Meet Trailblazer Emily Gunlock

Today we’d like to introduce you to Emily Gunlock.

Emily, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
In 2004, I started helping my husband, Brad, with his fix and flip business doing labor (mostly painting and other odd jobs) on the side of my full-time job at the time. I began to gain interest in real estate and construction and obtained my real estate license in 2007. I found that my basic construction knowledge and resources were uniquely valuable to my real estate business and am always eager to learn more. As Brad’s construction business began to grow along with my real estate business, we slowly merged into one company as co-owners of Gunlock Homes Real Estate and Development.  Our primary focus is on building spec houses, custom homes and real estate sales.  My role within the company is sales, specifically serving as the managing broker of our real estate team and doing land acquisitions for our spec projects and clients who are building custom homes.  I also help redline architectural plans for our custom home clients and work closely with our architects and designer on all of our spec homes.  My husband and I have moved into one of our new projects every 3-5 years for the last 16 years and love tweaking floor plans and design to improve on our product.  I love the combination of all of these roles and find that the experience in each has helped become a better real estate professional and a good resource to our clients.

Has it been a smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road! Construction and real estate were both hit hard in 2008. We had to find a way to adapt. 2008 was the perfect time for first time homebuyers and investors to jump into the market so that was where I focused my energy. On the construction side, we started doing remodeling for clients rather than just our own projects and we also began the transition away from fix n flips to larger pop tops and new construction. All 3 parts of our business have strenthened each other.

Any advice for other women, particularly young women who are just starting their journey? 
My advice to young women choosing a career is to capitalize on your strengths. Sitting in an office really didn’t suit me as I had done in past jobs. Working one on one, independently with clients is a great fit for me. I really enjoy meeting new people, getting to know them. Real Estate has never felt like ‘sales’. I think that the real estate industry allows for so much creativity in terms of marketing and branding which is great for young women who are motivated and have a creative side. You have to stay the course, be consistent and be patient.  I have a hard time getting excited about work when it feels too much like work.  I have to feel passionate about every real estate transaction or home we build. I think a key to being successful is to always have your eyes open for new opportunities.

Alright – so let’s talk business. Tell us about Gunlock Homes Real Estate and Development – what should we know?
We are a boutique real estate and development company. We specialize in building high-end custom homes, spec houses in addition to residential real estate sales in central Denver. Our construction business is known for our classic designs with a focus on high attention to detail and finish. We are selective about the construction projects we take on ensuring that they are a good fit for our brand and that we are a good fit for the client. We love when we feel like we have a great collaboration with our clients! One of the special things about Gunlock Homes is that we live in the community where we work which enhances our knowledge regarding the real estate and construction sides of the business. One of our proudest moments was when we were selected by Children’s Hospital of Colorado to build the 2018 Mighty Millions raffle home. The home sold more tickets than in past years and the Children’s Hospital Foundation received over $1 million dollars. Most recently, our personal home and business was featured in the September/October 2019 issue of LUXE Magazine.

Do you recommend any apps, books or podcasts that have been helpful to you?
I typically read books that help me escape the world. Some of the most recent books I’ve loved are Where the Crawdads Sing and the Crazy Rich Asians 3 book series. I love going to see Sarita at Tibet Imports on 6th avenue for a yearly spiritual reading and mala beads. I also rely on recognizing that we have a ton of lessons to learn all the time, if, we are willing to pay attention to the small stuff.   I focus on my intuition to guide me in so many situations in my work and personal life.