Claudia Backus, MBA

Author: Claudia Backus, MBA

What Should You Do Before Listing Your Home for Sale? A Practical Guide for Los Angeles Homeowners

Selling a home involves much more than deciding on a price and putting the property on the market. Long before the listing becomes visible to buyers, there are decisions to make about the condition of the home, repairs, presentation, paperwork, photography, pricing, and how the property will be introduced to the market.

I think this preparation stage deserves more attention because some of the most important decisions a seller makes happen before the listing ever goes live.

If I were sitting down with a homeowner who was thinking about selling, I would want to start by looking at the entire property and asking a simple question: What should we understand and prepare before buyers begin evaluating this home?

Start by Looking at the Home Through a Buyer’s Eyes

Living in a home and preparing a home for sale are two very different experiences.

When we live somewhere every day, we naturally stop noticing certain things. A scuffed wall, an overfilled closet, an older light fixture, or landscaping that needs attention can become part of the background.

A buyer is seeing everything for the first time.

That does not mean a seller needs to renovate the entire property. In fact, I would be very careful about spending significant money on improvements simply because a home is going on the market. The goal should be to identify what is worth addressing and what may not provide enough benefit to justify the cost.

Sometimes cleaning, decluttering, improving lighting, touching up paint, or taking care of relatively small maintenance items can change the way a home presents without requiring a major renovation.

Understand the Condition of the Property

Before marketing begins, sellers should have a realistic understanding of the condition of their home.

Are there repairs that have been postponed? Is the roof approaching the end of its useful life? Are there plumbing, electrical, heating, cooling, drainage, or other issues that a buyer may eventually discover?

A seller does not necessarily have to repair everything before listing. Sometimes it makes more sense to obtain information or estimates and consider those issues as part of the overall selling strategy.

A presale inspection is another option a homeowner may discuss with their real estate professional. It is not required, but it can sometimes identify issues before a buyer conducts an inspection of their own.

The important thing is not to assume that every problem needs to be fixed or that every improvement will increase the selling price by the amount spent. Each property is different.

Start Gathering Information About the Home

There is another part of preparing to sell that buyers never see in the listing photographs: paperwork.

Sellers may need to gather information about repairs, improvements, permits, warranties, appliances, property systems, and other aspects of the home.

In California, seller disclosures are an important part of the transaction. Sellers generally have obligations to disclose known material facts and conditions affecting the property. This is one reason I believe it is helpful to begin thinking about the history and condition of the home early rather than waiting until an offer arrives.

If you replaced a roof, remodeled a kitchen, installed a new heating or cooling system, repaired previous damage, or completed other significant work, start gathering the documents you have.

Being organized can make the transaction easier later.

Good preparation before a home reaches the market can help sellers make more informed decisions throughout the selling process.

Decide What Is Worth Improving Before You Sell

One of the questions homeowners frequently face is how much they should improve a property before selling it.

There is no universal answer.

A home that has been beautifully maintained may need very little preparation. Another property may benefit from painting, landscaping, repairs, or professional staging. In some situations, selling the property in its current condition may make the most sense.

I would rather evaluate improvements in the context of the specific home and its competition.

What other homes are currently for sale nearby? What condition are they in? What will buyers see when they compare those properties online? What price range are we trying to compete in?

Those questions can help separate improvements that may strengthen the presentation of a home from projects that simply consume time and money.

Prepare the Home Before the Camera Arrives

Today, many buyers will encounter a property online before they ever walk through the front door.

That makes the preparation before professional photography particularly important.

Rooms should feel clean and easy to understand. Counters may need to be cleared. Personal items may need to be reduced. Window coverings can be adjusted to improve natural light. Outdoor areas should also be considered because the first photograph a buyer sees may be the front of the property.

Professional photography cannot completely compensate for a home that was not prepared beforehand.

The camera records what is there.

For that reason, I think photography should come toward the end of the preparation process, after the home is ready to be presented.

Study the Competition Before Choosing a Listing Price

I have written before about Comparative Market Analyses, active inventory, and Days on Market because pricing should not happen in isolation.

Before choosing a listing price, I want to know what buyers will be comparing the home against right now.

Recently sold properties are important because they provide evidence of what buyers have paid. But active listings matter too because those are the homes competing for the same buyers today.

A homeowner may understandably have a number in mind. Online estimates may show another number. A nearby sale may suggest something different.

The job is to put all of that information into context and develop a pricing strategy based on the actual property and its current market.

Think About the Launch as a Strategy

I also think sellers should consider how they want their property introduced to the market before the listing is entered into the MLS.

There are decisions about timing, photographs, showing availability, listing information, marketing, and the seller’s preferred level of exposure.

I have written separately about public and private listing options because sellers may have different priorities. For many homeowners, broad exposure is important. Other sellers may have privacy or timing considerations that need to be discussed.

What matters is that these decisions are made intentionally and with an understanding of the potential advantages and tradeoffs.

Preparation Does Not Mean Perfection

Perhaps the most important thing I would tell a homeowner is that preparing a home for sale does not mean creating a perfect house.

Homes are lived in. They age. Families grow in them. Things break and get repaired. Kitchens become dated. Floors show wear. Gardens change. Buyers understand that.

The purpose of preparing a home is not to erase its history. It is to understand what you are selling, present it thoughtfully, organize the information buyers will need, and create a strategy that gives the property a strong introduction to the market.

For me, that is where a good home sale really begins: before the listing goes live.

With gratitude and a heart of service,

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker I REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 28, 2026
What Does Days on Market Really Tell You When Selling a Home?

If you are thinking about selling your home, one number you will probably hear fairly quickly is days on market, often referred to as DOM. It sounds simple. A home has been listed for a certain number of days, and that number should tell us something about how well it is selling.

But days on market needs context.

This was one of the ideas that stayed with me after attending theMLS Summit 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles. As I continue learning and working with MLS data, I find myself paying much more attention not only to the numbers themselves, but also to the story behind those numbers.

