Case Study: Marinette Road — Reclaiming $350K in Value Through Narrative-Driven Staging
Some homes need more than exposure. They need someone to understand what buyers are missing.
When Pardee took over the Marinette Road listing from another agent and brokerage, the property had already been positioned as a teardown. Buyer interest had stalled, and the offers that did come in were landing nearly $350,000 below the asking price. Meredith Gruszka saw something different: a home with architectural character, warmth, and a story that simply had not been told the right way yet.
Quick Stats
| Feature | Details |
|---|---|
| Neighborhood | Pacific Palisades |
| Outdoor Space | Generous backyard view deck with breathtaking ocean views, secluded canyon setting |
| Days on Market | 4 |
| Sold Price | $3,108,578 |
| Square Footage | 2,049 sq ft |
Challenges
Before Pardee stepped in, the property had been treated as a land-value or teardown opportunity. That positioning shaped how buyers saw it, and as a result, interest was limited. The home’s existing character was being overlooked, and the market was responding accordingly.
Instead of creating urgency, the previous strategy had left buyers focused on what the property could become someday. The problem was that they were missing what made it special right now.
Seller Context
The seller came to Pardee after the previous listing approach had not produced the right response from the market. With interest stalled and offers coming in well below asking, the property needed a strategic reset.
Pardee’s role was to rebuild momentum quickly, change buyer perception, and create a presentation strong enough to bring serious buyers back to the table.
Solution: Policy Problem. Pardee Solution.
Meredith repositioned the home around its existing strengths.
Rather than asking buyers to imagine a future version of the property, Pardee relaunched the listing to help them connect with the home immediately. That meant a new strategy, fresh photography, professional staging, and a presentation that honored the home’s architecture and character.
Meredith selected a staging company that matched the feel of the home, bringing warmth, scale, and lifestyle into spaces that had previously felt easy to dismiss. The goal was simple: sell the home buyers could see, not the one they had to imagine.
The relaunch shifted the conversation. Buyers were no longer just evaluating the property as a project. They were experiencing it as a home.
Results
Within just three days of taking over the listing, Pardee generated multiple competing offers and secured an accepted offer at $350,000 over the asking price.
The home was under contract before the first public open house.
The shift was dramatic: a property previously receiving offers nearly $350,000 below asking was relaunched with the right positioning and received an accepted offer $350,000 over asking.
The standout story here is the power of perception.
Nothing about the home’s core character changed. What changed was the way buyers were invited to see it. With the right staging, photography, and strategy, the same property moved from being treated as a teardown to becoming a home buyers competed for.
That is the difference between simply listing a property and truly positioning it.
Meredith Gruszka
Lead Listing Agent For The Sale
We could not have asked for a better selling agent than Meredith! From day one, she was responsive, knowledgeable, patient, and genuinely invested in helping us sell our home with the right buyer.
Her guidance on pricing, preparation, and timing was spot, while always listening to what we wanted and making any adjustments that were in our best interests. It made a tremendous difference in both the level of activity we received and the final outcome. Meredith was proactive, very communicative, detail-oriented, extremely punctual and always one step ahead — making what could have been a stressful experience feel organized and seamless.
She navigated every step with confidence, transparency, and expertise. We would recommend Meredith and her incredible team without hesitation. It was a top-tier experience from start to finish!
- Seller Review via Zillow
