high degree of originality; and, a sympathetic context. Some degree of conformity, some basis for district status.

8. 1912 Bungalow: What are the biggest mistakes homeowners make when upgrading older homes? (Changes that decrease the resale value of their home)

Adam Janeiro: One—stucco over wood siding. Two—window replacement.

9. 1912 Bungalow: Lets say you just bought an older home and it needs some work, or maybe a lot of work. Where should you spend the money?

Adam Janeiro: Water is the destroyer of homes, and its occurrence must be managed; be it, a good roof, grading or gutters or French drains, supply lines and drains.

10. 1912 Bungalow: You have been restoring your own bungalow. What are some of the projects that you have tackled? Do you have any house projects going on right now?

Adam Janeiro: The list is too numerous. In December I’ll install a copper drip edge and continue some weather proofing projects using rigid insulation. I often experiment with products, if only to discuss applications with clients. In fact, I’m hoping to acquire a preservation worthy property—a project house in 2009, to continue my mission and my education.

Thanks Adam!

To say that the organization gene doesn’t run in my family is too kind. I come from a long line of hoarders and pack rats. I have never stumbled upon a pile of papers, stack of books, or box of magazines that I didn’t want to keep, just in case.

The first step to recovery is admitting that you have a problem. With this in mind, I contacted organization expert Dawn Sutterby to help cure my clutter addiction.

1912 Bungalow: Everyone wants an organized home. Why don’t we all have one?

Dawn Sutterby: I believe organization is a habit we either take on or discard, early in life. As a child, I loved helping my Mom keep the house clean and organized. Oh, to fold those soft, warm towels or to dust the precious knick-knacks in the living room. Both chores completely lost their luster when Mom yelled at me for folding towels the ‘wrong’ way. Did you know you could dust the ‘wrong’ way too? You can, and I did. This childhood disillusionment can lead to a life of clutter.

As an adult, one of the biggest obstacles to having an organized home is feeling too overwhelmed to start de-cluttering. The key is, get started! Then you can form better habits like getting into a ‘clean routine’, so you’re not overwhelmed again. 

1912 Bungalow: Once you’ve made the decision to clear the clutter, how do you get started?

Dawn Sutterby: 

1. Get ready.

What’s your goal? Cleaning out an office/attic/basement/closet/garage?

When can you start? Set aside some un-interrupted time when you can make progress on your project. Notice I said make progress, not necessarily finish the project. Real-life example: I’m going to cleanout & organize my bedroom closet, next Sunday afternoon!  

2. Get Set.

What’s your plan? Whatever you are tackling, break it into small groups of tasks.  This makes the project much less overwhelming! 

Real-life example: Cleaning the closet can be broken into: Floor, Overhead Shelf and Hanging Racks.

Each section can be done at separate times, yet completing each provides a sense of accomplishment and some motivation to finish the entire closet!

• Are you really ready?

• Do you have enough hangers, trash bags and storage boxes?

• Are you moving some items into another room or closet? Is that space ready?

3. Go!

When it’s GO TIME, turn on some music and stay focused on your immediate set of tasks.

Real-life example:  Do use the standard “Keep”, “Trash”, “Donate”, “Mend/Clean” piles to keep your focus. Don’t get side-tracked by that box of old love-letters on the floor, under a pile of sweaters; set it aside for later & clear that floor!  

Congratulations!

Celebrate your success. You can see the closet floor? Hooray!  

1912 Bungalow: How do you keep from feeling overwhelmed?

Dawn Sutterby: Focus on a small area of your project or small set of tasks. Clearing off a desk-top, the floor, or the stairs does wonders for your motivation. When you see you’re making progress, you’ll want to keep going!

By the way, I still fold my towels the ‘wrong’ way.

1912 Bungalow: Thanks Dawn! These tips should help me to conquer the clutter in my home office. Stay tuned…

I will be talking with Dawn in the future about tackling day-to-day clutter and organizing old family “treasures.”