For a homeowner preparing to sell, that distinction can be very important.

What Does Days on Market Mean?

Days on market generally tells us how long a property has been on the market. It can be useful when looking at an individual home, but it becomes much more meaningful when we compare it with what is happening around that property.

For example, imagine that a home has been on the market for 30 days.

Is that a long time?

The answer depends on the market.

If comparable homes in the same area and price range are selling within seven or ten days, 30 days may deserve a closer look. If similar properties are regularly taking 45 or 60 days to sell, the exact same 30 days could tell a very different story.

That is why I do not think homeowners should look at days on market as a grade assigned to their home. It is one piece of information that needs to be interpreted alongside other market data.

Days on market becomes more meaningful when it is viewed alongside local inventory, pricing and comparable properties.

The Neighborhood Is Only the Beginning

One of my favorite takeaways from theMLS Summit was the importance of asking “Which market?”

We often hear people talk about the Los Angeles real estate market as though it were one market. It really is not.

Even within the same neighborhood, homes in different price ranges can behave differently. Property type matters. Condition matters. Location within the neighborhood can matter. The amount of competing inventory matters too.

A home should therefore be evaluated within the market that is actually relevant to that particular property.

This is especially important in Los Angeles, where two homes located relatively close to one another can appeal to different buyers and compete against very different properties.

Active Listings Matter Too

When homeowners think about comparable properties, it is natural to focus on homes that have already sold. Those sales are important because they show us what buyers were actually willing to pay.

But I also like looking closely at active inventory.

Active listings tell us what a seller is competing against right now.

If several similar homes are available at the same time, buyers have choices. They can compare price, condition, location, photographs, improvements and overall presentation.

On the other hand, if there are very few comparable homes available, the competitive environment may look completely different.

Looking at sold properties without understanding current competition can therefore leave out an important part of the picture.

Price and Days on Market Often Need to Be Looked at Together

Days on market can also become more informative when we look at pricing history.

If a property has been sitting on the market longer than comparable homes, I would want to understand why before reaching any conclusion.

Was the original asking price significantly higher than comparable properties? Was there a price adjustment? Are buyers choosing another home nearby? Is the property unusual enough that it simply requires a more specific buyer?

There may be several explanations.

This is one reason I like the idea of using a Comparative Market Analysis as more than simply a way to arrive at a number. The data can help us understand how buyers are responding to homes in a particular market and what that may mean for a seller’s strategy.

A Longer Time on the Market Does Not Automatically Mean Something Is Wrong

I think this point is especially important for homeowners.

It is easy to see a property that has been listed for a while and assume there must be something wrong with it. Sometimes a longer marketing period can signal that the price or strategy deserves another look, but that is not the only possible explanation.

Higher priced properties may have a smaller pool of potential buyers. A unique home may take longer to find the right buyer. Market conditions can change. New competing inventory can appear. Buyer activity can also vary at different times of the year.

Rather than reacting to the number alone, I think the better question is:

What is the market telling us about this particular home?

That is a much more useful conversation.

Real Estate Data Is Most Helpful When We Put It in Context

The more I learn about MLS data, the more I appreciate how much information is available to help homeowners make thoughtful decisions.

Days on market is one of those pieces of information, but it should not stand alone.

I would want to look at comparable sales, current listings, price range, property condition, competition and what buyers appear to be doing in that specific market. Together, those pieces can provide a much clearer picture than any single statistic.

For homeowners considering selling, that context can help set realistic expectations and guide decisions throughout the listing process.

And ultimately, that is what I believe good real estate information should do: help people understand their options so they can make decisions with greater confidence.

With gratitude and a heart of service,

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 26, 2026
Public vs. Private Home Listings: What Los Angeles Sellers Should Know Before Choosing

When most homeowners think about selling a home, they probably picture a familiar process: the property is listed in the MLS, photographs appear online, buyers and their agents can find the home, and showings begin.

But today, sellers may have more choices about how and when their home is marketed.

I spent a day at The MLS Summit 2026 here in Los Angeles, and one of the topics I found especially interesting was the conversation around the different listing and marketing options available to sellers. As a real estate broker, I spend a lot of time thinking about what information homeowners should understand before they are asked to make an important decision.

This is one of those decisions.

There is not necessarily one marketing approach that is right for every seller. Privacy, timing, personal circumstances and the property itself can all matter. But I do believe homeowners should understand what they may gain, and what they may give up, when choosing how broadly their home will be exposed to the market.

What Does a Public Listing Mean?

A traditional public listing is the option most homeowners are familiar with. The property is entered into the Multiple Listing Service and, depending on the seller’s instructions and applicable MLS rules, may also be distributed to consumer facing real estate websites.

That broad exposure can be important.

Selling a home is ultimately about connecting a property with potential buyers. The more broadly a home is exposed, the more opportunities buyers and their real estate professionals may have to discover it, evaluate it and potentially make an offer.

That does not mean that maximum exposure automatically guarantees the highest price. Real estate is much more nuanced than that. Pricing, presentation, property condition, photography, timing and the local market all matter.

But exposure is an important part of the conversation.

Why Would a Seller Want More Privacy?

There are also legitimate reasons why a homeowner might not want immediate public exposure.

A seller may value privacy. There may be family or personal circumstances involved. Someone may want additional time before a property appears broadly on consumer websites. In other situations, the seller and broker may determine that a different marketing timeline makes sense for that particular property.

This is where understanding the terminology becomes helpful.

An Office Exclusive listing, under current National Association of REALTORS® MLS policy, is a listing in which the seller directs that the property not be publicly marketed and not be disseminated through the MLS to other MLS participants and subscribers. The listing is still filed with the MLS, subject to applicable local rules.

That is a meaningful choice because the seller is choosing not to receive the broad and immediate exposure normally associated with MLS distribution.

Home sellers may have different marketing options. Understanding how each choice affects timing, privacy and exposure is an important part of deciding how to bring a home to market.

What About Delayed Marketing?

