From Too Small to Too Big: Getting It Just Right

Neil and Suri moved to New Orleans from NYC in 2016, trading an expansive 3-story brick townhouse in Brooklyn for a small rental in the University area. Suri started a new job at Tulane, and they’d leased the place sight unseen, with the intention to buy a home once they’d gotten to know the city.

While they fell in love with New Orleans, they were cramped and miserable in their rental space. However, they soon purchased a large Queen Anne Victorian on Octavia St. and outfitted it with a beautifully renovated kitchen, a new covered porch, high end finishes, and a 3rd floor hangout space for their kids. They moved in and frequently entertained, taking advantage of all the amenities the home had to offer.

But then the pandemic hit. With Neil spending long stretches of time in NYC for his job and the entertaining of guests suspended, the house started to feel too big, too much to clean and care for, and maybe too much of a good thing. Neil was torn, but Suri felt they needed to move on.

The Sweet Spot

The third time would be the charm. Neil and Suri bought a manageable double on Arabella Street and embarked on a renovation to convert it to a single family home. Once that was underway, Neil explains, “We had to do a full court press to sell the Octavia Street house.”

Our First Meeting

I had met Neil and Suri a few years earlier, when I was the listing agent for a Richmond Place home they’d considered. At that time, they were interested in a rent to own agreement, but it didn’t work out. We hit it off, and they stayed in touch, all of us hoping we could work together in the future.

Selling the Grande Dame

A few years later, Neil and Suri asked me to sell 1328 Octavia Street, and as it turned out, it proved to be quite a challenge. At first, there were a few nibbles, but the listing sat for a bit, as there are only so many people interested in a house that big.

Then we found the right buyer, but it was a difficult situation that required ongoing negotiations. Neil and Suri wanted to sell the home and then rent it back from the new owner while renovating their place on Arabella. At first, the buyer agreed, but then that part of the contract fell through.

To save the deal, I went into overdrive to find a suitable rental for Neil, Suri, their two children, and one VERY large dog. And this was right after Hurricane Ida, when any and all rentals were incredibly hard to come by. It was stressful, but I never gave up, and thankfully, it all worked out!

I’m incredibly appreciative that Neil had this to say about me:

“Suri and I have worked with a lot of real estate folks, have a lot of real estate friends, and knew a lot of people in NYC, but I really feel Tracey is in a class by herself. It’s this remarkable combination of being aggressive, and focused, and organized, but also pitch-perfect. If the situation calls for being firm and sharp, that’s what she brings. If it calls for being diplomatic or inquisitive, that’s what she brings. Or if it calls for getting information that’s difficult to get out of someone, she’s able to finesse the situation – and do whatever is called for.

“She has this blend of approaches and affects that work incredibly well. And sometimes it also translates to having a real presence – you know she’s in the room – she just has a really sharp, sophisticated look.

“You knew Tracey was always working for you. We had supreme confidence that whatever the situation, she was on top of it, and that more than anyone else, she could handle anything. She is such a great communicator, and she’s so great at reading a situation. She’s also good at managing people and has really good political acumen and instincts about how best to use the Réve Realtors resources she has at her disposal.”