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My Property Beat Radio Interview! Secret Tips For Buyers in SF, Where's Market Headed & Whats 'Price to Entice' About?

3/20/2014

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New Real Estate Podcasts with The Property Beat on BlogTalkRadio
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Real Estate talk show hosts Cliff Perotti & Lisa Perotti  had me on their program The Property Beat...and boy what fun! These 2 grilled me about what's happening in this outrageous SF market, how I started videoblogging and more!  

Tune into the show to find out my answers to:

1.   What are the challenges you see for a first time home buyer in SF today?

2.   What do you think about the market today vs. last year… is it better, flat or not as good?

3.  what advice do you give a buyer who’s writing an offer in a multiple offer situation?

4.   So, is your notoriety helping your clients? Or is it helping you get clients?

5.   We’re seeing some agents out there that like to price a property on the low side, in an effort to generate overbid frenzy. Do you recommend this strategy for a seller today?

6.   What are the top three things you think a seller can do to maximize the selling price of their home?



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How To Videoblog & Build Your Online Brand...Like Hermanity (Better Homes & Garden Interview)

9/6/2013

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clean slate herman chan real estate agent SF
Change Agent Realtor Herman Chan SF
I had a blast chatting with Better Homes & Gardens Social Media Strategist Rebekah Radice! 
"If you are ready to create a stand-out online presence, then an introduction to Herman Chan is a must. As a San Francisco Bay Area top producing real estate agent, Herman is a master of harnessing the power of the Internet."
Rebekah asks me how I launched my career & why I started my blog Habitat For Hermanity. I also share my 6 tips for video marketing  & most importantly how you can best promote your on-line brand....like Hermanity!  
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Herman Chan's SF Real Estate Q&A on 92.3FM Radio 

5/26/2013

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Herman Chan Radio Personality Real Estate Q&A Expert
Doling out real estate advice with a side of sass is my thang! Having a blast on air on 'Lifestyle Kaleidoscope' with Tily Chao! I loved all the questions, very insightful and current. Hope the 92.3FM listeners got some good info-tainment! Below are the questions and links to the broadcast.
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Part ONE: 20 min
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Part TWO: 10 minutes
KSJO 92.3 FM KLOK 1170 AM

(Intro in Chinese: Tily)
今 天邀请到一位 很特别的 来宾。雖然他的 專業是 房產經濟人,但他在主流 媒體的曝光率 是 頻繁的 也是 多元化的。他的專業知識 除了在 灣區房產 經紀之外,還包括 室內 裝潢設計,美食推薦,與 專題 演講。  他的 專業 網站,“Habitat for Hermanity” 包含了 如何成為一位 成功的 房產經紀人的 視頻博客,以及 綜藝節目評論等。雖然如此,與他 在房地產上 合作過的 客戶,對他 評價 卻是 贊不絕口。現在就讓我們來 認識這位 擁有 獨特魅力的 百萬房產 經紀人,Mr. Herman Chan.
1.  What does it take to make yourself stand out among other real estate brokers?
2.  You seem to be interested and are knowledgeable in so many areas besides real estate, brokerage, including interior decoration, TV entertainment, restaurant recommendations, just to name a few.  What are you most interested in and why?
3.  Do you think home prices are over-priced in the Bay Area?
4.  How long do you think this hot trend will last in the San Francisco Bay Area?
5.  Since this is a seller’s market, do you recommend perhaps older people sell their homes, make some money, and buy a home elsewhere to live, or people whose job situation isn’t so secure to sell their home while the market is hot?  
6.  Besides high rental prices, lower mortgage rates, loosened credit history review, demand from some overseas investors, and perhaps a slight economic recovery in certain sectors, what’s driving such a craze all of a sudden?
7.  If people would like to get in touch with you for advice on anything, how should they contact you?
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Amazing Astounding Awesome Spotlight on Herman Chan for RealEstate.com!! (My Most Revealing Interview to Date!)