There is another option that is important to distinguish from an Office Exclusive.

Under NAR’s Multiple Listing Options for Sellers policy, a Delayed Marketing Exempt Listing is entered into the MLS and is available to other MLS participants, but public marketing through IDX and syndication is delayed for the period permitted by the local MLS.

In other words, “not on the public websites yet” does not necessarily mean “not in the MLS.”

That distinction was one of the reasons I found this subject so valuable at The MLS Summit. Real estate terminology can sound technical, but behind the terminology are decisions that can have very practical consequences for homeowners.

The Questions I Would Encourage a Seller to Ask

If a homeowner is considering limiting or delaying the exposure of their property, I think it is important to understand why.

What is the benefit to the seller?

Who will be able to see the home during that period?

Who will not?

How could this affect the number of buyers who become aware of the property?

What is the seller gaining in exchange for limiting or delaying broader exposure?

These are reasonable questions, and they are exactly the kinds of conversations I believe homeowners should feel comfortable having with their real estate professional.

Current NAR policy reflects the importance of that informed decision. When a seller chooses an exempt listing option such as an Office Exclusive or Delayed Marketing listing, the required disclosure includes acknowledgment that the seller understands the MLS benefits they are waiving or delaying, including broad and immediate exposure through the MLS.

I think that is an important principle beyond the paperwork itself: the marketing strategy should serve the seller.

Every Home Deserves Its Own Conversation

One thing I continue to appreciate about real estate is that two homes in the same neighborhood can require very different strategies.

That is certainly true here in Pacific Palisades and throughout the Westside of Los Angeles. A seller’s priorities, the condition of the home, the property’s price range, current competition and even the reason for selling can influence how a home should be positioned.

This is also why I do not think homeowners should feel pressured to choose a particular marketing strategy simply because it is described as exclusive, private or special.

Sometimes privacy may genuinely be important. Sometimes delaying public marketing may make sense. In other circumstances, broad exposure to the marketplace may better serve the seller’s goals.

The important thing is understanding the difference and making the choice intentionally.

My Takeaway From The MLS Summit

I left The MLS Summit with pages of notes, but one idea keeps coming back to me: homeowners deserve to understand the choices being made on their behalf.

Technology and real estate marketing will continue to evolve. There will probably be even more ways to market a home in the future. But the responsibility of a real estate professional remains very human: explain the options clearly, answer questions honestly and help the client make an informed decision based on what is best for their situation.

If you are considering selling a home in Pacific Palisades or elsewhere on the Westside of Los Angeles and you are wondering how your property should be marketed, I am always happy to help you understand the different options. You do not need to know all of the MLS terminology before starting the conversation. That is part of what I am here for.

With gratitude and a heart of service,

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 24, 2026
The Pacific Palisades Farmers Market Is Back: A Community Beginning to Bloom Again

Yesterday felt like another important day in Pacific Palisades.

On Wednesday, August 19, the Pacific Palisades Farmers Market returned to Swarthmore Avenue at Palisades Village for the first time since the January 2025 fire. After everything our community has experienced, seeing those white tents lining the street again meant much more to me than having a place to buy fresh produce and flowers.

It felt like another little piece of our community coming home.

Every Reopening Matters in Pacific Palisades

Since the fire, I have come to appreciate things I probably once took for granted.

A business reopening matters. A school welcoming students back matters. A familiar gathering place returning matters. And now, having our Farmers Market back every Wednesday matters too.

Yesterday, the Village was full of people. Schools have started again in the Palisades, so there were children and families walking around. I ran into friends. Rick Caruso was there. There was a big line at Alfred Coffee. For a few hours, there was the wonderful feeling of people simply being together in their neighborhood again.

I bought a beautiful bouquet of flowers.

Looking at those flowers later, I thought about how appropriate they seemed for this moment in Pacific Palisades.

We are not back to what life looked like before the fire. There is still construction everywhere. There is dust. There are empty lots and businesses that have not returned. Many families are still rebuilding their homes and their lives.

But there are also signs of growth.

Maybe that is what rebuilding actually looks like. Not one dramatic moment when everything suddenly becomes normal again, but hundreds of smaller moments when something begins to bloom.

What This Means for Pacific Palisades Real Estate

As a real estate broker and a longtime resident of Pacific Palisades, I also look at these moments through the lens of our local housing market.

Real estate is about much more than the structure of a house or the price of a property. People choose communities because of the life surrounding their homes.

They care about schools, restaurants, coffee shops, parks, local businesses and places where they can run into neighbors. They care about whether a community feels alive and connected.

That is why the return of a Farmers Market matters for Pacific Palisades real estate too.

One Farmers Market cannot tell us what home values will do, and I would never suggest that it can. But every business that reopens, every school that welcomes children back and every community tradition that returns helps restore the everyday life that makes a neighborhood a place people want to call home.

I hope we continue to see more businesses return to the Palisades in the months ahead.

Sometimes Rebuilding Means Getting Away From Rebuilding

A few days ago, I did something completely different with my three children.

I had been meaning to take them to The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita, and we finally went.

We spent time with the animals, brushed a cow and, one by one, each of my children hugged her. I did too.

Taking a little break from rebuilding life in Pacific Palisades and spending a peaceful day with my three children at The Gentle Barn in Santa Clarita.

There was something wonderfully peaceful about standing next to this enormous, gentle animal.

For a little while, there were no construction trucks, no construction dust and no conversations about rebuilding. There was just a cow, three children, their mom and a very different kind of afternoon.

I don’t know exactly how the experience of the fire will stay with my children as they grow older. I don’t know exactly how it will stay with me either.

But I do know that getting away from our daily surroundings for a few hours felt good.

And strangely, standing there brushing and hugging a cow made me think about Pacific Palisades.

Rebuilding Homes and Rebuilding a Community

In real estate, rebuilding can sound very physical.

Plans. Permits. Contractors. Foundations. Walls. Roofs. Landscaping.

Those things are enormously important. We need homes rebuilt.

