Eric Haskell’s trajectory, from art curation to luxury real estate, illustrates how vision, daring, and design instincts can become powerful engines of influence. His story centers on more than closing deals in Southern California’s most coveted coastal enclaves, highlighting how he has reshaped the expectations of how homes are marketed, experienced, and remembered.
In this episode of our Presence Podcast, we see how each chapter of his career reflects a willingness to experiment, to lean into uncertainty, and to turn creativity into credibility.
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A leap from the art world to real estate
Haskell’s transition unfolded during a period of personal reinvention. After years as an art curator and furniture designer, he found himself between chapters and considering what might come next. Though he had earned a real estate license ten years earlier, he had never hung it with a broker or written a single contract.
That dormant credential suddenly became relevant when he posed a bold question to one of his most prominent collectors: would she let him sell one of her homes? She surprised him with not one but two opportunities, an $11 million property and a $34 million estate.
The scale of those listings could have overwhelmed a newcomer, yet Haskell treated them as a creative challenge. Within his first week, he secured seven or eight showings by calling contacts from his previous business. The homeowner remarked that she had not seen that much interest the previous year, reinforcing that his instincts were resonating.
“I ended up selling it two weeks later and I got into real estate,” he recalled. The swift closing was less of an accident and more the result of years spent cultivating relationships with high-net-worth clients and learning how to navigate their expectations.
That singular leap reset his professional compass, bridged his artistic past with a new commercial future, and anchored the foundation of his real estate brand.
Creative instincts as a market differentiator
Haskell’s design history quickly became his advantage. When he landed one of his earliest listings, he decided to produce a short film that would make the property feel cinematic rather than static. On the day of the shoot, the hired model canceled at the last minute.
With no time to reschedule, he placed his three‑year‑old daughter in the role and reimagined the video on the spot. The gamble paid off. The final cut was tender, original, and memorable, catching far more attention than a traditional production ever could. “It ended up being like the best mistake ever,” he said.
That accident set the tone for his entire creative philosophy. Haskell began to treat listings as storytelling opportunities, drawing on his background in art and design to craft narratives that highlighted not just square footage but atmosphere, emotion, and aspiration.
Each property became a stage, every video a performance designed to evoke how life might feel within those walls. Rather than rely solely on photography and comparable sales data, he positioned properties as stories worth experiencing. His method reframed real estate as lifestyle theater, a space where architecture, branding, and imagination converge.
Branding homes like boutique hotels
For Haskell, no listing is simply a set of square footage and finishes. He builds identities for properties the way hospitality brands craft experiences. “We try to brand it like you would a hotel; we try to come up with a name for the house,” he explained. Logos, fonts, brochures, and films all align under a single narrative umbrella. Buyers are not shown “1253 Beverly Boulevard;” they encounter “Casa Milagro” or another memorable identity. This boutique-style branding transforms a transaction into a lasting impression.
It helps to be able to showcase these listings on a beautiful website. “When we have a listing appointment or we meet with someone, being able to present a beautiful video that can showcase, not only our listings, but our team, our marketing, all of that […] feels impressive and for us it’s been fantastic.” he said.
The owl that sold a mansion
Some campaigns veer into the theatrical, blurring the line between real estate and performance art. For one Beverly Hills listing, Haskell and his team devised a concept that drew inspiration from high-fashion campaigns. They hired a model, staged moody lighting, and, in a move few would have dared, introduced a live Eurasian barn owl—an imposing bird nearly three times the size of a typical owl.
The owner hesitated at first, questioning whether such an unusual prop belonged anywhere near the mansion. Haskell urged trust in the vision, believing the risk could create exactly the kind of conversation that luxury marketing demands.
His instincts proved correct. The final video circulated quickly, its dark, stylish tone setting it apart from standard real estate tours. The spectacle captured the attention of a global pop star, who insisted on a private showing late at night. She purchased the property soon after. “The owl worked on that one,” he admitted with a laugh.
Daring choices, when executed with vision, can generate results that straightforward marketing cannot, turning a listing into a cultural moment rather than a static advertisement.
Social media as a business engine
Haskell also relies on digital consistency to generate momentum. Social platforms have become a direct referral channel. “I just wrote an expensive offer with someone… they’re like, oh, I saw you on social media. I’m like, oh shoot, it’s working.”
The lesson is clear: Visibility converts. For agents, the takeaway is to approach social channels not as optional extras but as pipelines for new business.
By merging polished visuals with authentic glimpses of his team, Haskell builds trust while maintaining an aspirational aura. The result is a digital presence that appeals both to colleagues and to elite buyers, showing how consistent, high-quality posting can transform followers into clients.
The role of technology and AI
Innovation sustains his competitive edge. Haskell regularly deploys artificial intelligence for research, creative ideation, and even staging concepts. “I took the listing photo after we left and I plugged it into one of the AI bots… and five seconds later it looked amazing and I sent it to her,” he said. By blending technology with creativity, he compresses timelines and expands the range of what clients can visualize, further strengthening his value proposition.
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Mindset as the entry ticket to luxury
Beyond visuals and tactics, Haskell insists that confidence is the first barrier to entry. “When you have that shift to that confidence that you should be there, then you can start to like walk the walk,” he explained. His own launch, selling an $11 million estate before knowing how to draft a contract, illustrates the point. Belief, not just experience, propels careers into luxury tiers.
For Haskell, mindset functions as the gateway to opportunity. He has spoken with agents who, even after a decade in the business, still hesitate to pursue higher-end listings because they doubt they belong in those rooms.
He argues that that hesitation becomes self-fulfilling. By contrast, when professionals carry themselves as if they are already part of the luxury space, they project the credibility clients expect. The practical takeaway: preparation matters, but so does posture.
Educate yourself on the market, know the details of competing properties, and then step into conversations with the composure of someone who belongs. Confidence creates access, and access creates momentum.
Partnering with Luxury Presence
At Luxury Presence, we understand that differentiation begins with daring. Just as Haskell transformed listings into branded experiences and leveraged storytelling to spark emotional resonance, you too can elevate your practice.
Our platform empowers real estate professionals to showcase their unique identities and capture the attention of discerning clients. Schedule a consultation with Luxury Presence today to discover how your digital presence can evolve into a brand as unforgettable as the homes you represent.
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