There are a lot of realtors in the game. And then there’s Leslie Heindel. Leslie is a force of nature who will not stop working until she has gotten you your home. This was my first home buying experience and I would have been lost without her. Hell, I’m pretty sure I’m still lost but I knew I could trust her to take the lead. She doesn’t just unlock properties to let people poke around; she shows up with a printed list of everything there is to know about a property then looks at the property with you, pointing out things you may have missed or helping you figure out why that weird thing or whatever is weird. A New Orleans native, she’s super well connected; if she doesn’t know something about a property you can bet she knows someone who does and she will have them on the phone in a matter of minutes. Closing on my house was a challenge due to a number of factors. She adeptly helped me navigate them, pivot when needed, and offered me experts who stepped in when she reached the end of her wealth of knowledge. She was never afraid to admit when she didn’t know something and would do the digging needed to figure it out. In an industry filled with untrustworthy people, you can count on Leslie to keep it real. She is always honest and won’t just tell you what you want to hear in order to close a deal…even if that means having to work even more before getting her client a home. You can tell that she really wants to set people up for success and happiness in their homes. In short, she gives a sh*t and it shows. You won’t regret signing on with Leslie as your realtor…if you’re lucky enough to even get her – she’s busy for a good reason!
I honestly cannot say enough positive things about our experience with Heather (and Leslie). She stood by us through several challenging moments in a difficult market. She went above and beyond many many times to help us handle things we were unable to. She supported us every step of the way and regularly checked in with us even when there wasn’t much to report just to be supportive! She coached us through our moments of pessimism and anxiety and her positive attitude and endless optimism buoyed us when we needed it most. Not only are her knowledge and skills as a realtor razor sharp but she is a wonderful and kind human being as well and that shows through in every aspect of her work. We are eternally grateful to her and the team for everything they have done for us!! If anyone needs a realtor you could not be in better hands!!!
Working with Heather Shields was a dream. Due to her savvy media presence, professional property photos, and slick video, the house was under contract after only four days on the market. And once it was under contract, she was in constant contact with updates and dealt with all of the minutiae involved in the process. I could not have asked for a better experience.
Leslie guided me through the purchase of my first home with professionalism and expertise. Buying a house is something that I assumed would be overwhelmingly stressful and confusing, but Leslie made sure that was not the case. There was never a moment that she wasn’t available to answer any questions or concerns. Furthermore, her knowledge of different landscaping or construction issues was impressive and allowed her to quickly discover hidden problems with a house saving me time and money. I feel lucky to have met Leslie and would absolutely recommend her to anyone thinking about buying a house.
My wife and I had a wonderful experience working with Sarah. There were minor complications along the (on our end) and Sarah took them all in stride. We had a very quick turn between offer and closing and she kept us updated continuously. Her knowledge of the local market gave us confidence about the decisions we made. Sarah is at the top of the list when we have our upcoming housewarming party!
So this review may be swayed by my pregnancy emotions, but my heart swells with gratitude for Leslie!! Throughout both the buying + selling processes, I felt secure in her care as our agent. She advocated strongly for us, while still maintaining a positive relationship between us + our buyers, made the process as smooth as possible, and generally helped me feel at ease during what is commonly understood as the most stressful event in a person’s life. She has a cool, collected demeanor and gets things done. (What’s more – I know she gets things done for all of her clients…making each one of us feel like we were her #1 priority, somehow responding and assisting as if nobody else were on her schedule.) One of the things I appreciate about Leslie is her connections throughout the city. Buying/selling took a village of experts (stagers, assessors, contractors, plumbers, etc.) – and Leslie clearly has strong relationships rooted throughout the city with quality professionals. We were able to check boxes rather quickly + with assurance that we were in good hands. Even if we expressed desire to speed things up (again, I’m pregnant and antsy) – she was very understanding and accommodating, patiently working miracles, one after another. She busts her behind and is an absolute job to be around. We’re blessed to call her a friend and would recommend her as an agent for anyone we care about who is interested in buying/selling a home. She helps make it feel less like a transaction, more like a positive life event.