But a community is not rebuilt with lumber and concrete alone.

It is rebuilt when children return to school. When someone opens the doors of a business again. When neighbors stop to talk. When people stand in line for coffee. When farmers put up their tents. When you unexpectedly see a friend while buying vegetables.

And perhaps it is also rebuilt when a family that has lived through something difficult gives itself permission to leave the construction zone for an afternoon, drive to a barn and hug a cow.

Yesterday, I came home from the Farmers Market with a bouquet of flowers.

For me, those flowers are a small reminder of where Pacific Palisades is today.

We are still rebuilding.

We are still figuring out what “normal” means now.

But little by little, our community is beginning to bloom again.

And I am very grateful to be here to see it.

With gratitude and a heart of service,

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 20, 2026
Palisades Village Reopens: What It Means for the Future of Pacific Palisades

Yesterday, Saturday, August 15, was a very special day in Pacific Palisades. After being closed for more than 19 months following the devastating Palisades Fire, Palisades Village officially reopened.

I went to the reopening with my children, and what struck me most was simply seeing people together again. The Village was crowded, there was a flyover overhead, and everywhere I looked I seemed to recognize a familiar face. After everything our community has experienced since January 2025, there was something incredibly encouraging about seeing people walking through the Village again, talking, laughing and enjoying a place that had been such a familiar part of life in the Palisades.

More Than the Reopening of a Shopping Center

Palisades Village is, of course, a place to shop and eat, but for those of us who live here, it has also been part of the rhythm of the community. It is a place where you run into neighbors, take your children, meet a friend for coffee or simply walk around.

That is why yesterday felt significant. The reopening does not mean that the recovery of Pacific Palisades is complete. It isn’t. There are still homes to rebuild, businesses trying to return, families making difficult decisions and enormous amounts of work ahead of us.

But having an important gathering place in the center of the community reopen feels like another meaningful step forward.

Rick Caruso and the Caruso team made the decision to restore and reopen Palisades Village after the fire, and yesterday it was wonderful to see that work come to life. Seeing the crowds return was also a reminder that people still care deeply about this community and want to be part of its future.

“Broken But Together”

One of my favorite moments yesterday happened when I took this photograph of my sons, Elon and Enzo, next to a sculpture that is now displayed at Palisades Village.

My sons, Elon and Enzo, with Michael Benisty’s “Broken But Together” at Palisades Village. The sculpture survived the Palisades Fire and has found a new home in the Village.

At first, my children were simply fascinated by the two enormous mirrored figures. But after learning the story behind them, the photograph became much more meaningful to me.

The sculpture, called Broken But Together by artist Michael Benisty, survived the Palisades Fire after the property where it had been displayed was destroyed. It was later recovered and has now been given a home at Palisades Village.

I love the meaning behind it because it feels especially appropriate here. Pacific Palisades has been through tremendous loss. Rebuilding does not erase what happened, and reopening one part of our community does not mean everything is suddenly back to normal. But piece by piece, familiar parts of our community are returning and new ones are taking their place.

Yesterday was one of those pieces.

What Does This Mean for Pacific Palisades Real Estate?

As a Pacific Palisades resident and real estate broker, I also found myself thinking about what the reopening means for the future of real estate in our community.

Real estate is about much more than the house itself.

When someone chooses where to live, they are also choosing the community around that house. They care about the places where they can walk, shop, eat, take their children and spend time with friends. They care about neighborhood businesses, schools, parks, streets and the feeling they get when they drive home.

That is why the recovery of places such as Palisades Village matters to Pacific Palisades real estate.

It would be far too simplistic to say that the reopening of the Village automatically means home values will rise. Real estate values are influenced by many factors, and the Palisades is still navigating an unprecedented rebuilding process.

What I do believe is that the return of businesses, gathering places and everyday community life is an encouraging sign for the long term future of Pacific Palisades. A healthy real estate market depends in part on people wanting to live in a community, and yesterday was a powerful reminder of how many people still believe in this one.

A flyover above Pacific Palisades during the Palisades Village reopening celebration on August 15, 2026.

Looking Ahead at Pacific Palisades

There will be many more milestones ahead.

Some will be large and highly visible, like the reopening of Palisades Village. Others will happen quietly, one property at a time, when a family receives a permit, construction begins on a home, a business reopens or someone finally gets to return.

For homeowners considering whether to rebuild, sell or stay in Pacific Palisades, there are still complicated questions ahead. The answers will be different for every family. I think it is important to be realistic about that while also recognizing the progress happening around us.

Yesterday, I saw a lot of that progress in one place.

I saw familiar faces. I saw neighbors gathering again. I watched my boys explore a place that will become part of their own memories of growing up in Pacific Palisades. And standing there with my kids next to Broken But Together, I was reminded that rebuilding a community is not something that happens all at once.

It happens piece by piece.

I am grateful to everyone who has worked to bring this part of our community back, and I am hopeful about what comes next for Pacific Palisades.

With gratitude and a heart of service,

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 17, 2026
How Is the Real Estate Market? The Better Question Every Home Seller Should Ask

One of the most common questions in real estate is also one of the hardest to answer:

“How is the market?”

It sounds like a simple question. But after attending The MLS Summit 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center in Los Angeles, one idea stayed with me: before answering that question, we should first ask, which market?

That may seem like a small distinction, but for a homeowner thinking about selling, it can make a very big difference.

There is no single Los Angeles real estate market behaving exactly the same way everywhere. The market for a home in Pacific Palisades may look very different from the market for a condominium in West Los Angeles. Even within the same neighborhood, homes in different price ranges, locations, sizes, and conditions may face very different competition. That is why I believe homeowners deserve something more useful than a general statement that “the market is good” or “the market is slow.”

Your Home Has Its Own Market

When we hear reports about the Los Angeles housing market, we are usually looking at broad statistics. Those numbers can certainly be useful. They help us understand larger trends in prices, inventory, interest rates, and buyer activity.

But when someone is preparing to sell a particular home, the question becomes much more specific.

