Chris Laib’s roots in California real estate run deep. His grandmother and aunt were among the first women in the state to earn real estate licenses, and they also headed a successful Los Angeles brokerage for many years.
Fortunately for his clients, Chris did not move straight into the family business after college. Instead, he embarked on a high-powered corporate career where he served as National Director of Sales and Marketing for Westec Security, Inc., and Los Angeles General Manager for fiberoptic network giant MFS, Intellinet. In the process, he amassed the superb set of business skills he uses today on his clients' behalf.
In 1991, Chris reclaimed his real estate heritage, joining the John Aaroe Division of Prudential, where he achieved the coveted Chairman's Circle Legend award for top 1% production for over 6 years. As a respected specialist in the Hollywood Hills, Los Feliz, and silver Lake communities, Chris joins the Sotheby’s International Realty Los Feliz office, one of the top-producing real estate offices on the east side of Los Angeles.
An unusual combination of powerful business skills, aesthetic sensibility, and congenial style make working with Chris as fun as it is rewarding. 'Psychologists rank buying or selling a home near the top of the stress scale,' he says. 'I make sure my clients not only survive the process but enjoy it.' Chris likens his work to managing a symphony; in both cases, it is vital to give each player a lot of attention and oversee the entire performance with total confidence. His special zest for the complex escrow process traces back to college, where he studied contract law. 'In some cases, escrow can be very challenging,' Chris says. 'I find it exhilarating to climb that hill and get to the other side.'
Led by his love of historic architecture and helping people, Chris is an active member of the local community. He is a past president of the Los Feliz Improvement Association and serves on the board of directors of Friends of the Observatory, which supports the historic Griffith Park landmark. Chris is also on the Greek Theater Advisory Committee.
When not working, golfing, or hiking in Griffith Park, Chris can be found cooking for friends in his historic 1930’s Los Feliz home, once owned by the actor who voiced the dastardly Cruella de Vil in Disney's classic 101 Dalmatians. He and his partner have kept the Dalmatian theme going; they own three of the breed and are active in a dog rescue group.
Chris sums up his approach to representing clients very simply, 'It's been said you can tell you have a really good real estate agent when you don't know it. I like my service to be so smooth that it is virtually transparent. I consider that the true hallmark of success.”
