The old saying goes that, "Opposites attract." But anyone who has ever partnered with someone who is his or her complete opposite often finds that without some common ground, partnerships can break down. The trick, said David Hitt, half of the powerhouse Hitt-Rossi pairing at Coldwell Banker Sherman Oaks, is finding as much in common, as you do in contrast.

David and Josephine each have their own unique qualities—David, an esteemed veteran of real estate and the Training Director for his office, is analytical, intense, highly detailed, and is particularly strong on the listing side, where his extensive knowledge of inventory and pricing trends provides sellers with an added level of confidence. Josephine balances left brain and right brain, offering both exceptional financial guidance to all clients as well as staging ideas that can help transform unsaleable properties (“She has a vision,” said David of his UCLA Interior Design program-trained partner), while offering a higher level of service to buyers.

“We have synergy,” said David, whose list of letters following his name (GRI, ABR, SRES, ePRO) would make alphabet soup jealous.  “We don’t split up our duties because we have the benefit of enjoying quite a bit of crossover in our skill sets. We don’t necessarily always approach situations or clients in the same way, which is good, because what you want from a partnership is another valid perspective, another way to do things that maybe isn’t what you had come up with—someone to bounce things off of.  We have some different strengths, but we complement each other beautifully.”

David and Josephine’s individual strengths and range of abilities serve clients well, but what they share is an acute attention to detail, a broad base of knowledge, an absolute love of real estate, and an unending desire to make dreams come true for their clients. Which is precisely why, after many years excelling individually and in collaboration with other real estate professionals, the pair found what they consider to be the ideal partnership based on shared goals.

“David is excellent at what he does, and he has built an impressive network of referrals because he is so well respected,” said Josephine. “I’m very highly motivated and saw that David has same intensity. He wants to go, go, go. I like that in a partner, and I saw that we had the same desire to work tirelessly to meet the needs of our clients.”

Added David: “Josephine and I worked in the same office, and I appreciated the way she worked. She has a special talent of connecting with people on a personal level, which is key. I also knew she brought a substantial amount of financial experience, which, in any market is important, but today is absolutely critical.”

That unique strength, which Josephine cultivated over 11 years in upper management at a loan company, helps provide a basis of financial oversight and that most real estate partnerships can’t offer—one which is especially relevant at a time when challenging economic circumstances can often hamper appraisals, funding, and loan approval.

“We realize we are in a challenging market and an uncertain economic climate, and there is a lot of fear out there,” said David. “We consider it our job to confidently, professionally guide and reassure our clients along the way so they can make the right decisions.”
 
“I have been in this business for a long time and have been fortunate to be able to guide buyers and sellers in many types if markets,” he continued. “I recognize that, today, clients are looking for four basic tenants in their real estate consultancy: 1) Someone who will listen; 2) Assistance from an experienced professional; 3) Savvy and proper guidance; 4) Assurance to know they're working with someone who will get the job done!”

The praise and encouragement of satisfied clients, not to mention their referrals to friends, family, and colleagues, is evidence that David and Josephine are more than meeting those goals. 
 
“Anyone who thinks that they can’t sell their house in today’s challenging market has not met David Hitt,” said clients Luis & Michaela Cadiz. “We recently sold our home in Sherman Oaks. The house was designer quality and we wanted the sales price to reflect all of the hard work we had done on it. We were referred to David Hitt and we were impressed from the start. David explained his detailed marketing program and all of the advantages that came from his years of experience and the many successes that he had. He did a thorough analysis of our property and the market trends in our area and priced the home accordingly. He marketed and advertised with creativity and diligence. We soon had two offers and his advice helped us to choose the best one. David handled every detail of the transaction and made our sale a breeze. We are so grateful to have met this great real estate broker.”

Added Brad Hansen, a buyer who had the good fortune of working with Josephine: “My search for a house took several months, and Josephine was thoroughly professional and endlessly accommodating of my questions, queries, and sometimes shifting priorities. It was when I actually chose a house that Josephine truly excelled. The purchase was what was known as a ‘short sale,’ and the owner’s bank set what is generally considered to be an unreasonably short time to close escrow (a little over two weeks). However, Josephine maintained a very aggressive schedule with regards to organizing the various inspections and paperwork that were required, to the extent that we closed escrow with a couple of days to spare! My experience with Josephine Rossi was uniformly very positive, and I recommend her service without hesitation.”

One of the things clients appreciate most about working with David and Josephine is their detailed knowledge of the entire San Fernando Valley, and especially Sherman Oaks, where they both work and live.

“I have been living in Sherman Oaks for 12 years, and David has been here since 1997,” said Josephine. “We have each followed the market and where it is going, stayed up on inventory, remained aware of changes in the industry and in financial markets across the country, in the state, and locally. The more knowledge you have, the more valuable you are to clients who are looking to you for your expertise.”

Added David: “Because we live here in Sherman Oaks, we are keenly aware of local issues and are uniquely familiar with the area, which extends to the entire valley. When I was a new agent, I went on every caravan, I sat as many open houses as I could, and did everything I could to learn as much as possible. We both know all the streets in our farm area, all the houses, and their sales histories.”

Continued Josephine: “Not to mention the schools, all there is to see and do in the area, and what is going on in local politics. We want clients to feel confident that any question they have that could affect their sales or list price, or their lifestyle, will be answered by us with confidence.”

David and Josephine are not just providing professional courtesy when it comes to their clients who buy and sell in the area. They are community advocates, who love where they live, so evidenced by their membership on the Sherman Oaks Chamber of Commerce and Sherman Oaks Homeowners’ Association, as well as their extensive outreach.

“We really enjoy reaching out to the people in our neighborhoods and putting on community events,” said David. “We have organized community garage sales that attracted people from all over. We did one last August that had 30 houses participate. It was just an awesome turnout, and people were happy and appreciative about being brought out of their house to engage with each other. We have also done Halloween events for the kids in the area with raffles for best costume. We are always looking for new ideas for events and ways we can have fun in our area and meet people.”

For David and Josephine, the social and community organization aspects of their lives dovetails with their work. Typically, the people they meet become clients once it is time for them to buy or sell, just as do those who find David and Josephine through their website.

“Our website comes up in the top search results under Sherman Oaks, Encino, and surrounding cities,” said David. “Statistics say that as many as 87 percent of buyers go to the Internet before they consult a real estate agent.  That is a number that simply can’t be ignored,” said David.

Added Josephine: “By keeping up on the latest strategies for search engines and Internet marketing, as well as traditional marketing, we always stay a step ahead, and we tap into the tactics that people are using to research homes and real estate trends.”

Continued David: “We apply those tactics to our clients, utilizing our knowledge to create extensive, innovative, and detailed online and off-line marketing plans to set their listings apart from the competition and give them the edge they need in today’s market.”

Regardless of the type of market they are dealing with, David and Josephine strive to provide the kind of service that surprises and results that register—the end result of which is not just a satisfied client, but a duo of fulfilled agents.

“With the market shift has come a shift in what consumers are looking for,” said Josephine. “They're expecting more attention, more service, more follow up, more feedback, stronger negotiating skills. We are equipped and committed to meeting every one of those needs, not just because it is what our clients want, but because we operate according to a set of principles that guides our business and provides a tremendous amount of personal satisfaction to us.”
 
Added David: “I love when people are excited about buying their first home, and when we achieve the ultimate goal for a seller, which is getting them the best price in the shortest amount of time in a tough or transitioning market,” said David. “When you have a hand in helping people realize their dreams, you are truly fortunate. When you enjoy the day-in and day-out process along the way, you are blessed.”