True Story

I worked with a woman in her late 40's who was selling her mother's house. She was the only child of divorced parents and her mother died after living in the home for 30 years. The house had been empty for four years. It was finally time to sell it.

The woman still loved this house she grew up in, and it was going to be hard to let it go. As she and I walked through it, memories came flooding to her. But for years nothing had been done to keep up the property. Its more minor problems were a leaky roof, bad smell, and a need for fresh paint.

I could see beyond the current condition to know this home was a wonderful piece of architecture. A new buyer might see this property as a great fixer upper. But someone else might tear it down to build their dream home.

I wanted the woman to be prepared for either situation, so I was up front with her about the possibilities. I knew if she couldn't bear the thought of having the house torn down, I could lose her trust if I advertised the property as a lot to build. She accepted the chance that someone might tear it down, and that helped her prepare to accept the right offer when it came.

Estate sales represent closure to many things, and timing is an important part of that ending. It's also about helping someone pass a home on to the next family to build new memories.