Horsing Around
If I have a client that is coming from out of the area, they usually want to see as many homes as possible given their limited time schedule. I’m very good at accommodating them. When showing homes in El Dorado Hills or Folsom, I can be in and out of a home in 15 minutes. My clients are going to reject all the homes we preview except one, so there is no sense in measuring for draperies. Tract homes in the same development, take even less time. Many tract homes are nearly identical. The front office/bedroom may be on the right side or the left of the entry and the carpet and tile will be different but they are nearly the same. My top speed when showing tract homes is seven minutes. Including drive time, I can easily show 10 to 12 homes in a day and still have time for a leisurely lunch with my clients. When showing horse property everything changes.
Just getting there can be an adventure. Showing horse property in rural El Dorado County is a challenge requiring the sense of direction of Lewis and Clark and should not be attempted after dark. Horse properties are located far from highway exit signs, streetlights and the normal corner placement of street signs. Faded house numbers if any, may be distant, requiring the eyesight of an eagle or hidden behind gates and blackberry bushes. Properties can be located on dry dusty roads in summer and have seasonal streams flowing across the same road in the winter. Four-wheel drive SUVs are the preferred mode of transporting clients safely. My Honda Accord was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole once while showing horse properties in the Sand Ridge Road area.
If and when the correct property is located it’s usually surrounded by electrified fencing, latched or chained gates and guarded by large barking dogs. Various welcome signs greet visitors: NO TRESSPESSING, BEWARE OF DOG, THIS PROPERTY PROTECTED BY SMITH AND WESSON.
Once parked inside the protected compound, the showing procedure changes. When showing homes in town we walk up the paved driveway or concrete sidewalk to the porch, proceed through the house and finish with the back patio and yard. Horse people upon exiting my vehicle, will start with the pasture and fencing, followed by the arena, barn, preview all the outbuildings and when finally satisfied will somewhat hesitantly move toward the house.
When showing homes in town during the week, I may never encounter a seller at home. The home may be vacant or the sellers are working and children in school. When showing horse properties, sellers will always be there. Horse owners are a unique small family of individuals with similar interest. They welcome the opportunity to share their feelings about horses, trails and lifestyle at any time and to whoever will listen. This process can seriously delay future scheduled appointments. I have had buyers and sellers talk horses while walking property lines for an hour while I tried desperately to find cell phone reception in order to reschedule my already late next appointment.
Locating the property lines in a developed neighborhood usually requires looking out the back patio door to the shared redwood fence. When a horse property buyer wants to identify the property boundaries of a 5 or 10-acre parcel, it may take the afternoon. I once lost a buyer while attempting to locate corner monuments on a 20-acre parcel on Webber Creek. He could be still there.
After 30 years in the business of selling homes, showing house can become pretty routine. It’s the people that make it interesting. The exception is when showing horse property. I have learned to always expect the unexpected. Animals can be inquisitive and protective of their space if surprised. Horse property owners usually have more animals around the ranch than horses. I have been chased, butted, bit, scratched and snapped at while getting acquainted with their territory. I learned early in my career never to turn your back on a critter without keeping watch over your shoulder.
Every buyer is different and horse property buyers have special priorities that go beyond good schools, bedroom size and a pool in the back yard. Their equestrian lifestyle is more important than granite counter tops and wine refrigerators. They love the outdoors and the freedom it provides. Horse people are not pretentious. They will be open and sometimes brutally honest. They would rather spend time working with their horses than in an office or on the ski slopes. Showing horse property isn’t the easiest way to make a sale but it’s one of the most rewarding.
Just getting there can be an adventure. Showing horse property in rural El Dorado County is a challenge requiring the sense of direction of Lewis and Clark and should not be attempted after dark. Horse properties are located far from highway exit signs, streetlights and the normal corner placement of street signs. Faded house numbers if any, may be distant, requiring the eyesight of an eagle or hidden behind gates and blackberry bushes. Properties can be located on dry dusty roads in summer and have seasonal streams flowing across the same road in the winter. Four-wheel drive SUVs are the preferred mode of transporting clients safely. My Honda Accord was nearly swallowed by a sinkhole once while showing horse properties in the Sand Ridge Road area.
If and when the correct property is located it’s usually surrounded by electrified fencing, latched or chained gates and guarded by large barking dogs. Various welcome signs greet visitors: NO TRESSPESSING, BEWARE OF DOG, THIS PROPERTY PROTECTED BY SMITH AND WESSON.
Once parked inside the protected compound, the showing procedure changes. When showing homes in town we walk up the paved driveway or concrete sidewalk to the porch, proceed through the house and finish with the back patio and yard. Horse people upon exiting my vehicle, will start with the pasture and fencing, followed by the arena, barn, preview all the outbuildings and when finally satisfied will somewhat hesitantly move toward the house.
When showing homes in town during the week, I may never encounter a seller at home. The home may be vacant or the sellers are working and children in school. When showing horse properties, sellers will always be there. Horse owners are a unique small family of individuals with similar interest. They welcome the opportunity to share their feelings about horses, trails and lifestyle at any time and to whoever will listen. This process can seriously delay future scheduled appointments. I have had buyers and sellers talk horses while walking property lines for an hour while I tried desperately to find cell phone reception in order to reschedule my already late next appointment.
Locating the property lines in a developed neighborhood usually requires looking out the back patio door to the shared redwood fence. When a horse property buyer wants to identify the property boundaries of a 5 or 10-acre parcel, it may take the afternoon. I once lost a buyer while attempting to locate corner monuments on a 20-acre parcel on Webber Creek. He could be still there.
After 30 years in the business of selling homes, showing house can become pretty routine. It’s the people that make it interesting. The exception is when showing horse property. I have learned to always expect the unexpected. Animals can be inquisitive and protective of their space if surprised. Horse property owners usually have more animals around the ranch than horses. I have been chased, butted, bit, scratched and snapped at while getting acquainted with their territory. I learned early in my career never to turn your back on a critter without keeping watch over your shoulder.
Every buyer is different and horse property buyers have special priorities that go beyond good schools, bedroom size and a pool in the back yard. Their equestrian lifestyle is more important than granite counter tops and wine refrigerators. They love the outdoors and the freedom it provides. Horse people are not pretentious. They will be open and sometimes brutally honest. They would rather spend time working with their horses than in an office or on the ski slopes. Showing horse property isn’t the easiest way to make a sale but it’s one of the most rewarding.
posted by Ken Calhoon at 7:56 AM
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