3/17/2013

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I reveal my successes & failures in an exclusive chat with RealEstate.com.  In what is probably the most thorough interview I have given to the press, we cover a wide swath of topics from my not-so-glamorous career before real estate, why agents are insecure, how web/tech trends have shifted in the past 3 yrs,  and most importantly what I would tell a younger Herman. Thank You to writer Shannon O'Brien (I now know who is writing my biography! Lol!). 
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Photo Credit: Will Taylor 
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My Dinnerware Setting Tips for USA TODAY Home Magazine

1/3/2013

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In case you missed it last month, I'm in USA Today's Home Magazine. Finally, I got my hands on the tearsheets today so I'm happy to share with you guys! Tips are about holiday settings but my tips still hold true through out the year. I dunno how to cook but I know how to make table look pretty! Happy 2013!
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My Hot Hilarious Helpful Interview w/ Kelly Mitchell on Agent Caffeine! 

12/24/2012

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Click image above to listen!
Kindred spirit Kelly Mitchell interviews me on her super duper popular show Agent Caffeine! Click here for the podcast! 


"This episode of Agent Caffeine takes us to the land of Hermanity.  High fashion, good humor and a funtastic diva rolled into one.  We talk about going from blah to delish and being true to you.  Herman Chan has built an incredible persona.  He’s created opportunities from many different channels including, MTV, HGTV, Huffington Post and the San Francisco Chronicle.  Herman’s also a hot speaking commodity.  You get the authentic nature of his spirit by the fun he has describing what he does as well as his self-deprecating nature. Chan is a superstar in his own right.  Truly a refreshing spin out of the land of vanilla-mess and into the land of sparkling individuality.  If you need inspiration on being yourself and embracing your true authentic brand, Herman has wise words of advice for you". - Kelly Mitchell 


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Top Agent Magazine Profiles San Francisco Realtor Hermanity

12/5/2012

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Guess who graces the cover of Top Agent Magazine?! My tearsheets & interview are below but if you want to read the whole magazine issue, click here. Enjoy!
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photo: BillyWinters.com
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photo: BillyWinters.com
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photo: WTphoto.com (left) JaegerShots.com (right)
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“Cementing Your Brand in a Web 2.0 World” w/ Herman 

10/30/2012

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I'll be on the Monday Morning Radio Show  11/5/12 when Keith Robinson (VP of Better Homes & Gardens) will interview me  about how the heck I brand myself, how you can too & more importantly why that matters in real estate! Should be fun (It's always fun talking about myself! giggle)  

Title: “Cementing Your Brand in a Web 2.0 World” 
Date: Monday, November 5, 2012
Times: 10:00 AM - 11:00 AM PST

Reserve your seat now at: https://www2.gotomeeting.com/register/256281410


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Expert Interview on Business2Community.com- 6 Questions on Social Media w/ Herman Chan  

9/25/2012

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Business 2 Community sat down with me for their "Expert Interviews" series. They asked me 6 questions about social media & real estate, including what is the biggest challenge facing your industry, what is the method/inspiration to your blogging success, what do you think is the future of social media & more! Real estate has been slow to catch up on this but it is about time everyone embraced it. No one want to be the dinosaur agent faxing offers...am I right?! 

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Décor Expert Spotlight: Herman Chan (from Waterfront)

9/21/2012

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Waterfront Shopping Center asked me for some quick decor tips. 


If real estate décor expert Herman Chan looks familiar, you’ve probably spotted him on HGTV’s shows “My House is Worth What?” and “House Hunters.” When not helping clients find their dream homes, he’s helping them stage their space for sale. We snagged this busy realtor for a Q&A on how to design your own “Habitat for Hermanity:”

What are the most common mistakes people making when staging their home to go on the market?

