The Human Side of Real Estate

Real estate isn’t always about square footage and sale prices. Sometimes, it’s about navigating heartbreak, holding space for grief, and guiding people through the messiest chapters of their lives. This was one of those times.

I was excited to take on this Bay Area listing—but from the very beginning, I knew it wouldn’t be a typical sale.

The seller’s husband had been murdered in the home. It was a very public, very painful story. She was angry. Devastated. Exhausted. And understandably unpredictable. Every time I visited, I was greeted by a rotating cast of friends—some helpful, some chaotic—and I never knew which version of her I was going to get: loud, withdrawn, combative, charming, overwhelmed.

She tried to make it hard. I think she just needed to feel in control again, after something so big had been stolen from her.

One day, while we were mid-conversation about paperwork, she fell asleep on the couch. I sat quietly and waited—almost an hour. I drove her to the bank when she didn’t want to go alone. I brought her food. I answered every question, met every mood, and showed up—two hours each way—because this wasn’t just about selling a house. It was about helping someone survive a loss and move forward.

Meanwhile, the buyers were sweet, excited… and very particular. Every squeaky hinge, every scuff, every missed smudge from the cleaners was a thing—right down to the solar panels not being dusted (spoiler: the house cleaners do not scale the roof). They popped by unannounced more than once, which only added fuel to the fire.

There were moments I felt more like a therapist than a Realtor, carefully managing fragile egos, hurt feelings, and flaring tempers. This wasn’t just a transaction. It was emotional triage.

But we made it through.

Despite their frustrations (and trust me, they were valid), the buyers showed grace. They brought the seller casseroles. They saw the human behind the chaos—and chose kindness.

We closed.

The seller moved to a new town, far from the headlines, ready for a fresh start. I made that three-hour drive with her. The buyers got the home they loved. And I was reminded—again—that real estate is so much more than contracts and commissions.

It’s about people. Their stories. Their grief. Their hope. Their healing.

Some deals are smooth. Others demand every ounce of patience, compassion, and grit you have.

This one? It took all that—and then some.