Tale of the Sale - When a once-in-a-lifetime property meets the right buyers
Sometimes the best real estate stories begin in the most unexpected ways. For this Tale of the Sale, it all started with an email that looked suspicious—almost too good to be true. The message described a stunning 7-bedroom, 8-bathroom mountain estate near St. Elmo, complete with two hot tubs, a steam room, a media room, a wine cellar, and even a creek running through the property.
An Email Too Good to Be True
With so many phishing attempts out there, I wanted to be careful. I sent it over to my marketing team and asked them to take a closer look. After doing some digging, they confirmed the property was very real. It belonged to two attorneys and had been built by DSI. That was all I needed to know—I picked up the phone right away.
Meeting the Seller
When the seller answered, we immediately hit it off. He shared details about the home, and when I confirmed the property records, I knew I was looking at something extraordinary. We set up a meeting, and the very next day I drove up toward St. Elmo to see it for myself.
Because of heavy snow that winter, I couldn’t drive all the way in. Instead, I parked at the Last Chance trailhead lot and was picked up on a snowmobile to finish the journey. It was the most unique listing appointment I’ve ever had—and an absolute winter wonderland ride!
The seller greeted me with a warm hug and said, “I’m a hugger—are you a hugger?” Then he added, “I emailed seven agents, and you’re the only one who called me back.” That moment set the tone for a genuine connection and instant trust.
Preparing a Mountain Showpiece
I spent hours touring the home, room by room—from the wine cellar to the great room with sweeping views. It was breathtaking. The sellers decided right away that they wanted me to represent them, and we made a plan to launch the listing once the snow melted.
Over the next several months, I helped them prepare. We coordinated cleaners and organizers, brought in a home stager to refine the layout, and connected with trusted vendors for finishing touches.
By the time the home was ready, it truly shined. Professional photography captured its magic, from the architectural details to the creek and surrounding forest.
Multiple Offers and the Perfect Match
As soon as we went live, interest poured in. Within days, we had multiple offers on the table. The sellers didn’t want to pit buyers against each other, so we simply reviewed both. The strongest and best-fitting offer rose to the top, and the home was quickly under contract.
The buyers had been searching for the right mountain property for a long time. When they walked through the door, they knew instantly: this was the one. They loved the creek, the privacy, and the chance to take their off-road vehicles right out of the driveway into the mountains.
The Perfect Match
The sellers were thrilled to see their beloved home passed on to a family who would enjoy it just as much as they had. And for the buyers, it was the start of a new chapter filled with adventure, gatherings, and memories.
For me, it was one of the most memorable experiences of my career—from that first “suspicious” email to riding up on a snowmobile for the listing appointment, to the joy of handing it off to the perfect buyers.
This Tale of the Sale is a reminder of how trust, preparation, and the right connections come together to create a seamless transition. Congratulations to both the sellers and the new homeowners on this truly MARR-VELOUS sale!
Thinking about buying or selling in Salida (or anywhere nearby)? Let’s chat. You never know when the right property—and the right story—might come along.