Hip photos bring Los Feliz home listing to life

If it’s true that you get only one chance to make a first impression, where does that leave the real estate agent who gets a listing the third time sellers put their home on the market?

Patricia Ruben found herself in just that situation when she listed a Minimalist-style house in Los Feliz. The 3,500-square-foot house had languished on the market with the two previous listing agents.

“People aren’t visualizing themselves in your home,” the Sotheby’s agent told the homeowners. She imagined a hipster or musician in the open-plan house.

With the help of photographers Brianna and Bruce Livingstone, who founded iStockphoto, Ruben placed models in some of the marketing photos and had others shot in black and white for a retro look. The resulting website photo gallery has the feel of a story line about a couple’s home life.

Seeing a person in a sea of house photos will stop the eye. At least that’s what Ruben is betting on as she hopes the third time is a charm in selling the 1952 house, which is listed at $2.45 million.

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