Herman: Staging on their own! Some people think they have impeccable taste and will try to decorate solo, but decorating for yourself is different than staging a house to sell. I realize times are tough and not everyone can afford a stager, so instead of shelling out thousands of dollars, consider doing a one-time consultation—that way, you’ll have a guideline as to what colors to use and what furniture needs to be added/removed.

What are some easy improvements that can make a home more attractive to potential buyers?

Herman: Instead of painting all the walls, which can get costly, sometimes an accent wall is all you need for a pop of color. Also, bathroom and kitchen remodels historically have the highest return on investment. They can be expensive, so a quicker and more affordable facelift is a fresh paint job and/or new fixtures. It is amazing what a new coat of paint and some shiny knobs will do.

If you could tell your clients one important thing, it would be?

Herman: Be careful not to get too trendy. Fads come and go quickly and there is nothing worse then spending a fortune on decking out your home only for it to look dated shortly after.


 

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Sales Insanity w/ Hermanity Radio Show

9/13/2012

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If you missed Ryan Stewman interviewing me for his popular radio show Sales Finesse, you can play it below! 
Listen to internet radio with Ryan Stewman on Blog Talk Radio
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From Sales Finesse Radio: 

The energy levels extra are high on
this week’s show. Herman Chan
stops by to grace us with his positive
outlook on life AND the California
real estate market.

Herman has used his awesome attitude
and the power of the internet to
propel himself in front of his target
audience. He is a living example of
how authenticity online will attract
business.

After listening to the show, make sure
you drop by Herman’s killer blog to
see his work in action.

This show is full of energy, positivity
and motivation. The content of this show
os proof that the economy is all inside
your head.


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Pride & Equality Interviews Herman for "Models of Hope" Issue

1/26/2012

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Pride & Equality Magazine sits down with me to chat about LGBTQ youth, being a "Real Estate Artist" and my eggs drying up!

Also, I'm so flattered to be the special guest for their 4th Annual Vincent R. Johnson Models of Hope Dinner next month. They honor "individuals that not only the GLBT youth can look up to, but anyone the community can see as a ray of light." Great cause! Tickets just $35 or $350 for a table. Hope to see you there!
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Climb Ev'ry Mountain, Search High & Low...for a Great Real Estate Agent!

12/21/2011

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Real estate agent review sites (Don't roll your eyes!). I know, I know. They are indeed a dime a dozen, but one site has been getting a lot of attention this year. Mountain of Agents has stood out from the crowd due to their clean design, video capability, iPhone app, and perhaps most of all because its founders are not real estate agents, but consumers who got scarred working with the wrong agent.

Real estate guru & my gal pal Maya Paveza vouched, "Mountain Of Agents allows me to  be present in a “for consumer, by consumer” environment that they are more likely to trust." Really? So I set out to see what all the fuss was about. (I'm nosy like that). I grill Mountain of Agent's creator Michael Becker about how he got burned, if there are any limitations to the site, and what he has to say to his critics. 


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Founder & Nice Guy Michael Becker
Hermanity: Your site says, "Mountain of Agents was born out of the founders' frustration around the home buying/selling experience." What exactly happened to you that you don't want to happen to other buyers/sellers?! Inquiring minds want to know!

Becker: Like most people, we used a real estate agent that was referred to us by a close friend. We made the mistake of not researching the agent first. From the start it was clear that we were not a priority. Ignoring our phone calls and dropping the ball on buyer inquiries quickly became a nasty habit. We watched the neighborhood prices plummet as the months passed, and missed out on being able to pull the trigger on a few properties we really loved.

Six months later, we made the tough call and fired our agent. We then began our online research, and were shocked at how difficult it was to find any reputable, objective information on real estate agents in our area. Most of the resources were cluttered, unusable and completely biased. After lots of research, we did eventually find a stellar agent who knew the area well, was trustworthy and had our best interests at heart. He sold our old property and got us into a new one—dare I say—almost painlessly. We thought to ourselves, “Was this how it was supposed to be the first time around?” After the dust settled and we were in our new home, it still troubled me that there were no simple, un-biased resources out there for consumers. I asked myself, “What could have made this process easier for us?” I then set out to design, develop and launch the Mountain of Agents directory as an objective resource for consumers to find, research and rate local realestate agents.

