Luis Enrique Coll
Luis Enrique Coll is a respected freelance system analyst and web developer. He resides in Seattle, Washington. He designs software for a wide variety of clients including healthcare, manufacturing, and retail firms. He provides turnkey solutions for his clients and can build complete software packages to meet their needs.
Luis graduated early from college and went straight into the tech industry. His first job was as an entry-level coder for a large retail company. He moved through the ranks swiftly and soon accepted a new position working for a high technology firm. He found that his curiosity was not satisfied by the new job. During this period, he considered the risks and benefits of going out on his own as a freelance consultant. He saved money for a year and then struck out on his own.
Luis Enrique Coll is dedicated to encouraging young people and teens to go into high-tech fields. He is especially interested in fostering the love of coding among young people. Since tech is poised to grow by leaps and bounds over the next ten years, he understands that an influx of new workers will be needed to fill all the positions.
Outside of work, Luis is a world traveler. He is especially interested in the culture and art of South America. He is a runner and a mountain climber.
What do you know about the real estate industry?
I’ve gained a little bit of expertise in real estate over the past few years. I recently bought my second home in Seattle. I know that right now is a great time to sell real estate, though it may not be the best time to buy due to a limited market.
Have you ever sold real estate? How did you make it happen?
I have sold one home. It was a small, older home in a quiet Seattle neighborhood. I wanted a home with a larger backyard, an outdoor kitchen, and ample office space. My broker’s hard work was the main reason the property sold as quickly as it did. I barely had time to move out before closing. I was also happy to get a fair price for my first home.
How much experience do you have in buying or selling real estate?
Not very much, although I feel like I learned a lot from my most recent home purchase. I wasn’t interested in a fixer-upper since I am so busy with work, so I also had to be careful to choose a home that didn’t need any upgrades or repairs.
Have you ever made a sell or a purchase you have regretted?
No, I’m happy with both of the homes I have bought. When I bought my first home, I wasn’t thinking of working from home, so I didn’t have a large office. I was crammed into the corner of the living room. I’m much happier with the office I have in my new home.
What advice would you give inexperienced who are wanting to buy or sell?
Don’t expect your house to sell at the asking price unless you are in an extremely tight real estate market. Another good piece of advice is to have a professional home stager come and make your home look just right before the showings begin. I will always use one in the future.
What have you found out to be the best way to market property?
With my most recent home purchase, I initially found the listing on Facebook. A combination of online and traditional marketing seems like the way to go. Make sure your home has all the latest features in its online listing. 3D walkthrough tours are excellent ways to narrow down a home selection, especially if you are coming from out of town.
What tools do you believe are essential for success in the real estate industry?
Creativity, honesty, and business smarts seem like the most important factors to me. My broker embodies all of these qualities. The ability to negotiate is a crucial factor, and it’s beneficial to have the intuition to guess what the other party might be thinking about.
What has real estate taught you about life?
From real estate, I’ve learned not to underprice my services. As my work becomes better known, I’ve been able to set my prices higher. Undervaluing your services only makes clients take you for granted. You get what you pay for.
How can you use what you have learned in real estate to succeed in other areas?
I’ve learned negotiating skills, which helps when setting the price of a new contract. My clients are generally reasonable people who want to pay me commensurate with my experience, but I’ve learned to watch out for the bargain hunters.
Do you have a mentor who taught you what you know?
Not in real estate, per se, but my boss at my first job has been an excellent mentor to me in my professional career. I’ve kept in touch with him over the years.
Do you have a feedback system? How does it work?
I take feedback from my clients very seriously. Since I have a close personal relationship with my clients, I don’t have a system for feedback. I encourage my clients to leave positive notes and endorsements on LinkedIn when they are satisfied with my work.
