Nikki and Robb Friedman have been fortunate to work with a diverse group of clients, from families aiming to put roots down and purchase their first homes to high-profile individuals, celebrities and professional athletes looking to sell. Natives and residents of Calabasas, Nikki and Robb have extensive knowledge of the different cities and neighborhoods across Los Angeles, The San Fernando Valley, and the Conejo Valley area. Here, the team shares their insights into what makes for a successful real estate relationship.
What separates you from the many other real estate agents?
Robb: Nikki and I have diverse backgrounds. I bring over 30 years in marketing and advertising experience to the table and have always had an eye for aesthetics, designing motion picture sets in my early years, which lead me to interior design. Nikki’s degree in Psychology and her 20-plus years’ experience in the service-and-hospitality industry gives her the unique ability to work with anyone and truly understand where they are coming from at each moment of the real estate experience, along with all the emotions involved in the process.
How has your design background impacted your work in real estate?
Nikki: Design is so important to what we do, as we’re not just buying and selling homes, we are really selling a lifestyle. Not only do we help put our clients’ houses on the market, but in many cases, we stage them, and our buyers usually bring us on after their purchase to help them remodel and design. I can now walk into any house and know what walls need to come down to maximize the space or how much it will cost to completely revamp the property into a well-designed home.
How does sports intersect with all you do?
Robb: I have been a sports and entertainment fine art painter since college and have had the honor of creating many commissioned custom pieces for professional athletes. In 2006 the Ali Center in Louisville, Kentucky chose my painting of Muhammad Ali to open the museum, and, from there, I created several lasting relationships with pro athletes that eventually turned into negotiating endorsement deals with players from the Lakers, Dodgers, Rams, and more. Nikki and I continue to nurture those relationships and other high-profile referral clients to handle their home sales or purchases. Building trust and true value to all that we work with is priceless.
What is the most rewarding thing about your job?
Nikki: I know that buying a house is one of the most stressful moments in a person’s life. When a client gets their dream home, I see them smile and know that we have made a huge impact on their life. My husband and I love finding properties that are a diamond in the rough. It’s amazing to transform something that someone would have walked away from into the envy of the neighborhood. These special moments attribute to building lifelong relationships with our clients.
Giving back to your community is a big part of what you do. Tell us more about that.
Robb: I donate many paintings each year to various charities to help raise money and Nikki has worked many different charities such as, The Cheesecake Factory’s Oscar & Evelyn Charitable Foundation to raise millions over the last several years. I sit on the board of Walking Strong, a charity that raises money for families that have a child with Duchenne which is a Tragic disease in young boys, and we both work to execute their annual Gala. Working with pro athletes to raise the awareness and fight for a cure is important to us both. And, for the last 11 years, I have had the honor of serving as a reserve deputy with the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department where I serve and protect those and the communities around us.