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Clients see Agent Maya Paveza's ratings!
Hermanity: Consumers search for agents by zip code on the site. Right now the number of agents is manageable but one day when thousands and thousands of agents (knock on wood) are signed up on your site, how will a consumer filter out the possibly hundreds of realtors that pop up in their zip code? Can they search by language or speciality?

Becker: Adding additional features and filters is a great idea and we’ll address those modifications as the need arises. In the meantime, real estate agents can future-proof their listing from getting lost in the—ahem—mountain of agents on the site by reserving the zip codes they market to. You’ll get a persistent featured listing in one of the top two spots in search results no matter how many agents are listed in your area.

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Clients Connect via Facebook
Hermanity: Your site directly addresses agents: "We know how you feel about real estate agent rating sites, so we keep it positive." What is your response to haters who say there is no way for a consumer to share a non-positive experience about an agent on your site?

Becker: The way I look at it, agents with a poor track record or shoddy
history probably aren’t going to join a site where they can be openly rated. There are plenty of other forums for expressing your experiences in a written format, so I didn’t see a need to create another Internet bash fest.

I know how agents feel about real estate rating sites, so I wanted to make sure that our ratings system would only allow positive, cumulative feedback. The more positive ratings you obtain in each of the six categories, the more likely it is that a consumer will contact you. This way, the only negative aspect of getting rated is not having as many positive ratings as your local competitors.

For more Q&A with Mountain of Agents, click Read More ===>


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Hermanity Interviews Luxury Hostel Owner in Los Angeles

12/7/2011

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Herman in a hostel?! Clutch my pearls!  You'd never guess a glamour puss like me would slum it in a hostel. But paying $200+/night at a hotel is getting rather unattractive, considering that I just need a place to store my stuff & sleep. So, while looking for alternate accommodations for a recent LA trip, I stumbled upon this great looking place online called Stay On Beverly.  It was clean, modern, centrally located in LA, free wifi, and best of all it was only $50/night! What??!! 

I re-read the website and found out it was a hostel. You know, at that point, I was a bit hesitant because I was a hostel virgin, but, hey, I'll try anything once! ...especially if I can save $150/night! I booked a private room for 3 days. It really had all I needed. Free wifi, TV, many outlets in the wall to charge my gadgets, an electronic wall safe to store my ipad2, iPod dockable radio alarm, and communal wireless printer, and 3 pretty swank bathrooms! Don't believe me? Check out this virtual tour &  video.

Boy, am I glad I got over my snobbism and gave this a whirl! For a no non-sense traveler like me, who flies in and flies out of town on a whim for appointments and gigs, this set up was perfect!  No snooty concierge, no nosy staff, no hoity toity amenities I would never use anyways.  I just HAD to interview Bo Lorentzen who runs Stay On Beverly.

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Hermanity: Hostels &  luxury aren't usually used in the same sentence. How did you know there would be a market for a place like Stay On Beverly? 

Bo: We wanted to define the fact that we are offering a different product.  Most customers with experience in hostels, consider Stay ON Beverly to be quite a treat. 

Hermanity: From the street, Stay On Beverly looks so unassuming.  No sign. No advertising. One would never guess it's a hostel. Is that by design? As stated in your brochure, it is indeed the best kept secret in LA. Do you want to keep it that way? 

Bo: Part of the model is that we do not accept walk-in customers, and since we do not have on-site staff to "meet and greet"  we really wanted to avoid the attention. And yes, surprisingly we are trying to stay the best kept secret, mostly because our market is tourist travelers, mostly in their twenties and in tech jobs, so called "flash packers", this group seem to be quite adept at finding us.

