Real Estate has this really funny way of bringing people together sometimes. In our case, one of our more recent sales had a whole lot of heart to it. It wasn’t without some challenges, but I think the most important thing to discuss with the particulars of this deal is the lifelong relationships that started well before the deal was even a twinkle in our Buyers’s eyes.
Some very longtime friends gave us a call a couple of months ago, asking us to do a price evaluation on their home. They built that home together from scratch, their two children were born and raised there, and several lifetimes of memories were made and shared there. When they called us to do a price evaluation, Patrick and I looked at each other as if to say, “Uh oh.” in this case, this home was so special that it was going to be a hard one to sell, given all of the sentimental value within those walls—parting from that was going to be rough for everyone involved. So we went to the house and exchanged niceties and shared memories together as only longtime friends can. That was when they explained to us what their real intentions were: they wanted to downsize, but stay in the same neighborhood so that when they sold their family home to their daughter and her growing family, they wouldn’t be far. Patrick and I breathed a collective sigh of relief and proceeded to get them a price evaluation for their home so that their daughter could ultimately purchase it. When it came to the purchase, the new house had some troubles with the septic tank failing. We called an old friend of mine from high school, who was also one of Patrick's youth group kids, and now he and his brother own a septic company together locally (Doone Bros.) Those brothers also know our buyers from church here in Evergreen. They took excellent care of our dear friends. The purchase closed with very little incident apart from installing a septic and needing an escrow account through title to complete that work after closing… but it got done, it got done correctly, and our friends are happy! Our clients are officially homeowners to their dream down-sizer and have family right up the street in a property that will no doubt continue the legacy they started. This is a deal filled with heart, family and relationships that have continued to grow through the test of time… it’s deals like these that always keep us coming back for more!
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Sometimes selling a property means encountering unexpected hurdles and requires a higher level of cooperation. Teamwork is most often the difference between success & failure! We really do need each other. Real estate transactions require collaboration with listing agents, buyer’s agents, title companies, lenders, inspectors, buyers and sellers, working together with the mindset of getting to a successful closing.
However, this one went to another level. We listed a lovely home and the adjoining acreage near Golden, and before going on the market we encountered our first hurdle. The property was an estate, as the mom recently passed away, and the old documentation of easements and land swaps up the canyon was more informal 25-years ago. The family worked with us, along with the county, and a persistent attorney to put the pieces together and solve the puzzle. We went on the market, ultimately got it under contract and all was well. But then we were presented with another unexpected bump in the road… the lender for the seller would not loan on the land because it was a distinct parcel from the house. We had to separate the land from the house, and the land had to be sold post-house closing. Why was separating it a problem? Well, did we mention the lack of an easement from one property to the other? If for some reason the buyers didn’t close on the land it would be an orphan property, i.e., no access to get to it, which meant it would have little value. So it was risky for our sellers that the house and land were closing separately. Another hurdle that was ultimately solved. Why did the land have to close later than the house? Well, there was yet another obstacle. It was discovered during title work that 5 acres of the 35-acre land parcel was not properly deeded because of old survey issues, so although we thought we were selling 35 acres, turns out we actually were just selling 30 acres, with the 5 acres out there in no man’s land. This had to be figured out but would take time, and the buyers needed to close on the house sooner rather than later. We got it resolved and moved forward. Each bump in the road meant long conversations with our seller and strategizing with the buyer’s agent. Building trust and rapport, we became an effective problem-solving team. There were so many hurdles, we had to laugh when one of us received a call from the other starting with “Well, you aren’t going to believe this but…” Each time though, we both had the mindset that we could find a solution. The agent was terrific, and there were so many more… the surveyor, attorneys, the family of the estate, the title company, and the county. Walking the property with the surveyor and multiple conversations with him about easements, deeds, and boundaries, going down to the county offices for clarification, communications with the estate attorney, researching records, talking to the title company to get their expertise, and working with the family. What a journey. Hundreds of emails, phone calls, and texts later, we made it to closing! Yes, there were obstacles, but the positivity and can-do attitude of everyone involved made it a rewarding adventure, and one in which we learned a lot. Bottom line… relationships, good people and teamwork really matter. – John & Pandora |
Team PJPThe seemingly straightforward world of buying and selling houses can be a whirlwind of unexpected twists. Consider the mix of emotions, interest rates, competitive markets, and a dash of the unpredictable from all sides. Then throw in bidding wars, more emotions and quirky inspection findings, and you've got a recipe for truly "Hot Mess Real Estate" moments. We strive to get to the closing table but it isn't always easy! This is a peek into our world! ArchivesCategories |