Upfront with Tim Allen

When Coldwell Banker Previews specialist Tim Allen is not searching for the perfect luxury property for his clients in Carmel and the Monterey Peninsula, he can be found in an unlikely place: on the lacrosse field. In 1999, he helped establish Tribe Lacrosse on the Monterey Peninsula, which has grown into an active and successful youth program today. And when it came time to update his sprawling Carmel Valley compound recently? He added a lacrosse field, of course “I told everybody it was for my kids, but I had my own agenda,” claims the father of two sons who play college lacrosse. Whatever Tim Allen’s real estate agenda is, it’s clearly working. Previews Inside Out recently sat down with the no. 3 ranked Coldwell Banker Previews specialist to find out what makes him tick and get an inside look at the world he calls “home.” Previews Inside OutWhat would most people be surprised to find out about you? Tim AllenI am an open book. I don’t hold back, so there aren’t many surprises. Previews Inside OutWhat does luxury living mean to you? Tim AllenLuxury living has less to do with opulence and more to do with comfort, relaxation and a feeling of being on vacation. In our market, a luxury home is a place where the busy can come to unwind, take a deep breath and explore the sights, sounds and tastes of the Monterey Peninsula. Previews Inside OutWhat’s your philosophy when it comes to real estate? Tim AllenMy approach to business is to be an advisor to my clients and my goal is to help them achieve their goals—not to get a listing or a sale but to establish a relationship. I always try to be kind, fair and honest, but that doesn’t mean I can’t be competitive. Previews Inside OutWhat’s your most memorable real estate transaction? Tim AllenI discovered a dead mouse in the ocean front house I had just sold and the buyers were due to arrive in 30 minutes. The problem wasn’t so much the mouse, but the awful odor permeating from the crawlspace. It was early in my career and I was wearing a three-piece suit, so I stripped down to my boxers, put on my golf shoes and grabbed my lacrosse stick. I crawled under the house and poked and prodded. I scooped up the dead mice, and then stuffed them into a hefty bag. Once I emerged, I sniffed around and was pleasantly pleased that I had solved the smelly situation. I quickly jumped in the shower, all the while hoping the buyer wouldn’t show up. Luckily I dressed in time and came out smelling like a rose! Previews Inside OutDo you have advice for someone who is interested in buying real estate in your area? Tim AllenMake sure you are buying the right properties at the right prices. Values in our area are very subjective and small differences in style, location, light and other factors can add up to huge differences in value. Having expert representation is a must. Tim Allen earned the no. 3 spot among Coldwell Banker sales associates worldwide in 2011. He has successfully handled more than 1,090 transactions resulting in over $2 billion in closed sales during his 30-year career.