Nicole Pletkovich

My Local List

• Favorite Steakhouse: The Rex
• Favorite PV Restaurant: The Original Red Onion 
• Favorite Coffee/Tea Shops: Two Guns & Hojas
• Best Neighborhoods: Lunada Bay & Valmonte

Nicole Pletkovich started her career in real estate at just 18 years old—while still in high school—working as an assistant to Realtor® Gordon Inman. Today she is an agent with The Inman Team, specializing in residential, multifamily and commercial real estate throughout the South Bay. Nicole married her high school sweetheart 14 years ago, and they have two toddlers—only 16 months apart in age.

Tell us about your work.

Real estate, for me, has never been just about buying and selling homes. It’s about people and the lives they’re building inside those walls. I get to walk alongside clients during some of the most exciting (and sometimes overwhelming) moments they’ll ever experience. Whether it’s handing the keys to a first-time buyer or helping a family sell the home they’ve built decades of memories in, every story is different … and that’s what keeps me inspired.

I’m deeply rooted in the South Bay and Palos Verdes, so this isn’t just where I work. It’s where I live, where I grew up and where my heart is. That makes the work personal. I’m not just negotiating contracts; I’m helping my neighbors, friends and community members find their place here.

What is the #1 thing you do to ensure your business is successful? 

I put my clients first. Every decision, every negotiation, every bit of advice comes from the perspective of, What would I do if this were my own home or my own family? I treat my clients the way I’d want to be treated by being honest, attentive and fiercely advocating for their best interests.

Real estate is about so much more than closing a deal; it’s about building trust. My clients know I will go to bat for them, that I’ll tell them the truth even when it’s not the easiest thing to hear and that I’ll fight for the best outcome possible. That level of service is what keeps people coming back and referring me to their friends and family, and that’s the true measure of success in my business.

How did your upbringing influence your journey?

I carry my parents’ story with so much pride. Their sacrifices gave me the chance to build this life, and every step of my journey is a way of honoring them. Both are incredibly hardworking. My dad immigrated here from Croatia when he was just 18 years old, leaving everything behind and arriving in San Pedro without speaking a word of English. On his very first day, he walked to the marina at Todd’s boatyard and asked for a job. Watching my parents sacrifice and take risks to build the life they have now has been the greatest inspiration. Children of immigrants see firsthand what it takes to create opportunity, and that perspective makes you work differently. You carry a sense of responsibility to honor those sacrifices and to make your parents proud.

Whom do you credit for your success in your work? 

My mentor, the legendary Realtor Gordon Inman. We are not blood-related, but after 13 years of working by his side, we are family. 

What strategies help you avoid burnout?  

Family, music and travel are my ultimate reset buttons. This summer my family and I adventured through Jackson Hole, Cabo and Alisal Ranch and capped it off with an incredible George Strait, Chris Stapleton and Little Big Town concert at SoFi.      But some of our favorite days are spent right here—swimming at the Palos Verdes Beach Club, strolling through the South Coast Botanic Garden or grabbing a casual dinner at The Red Onion. Those moments of joy, both near and far, keep me grounded, balanced and ready to pour my energy back into my clients and my community.

What myths would you like to rewrite for the next generation of women in business? 

(1) Your family is not a limitation; it’s your greatest source of strength. (2) You do not have to fit a certain mold—either being overly tough to be taken seriously or overly accommodating to be liked. You can be kind and compassionate and strong and direct. Confidence doesn’t mean sacrificing warmth, and leadership doesn’t mean losing your authenticity.

How do you support the South Bay? 

I love giving back to the children and families in my community. My heart is with Toberman Neighborhood Center in San Pedro. Every year I help spearhead my office food and toy drive that goes directly to Toberman’s Thanksgiving Feast and Breakfast with Santa.

Photographed by Shane O’Donnell