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Hermanity: What is the biggest misconception about hostels? 

Bo: Ahh, this is actually not an easy question for me.  Hostels are a very old type of hospitality business, going back generations, traditionally with dorm-rooms.  In today's America, the hostel label was chosen because we have hall-way toilets, I wanted to make sure people lowered their expectations to the facilities.

Hermanity: How do your customers differ from traditional hostels?

Bo: Most of our customers are probably a little older, a surprising amount have traveled for months when they come to us.  We label the facility as a "hostel for grown-ups".



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Hermanity: What is the best part of running/owning a hostel? Whats the worst part? 

Bo: The best part is meeting all the awesome guests from around the world.  I am probably guilty of talking too long with some, and I always have to remind myself they are on the way out in Hollywood to be tourists.
HA.. the worst.. not sure..  I thought it was the 2 star hotel on Main St. Los Angeles which just recently renamed themselves to use our name.. Sigh.   But Friday after the storm in LA the power disappeared, and suddenly I had a black hostel with a bunch of guests.. YIKES.  We issued flashlights and glowsticks to everybody. Thankfully most were out for fun on the town and by the time they came back there were lights again... at 3am in the morning.  But that was a moment of stress and "what do I do now" for sure.

For a lot more Q&A about Stay On Beverly, click Read More--->


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Epoch Times Interviews Real Estate Personality Herman!

10/15/2011

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What a great interview with the Epoch Times! 

Since their readership is primarily Chinese, they asked me about social media  as it relates to real estate to the Asian market. I said that culturally Asian clients tend to be private low-key and it goes against their tendency to overly share...but sharing is the whole premise of social media. It is important for Asian agents and clients to remain open to receiving and dispersing information this way to stay on top of the ever changing market

We also discussed the importance weighing all factors in buying and selling a property. A good neighborhood does not guarantee a sale. Nor does a perfect condition home.  With buyers being so picky (and especially with all cash buyers and/investors from Asia),  it's got to be a great area, turn key condition, and attractive price for them to pull the trigger. Otherwise, they'll pass & wait for another good buy to hit.

Oh, can I just say this is my new favorite portrait! The lines, color, lighting and my hair are epic! 謝謝 to photographer Will Taylor for making me prettier than I really am. (It's no surprise he shot with world famous photographer David LaChapelle this summer!)

If any of you deal with Asian clients, what has your experience been like? Let's compare notes!
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My Living Room Interview with Los Angeles Designer & Artist Ross Farrell

10/5/2011

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You're in for a treat! I'm pleased to bring you a chat with my friend Ross Farrell...straight from his  fabulous living room.  You may recognize Ross from his many TV appearances  on Style Network's Area, Beautiful Homes & Great Estates, Landscaper's Challenge & Designer's Challenge on HGTV. Find out all the places that Ross has lived that inspire his home decor, whether you need to go to school to be a designer and what his next big project is!

Check out his website for his paintings, home decor portfolio and his fashion line!  This man does it all (well, except for one thing. But you'll have to watch our video to find out!)
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A Glam Glimpse into Fashion Photographer Billy Winters San Francisco Home

9/29/2011

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Renowned Fashion Photographer Billy Winters gives Habitat For Hermanity an unprecendented yet candid chat about decorating his fabulous Russian Hill home!  In this sweeping interview, my dear friend Billy reveals to us his tips on lighting a room, mixing & matching patterns & how the photography business has changed. He and I also take a walk down memory lane  (Billy is responsible for my 1st magazine cover almost a decade ago!).  Celebrities, models & politicians have hired Billy for his artistic eye. And now you get to hear first hand what this tastemaker has to say about home decor!

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HERMAN:
You've shot for countless fashion magazines around the globe in the most stunning locations with the most beautiful models. It's glamour 24/7. Yet, whenever I am over at your home, it feels surprisingly down-to-earth and homey. Why did you decide on this comfy vibe for your abode?

