“I see real estate as the next step to putting my experience to good use. Over the last 20 years, I have taken on the design, remodel, and renovation of four different homes of our own,” said Carrie Warren of her real estate experience. “I’ve learned a great deal about home structure and flow, and I’ve acquired specific skills in tiling, flooring, caulking, trim, and more. Through those remodeling experiences, and through my own experiences buying or selling homes, my interest in real estate and related law, policy, and processes involved in buying and selling has driven me toward becoming a REALTOR®.”
We’re excited to announce that Carrie Warren is joining CENTURY 21 Signature Real Estate. She will be working from our Ames office. Read her interview below to learn more about Carrie!
About Carrie Warren:
Tell us a little about yourself. Where are you from and what’s your family like?
I was born and raised in Westminster, Maryland, and grew up in the center of an old farm- in the beautiful old barn. My mother had remodeled it into a gorgeous, rustic house. I now. live in the center of a very old farm in Story City, Iowa. I have lived in a variety of locations, including: various neighborhoods in downtown Chicago; northern and western Chicago suburbs; Eugene, Oregon; San Juan Island, Washington; Veracruz, Mexico; Fort Collins, Colorado; and Ames, Iowa.
My husband and I have four teenagers: two girls in college and two boys in high school. We built an addition onto our little farmhouse to accommodate everyone comfortably, including Grandpa and any future grandchildren who visit. I was one of five siblings and my parents followed me to Iowa so we also have lots of visiting family members to accommodate in our home at times. Our kids and extended family all enjoy being at our farm with the critters, good food and beautiful skies.
What are your hobbies?
When I’m not busy with real estate, I enjoy facilitating get-togethers with friends or managing the goings-on at home with kids, chickens and whatever other critters we have at the time, and making sure there is good food at the house for all. I also enjoy jogging and long walks on the trails and gravel roads in the country around our home. Besides the day-to-day activities, my husband and I seem to always have a renovation project going on- either for our own home or for a rental property. I appreciate hard work and honing my remodeling skills.
Would you like to share a few fun facts about yourself?
In my earlier adult years I traveled quite a bit. I went to most of the Central American countries between Mexico and Panama, Greece, London and to all of the mainland U.S. states, except for two. Some of those state visits happened during cross-country trips with girlfriends- I love road trips! I can also speak Spanish, so I can help clients whose primary language is Spanish. I am also known for my pies, for better or worse. It’s a lot of pressure at Thanksgiving!
What did you do before becoming a REALTOR®?
Before I was a REALTOR®, I was a university lecturer at various institutions . I taught intensive ESL (English as a second language), as well as a variety of courses in linguistics and composition at: the University of Chicago; the Indonesian Consulate in Chicago; Tecnológico De Monterrey in Cordoba, Mexico; Des Moines Area Community College (DMACC) in Boone; Iowa State University in the English department; and at DMACC Hunziker Center.
I was fortunate to spend 10 years as a stay-at-home mom and I would not trade that for the world. I loved teaching but the natural progression of how I spent much of my free time drove me to real estate. I also currently have an enjoyable part-time job on the Birthways floor at Mary Greeley Hospital, screening newborns for hearing. I see that as almost a volunteer position and I’m looking forward to working full-time in real estate.
What is your favorite neighborhood in Des Moines/Ankeny/Ames/Cedar Valley/Pella?
Other than the rural areas and small town which we live around now, my favorite local neighborhoods are the Ames Historic Old Town neighborhood and the adjacent neighborhood around the Roosevelt School. I love them because of the wonderful neighbors, old-home charm, and the easy access to pretty much everything a person needs by foot, bike or car. Ames and the surrounding areas are fortunate to have some of the most varied and attractive options for housing.
What areas will you be serving?
I will be serving Ames and the surrounding town and rural areas, including Gilbert, Story City, Roland, McCallsburg, Zearing, Randall, Jewell, Ellsworth, Radcliffe, Nevada, Cambridge, Maxwell, Huxley and Kelly.
What are your biggest strengths? What can your clients expect from you?
My integrity, reliability, patience, hard work, methodical attention to detail and my love of people and the ability to work with anyone. My clients can expect me to put their interests first and do a thorough job. After my own experiences buying, selling and remodeling homes, I look forward to guiding my clients through the home choice and purchase or sale process and avoid potential hang-ups, as my agents did for me.
Why are you passionate about being a REALTOR®?
Several reasons!
First, one of our country’s aims to allow and encourage the maximum number of people to own land and bringing that goal to fruition is fulfilling to me.
Second, homes and their potential has always been intriguing to me. In Iowa, with our long winters, it is the place most people spend a great deal of their time. Therefore, your home space matters a great deal. There are so many factors that affect the sense of home value to a resident. For some, the home layout is key to enhancing human interaction – from adequate privacy to adequate social bonding spaces. I am excited to help folks identify desired home characteristics, facilitate a comprehensive search, and aid in a smooth, wise, buying/selling process.
