Beautiful Homes And Casa Bonita In Colorado – Carla Castillo
On this episode of The Closing Table, we sat down with Carla Castillo!
To watch the full episode, check it out on YouTube below. In the meantime, here’s a summary of the conversation…
Here’s what you missed from Carla Castillo…
The conversation began with a fill-in-the-blanks icebreaker on how the industry will be in 10 years, how to add value to your home, and more. Carla then provides a glimpse into her life beyond real estate. As a Colorado native and a parent of four wonderful children, she shares her love for her family. Additionally, Carla mentions her furry companion and her passion for baking cookies. Nature is another part of her life that she enjoys immersing herself in.
Carla primarily serves the Denver Metro area, with a significant portion of her clients coming from the northern region. Presently, the city of Denver is abuzz with excitement over the recent victory of the Nuggets, a notable local sports team. Furthermore, the reopening of Casa Bonita, an iconic establishment now owned by the creators of South Park, is generating considerable discussion. Turning to the real estate market in Denver, Carla provides key statistics. The average purchase price in the area stands at $660,000, and properties tend to spend a mere eight days on the market before being sold. With approximately five weeks’ worth of inventory available, the market is characterized by robust activity. The favorable interest rates further contribute to the overall strength of the market.
Next, Carla reflects on her journey towards becoming a real estate agent, which began when she was just 19 years old. Initially, she took on an administrative role in the field, a time when MLS books were still prevalent and faxing was the norm. As an introvert, Carla never envisioned herself as a realtor. However, her perception shifted when she realized that being an agent meant more than simply selling houses. It entailed forming deep connections with her clients, which sparked her interest. Eight years ago, she made the pivotal decision to pursue her real estate license. For Carla, the significance of being an agent lies in the opportunity to help people and be part of the significant milestones in their lives.
Carla then expresses gratitude for the predominantly positive experiences she has had with clients. However, she acknowledges that there have been instances where clients were particularly nervous or demanding, which is completely understandable. In such situations, Carla relies on essential qualities like patience, empathy, and problem-solving to ensure a positive outcome. She understands the importance of active listening, allowing her to gain a deeper understanding of the root causes of her clients’ anxieties. By prioritizing professionalism and maintaining a supportive approach, Carla navigates these challenging client interactions, always striving for a positive resolution.
Being a Credited Real Estate Divorce Specialist, Carla recounts a unique situation where she found herself in the midst of a contentious property split that wasn’t exactly a divorce. Her client was facing a breakup with his live-in girlfriend who refused to vacate the home. To assist him, Carla took proactive measures to mediate and resolve the issue. She immediately connected him with an attorney to initiate the eviction process. The attorney guided him through the necessary steps and helped him navigate the eviction process.
However, things took an unexpected turn when, on the day the eviction was scheduled, the girlfriend unexpectedly filed for divorce, claiming common law marriage. In Colorado, openly stating a marital relationship or sharing assets can validate a common law marriage. Fortunately for Carla’s client, he had maintained a clear separation of assets and had never portrayed themselves as a married couple. As a result, he had to go to court to prove they were not legally married, requiring the presentation of evidence and testimonies to establish the absence of a marital relationship. It was a lengthy process, during which Carla provided her client with support and encouragement.
This experience served as a strong reminder of the importance of protecting assets for unmarried couples who live together. Carla emphasizes the need for individuals considering moving in with their partner to carefully consider the legal safeguards of their property. This includes having clear agreements, separating finances, and documenting the non-marital status to better protect their assets and prevent further complications.
Following that, Carla reflects on situations where selling a client’s home took longer than anticipated, often due to their insistence on overpricing the property. She recalls working with clients who had a strong emotional attachment to their home and held certain expectations regarding its value. Despite her analysis and market research suggesting a different price range, they insisted on setting a higher listing price. Carla even hesitated to take the listing because she knew the eventual outcome. This factor significantly increased the timeline for selling the property. Eventually, the clients had to lower the price, but if they had initially gone with a price more competitive with the market, the home would have likely sold for a higher price. Carla acknowledges that unrealistic pricing expectations can cause delays and advises clients to consider pricing their homes realistically from the beginning to achieve optimal results in a timely manner.
When asked if there been a time when the closing day had to be pushed back due to her or her clients, Carla shares that fortunately, she has not encountered a situation where the closing day had to be pushed back. The closest experience she had was when, on the closing day, they had to delay the closing by a few hours. This was because the seller was moving out of state and had a closing for their purchase that relied on the sale in Colorado closing first to fund their purchase. The delay was ultimately caused by the buyer’s lender, which was beyond Carla’s control. However, this situation taught Carla the importance of being proactive and reinforced the need for everyone involved to do their due diligence and research.
Carla then expresses her enthusiasm for giving closing gifts, as it is one of her favorite parts of the transaction. She believes in tailoring these gifts to each client’s unique circumstances and preferences to make them more meaningful and personalized. One memorable instance involved handling an estate sale where the property being sold was the childhood home of the clients. As part of their gift, Carla presented them with a framed photo of the home, accompanied by a quote, serving as a reminder to cherish the memories they had with their family. In addition, she included a gift certificate to a restaurant, allowing them to celebrate the new chapter and reminisce over the memories of the home.
When receiving multiple offers on a property, Carla highlights that the agents representing the buyers can become highly competitive. Their goal is to secure the acceptance of their client’s offer, and it is not uncommon to witness agents going to great lengths to advocate for their clients. Carla has observed a range of tactics, including offering extravagant incentives such as vacations or housewarming parties. Additionally, the traditional approach of submitting an offer well above the list price is often employed. Carla emphasizes that her role is to assist her clients in weighing their options and making decisions that align with their best interests and financial goals.
The conversation wraps up with Kevin asking Carla what the most challenging aspect of the real estate industry is for her. Carla identifies finding a balance as the most challenging aspect of the real estate industry, particularly as an introvert. Effectively engaging with clients and building strong relationships can be demanding. To address this challenge, Carla has recognized that hosting events is an effective way for her to connect with her clients. She has organized several events tailored to their interests, providing face-to-face interactions and valuable market information. These events allow her to showcase her expertise and foster meaningful relationships. Carla also emphasizes the importance of engaging in non-real estate-related activities to build connections with clients.
Check out Carla Castillo:
Facebook Business Page: https://www.facebook.com/CarlaCRealtor
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