BILLY:
People say that for some reason my home reminds them of a North African Casbah or a Parisian atelier. I guess having Oriental throw rugs throughout (on top of the neutral carpeting that came with the apartment) adds to the "warmth" and feeling. The apartment has a lot of odd nooks and crannies too, making it (I guess) suprising to many.

When I first saw this apartment, it was all white. They "sprayed" the entire place with flat white paint, even all the woodwork. I was not impressed.  Without asking permission to paint (I never did) I started my journey. I had to paint all the trim, doors and windows in a semi-gloss off-white to cover a dull flat white throughout. The semi-gloss gives the rooms more dimension due to its shine, and makes the rooms look larger. Of course, it's also easier to clean!

"When I first saw this apartment, it was all white...
I was not impressed."

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HERMAN:
As a photographer, you are very attuned to lighting (duh, 'photo' is Latin for light!). Tell my viewers how to light a home.

BILLY: 
I have a "lamp" fetish I think. There are tons of unique lamps that create a mood in each room. It is all about the lighting. I often visit other homes and they have these horrid ceiling lights that have the ugliest hard light, making the room stark and cold. Having small lamps placed throughout a room creates a soft and romantic ambience. You can even toss a colored scarf over some of the shades and light a few candles to add to the effect. My living room is now painted a yellow with a tad of orange, similar to a 1950's poster I have on the wall from Belgium--a cigarette advertisement of an Arab man wearing the same golden yellow turban. So at night, with the seven lamps lit, the room almost "glows" and sets off the exterior view of the Golden Gate Bridge and the blue sky in an amazingly majestic way. First thing I do when I check into a hotel now is lose the bedspread and toss scarves over the lights. 

 "Lots of people put a big lamp or light source directly in the window --- Big mistake"

I also have tons of mirrors on the walls- some small, some large. If you go into a brassiere in France, or in most older European bars or restaurants, their walls are filled with odd mirrors that add a certain glow to the space and create lots of different light patterns. So if I can fit one mirror per wall per room, I do. It just opens up each room. I see a lot of people putting a big lamp or light source directly in the window--a big mistake. Windows themselves are "light sources" so leave them free of lamps (in most cases at least).
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HERMAN:
Some people say too many fabrics & patterns are a design no-no. Yet, your place is a potpourri of patterns. What is your advice to someone who wants to achieve your look?

BILLY:
Go for it. The more the merrier but they need to flow.  As long as the fabrics are in a similar family of colors, it will work, but it's tricky. Using one wrong color can destroy the whole look. In my living room I have different fabrics on the sofa, chair and tons of throw pillows all over the floor. And then the Oriental rugs. All the colors are in the reds, oranges, yellows, pinks and beiges, browns, so it all blends in together in a weirdly beautiful way. Then I have yellow satin drapes which really showcase the view of the Golden Gate Bridge. I bought this old wooden chair for $35.00 and had it recovered with some leftover Art Deco from our Parisian apartment and now it's a total conversation piece. The room itself all seems pretty primary: red bridge, blue sky, yellow walls. Through out the apartment are fabrics from Thailand, India, Africa and other regions. Many of these have jewels sewn into them that picks up lots of light and adds sparkle to the rooms.

"Do whatever you want and don't listen to anyone's opinion (but mine of course!)."

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HERMAN:
Your black and white images are utterly amazing. But I notice your home decor is colorful & vivid. Why did you opt for a more flavorful vibe as opposed to sleek b/w? How did you pick your color palette?

BILLY:
Gee, thanks Herman.  I am known for lots of color in my home. When I was 8 yrs old I told my parents that I wanted to paint my bedroom orange, and they let me do it. That's when it all began I guess. Also I remember my older sister Triech, as a teen-ager, bought her first palette of cream eye shadows. They had these really neat vivid colors that just fascinated me for some reason...Maybe that's is why I became a makeup artist later on. I always watched my mother "draw" on her eyebrows with her Maybelline eye brow pencil in the natural window light. After the orange phase, I did a more mature bedroom in ''eighth grade'' with colonial wallpaper and red chair rails-- unusual for a pre-teen, but I guess I was odd. Color just turns me on and makes me happy and feel alive.

