Downtown Colorado Springs Real Estate
“Mimi, you don’t know who I am, but I’ve never forgotten you. You represented a Buyer about 18 years ago for a house we owned in Downtown Colorado Springs, and we were selling it ourselves. My wife and I have never forgotten your sense of fair play and professionalism. I live in Texas and have tracked you down. We own numerous properties that we have as rentals, and we have one we want you to list and sell right away.”
So began my phone conversation with a gentleman early last week. To say I was flattered would put it mildly. To know I was excited about a Seller with multiple properties who was ready to sell them off because he no longer wanted to be a remote landlord is an understatement.
And I was even more excited that most of the properties were in Downtown Colorado Springs, my niche, my passion. But the fact of the matter is that all areas within an area are not created equal. When he gave me the address, my heart sank. When I pulled up in front of the property, I wondered what would prompt a person to purchase a home that faced the Interstate.
When I got inside the property, I wondered what would prompt a person to think that sticking a circular stairway in the middle of the living room as you walked in would be considered an ‘improvement.’ And when I had to slip sideways to get into the bathroom because of the remodel, and take three steps to climb into the tub, I thought maybe, just maybe, the owner had ‘over improved.’
That the refrigerator was in another room because there wasn’t room left in the kitchen was moot by the time I got to the back of the house. Was I surprised when I ran comps and found that the value was about $50,000 less than it had been in 2006 when the owner had refinanced? Was I surprised when the owner thought I was incompetent when I shared the results of that Market Analysis?
Nah ~ all in a day’s work in the life of a Realtor. However, two other Downtown Colorado Springs Sellers thought I was good enough to hire this week. All in a day’s work.