Heather was absolutely amazing!!! My brothers, sister and I had to sell my parents home that we all grew up in and it was definitely bitter sweet. Dad and mom built this home in 1964 and there was definitely a lot of memories. Heather helped us through the process of preparing to sell. She was definitely patient with all of us, gave us advice and supported us all the way. If you ever need a realtor I would suggest you get in contact with her. Heather is absolutely the BEST!! Thank you again Heather Shields!!
You can likely do no better than Lisa Julien. First time home buyer here. Lisa was extremely patient, extremely kind, certainly went above and beyond time and time again. But most importantly she was honest with me. Wasn’t just satisfied with me getting a place, she was dedicated to me getting the right place. If I had to do it all over again, 10/10 times I’d choose Lisa.
Our best home buying experience thanks to Be New Orleans. Heather and Leslie were a great team and made us feel confident and comfortable during our home buying process. Heather is a great communicator that guided us every step of the way. Her experience was invaluable for home buyers like us that are new to the New Orleans market. Honestly, it felt like a friend helping us.
Carolyn is a true professional. When I decided to begin searching for a vacation home to become a winter getaway in retirement, I wasn’t sure where to begin. Carolyn and I spent several weeks talking on the phone and emailing as she put in the time and effort to get to know me and what I was looking for, and to familiarize me with what the market was like. When I traveled to NOLA with just a few days to look around, she zeroed in very specifically on the kind of place I was looking for and did not waste my time by showing me anything out of my preferences or price range. I was prepared for this process to take up to a year but her attention to detail in identifying listings connected me with a lovely, affordable little place in the French Quarter that I absolutely love. She put me in touch with a local lender where I got a great rate, a very detail-oriented inspector, several local home services and connected me with new friends. TOTALLY RECOMMEND HER AS A CARING REALTOR AND NOT JUST SOMEONE WHO WANTS TO SELL A PROPERTY!!
Best Agent Ever!! Absolutely thrilled with the experience we had working with Leslie Heindel! From start to finish, she was nothing short of exceptional. Being out of state made our transaction a bit more challenging, but Leslie handled it with such professionalism and expertise that we felt confident that she listened to our concerns and always had our best interest in mind. Her explanation of the process timeline, from preparing the property to list, to having the property photographed, to the actual listing being published was impeccable! You can count on it if Leslie says she’s going to do something, you can consider it done! She could literally teach a class in how to sell a home! What really stood out was her go-getter attitude. She was proactive, always ahead of the game, and made sure everything was handled smoothly. Even when there were hiccups she addressed them quickly and to our satisfaction. Every detail was meticulously attended to, no matter how big or small, and she was always available to answer our questions or address any concerns—no matter the time of day. Her communication was top-notch, always quick to respond and clear in every update. Even though we were thousands of miles away, we felt like we were working with someone who was in the same city. It’s rare to find someone so dedicated and hardworking, and we’re so grateful for all her efforts. We would highly recommend Leslie Heindel to anyone looking to buy or sell—especially if you’re navigating a long-distance transaction. Simply outstanding!
Patient and Thorough! Leslie and Heather walked us through the process with patience and knowledge. They answered every question and worked tirelessly through an insurance problem. I would highly recommend them. Thank you for really caring about working with us for the sale!
As a resident of Pennsylvania, I was faced with the daunting task of selling my friend’s house in Algiers Point as part of her estate. Both Leslie and Heather were highly recommended, but I chose to interview several realtors before making my decision. I was impressed with them both at our initial meeting, and after choosing them, that feeling increased. They were upfront and honest with me from the beginning about the current market and the changing market as time passed. I had so much to do to get the house ready for selling and struggled to figure out what to do/who to hire, etc. Leslie is a wealth of information, as is Heather. Both were extremely helpful and really helped ease my mind when I felt like I had no clue what I was doing. Since listing with them, I’ve seen a number of other home they are selling. Their marketing style – the photos, the write-ups – makes me want to move just to buy from them! The personal and professional care they exhibit is fantastic.