"There is nothing more beautiful than a black & white photograph- period. But to live in a black & white home would be awful unless it was in New York in the 1930's and I were rich."

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HERMAN:
Your furniture is so eclectic; part vintage, part ethnic, part craftsman. You mix pastels & earth tones. But it all works! How do you make all these themes gel cohesively?

BILLY:
I don't know, but it just works out that way. A lot of the living and dining room is craftsman wooden pieces. Then the bedroom has antique French oak bed frame and American night stands with dressers from the late 1800's. I got an amazing beautiful gold & pink toned Indian bedspread from a shop on grant avenue in North Beach (a shop that is no longer there, much to my dismay). The color scheme might sound a tad feminine but with all the rich browns of the wooden furniture and the brown sheer drapes that hang, it looks to me totally masculine and riche.

The one piece of furniture I have is an odd pyramid-shaped chest of drawers that is almost the same color as the walls. Along the hallway I have a long shelf that is lined with old and new photographs of family and close friends in a melange of old and new frames that quirks it up. In the bathroom I placed an old wooden dresser I got in Santa Rosa for $75.00 that fits into the space with perfection. Above that there are shelves of colored glass pitchers and vases I have collected over the years that add a sense of whimsy in all the jewel tones to this small room.

"If all the colors are in the same families
& complement each other, it works.

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HERMAN:
Your dad owned a furniture store, right?  Did that influence your style?

BILLY:
I was raised by a father who owned his own furniture store. He specialized in "early American/English" reproductions so that is all I ever really knew. As a kid I got paid to "dust all of the furniture" in his store, then eventually moved up to delivery boy/man! I appreciate modern furniture a lot, but I just never get a cozy feeling in that type of environment. So over the years I have collected furniture and lots of antiques and it is a big mumbo jumbo that somehow works. The sofa and side chair are Chippendale style that my father actually gave to me as a college graduation gift. I recently had them re-upholstered in reds and tans. Despite their rigid distinct shape and looks, people say they are super comfy to sit (and sleep) on.

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HERMAN:
Our first shoot we did ended up landing me on the cover of a magazine. Thank you! Not to date myself, but it was shot on polaroids & film. How has the photography business changed in the past 10 yrs?

BILLY:
I know a pretty face when I see one. The biggest change is that now we are wrinkled and photography is instantaneous. We immediately see our images, which is great in a way, but film was so special too. There is no comparison or substitution for a photograph printed from a negative. However, now with Photoshop there are tons of programs & tricks you can use to give the images different film effects. It was very difficult for me to make the switch to digital but I was pretty much forced to by my agent. Once I got it down, it was completely  the norm. Now I fumble and stumble when I try to load a film camera! So i guess it's not the way a photograph is "made" that counts, but the eye that takes the shot. And now, thinking back to our first cover we did together, the background was vibrant orange, just like my pre-teen boudoir!

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HERMAN:
What is the best place to get unique furniture, like those gorgeous lamps & pillows? Any favorite pieces?

BILLY:
If I pass an antique store, I have to go in it. Although I am at the point where there is no longer any room in the apartment to add anymore stuff. I can now go through a store in a quick fifteen minutes, while for others it will take hours. Also, never forget to look up at the ceilings in these shops. There are some good finds above.
I have an adorable postcard rack that I got in Paris--must be from the 1950's. It is bright yellow, red and blue. On the dining room table I have a Tiffany lamp (sounds so grandma) in purples and blues. It's gorgeous and illuminates that room. So lovely.

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HERMAN:
I'm green with envy. You've got a million dollar view of San Francisco in your living room.

