From Selling Her Trailer Herself to Building a New Home: Shawna's Valley Station Story
By Lavell Jackson, Broker/Owner, RE/MAX Five Star Properties · Published · Last updated
The short version
Shawna came to me to sell her trailer. Because it was not attached to land, I told her she would likely do better selling it herself, and I walked her through it. That sale funded her real goal. She paid off bills, raised her credit score, and is now building a new construction home in the Valley Station area of Louisville.
Key facts
- Client type:
- Seller, then new construction buyer
- Situation:
- Selling a mobile home and building new
- Location:
- Valley Station, Louisville, Jefferson County, Kentucky
- Property type:
- Mobile home sold; new construction single-family
- Timeline:
- Sale first, then contract and an ongoing build
- My role:
- Advisor on the sale, agent on the new construction purchase
- Status:
- In progress — exterior wrapped
Where she started
The honest answer was that she did not need to list with me. Shawna first came to me wanting to sell her trailer. Because it was not attached to land, I told her the truth: she might do better selling it herself. So we skipped the listing agreement, advertised it, and I walked her through every step. She sold it on her own.
What we did next
That sale opened the door to her real goal, a new construction home. Working with Virginia at D.R. Horton, Shawna picked her homesite in the Valley Station area of Louisville and signed her contract.
Thinking about building or selling first? Text me at 270-312-1369.
The turning point
Her finances did the heavy lifting. Along the way she paid off a lot of bills and raised her credit score, and every step she took moved her closer to the keys. The best part is where she landed: she is building right across the street from her good friend, something the two of them promised each other they would do one day.
Sometimes the best advice isn't “list with me.” It's “here's how you can do this yourself,” and then showing up to help.
Where it stands now
The home is under construction. The roof is framed and sheathed and the exterior is wrapped, with interior work ahead. I will keep adding photos here as the build moves forward.
What this means for you
- A mobile home on a rented lot may not be real estate, so ask about title and paperwork before you assume you need a listing agreement.
- Selling something small first can be the step that makes a bigger purchase possible.
- Paying down debt and raising your credit score can change both your approval and your interest rate.
- New construction lets you lock a homesite early, but plan your housing around a build range rather than one date.
- A good agent should tell you when hiring them is not the best move for you.
Questions about selling and building
Ready to talk about selling and building?
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Update log
- — Roof framed and sheathed, exterior house wrap installed.
- — Story published: trailer sold, homesite picked, contract signed.
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Shared with the client's permission. Every situation is different and results vary.