What are buyers looking at as alternatives to this home right now? How many similar properties are currently available? What price range are they in? How long have they been on the market? What condition are they in? And perhaps most importantly, how does this particular property fit within those choices? That smaller universe is the market that matters most to the homeowner.

Nick Segal presenting “Become an Instant Authority in Any Market!” at The MLS Summit 2026. One takeaway that stayed with me was the importance of defining which market we are actually talking about before discussing real estate conditions.

Why Active Listings Matter When Selling a Home

Something else I brought home from the Summit was a greater appreciation for active inventory.

When homeowners think about the value of their property, it is natural to focus on homes that recently sold. Those sales are extremely important, and they are a major part of a thoughtful comparative market analysis.

But active listings tell us something different.

They show us the competition a seller may be facing today.

Imagine that a buyer is searching for a home within a particular area and price range. That buyer may have several properties to choose from this weekend. Those homes are competing for the buyer’s attention at the same moment. Looking carefully at that active competition can help a seller better understand how buyers may perceive the home’s price, condition, location, features, and overall value.

The Market Can Change Within a Few Blocks

This is especially interesting to me as someone who lives and works on the Westside of Los Angeles.

We often talk about areas such as Pacific Palisades, Brentwood, Santa Monica, Westwood, and the surrounding Westside as though each one represents a single market. In reality, even within those communities there can be smaller markets.

Price range matters. Property type matters. Location within a neighborhood matters. Condition matters. Views, lot size, privacy, layout, renovations, and proximity to certain amenities can matter too.

And then there is timing. The competition a homeowner faces when listing a property today may not be the same competition that existed three months ago or will exist three months from now.

Real estate conditions can vary significantly by neighborhood, property type, price range, and even the competition available to buyers at a particular moment.

Online Estimates Cannot See Everything

Technology has given homeowners access to an incredible amount of real estate information. I think that is a good thing.

A homeowner can look up estimated values, recent sales, neighborhood statistics, and properties for sale in a matter of minutes. Artificial intelligence is making access to information even faster.

But information and interpretation are not quite the same thing.

An automated system may know the square footage and number of bedrooms. It may identify nearby sales. What it may not fully understand is why one comparable is more meaningful than another, how buyers are responding to the current competition, or whether something unique about a home’s condition, location, layout, privacy, view, or improvements changes the comparison. This is one of the reasons I continue to believe that technology and professional judgment work best together.

Good Real Estate Advice Starts With Homework

I have written before that I think of preparing a CMA as doing homework, and I really mean that.

The more I learn about the MLS and the information available to real estate professionals, the more I appreciate how much there is to study before giving a homeowner an opinion about their property.

For me, being prepared means looking beyond one number. It means studying relevant sales, examining active competition, understanding the specific micro market, considering the characteristics of the property, and then explaining what the information may mean for the homeowner’s selling strategy. I would much rather tell someone, “Let me study your particular market,” than give them a quick answer based on a headline about Los Angeles real estate.

So, How Is the Market?

The next time someone asks me that question, I may answer with another one:

Which market?

Because if you are thinking about selling your home, the market that matters most is not necessarily the one being discussed on television or summarized in a national headline.

It is the market surrounding your home, your competition, your price range, and your goals.

One of the reasons I enjoy continuing to learn about real estate and the MLS is that better information helps me be of better service. Homeowners make important financial and personal decisions when they sell a home, and I believe they deserve advice based on preparation, context, and careful attention to the market that actually matters to them.

Claudia Backus, MBA
California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR®
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 14, 2026
What Is a CMA in Real Estate? What Los Angeles Homeowners Should Know Before Selling

If you are thinking about selling your home, you have probably asked some version of the question, “What is my house worth?” Today, homeowners can find estimates online in seconds, but understanding how a home fits into the current market usually requires more than one automated number.

A Comparative Market Analysis, commonly called a CMA, is one of the tools real estate professionals use to help answer that question. A thoughtful CMA looks at relevant properties, current market conditions, active competition, and the characteristics of a specific home to help a homeowner understand a reasonable pricing range and begin thinking about a selling strategy.

As a mom of three young children, the word “homework” has taken on a whole new meaning in my life. But there is another kind of homework I have come to appreciate in real estate: the work that should happen before advising someone about the value and pricing of their home. To me, a good CMA is exactly that kind of homework.

What Is a CMA in Real Estate?

A CMA is an analysis of comparable properties and market conditions used to help estimate how a home may compete in the current real estate market. It usually includes recent sales, but a good analysis goes beyond finding a few homes nearby and averaging their sale prices.

The goal is to identify properties that are meaningfully comparable and then understand the differences. Location, size, condition, renovations, lot characteristics, views, layout, privacy, and other property specific details can all affect how buyers perceive value. Two homes can be close to one another and still compete very differently in the market. This is one reason I believe a CMA should be researched rather than simply generated. The data matters, but so does deciding which data is actually relevant.

One statistic that caught my attention at The MLS Summit 2026 was how strongly real estate professionals continue to value the CMA, even as consumers have access to more online home valuation tools.

Why Does a CMA Still Matter When We Have Online Home Estimates?

Homeowners now have access to more real estate information than ever before, and I think that is a good thing. Online valuation tools can be useful as a starting point, and artificial intelligence is creating even more ways to organize and analyze information. I use technology myself and enjoy learning how these tools can help us work more intelligently.

But an estimate and an analysis are not quite the same thing. An automated tool may not fully understand a remodeled kitchen, an unusual floor plan, the quality of a view, the condition of a property, or why buyers may respond differently to two homes that look similar on paper. A CMA gives us an opportunity to look at the data in the context of the actual property and the market around it.

That distinction became even clearer to me at The MLS Summit 2026. As public real estate data and AI tools continue to grow, I do not think the professional role becomes less important. I think the responsibility shifts toward understanding the information, verifying it, interpreting it carefully, and explaining it clearly to the homeowner.

