Janet Sirmon
Janet Sirmon, the owner of Janet Sirmon Fine Art, is a Los Angeles-based fine art photography dealer with extensive experience and expertise encompassing everything “from daguerreotypes to C-prints,” as Ms. Sirmon often notes. The fine art photography dealer, in addition to her wealth of expertise in 19th and 20th century photography, is known throughout the industry for her exceptional knowledge on Czech photography spanning a period from the 1920s through the 1940s.
Ms. Sirmon, a fine art photography expert with more than 20 years of industry experience, has earned a place of prominence in the eyes of fine art collectors and museum curators alike, particularly due to her uncanny ability to locate rare or otherwise hard-to-find photographic works regardless of the existence of the kind of obstacles that would likely deter even the most persistent of her peers. It is this quality that has helped make Janet Sirmon Fine Art the first destination for collectors and curators seeking a specific photograph to add to their collection.
As the owner of Janet Sirmon Fine Art, Ms. Sirmon has displayed an impressive talent for entrepreneurship that has certainly contributed to her company’s longevity in such a competitive industry — especially one in which newcomers must often struggle and strive just to earn an initial foothold. Ms. Sirmon’s entrepreneurial talent can be at least partly attributed to her understanding of the economic principles that influence the fine art marketplace, which she studied with great depth while attending James Madison University as an undergraduate.
After completing a degree in economics from James Madison University, Ms. Sirmon earned acceptance to the Pratt Institute, ultimately securing her MFA from the highly prestigious institution. In addition to her career-long passion for photography and the arts, Ms. Sirmon is also interested in a number of other pursuits, including music, yoga, and running.
What do you know about the real estate industry?
The bulk of my real estate expertise is associated with the commercial real estate industry, but I am also quite familiar with the residential real estate market.
Have you ever sold real estate? How did you make it happen?
Yes, as the owner of Janet Sirmon Fine Art I have bought and sold several commercial real estate properties. I partnered with a real estate professional for my first sale, but as my business continued to expand I felt confident in my ability to buy and sell the properties without any additional assistance.
How much experience do you have in buying or selling real estate?
Although I possess an understanding of the real estate market that is comparable to that of most professionals, I have never bought or sold real estate on a full-time basis and therefore have relatively little experience in this regard.
Have you ever made a sell or a purchase you have regretted?
There was one purchase that I initially regretted, but everything worked out just fine in the long run.
What advice would you give inexperienced who are wanting to buy or sell?
I’ve been cautioned about both acting too hastily and acting too indecisively, and I have come to realize that it is often best — assuming you have prepared accordingly — to simply trust your instincts and act when you feel the time is right.
What have you found out to be the best way to market property?
I’ve always favored an idiosyncratic or unorthodox approach to marketing, and I believe that using an especially unique approach helped my properties clearly stand out from all the rest.
What tools do you believe are essential for success in the real estate industry?
You have to be confident throughout the whole process, which is why I prepare in a way that breeds an unyielding sense of confidence.
What has real estate taught you about life?
Decisive action is the product of thorough preparation.
How can you use what you have learned in real estate to succeed in other areas?
Most of the qualities that make someone successful can be universally applied in all business endeavors, and I learned long ago that there is so much more that goes into any pursuit than what appears on the surface.
Do you have a mentor who taught you what you know?
I’ve leaned on some friends in the industry a time or two, so I suppose they would qualify as my real estate mentors.
Do you have a feedback system? How does it work?
I do, and although it is fairly similar to most feedback systems, I have always been interested in following up to see if any opinions change with more time for deeper reflection.
