Norm Kerner is an 18-year veteran of Southern California real estate having listed/sold properties from Montecito to Echo Park. Norm credits his New York City upbringing for his tough negotiating skills and strong advocacy for his clients’ rights and money. Additionally, he has a niche specialty with properties, both residential and commercial, that either have a recording studio on site or, in his informed opinion, are good candidates for having one built. Norm is the only real estate agent presently working in Los Angeles who specializes in properties with recording studios who can back up his claim with decades of hands-on experience. Norm has designed, built and operated four world-class recording studios in San Francisco and LA. The most recent of these, Perfect Sound, in the Hollywood Hills, has quickly become legendary (www.perfectsoundstudios.com) for its unique design and great-sounding rooms. Norm has produced and engineered dozens of records for every major label, composed and arranged for TV and film, and has done session work as a guitarist.
If you are a buyer who wants a home or warehouse with a recording studio on site, Norm will show you all properties currently on the market with existing studios as well as properties he has scouted that would be ideal for creating a studio. He will sit down with you to work up potential designs for your studio that will make certain properties stand out as potential candidates to complement your specific production or composition style and needs. “Each week, I speak to another person who expresses regret they did not work with me before buying a property they hoped to put a studio in,” says Norm. “Too late, they find out the truth about noise, clean power, zoning, costs, permits, neighbors and all the rest that goes into such an important decision. Work with someone who can help with every aspect of the process, including well after the close of escrow.'
If you are looking to sell a property with an existing studio, Norm will make sure your property is seen by any music industry professionals due to his extensive relationships with producers, engineers, composers, managers, and label people who have worked with him over the years. These will be potential buyers who will value what you have. This is critical in getting some of your investment in construction and design back when you sell your studio home. Work with someone who will understand what you did to create your studio and will bring you buyers who will pay accordingly.
Norm’s real estate career began at Coldwell Banker where he was a top ten agent. He also was a Realtor at Berkshire Hathaway - Los Feliz before being invited to join Sotheby’s International Realty.