A CMA Is More Than Looking at Sold Homes

One of my favorite practical takeaways from the Summit was the importance of looking closely at active inventory. Sold properties tell us what buyers were willing to pay in the recent past, which is important, but active listings tell us what a buyer can choose today.

If you are preparing to sell, your home is not only being compared with properties that sold three months ago. It will compete with the homes buyers can tour and consider right now. Understanding that active competition can help put pricing, condition, presentation, and strategy into perspective.

This is also where the idea of a micro market matters. Asking “How is the Los Angeles market?” is often too broad to be very useful for one homeowner. The more helpful question is: what is happening in the particular market in which this particular home will compete? Price range, neighborhood, property type, size, condition, and buyer expectations can create very different markets within the same city.

A Home Is Not Just a Collection of Data

A CMA depends on data, but a home is not simply a collection of numbers. This is where professional judgment and local context become important. How does the home compare with the competition buyers are seeing right now? Which comparable properties are truly comparable? Does a renovation add the value a homeowner expects it to add? How might buyers respond to the condition, layout, lot, view, privacy, or location?

Those questions do not mean the data is less important. They mean the data needs to be interpreted. A good CMA should help a homeowner understand not only what the numbers say, but why certain properties are more relevant than others and what those comparisons may mean for the home’s position in the market.

Pricing Can Be Personal

Pricing a home is both analytical and personal. For many homeowners, a house represents far more than an investment. It may be where children grew up, where holidays were celebrated, where years of improvements were made, or simply a place filled with memories. It makes sense that conversations about value can carry emotion.

Pricing was a major theme during the CMA discussion at The MLS Summit 2026. The presentation shared survey data showing that pricing was the number one seller objection at a listing presentation, reported by 63.7 percent of surveyed agents. I do not interpret that statistic as homeowners being difficult. I see it as a reminder of how important it is for a real estate professional to arrive prepared and be able to explain the evidence behind a pricing recommendation.

Pricing was an important part of the CMA discussion at The MLS Summit 2026. A thoughtful CMA can give homeowners an evidence based starting point for understanding how their home fits into the current market.

A CMA Is a Starting Point for a Conversation

I do not think the purpose of a CMA is to walk into someone’s home, announce a number, and end the conversation. The more useful approach is to walk through the information together. Which properties were selected as comparables? Why were they selected? What is currently competing for buyers’ attention? Where is the subject property stronger or weaker? What has changed in the market?

The homeowner’s goals matter too. One seller may prioritize achieving the highest possible price and have flexibility with timing. Another may need to move within a certain period. Someone else may value privacy, simplicity, or certainty. The market data helps inform the strategy, but the strategy should also reflect the person making the decision.

That is why I like thinking of a CMA as the beginning of a thoughtful pricing conversation rather than a final verdict on what a home is worth.

Doing the Homework Before Selling

The more I learn about real estate, the more I appreciate how much responsibility comes with giving someone guidance about their home. A CMA may begin with numbers, but its purpose is not simply to produce a number. It is to help a homeowner understand the market, ask better questions, and make a decision with more information and confidence.

To me, that is what doing the homework is really about. If someone trusts me enough to ask for guidance about one of their largest assets, I want to come prepared, keep learning, explain what I see as clearly as I can, and do my best to be of service.

Claudia Backus, MBA, REALTOR®
California Real Estate Broker
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 14, 2026
How AI Is Changing Real Estate Without Replacing Human Judgment

This week, while attending The MLS Summit 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center on the Westside of Los Angeles, I was especially interested in the conversations about artificial intelligence and the ways AI is becoming part of the real estate industry. I love AI. I use it, I learn from it, and I am fascinated by how quickly the technology is developing. At the same time, I believe that the more powerful these tools become, the more important it is to understand what they can do well, where they can be wrong, and when human judgment still matters.

For homeowners thinking about selling, I believe that distinction is particularly important. Technology can help us work faster and analyze more information, but selling a home is still a very personal decision that involves goals, timing, finances, circumstances, and sometimes a great deal of emotion.

My Interest in AI Started Before the MLS Summit

My interest in artificial intelligence did not begin at this conference. Last summer, I took a UCLA Extension course called AI Safety, Policy, and Ethics: What is Responsible AI. I wanted to understand not only what artificial intelligence can do, but also how it should be used responsibly, including questions involving ethics, safety, transparency, accountability, and privacy.

Even after completing my formal education, I have always enjoyed taking classes and continuing to learn. Real estate, technology, finance, and business are constantly changing, and I do not think learning should stop simply because you have a degree or a professional license.

Even after graduation, I have always enjoyed continuing to learn. Last summer, that curiosity led me to take AI Safety, Policy, and Ethics: What is Responsible AI through UCLA Extension.

AI Has Already Changed the Way I Learn Real Estate

One reason I personally appreciate AI is that it helps me ask better questions. Real estate has an enormous amount to learn, from MLS rules and contracts to disclosures, market statistics, pricing considerations, financing, local regulations, and technology. When I encounter something unfamiliar, AI can help me understand terminology, organize a complicated subject, think through questions I may not have considered, and identify what I need to research further.

I find that incredibly useful, but there is an important distinction between using AI to help formulate a question and assuming that its answer is correct. I still need to verify important information through the appropriate sources, review MLS data, understand the property and local market, and sometimes ask another professional who knows considerably more about a particular subject than I do. AI can help me learn, but it does not eliminate my responsibility to do my homework.

There Is More Than One AI Tool

One of the slides at The MLS Summit showed several general purpose AI tools together, including ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity. I liked that slide because it was a reminder that AI is no longer one mysterious piece of technology. Professionals now have access to different tools that can assist with research, organization, analysis, communication, and productivity.

Artificial intelligence was part of the conversation at The MLS Summit 2026, including how tools such as ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini, and Perplexity are becoming part of everyday professional workflows.

For real estate professionals, these tools can potentially help us organize information, analyze data, prepare for conversations, research unfamiliar topics, and work more efficiently. That can be valuable, but efficiency is not the same thing as judgment.

