My Clients Were Selling Their Dream Home
The two bedroom, two-bath Craftsman bungalow that Della and Scott had lived in for 35 years wasn’t going to be the perfect fit for everyone, but I knew it would attract the right buyer. Over the years, they had completed a luxurious 800 square foot primary suite addition and lovingly added numerous design elements and special touches – a Lee Ledbetter designed library/office, custom kitchen cabinetry, and an enclosed breezeway connecting the primary wing. Della and Scott had made 600 State Street their dream home and adored living there, but they were planning to retire in Asheville, NC. That was April 2022, and the market was hot -- but there were rumors that interest rates were about to go up. That prompted Della and Scott to move forward with selling their home. It's About Asking The Right Question They interviewed three different realtors and offered me the job. During the interview, I asked what price they were hoping to get for their home – a question the other two realtors didn’t even ask. Instead, the others wanted to price the property low, in the hopes of encouraging a bidding war – a common tactic in a hot market. But that’s not what Della and Scott wanted. They weren’t comfortable with it, and they were unsure if that approach would work. So, based on my asking that question – and their comfort level – we priced the home honestly, just under the number they were hoping to receive. As Scott satisfyingly put it, “We hit the sweet spot.” A Strategy That Worked Initially, there was interest from an under-bidder. But then a couple came along and offered full price. They’d been looking for a year, had lost out on a house across the street, and didn’t want to miss out again! We agreed to a quick 30-day sale so the buyer could lock in a favorable interest rate. The timeline was a little tight due to some work Della and Scott had agreed to do, but I made sure all the loose ends were tied up, inspections went smoothly, and the closing went off without a hitch! I love that Della and Scott had this to say about working with me: “The first realtor we interviewed was too soft, the second was too hard, but Tracey was just right. She had a straightforward plan that suited us, and we felt it would be the most successful. Through it all, she was holding our hand and making sure everything went through. We left three days before the closing, and she took over -- making sure all the work was complete, and the house passed final inspections. She did it all! It was a real relief because we needed that extra help.” - Scott “We have good friends who highly recommended Tracey -- two people we really respect who thought she’d do a great job. She understood the house and its design elements and how we had fleshed out the rooms with storage features. I think she really understood it and got the quality of it.” - Della
Experienced Investment Property Owners Looking for the Right Buyer
Last summer, Bryan and Rachelle were intrigued as they watched their neighbor’s Uptown house sell quickly for above asking price. They appreciated how I hustled as the listing agent to show the house and manage multiple offers. So a few months later, when they decided to sell their investment property on Dumaine St. in Mid-City, they got in touch. Bryan and Rachelle were most interested in working with an agent who would listen to them and who was cool, calm, and collected. Says Bryan, “Way too often, agents have a tendency to try and tell you what to do or talk you into something, which has turned me off.” As experienced, responsible landlords who took care of their renters and properties, Bryan and Rachelle knew what they were looking for and how much they were willing to negotiate. What they needed was an experienced agent to secure the best offers from the kinds of buyers they were hoping to attract. A Lovely Duplex with A Lot to Offer Located just one block from beautiful Bayou St. John, their updated, well-maintained Duplex featuring two bedrooms and one bath on each side was perfect for a buyer who wanted to live in one unit and receive rental income from the other. And because Bryan and Rachelle were intent on doing right by their neighbors, that’s the kind of buyer they were looking for. Seven Offers in One Day With seven(!) offers on the first day we listed the property — all of them over listing price – Bryan and Rachelle were able to make a profit and at the same time, give the neighbors a dependable new owner who would care about the neighborhood as much as they did. In other words, it was a win-win. What My Clients Had to Say I’m thrilled that Bryan had this to say about working with me: “We did our research about Tracey. We really liked her style, her presentation, and her demeanor. Sometimes agents can be out for themselves, but she really has a great presence out there and genuinely listened to what we wanted. She knows what she’s doing, and she obviously runs a tight ship! We’ve definitely told friends how good our experience was.”
Artist / Designer Works to Revitalize a Quirky, Historic Bywater Property
Photos by J. Marque | Collaged by A. Meyn New Orleans Felt Like Home Though she grew up in Cincinnati, most of Alexandra Meyn’s family lives in New Orleans and has for eight generations. Over the years, she came to visit regularly, whether it was for the holidays, Jazz Fest, or any other reason she could dream up. An artist and designer, Alexandra has lived all over, from New York City to Hawaii — but she says, “New Orleans felt more like home than anywhere else.” What Alexandra Was Looking For After her father passed away, she and her partner decided it was time to move to New Orleans with Alexandra’s mother. As someone who specializes in both residential and commercial interior architectural projects, Alexandra was looking for an historic Bywater or Marigny property with a multi-generational aspect that could be age-adaptive, with off street parking, and roughly 2500-3000 square feet. It also needed to be unfinished and un-renovated, so that she could revitalize it herself and as Alexandra puts it, “capture that equity.” That’s where I came in. I started showing Alexandra and her partner properties over Jazz Fest in 2019, and the whole process took about eight months. We discovered 2820 St. Claude Ave. in October, but it was already under contract; I encouraged them to make a back-up offer because they so often come to fruition. And then when the first offer fell through, we moved into first position! While technically zoned commercial, the property was ideal. Permitted as “mixed-use”, the 5000 square foot space had the ability to include living space, Alexandra’s studio, retail/showroom space, and more. The following are “Before” photos: The Exciting Plan for the Property While the realities of the permitting process have been difficult at times, Alexandra says, “I’m excited to hopefully forge a path forward in that respect. I’m an optimist and a solutions-oriented person, and it will be worth it if it makes it simpler for others to more easily create and occupy mixed-use, live/work spaces.” Alexandra is excited to celebrate the architectural details of the building. She explains her plan for the space as including “a small, curated home goods retail space, my design & art studio, a personal & professional showroom with custom finishes so that clients can see our offerings, private living space for three adults, and room to expand into the ample backyard. The goal is to grow the business so that it absorbs the whole footprint.” Stay tuned for more details and “After” photos, as Alexandra transforms the space. What Alexandra Says About Working with Me Alexandra is a true visionary, and I understood exactly what she was trying to accomplish. I love that she had this to say about working with me: “Tracey was most importantly super patient – because only a couple of properties would have suited the primary factors we were looking for. I showed her before & after photos of projects that I’d done in Hawaii, and she got it. She was there through thick and thin, weekends, holidays – she never let us down. I appreciated that she was fearless, and there wasn’t anything she couldn’t tackle. Tracey was willing to go down this road with us. She could see what I could see, and we were able to get this property for the right price at the right time. She was down for the adventure, and I am sincerely grateful for that. I’m an avid learner but sometimes felt out of my depth, not knowing the protocol of how things work in the city, and Tracey was just always so willing to help and nothing was beneath her. She’s smart, savvy, and talented, and I love her passion and her mission. We’re both similarly business-oriented, and when we get together, we’ll talk business for hours, which I love! And it’s super fun to see a female pioneer in an industry that’s pretty male dominated.” Photography credit: Jacqueline Marque
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