LONG BEACH CITY LIFESTYLE: Can you share your journey into the real estate industry? What first sparked your interest in this field?
BEATRIX WHIPPLE: Growing up, my mom was a residential realtor in Orange County and I grew up surrounded by the business, going to open houses and helping her drop off seasonal gifts to her clients. I remember being 7 years old; it was around Halloween, and I helped her drop off little gifts to a neighborhood, pulling a red wagon filled with miniature pumpkins. She encouraged me to get my real estate license in my 20s, but I was completely opposed to it. I was more of a creative and interested in photography and nothing about the industry appealed to me.
Eventually, I acquiesced and got my license. I was 23 years old and had no idea what I was doing. I was also working in north Orange County and I had no connection to what I was selling. I didn’t like the area, I didn’t like the architecture — nothing about it felt special or meaningful. As soon as I discovered Long Beach in 2003, I quickly shifted my focus and I fell in love with the area.
LBCL: How has living in Long Beach influenced your career and approach to real estate?
BEATRIX: The diversity of the city and exploring different areas during various phases of my life have given me an appreciation for everything Long Beach has to offer. When I was younger, being near the action of downtown or Alamitos Beach or Belmont Shore was important. Now that I’m middle-aged with kids, being in the suburbs and in close proximity to my kids’ school and supermarkets — all of these things are important to me now.
Experiencing firsthand how various parts of the city have served me throughout the last 20+ years has given me an intimate knowledge of Long Beach that I don’t think you can get unless through osmosis.
LBCL: What sets The Whipple Group apart in a competitive real estate market?
BEATRIX: We understand how pivotal and life-changing buying or selling a home can be, and we see ourselves first as advisors to help our clients discover the best path forward. Second, our breadth and depth of experience help us anticipate and mitigate many issues. Third, we don’t half-ass anything. Anything that we do, we do it right. Fourth, we build and maintain relationships with our clients. The relationship goes beyond the closing date.
LBCL: What are some design elements that you believe truly elevate a home’s value and appeal?
BEATRIX: I believe good lighting and flow can make almost any home feel good, like a space you want to spend time in. If you have a dark or closed home, find ways to incorporate natural light, whether opening up a smaller window to create a larger window to let in more light and make the space feel bigger.
LBCL: Have you noticed any specific trends that are unique to Long Beach homeowners?
BEATRIX: I often come across unique displays of collections of things or concert memorabilia and of course, the coolest vintage furniture and art. Long Beach loves cool vintage furniture.
LBCL: How do you engage with and contribute to the local community through your work?
BEATRIX: We are huge supporters of all of the local businesses in our community. Small businesses are not only the backbone of a community, but so many of our clients are small business owners within the community. When one of our clients was hit with the devastating news that their child was afflicted with Tay-Sachs, a genetic degenerative disease for which there is no cure, we put together multiple fundraisers to help raise money for their family.
LBCL: How do you navigate the emotional side of buying and selling homes with your clients?
BEATRIX: We realize what a huge life transition it is to buy and sell a home, so just being available, listening to our client's worries and concerns, and empathizing with them is often what they need.
LBCL: How do you balance your professional life with personal interests and self-care?
BEATRIX: Fitness and training are probably my greatest passions outside of real estate, and I’ve spent the last several years learning as much as I can about weightlifting and nutrition. I’m training for a half-Ironman triathlon later this year.
I picked up baking sourdough during the pandemic and that’s one hobby that has stuck. I bake 4-8 loaves of sourdough weekly and give most of it away. I guess I balance all of this by waking up very early, and I’m lucky to have a lot of energy. I never watch TV, in fact, I don’t even know how to work the remote — but I love to read and learn things. I’m never bored.
We realize what a huge life transition it is to buy and sell a home, so just being available, listening to our client's worries and concerns, and empathizing with them is often what they need.
I believe good lighting and flow can make almost any home feel good, like a space you want to spend time in.