Thomas Edison once said: Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.
Quite a few years ago, on my way to an appointment to sell a historic property, I drove by a property that was old and in disrepair, intrigued by the setting and the roof. I even took a picture thinking that it would be quite special to ever sell a property like that.
A few years later a received a phone call from a friend asking whether I’d be interested in selling an old building in Calistoga that had been foreclosed upon by a local investment company… Yes you guessed right, it was the old building I was intrigued with years before.
It was a long journey to sell this once so gorgeous grand dame called the Francis House, it was initially built in 1886 by a local merchant James Francis. It is unique since it’s the only stone building with authentic French Second Empire architecture in Napa County, the signature architecture of France popularized by Napoleon III in the mid-19th century and characterized by a mansard roof.. It was put on the national list of historic places in 1979.
Selling unique properties is all about finding the right buyer. A lot of people were intrigued by the property and wanted to restore it. Yet this was a unique property and hence a unique opportunity not for the faint of heart. All but one had to realize that it was too much to take on. In of June in 2o15 Richard Dwyer called to see the property. After showing the property and talking to Richard and Dina I realized I had found the right buyer, they LOVED historic properties, had the knowledge and the resourced to take on this to unique property. At once point during the escrow process, Richard said: there are a lot of unknowns but we love the property and will somehow make it work… After a last negotiation because of the immense permit fees that would be required by the city of Calistoga we ended up closing escrow in September of 20
It took more than 3 years to find the right buyer, partially due to the fact that we were still coming out of a recession and partially due to the fact that it takes time to find the right buyer for unique properties. Then it took about 3 years for Richard and Dina Dwyer to restore this unique grand dame to its original grandeur and the some extra.
I highly recommend considering this small inn for your next stay in the Wine Country. Sonoma Magazine is featuring this incredible property : A Piece of Calistoga Becomes Luxury Five-Room Inn
I will forever be grateful to this special couple to take on this project so dear to my heart.
Mirjam