A Home Is Not Just a Collection of Data

This is where I think the conversation becomes especially relevant for home sellers. AI can analyze numbers very quickly, recognize patterns, and process amounts of information that would take a person considerably longer to review. That ability can be extremely helpful when we are studying a market or trying to make sense of a large amount of real estate data.

But determining how to position a particular home for sale requires context too. How does the home compare with the competition buyers are seeing right now? Which comparable properties are truly comparable? Does a renovation add the value a homeowner expects it to add? How might buyers respond to the condition of the property? Is there something unusual about the location, lot, layout, view, privacy, or neighborhood that changes the comparison? These are the kinds of questions where data is important, but interpreting the data matters just as much.

There is also something even more important that a computer cannot decide for a homeowner: what the seller actually wants. One person may prioritize price, while another may care more about timing, privacy, convenience, or certainty. A family may also have circumstances that influence which selling strategy makes the most sense. Understanding those priorities requires a conversation, not simply an algorithm.

AI Can Provide Information, but People Provide Context

I do not see AI and real estate professionals as competitors. I think the better question is whether a real estate professional knows how to use technology without outsourcing judgment to it. If AI can help me research something faster, discover a question I should be asking, or organize information so I can spend more time understanding a seller’s goals, I consider that valuable.

At the same time, I never want technology to become a substitute for listening. For me, good real estate service still means understanding the person sitting across from me, doing the research, verifying important information, explaining the available choices, and being willing to say, “I need to look into that further,” when I do not know an answer. In many ways, I think AI makes that responsibility more important, not less.

The Future of Real Estate Can Be Both High Tech and Human

I am excited about artificial intelligence, and I want to keep learning about it, experimenting with it, and finding responsible ways to use it in my work. At the same time, I hope the real estate industry never loses sight of what technology is supposed to accomplish. It should help us become better informed, ask better questions, work more efficiently, and ideally give us more time and better information to serve people well.

Homes are personal. Selling one can involve finances, family, memories, uncertainty, and major life decisions. No matter how sophisticated our technology becomes, I believe there will always be value in having a knowledgeable human being listen, think, research, explain, and care.

I am grateful that I have opportunities to keep learning, whether through a UCLA Extension classroom, a real estate conference, the MLS, or simply asking another question when I realize there is something I do not yet understand. For me, that is what learning is ultimately for: not simply knowing more, but becoming better equipped to be of service to others.

Claudia Backus, MBA, REALTOR®
California Real Estate Broker
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 14, 2026
What I Learned at The MLS Summit 2026: Why the MLS Still Matters to Los Angeles Home Sellers

This week, I attended The MLS Summit 2026 at the Skirball Cultural Center on the Westside of Los Angeles. I went ready to learn, and I left with an even greater appreciation for how much information is available through the MLS and how important it is for real estate professionals to know how to use that information well.

As a real estate broker, I believe knowledge is part of service. The more I understand about the market, the tools available to me, and the choices available to sellers, the better prepared I am to help someone make a thoughtful decision about one of their largest assets. One of my biggest takeaways from the day was simple: the MLS is much more than a place where homes are listed for sale.

A fun day of learning at The MLS Summit 2026. There is always more to learn in real estate, and I believe that knowledge helps me better serve my clients.

So, Why Does the MLS Still Matter to Home Sellers?

Today, homeowners have access to an incredible amount of real estate information online. You can search for homes, look at estimated values, review recent sales, and follow the market from your phone. That access is useful, but having information and knowing how to interpret it are not always the same thing.

For a homeowner preparing to sell, the questions become much more specific. Which recently sold homes are actually comparable to yours? What homes are currently competing for the same buyers? How long are similar properties taking to sell? Have there been price reductions? What happened with listings that did not sell? And what does all of that information mean for your particular home?

This is where professional MLS access, combined with research, local knowledge, and human judgment, can become very valuable. The MLS gives real estate professionals detailed information that can help us understand not only what has sold, but also what is happening in the market right now.

A CMA Is More Than a Number

One of the sessions that especially resonated with me was about the Comparative Market Analysis, or CMA. To me, a good CMA is homework. It means studying the property, looking carefully at relevant comparable sales, understanding the current competition, considering the differences between properties, and paying attention to what is happening in that particular market.

That matters because pricing a home is not simply about finding a number that sounds good. A thoughtful pricing strategy should have a reason behind it, and a seller should be able to understand that reason. Data is important, but so is the ability to interpret it and explain what it may mean for a specific property.

Technology Can Help, but Judgment Still Matters

I love AI, and I believe technology will continue changing real estate in ways we are only beginning to understand. AI can help professionals research, organize information, identify patterns, and work more efficiently. I am excited to keep learning how to use these tools responsibly and effectively.

At the same time, the summit reinforced something important for me. More technology does not make good real estate information less important. It makes knowing what information to trust and how to use it even more important. A seller does not need someone simply because that person can pull up data. A seller needs someone who can study the information, ask good questions, explain what matters, and apply it to the seller’s actual situation.

AI was part of the conversation at The MLS Summit 2026, and I believe these tools can help real estate professionals work more efficiently while still relying on human judgment and trusted market information.

Sellers Should Understand Their Options

Another reason the MLS continues to matter is exposure and choice. Not every seller has exactly the same priorities. One homeowner may want broad exposure. Another may care deeply about privacy. Someone else may be focused on timing, convenience, cost, or having more control over the selling process.

My philosophy is not that every homeowner needs exactly the same service. I believe in being a broker who gives sellers options, explains those options clearly, and helps them understand the advantages and limitations of each one. The right approach should be based on the seller’s goals, the property, the market, and the rules that apply.

My job is not to push someone toward the option that benefits me most. My job is to help a seller understand the choices, provide useful information, and support that seller in making a decision that makes sense for them.

Knowledge Is Part of Service

I left The MLS Summit 2026 reminded of how much there is to learn about the MLS and how valuable that learning can be. Real estate changes, technology changes, MLS tools and rules evolve, and markets change. I want to keep learning because every new piece of knowledge gives me another opportunity to become more useful to the people I serve.

