Case Study: Lyceum Ave — A Mid-Century Jewel Box That Found Its Moment
In real estate, charm matters. But charm alone does not create competition.
When Matthew Freeman brought this Del Rey home on Lyceum Ave to market, he saw what buyers might miss at first glance: a special property with great light, a soulful layout, and the kind of quiet neighborhood appeal that had become increasingly valuable in the Short Avenue Elementary pocket.
The home had been loved for decades. It was in good shape, but like many long-held homes, it needed thoughtful preparation, strategic presentation, and the right pricing plan to meet the market with momentum.
That is where Matt’s approach came in.
Rather than simply listing the property and hoping buyers would “get it,” he helped the sellers elevate the home’s best qualities, position it with intention, and create the kind of buyer response that turns interest into competition.
Quick Stats
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Del Rey |
| List Price | $1,495,000 |
| Sold Price | $1,725,000 |
| # of Offers | 16 |
| Square Footage | Approx. 1,260 sq ft |
The Opportunity
Matt was working with sellers who were relocating back east and needed a clear, steady plan. They owned multiple properties and trusted him to guide them through the sale of their Los Angeles home with care and focus.
The house already had strong fundamentals: a desirable Del Rey location, great natural light, a warm mid-century feel, and a footprint that made sense for buyers looking in the neighborhood.
But Matt also knew something important: the market was shifting in that pocket.
He had been watching buyer demand build in Del Rey, especially near Short Avenue Elementary, and recognized that the right presentation could make this home feel not just appealing, but rare.
Our Strategy
1. Prep the Home to Let the Light In
One of the biggest opportunities was also one of the most practical.
The home had aluminum casement windows, but many of the glass seals had failed over time, leaving several panes looking foggy. The sellers often kept the blinds closed, which meant buyers would not immediately experience one of the home’s biggest assets: its natural light and views into the front and back gardens.
Matt encouraged the sellers to replace the window panes so the home could show brighter, cleaner, and more open.
It was not glamorous work. It was not the kind of improvement that screams “before and after” on social media. But it mattered.
Because buyers do not just evaluate a home logically. They feel it. And light changes the feeling of a home.
2. Use Pardee Prep to Create a Fresh, Market-Ready Feel
The sellers were also a dog rescue family with eight dogs at the property, which added a real-world layer of complexity to the prep process.
This was not a vacant home where everything could happen overnight. Matt had to help coordinate the timing, the work, and the sellers’ day-to-day life with their dogs, while still moving the property toward launch.
The team painted throughout, refreshed key areas, and resodded the backyard so the outdoor space felt clean, usable, and emotionally inviting.
The goal was not to erase the home’s character. It was to let buyers see the best version of it.
3. Stage It as a Mid-Century Jewel Box
Matt partnered with one of his most trusted stagers to bring the home into focus.
The staging leaned into a “mid-century jewel box” feel, using strong furniture choices, warm textures, and a curated design point of view. They incorporated some of the sellers’ existing pieces and layered in new elements that helped the home feel stylish, intentional, and livable.
For a smaller home, staging is not just decoration. It is translation.
It helps buyers understand scale, flow, lifestyle, and possibility — especially when every square foot needs to work hard.
4. Price for Competition, Not Ego
The home was listed just under $1.5M.
That pricing was deliberate.
Matt knew buyers often search in price bands, and he wanted to maximize exposure to the largest pool of qualified buyers. Rather than overpricing and hoping for one person to stretch, the strategy was to create a sense of opportunity, bring in more eyes, and let the market compete.
It worked.
The home attracted serious attention quickly and generated 16 offers.
5. Launch With Momentum
Matt followed a disciplined launch plan designed to create energy early:
- Listed on a Wednesday evening
- Open houses the first weekend
- Broker open exposure, including a twilight showing
- Careful monitoring of buyer activity and online engagement
- Offer deadline set once demand was clear
By the first Sunday, the response told the story: this was going to be competitive.
Offers were due that Thursday, and within 10 days of coming to market, the property was in escrow.
Results
The market responded fast and with force:
- 16 offers
- 10 days on the market
- Sold for $1,725,000 (that’s $230K - or 15% - over the asking price)
This was not an accident. It was the product of preparation, pricing, presentation, and timing working together.
Or, as we like to call it: strategy doing its job.
Why it worked
This sale worked because Matt did what great agents do best: he looked past the obvious and identified the levers that would actually move value.
He understood that buyers needed to feel the light.
He understood that the backyard needed to look fresh and usable.
He understood that staging needed to honor the home’s mid-century charm without making it feel overly precious.
He understood that pricing slightly below a key threshold would create more visibility, more urgency, and ultimately more competition.
And just as importantly, he understood his clients.
They were relocating, living in the home, caring for rescue dogs, and navigating a major life transition. Matt’s job was not just to sell the house. It was to guide the process in a way that felt clear, manageable, and grounded.
That is the difference between putting a home on the market and truly bringing a home to market.
Matthew Freeman
Lead Listing Agent For The Sale
Matthew Freeman brings a thoughtful, design-minded, and deeply personal approach to real estate. Known for his calm guidance, sharp eye for presentation, and ability to help clients see both the current value and future potential of a property, Matt is especially skilled at helping sellers prepare their homes for market in a way that feels strategic, elevated, and true to the home itself.
