1400 E 37th — California Heights Historic Home Gets a Sprucing
01 · The Situation
Where this started.
Nestled in the heart of Long Beach’s California Heights historic district, this 91-year-old single-family residence was lovingly maintained and thoughtfully upgraded by its owners over their eight-year tenure. As a result, the property required only a light sprucing up—a fresh coat of neutral paint, minor cosmetic touch-ups, and decluttering—to let both its historic character and contemporary comforts shine for eager buyers. Even when the unexpected arose during an inspection, we swiftly handled it.
02 · The Challenge
What made it complicated.
Aging Finishes & Wear
- Lath-and-plaster walls riddled with minor cracks and scuffs
- Darker rooms in need of fresh, bright neutrals
- Outdated interior fixtures (floating shelves, heavy personal décor)
- Exterior “uglies” such as exposed conduit and utility boxes
Mid-Escrow Surprises
- Asbestos found during inspection (previously undisclosed)
- Substandard electrical work revealed
Seller Logistics
- Sellers relocated out of state while home was on the market
- No local presence for showings, inspections, or routine property checks
03 · What Pardee Did
Prep & Cosmetic Refresh
- Engaged trusted vendors to expertly patch and repaint lath-and-plaster walls
- Selected lighter, neutral paint to brighten and unify interiors
- Removed select wall hangings and personal items to minimize distractions
- Neutralized exterior elements—camouflaging conduit and utility boxes
Swift Professional Remediation
- Upon asbestos discovery, promptly dispatched Pardee-vetted specialists to verify
- Coordinated electrical experts to bring wiring up to code
- Pardee fronted all remediation costs, ensuring no delay in escrow
White-Glove Coordination
- Managed every appointment: phone calls, vendor work orders, and inspection scheduling
- Represented absent sellers on-site for showings, open houses, and all escrow activities
- Continued property upkeep: plant watering, mail retrieval, and final walkthroughs
04 · The Result
- Competitive Market Response
Multiple offers received - Final sale price very close to asking, most importantly, delivering the net proceeds the sellers needed
- Smooth Escrow
Quick resolution of inspection contingencies thanks to proactive remediation - Minimal buyer repair requests after transparent upfront disclosures
- Buyer Satisfaction
Buyers excited to join a beloved historic neighborhood - Confidence in purchase reinforced by clearly communicated completion of asbestos and electrical work
By combining diligent prep work, swift problem-solving, and hands-on coordination, Pardee Properties delivered a polished historic home sale that exceeded expectations for both sellers and buyers.
Pardee Prep
This is where prep becomes strategy.
Pardee Prep helps sellers decide what is worth doing, what is not, and how to make the home meet the market with more confidence.
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Prefer email? hello@pardeeproperties.com · (310) 861-7719