Meet Carol Olmstead | Realtor, MRP Specialist

We had the good fortune of connecting with Carol Olmstead and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Carol, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I was just tired and exhausted with my previous career. The pandemic really showed their true colors that when you are a part of a large cooperation (like I was), you are simply a number to them and they do not care about your best interest or your work/life balance. I was being taken away from my family because they felt my needs didn’t matter to them.

Making the decision to start my own business was a no-brainer for me. I knew the business aspect and I have worked customer service for many years. I just needed to take the action to step out on my own and make it a reality. Starting my own business allowed me the opportunities to be present in my family as a wife and mother. I wasn’t being put in positions to either do what corporate needed done right this second verse being there for my family as they needed me as well. I can now support my career endeavors and goals all while still having the time to be active in my family. Which this balance was absolutely critical for me to have moving forward.

What should our readers know about your business?
I am very involved in my community and giving back to them. It is a pillar of my business and I feel that the perception of Realtor’s today is their drive is not focused on giving back and helping others as the priority. There is a lot of money to be made in this career field, especially with how the market has gone the last couple of years. But, for me, it was never about that. It was always about finding my passion in a career and being able to pay that forward by helping as many people as I can.

Every day I am learning something new about myself and my career. I went from a field that I spent 10+ years working in and almost overnight I dove into something entirely different and new. This was definitely scary and challenging at first. I feel that owning your own business means that every single day you have to work and fight like it could be your last. Am I there yet? no. Am I closer than I was yesterday? Absolutely. Each day is truly a new opportunity to learn and grow and that is something I try to keep in perspective. I am just excited for what tomorrow may bring my business.

I have overcome challenges by utilizing my resources around me. I am very fortunate to have a great support system. I have my managing Broker, other Realtor peers, I am a member of the Women’s Council – all of whom are willing to help guide me and provide their advice in helping me work through challenges as they arise.

Education is key. Owning a home is not just about owning a home and buying a home is not just about buying a home… it just isn’t that simple. You have to be educated. You have to get educated, constantly. The laws, regulations, terminology, etc., is ever-changing. In order to stay ahead of my competitors and provide the best service to every client, this is something that is non-negotiable for my business. Having a mentor that is a senior leader in the community, in our field, and in our state has been nothing short of a blessing. The wisdom and knowledge that I have around me helps me to continue to grow myself and my business each and every day. I am very fortunate in this way.

“Home is where your story begins.” This is my motto. I truly believe that the home is the foundation for the family. Helping find the perfect home for each client is above everything for me. I want to help create their family story. Whether that means helping a young family find their first home from renting apartments, or helping a Military family come to a new city/base and get them into a great home that meets their needs, or even helping get a family into their forever home. It is more important to me that I help write this story in any positive way I can. Keep in mind – this doesn’t mean just helping someone sell or purchase a home; it also means providing free consultations to people that just need that education on their situation and to understand what steps they may need to take to set themselves up to be in the best position to buy or sell their home. Again, I just want to help people in any way that I can. It’s a backbone of who I am.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Where do we begin…. there is SO much to do here. There is 3E’s comedy club downtown that is a must see – doesn’t. matter who is performing but they always make you laugh. It is located downtown so before or after the show you can take in the incredible views of Pikes Peak, stop at any of the local breweries and lounges for a nice drink, or any of our award winning restaurants.

Hiking! It is a must see here in the Springs. There are hundreds of hiking trails that all vary in difficulty so it fits any style or experience. Helen Hunt falls, Red Rock Open Space, Garden of the Gods, Barr trail, lower Columbine trail are some of my favorites. Garden of the Gods and the Manitou Incline are some key staples for those coming to visit. They offer breathtaking views of our beautiful state that are unmatched.

Cave of the Winds is another spectacular tourist attraction that is offered here. It is a series of tunnels built inside the mountain cave that show you some truly unique formations deep in the mountain. They also offer zip-lining! For those adrenaline junkies out there. Nothing beats zip-lining at 30+ mph deep in the mountains.

Cheyenne Mountain Zoo is another one of a kind here. It is also a National Award winning zoo that is featured on the side of the Cheyenne Mountain. You can feed Elephant’s and Giraffe’s, walk with Penguins, pet a skunk or snake, etc. All while over seeing the city of Colorado Springs.

We also have 5 different Military bases located here. We have Santa’s Workshop at the North Pole where you can meet Santa and his reindeer almost year-round. Fishing, kayaking, canoeing, camping – basically anything you can think of to do outdoors! Visiting Manitou Springs and playing all the retro arcade games at their penny arcade. You can even fly high in a Hot Air balloon ride over the city.

Bottom-line here… we got plenty to offer any person and family here!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My husband. He is my biggest coach and cheerleader in all things life. We are truly a team and he helps to encourage and guide me. He also does this while owning and running his own business as well. He is an Army Special Operations veteran and his background and training has really helped keep us focused, organized, and prioritized on what we need to be successful.

When my former corporation fired all of our staff and forced us management to do all tasks and responsibilities during the pandemic with no support, he was there to help identify that this was not the way I wanted to live or how I envisioned my career goals to be. So, he was a huge advocate for me to begin pursing a new career that I could thrive in and truly help others the way that I wanted to. This is when I found and fell in love with Real Estate.

Website: https://www.olmsteadhomesandrelocation.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/olmsteadhomesco/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/carol-olmstead-6237b915a/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/OlmsteadHomesCO

Image Credits
Carol Olmstead and Melissa Wuertele photographer