I have now worked with Heather for three transactions in this crazy real estate market – selling my mom’s condo, selling my house, and buying a new house. She is fabulous and patient and upbeat. Everything you want in an agent, bonus: She is fun to work with. I can’t recommend her enough.
I want to give a BIG shout out to the very competent Haley Shales and Pamela Shales for making this process easy and stress free even up to the last minute. They were always available to take my calls and answer every question we had. I will definitely refer anyone who is looking to sell or interested in buying a home. I know we had over 20 showings and a few open houses and finally got the PERFECT buyer. Love y’all!
Luck was truly on my side. By chance I made contact with Haley, and her mom, Pam Shales, regarding a Slidell property. Immediately I knew I was in great hands. It’s rare to find a combination of professionalism, competence, focus, and a relaxed friendly manner. Only with their help, through a very involved process of ups and downs, am I now the new proud homeowner. Every step of the way, they were more watchful for my purchase welfare than I was for myself. I very highly recommend both of these agents. (Their broker is lucky also, to have them as valued agents.)
Clara was fantastic and very patient as we visited New Orleans on multiple occasions to look at over 10+ properties. She gave us her true, honest opinion on properties as we navigated all of the options. She was more concerned with the quality of our search and results than scoring the top dollar commission. Highly recommended to anyone looking to buy or sell property! A+ 5-stars!
Leslie was a dream to work with! She helped us find the perfect home to fit our needs (during a pandemic nonetheless). Her local perspective was very helpful, as we are new to New Orleans. We are so grateful that we found her and look forward to working with her again in the future!
Working with Leslie Heindel of Be New Orleans was absolutely fantastic! She took the time to speak with me one-on-one to find out exactly what I had in mind and how to best meet my needs. She walked me through the process so that I knew exactly what to expect and could proceed confidently and efficiently. My questions were always met with prompt, extremely helpful answers. She made sure I was always up to date and constantly in the know. I had the pleasure of working with an organized professional whose insight and efforts made for an overall smooth and pleasant process. I would absolutely recommend Leslie Heindel for your real estate needs.
Leslie handled the sale of our house with the professionalism. To say that she went above and beyond the call of duty is an understatement. What was supposed to be fairly cut and dry sale ended up becoming extremely complicated and drawn out due to Hurricane Ida causing significant damage to the home. Leslie helped us navigate the home insurance process. She also kept in constant communication with the buyer to keep them up to date with the latest developments in a very slow moving and frustrating process. I am 100% sure that there is not an agent out there that could have handled this better than Leslie (and her team). If you want your home sale handled by the best, there is no question at all, Leslie and the team at Be New Orleans are the choice to make.
Leslie made the process so easy! She was able to quickly get us into the home we wanted in a hot market as well as sell our old house. We had a difficult buyer but Leslie handled everything with very little needed from me. When buying, Leslie worked around our schedule to get us in before the open house, had an offer put in that afternoon which was accepted that night. She’s super easy to work with and always reachable. Highly recommend!!
My experience with Be New Orleans was amazing. I was afraid of how stressful buying a house from out of state was going to be, but Leslie made everything stress free for us. She knew exactly what we were looking for, and is extremely knowledgeable about the city and surrounding area. We love our new house. Leslie even checked in on us after a hurricane to see how we were. Thank you Be New Orleans for making our house buying experience wonderful!
I can not brag enough about my realtor Heather Shields and her partner Leslie Heindel. In this insane market, they were able to find us a new house that hit every requirement and sell our current one expeditiously. They did this all during a PANDURICANE! The level of organization & professionalism is unmatched. These ladies get things DONE! I would honestly vote for either one if they ever decided to run for political office. If you are looking to buy or sell a home the Be New Orleans team is everything you could ask for, especially if you’re a first time buyer.
Heather & Leslie are both so wonderful. They made the entire process as easy as could be for me. Heather was my agent & was always able to answer my questions, calm my nerves, & explain every step of the process. She really earned her money as the buyers’ agent was not the most together & she picked up every ball he dropped & got us to the finish line. I appreciated having her by my side! I would highly recommend her/them to any & everyone!