BILLY:
You know, I do. Before moving here I said that eventually we take views for granted, but this view never ceases to amaze me, especially at sundown. Best times of the years are in the fall when the sunsets are über saturated. I have a direct shot of the Golden Gate Bridge and the San Francisco Bay and all of its surrounding areas--all from the top of Russian Hill, so it sort of looks like a view you would get when descending in an airplane. Or a super neato postcard.

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HERMAN:
Like many of my artist friends who constantly re-arrange their furniture as a creative outlet, I've noticed you tweak your place often. Do you find a space gets stagnant if you don't change up the decor?

BILLY:
Yes!!!!! Unfortunately, there are only so many ways to rearrange a room. Maybe every 3 months I switch up the bedroom & living room, usually on a whim. The rooms are on the smaller side and I have so much furniture which must be meticulously placed, so it's difficult. And when you toss in a real large Christmas tree, you've got a big challenge!

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HERMAN:
If you were given access to shoot in any property in the world, where would it be and why?

BILLY:
Well I have not been to too many different places in the world (yet). However, when I lived in Paris as a hair and makeup artist (pre-photographer days) I went on many "work trips" all over to do editorial shoots for fashion magazines. One of the most memorable trips was to Biarritz, a vacation town on the lower Atlantic coast of France, where all the wealthy holiday. We stayed at the ''Hotel du Palais'' and it was breathtaking to say the least. I have been to some of the best hotels in Paris and France for shoots, but this one made me feel really special-- almost like a movie star whilst lounging at the poolside overlooking the sea. The rooms, the decor, the pool and grounds were truly majestic. Even though I had to share a room with the photographer's assistant, I still felt special! The hotel was built in 1860- so you can imagine the history it holds...

Another place we would often go for shoots was the north coast of France to Deauville, where the light was incredibly soft, long and magical. We dined at local seafood restaurants and drank tons of wine. During one of my last work trips there a huge windstorm descended upon us. The models were wearing trench coats so it added to the ambiance immenesly (and the photographer was shooting really grainy film). I would love to go to these two places to make fashion photographs. It is on my "list" for sure.


Images by Billy Winters
415.407.9075

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TableTopicsRE interviews Hermanity about videoblogging tips

8/18/2011

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Bob Watson catches with real estate video blogger Herman Chan for a quick word on agent video blogging from the Inman Real Estate Connect Conference in San Francisco.  Herman shares a few quick tips for realtors thinking about interacting with their clients via this medium:

  • Any smart phone, iPhone, or the Kodak Zi8 will do the trick.
  • Handheld recordings with little motion are tolerable and actually resonate better with clients as they tend to be more personable.
  • Virtual tour effectiveness is dependent on the listing.
  • Handheld tours, music, slideshows, etc. are all part of your arsenal tool kit to market yourself and your listings. There’s no one key element that works for everybody.
  • Every property is different so you have to adjust to the buyer and seller

Thanks to TableTopicsRE for such a great write up! 
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Design Spotlight: Funky Eclectic Brooke Coe from Huh Designs

8/1/2011

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What a blast hanging out with artist & designer Brooke Coe's house!  As owner of Huh Designs,  Brooke has designed on HGTV, Discovery, & Disney shows, but what does her own place look like?  She cleverly describes it as "Dr. Seuss meets Beetlejuice"!  Most of the furniture you see in her house, she built herself with reclaimed wood! (I love a gal who can work a powertool!).   You've got to check it out. Schlock full of tips & decor advice! 

 I met Brooke's husband at one of my speaking gigs and he said we would hit it off. He was right!  As big 80's & Madonna fans, Brooke & I pounded out Eye of the Tiger & Dress You Up on her piano. Fun! 

Hope you are enjoying these design spotlights videos as much as I am. If you have place/person you wanna share, gimme a holler!  I'd love to feature "Ordinary People & Their Extraordinary Places!" right here on Habitat For Hermanity
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