Netflix's Selling Sunset Season 1 Notes

Netflix has an ample amount of real estate series, which is more than I could ask for. When a new show was being showcased last March, I got intrigued. Is it a real estate drama? Is it a typical Hollywood series? I didn’t watch the trailer, didn’t know what the Oppenheim Group was. Nevertheless, I watched hoping I could learn a thing or two.

To my surprise, Selling Sunset was not “fictional.” It is an eight-episode reality TV show following the Oppenheim Group Brokerage, supposedly “the number one real estate team in West Hollywood,” selling expensive homes in Los Angeles. The agency is composed of twin brokers Jason and Brett Oppenheim, and a crew of six gorgeous ladies: Christine, Mary, Maya, Heather, Chrishell (who is also an actress, hmm), and Davina.

As a whole, the series started out good and instructive. But like most shows offering some kind of skill or practice, say Tidying Up with Marie Kondo, it gets repetitive towards the end. It is also disappointing that the second half of Selling Sunset was more about the personal drama (catfight alert!) than the entertaining real estate affairs and house tours. So skip this if reality TV a la Big Brother is not your thing.

With a pen and paper at hand, I watched the whole first season in one sitting and the following are my notes by episode.

Episode 1: If Looks Could Sell

L-R: Mary, Maya, Heather, and Christine

If looks could sell — does this point to the fact that the agency hired only model-type female agents? We’ll see.

Episode 1 is full of real estate wisdom from the ladies. Although we don’t know anything about them, their introduction demonstrates some experience and gives them a fair amount of merit.

“My favorite part of being a real estate agent is I feel like I’m a matchmaker.” – Chrishell

My sentiments exactly.

“My job is to take the stress on and let you enjoy the process.” – Chrishell

Stress is definitely crazy in the real estate business. For practitioners in Davao City, Stress Management was in high demand that one provider offered it twice within four months as a Continuing Professional Development (CPD) seminar topic.

“It is flattering to get attention, but at the same time, it’s not the most professional, ideal situation. You know, I have to kinda play the game and like, laugh…” – Maya

Another reference to the title, this is what Maya had to say when dealing with clients who flirt, those who have different intentions. But what was shown in the program is at least safer because of the presence of cameras. Unfortunately, sexual harassment is not uncommon in the real estate world, not only from clients but also from fellow practitioners. I once knew an agent who was asked by her client to meet him in his hotel room! Then there was this old married broker who kept telling one agent, a very pretty girl, to come visit his city and he would gladly give her a tour. This he did in front of the others in the meeting. But she knew better and crumpled his calling card within a second.

This episode also covered clients who work with several agents at the same time. And taking a cue from Maya’s reaction when she discovered her buyer was meeting other reps, it can be disappointing and would feel like a betrayal if there was no transparency from the beginning.

“The advantage of a twilight showing… I feel like that’s when you can really call a house a home is in the nighttime.” – Christine

“Real estate is a mind game… They (the clients) don’t know what they want until they see it.” – Christine

It was during this time that Christine bad-mouthed her clients. I don’t know if this affects her or the agency’s reputation, but this would eventually put a stain on her character.

Episode 2: Can’t Have Your Cake and Eat It Too

Beautiful contemporary home showed by Mary.

“Staging a home is bringing in furniture and working with a staging company to basically make the environment where a client will envision themselves living in the home.” – Heather

How do we go about conflict between agents? In this case the issue raised was poaching someone else’s client. This happens a lot and is usually a source of headache for agents and brokers. I still think one of the best ways to resolve any conflict is to talk it out immediately. Since most personalities in real estate come on strong, they need to confront each other calmly, and if possible, with a third party to act as mediator.

Episode 3: (Real) Diamonds Are a Girl’s Best Friend

In this episode we see the team goal setting in the meeting. The broker set a minimum total worth of current or active listings, which is about 200M USD. He also asked the agents to negotiate for higher commission rates (5.5 – 6%). In the Philippines, the usual commission rate is 5%, but the more expensive the property is, the sellers would offer less (some would even decrease it to 3%).

Episode 4: Loose Lips Sink Relationships

Nothing noteworthy here but office gossip.

Episode 5: The One That Got Away

I love Spanish style houses.

Role-playing is always a good idea as a way to practice in any sales-related career.

It’s impressive that the brokerage also engages in real estate development.

Episode 6: Real Estate Hunger Games

Here we get to see Heather in action, making negotiations with another agent and closing the deal. Also, Chrishell beating Christine needs a standing ovation!

Episode 7: It Takes Two to Make a Thing Go Right

This is how meetings should be: (a) direct to the point and short, (b) held regularly, e.g. weekly. That way, less time and money would be wasted. Most of the “meetings” I’ve attended are more like social events.

Episode 8: The Gloves Come Off

So the show ended with an unresolved argument. This is what happens when what is supposed to be a private conversation is shared to other people. In the advent of mobile texting and Facebook messenger, people often go the screenshot-and-share route. This always happens between people that I know and it causes misunderstandings and starts fights.

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Ultimately, Selling Sunset may have been successful as a reality show, but as a marketing tool, would it bring the company better business? A second season could answer that.

-Julienne