For me, being a good broker is not about pretending to know everything. It is about doing the homework, asking questions, continuing to learn, and taking the time to explain things clearly. If you are thinking about selling a home in Pacific Palisades or elsewhere on the Westside of Los Angeles, you deserve to understand the market, the information behind the recommendations you receive, and the choices available to you.

I am grateful for opportunities like The MLS Summit that allow me to learn from others, strengthen my knowledge, and bring that knowledge back to the people I serve. At the end of the day, real estate is about more than properties and numbers. It is about people, trust, and being of service to others. I hope to keep learning with gratitude, keep showing up with a heart for service, and use what I learn to help others make informed decisions with greater confidence.

Claudia Backus, MBA, REALTOR®
California Real Estate Broker
Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 14, 2026
Santa Monica: A City That Has Been Part of My Story for Years

When people think about Santa Monica, California, they may picture the beach, the pier, beautiful neighborhoods, the Third Street Promenade, or simply the experience of living close to the ocean on the Westside of Los Angeles.

When I think about Santa Monica, I think about all of those things – but I also think about community, education, motherhood, service, and many different chapters of my own life.

My connection to Santa Monica began long before I became a local real estate broker serving Pacific Palisades and neighborhoods throughout the Westside of Los Angeles, such as Santa Monica.

From Santa Monica College to UCSB

One of my earliest chapters here was as a student at Santa Monica College before transferring to the University of California, Santa Barbara, where I earned my B.A. in Business Economics.

I have wonderful memories of SMC. The counselors helped me tremendously as I was figuring out my educational and career path, and their guidance made a lasting impression on me.

I also received scholarships from local Kiwanis and Rotary organizations and started a student organization called the Access to Marketing Club. I loved it. Looking back, it probably shouldn’t surprise me that I eventually earned my MBA while working full time. I have always been fascinated by business, marketing, and finding creative ways to connect people with opportunities.

Santa Monica College continues to have an extraordinary transfer tradition, and I remain grateful that part of my own educational journey began there.

Watching Santa Monica Change

Years later, I worked in an office in Santa Monica. One of the perks was being able to walk during my lunch break, browse the shops and grab something to eat nearby.

I remember Johnny Rockets and the familiar stores and restaurants that made those little lunch breaks fun.

Santa Monica has changed since then.

Some longtime businesses have disappeared. New ones have arrived. Downtown Santa Monica and the Third Street Promenade have gone through difficult periods, and concerns about homelessness, public safety, affordability, vacancies and the changing character of the city shouldn’t simply be brushed aside.

I don’t believe loving a community requires pretending that everything about it is perfect.

In fact, I think caring about a community means being willing to recognize both what makes it special and what needs attention.

And there are encouraging signs, too. Santa Monica continues to evolve, welcome new businesses and work through some of its most difficult challenges. Cities change. Neighborhoods change. Real estate changes. The important question is what we do with that change and how we continue building communities where people want to live, work and raise their families.

Santa Monica as a Mom

My relationship with Santa Monica took on another meaning after I became a mother.

I love the Santa Monica Family YMCA, and especially the Zumba classes. There is something wonderful about having community spaces where families can exercise, meet people and simply be part of something local.

Another important part of my Santa Monica story has been Vintage Church Los Angeles. I began attending about a year before the 2025 Palisades fire, initially drawn in part by a group for mothers of young children. I love being around other moms. There is something comforting and often funny about sharing what is working, what definitely isn’t working, and realizing that none of us has parenting completely figured out.

The day I brought my first son home from UCLA Santa Monica Medical Center to Pacific Palisades. It was a very special beginning to my journey as a mom.

After the fire displaced my family, people from that community showed my children and me tremendous kindness. We received food, gift cards for essentials and, perhaps most importantly, emotional support during an incredibly difficult time.

That kindness stayed with me.

A few months later, I began volunteering periodically with the children’s Sunday school program. I especially love volunteering around my own children’s classes because I want my kids not only to hear me talk about helping others, but to see me doing it.

They are so proud when Mommy is volunteering at their Sunday school. And I have to admit, I’m pretty happy about it too.

What Does Any of This Have to Do With Real Estate?

Enjoying a beautiful day at the Santa Monica Pier with my three kiddos: one of many family memories we’ve made on the Westside.

Actually, quite a lot.

Real estate is ultimately about much more than square footage, interest rates and comparable sales.

It’s about people’s lives.

A home is where someone brings a new baby home. It’s where children grow up. It’s where people celebrate birthdays, have difficult conversations, invite friends over, start businesses at the kitchen table and build memories that may last much longer than the house itself.

That’s one reason I approach my work as a California real estate broker serving neighborhoods such as Santa Monica throughout the Westside of Los Angeles, as well as Pacific Palisades, with a service-first mindset.

I also believe homeowners deserve options.

Not every seller needs exactly the same level of real estate service. Some want comprehensive representation from beginning to end. Others are experienced, capable sellers who may want MLS exposure and more control over the process. Still others fall somewhere in between. My role isn’t to force every homeowner into the same box. It is to listen, explain the options clearly and help people decide what makes sense for their particular situation.

Looking Forward

Santa Monica isn’t exactly the city I remember from my college days or those lunchtime walks years ago.

But perhaps no city ever stays exactly the same.

There are real challenges here, and there are also families building lives, students planning their futures, small businesses taking chances, longtime residents who care deeply about their neighborhoods, and communities of people helping one another.

I’ve experienced that generosity personally.

It is one of the reasons I am grateful to serve neighborhoods throughout the Westside of Los Angeles, including Santa Monica, as well as Pacific Palisades, as a local real estate broker.

For me, real estate is a business – but being of service to people is the bigger purpose behind it.

With gratitude and a heart for service,

Claudia Backus, MBA

California Real Estate Broker | REALTOR® Serving Pacific Palisades & the Westside

August 13, 2026