Prove Powerful Can Be Personal
A spirited collaboration
When you sign on with Laguna Beach team Jim Ardery and Diane Cannon, they give you something unexpected from such a high-profile team: Their in-person service, every step of the way.
“When you hire someone for his or her expertise, that’s the person you want to be working with,” says Jim. “From the minute you sign with us, we’re on every detail. We don’t hand the job off to someone else. You deal only with the principals, and one or both of us is available 24/7.” That statement is especially impressive coming from Jim Ardery. One of the most renowned agents in Coastal Orange County, he’s on the speed dials of Hollywood stars, directors, producers, and seasoned real estate investors worldwide. His name is synonymous with luxury real estate in Laguna Beach and along the South County coastline. Jim owned and managed two successful real estate offices in Laguna Beach, Chateau Pageant and The Chateau Company, for twelve years. He later opened and was a silent partner in Strada Properties in Laguna Beach. After thirty-two years in the market, Jim’s local expertise and connections are incomparable. Yet his style remains resolutely hands-on. Jim’s partner, Laguna Beach specialist Diane Cannon, has lived in Emerald Bay for fifteen years. In that time, she’s amassed a formidable set of skills and an in-depth knowledge of the local market to go with her passion for real estate. According to her, one of the advantages of their collaboration is not being married or related to each other. “We don’t hesitate to argue, bounce things off each other, compare different takes on something.”
The pair’s different styles and diverse strengths add up to a well-rounded set of skills that produce rewarding results for their clients.
“Diane is the hardest worker; relentless, in fact,” says Jim. “She’s very spontaneous and direct, loves taking people on home tours, and is incredibly good at zeroing in on what they want — or what they don’t even realize they want. She’s also fearless about posing questions others might be reluctant to ask. It not only helps her learn what’s really important to our clients, but helps them define their own priorities.”
“Jim has the reputation, the trust,” says Diane. “He’s impeccably tactful, and adept at handling sensitive issues. On the creative side, his taste level is legendary. Many of his clients are designers, and the settings he’s created with them have been featured on the cover of Architectural Digest. He also has the vision to pinpoint the exact property that will resonate with a particular client.” After years of remodeling and reselling high-end properties, Jim has a finely tuned talent for assessing value and potential. Clients regularly seek his advice on the ins and outs of the local remodeling/building process. He also has a famously unerring eye for home staging — one more thing he doesn’t leave to others. “People want to assume the lifestyle,” he explains. “They have to be able to picture themselves in the home, to feel they could entertain there that night. There’s a reason upscale design magazines always feature that certain unmistakable look. It’s universally appealing, and it sells.” Once Jim pronounces a home ready for its closeup, he and Diane are always at the preview, front and center. “Not as greeters,” says Jim. “I believe in giving visitors a personal tour of every inch of the home. This is a key chance to make sure it gets all the coverage it can.”