HGTV’s “Selling New York” follows CORE agents as they navigate the country’s most competitive—and compelling—real estate market. Here’s our behind-the-scenes look at Episode #503, which first aired on February 9, 2012. For more SNY recaps, click here.
In “The Best Laid Plans,” CORE Managing Director Vickey Barron was thrown a curve ball: Her client found the perfect Manhattan apartment, but it just so happened to be Vickey’s. The episode began with Vickey meeting her client, Irasema Alonso, for a showing at 280 Park Avenue South, where Vickey was listing a stunning 861-square foot apartment that had been renovated from top to bottom. Vickey explained to Irasema that purchasing a move-in ready home was her best bet since renovating after the fact takes time, effort, money and a whole lot of patience. Irasea wasn’t convinced, so to prove her point Vickey offered to bring Irasema to her own apartment nearby, which was in the middle of a $250,000 renovation.
To Vickey’s surprise, instead of recognizing the value of a completed renovation, Irasema made an interesting proposition. She made an offer of $1.215 million for the home at 280 Park Ave. South, and an offer of $1.3 million for Vickey’s apartment. In the end, Irasema’s offer for the Park Avenue home wasn’t high enough and the sellers chose to go with another buyer. As far as Vickey’s apartment went, although flattered, Vickey’s priority was finding a buyer for 280 Park Avenue. Keep on reading for some exclusive behind-the-scenes information about what didn’t make it into last night’s episode of “Selling New York” and what happened after the cameras stopped rolling!
1) Every stone was overturned. Irasema had seen many apartment in the neighborhood, and she was ready to sign on the dotted line at 280 Park Avenue South. That is, of course, until she set eyes on Vickey’s apartment. The high ceilings and oversized windows actually gave Irasema goose bumps, even while the apartment was torn apart for Vickey’s renovation. In the end, Irasema lost out on both apartments, but it just goes to show that you never know when you’ll stumble on a home you truly love, or how long it will take.
2) It wasn’t only Vickey’s idea to show off her digs. Vickey’s plan to bring Irasema to see her own apartment mid-renovation wasn’t just her idea. She actually discussed the idea with the seller at 280 Park Avenue South, who thought bringing Irasema over to Vickey’s was the perfect way to see the chaos that is a full renovation. But of course, plans don’t always go as planned. While offering to buy Vickey’s apartment was surely a compliment, it also put Vickey in an awkward spot since her focus was on selling 280 Park Avenue South. In the end, Vickey helped the apartment at 280 sell to another buyer for more than Irasema offered, and Vickey is now in the process of helping Irasema look for something new.
3) Clients have fallen in love with Vickey’s homes before. Vickey might have looked a little shocked when Irasema offered to buy her apartment, but it’s not the first time this has happened. A few years ago, a colleague’s client offered to buy Vickey’s previous apartment for more than she originally paid. Not only did the buyer want her apartment, he wanted all of her furniture too. And, she had to be completely moved out within 30 days. Since Vickey is no stranger to moving, she went for it. She walked across the street to where an apartment was for sale, and bought it on the spot. It was time to start her next piece of art.
4) The nomad broker. Buying, selling, and renovating real estate is second nature to Vickey. She actually bought her first home in her early 20s, fixed it up and then sold it 10 months later for a significant profit. She hasn’t stopped since. For Vickey, renovating a piece of real estate is an art. There’s excitement in creating a different space, and once she’s finished, it’s time to move on and start painting a new canvas. Since moving to New York City from California, she has never stayed in one apartment longer than four-and-a-half years.
5) The dish on this episode’s best dish. In the episode, you saw Vickey and Irasema spending lots of time grabbing food as they met to discuss 280 Park Avenue South. During one of their meetings they went to Socarrat Paella Bar nearby in Chelsea. The hopping Spanish joint since become a favorite for Vickey, who has gone back several times since filming.