The Human Side of Real Estate

Real estate isn’t just about square footage and sales prices. Sometimes, it’s about navigating heartbreak, managing expectations, and holding space for people when they’re at their most vulnerable. This was one of those times.

I’m always excited for a Bay Area listing, but from the start, I knew this would be a complex sale. The seller’s husband had been murdered in the home. This was a very public story. She was sad, angry- a roller coaster of emotions. She actively tried to be difficult. I think she just wanted to feel in control after something so big was stolen from her. Every time I visited her, I was greeted by a rotating cast of friends. It was chaotic. I never knew what version of the seller I would get. The crazy, the loud, the quiet, the angry, the storyteller…

One day, while trying to finalize paperwork, she fell asleep on the couch mid-conversation. I sat quietly and waited for nearly an hour. I drove her to the bank because she didn’t want to drive herself. I brought her food. I catered to her every need—not because it was my job, but because we’re people first. 

The home was located two hours away from me—each way. I kept showing up. She needed it. She was going through the biggest loss of her life. 

On the other side were the buyers: sweet, excited, and… very particular. They wanted every tiny thing addressed—from a squeaky hinge to the fact that the house cleaners didn’t climb onto the roof to clean the solar panels. No, the maids do not do rooftop detailing.

The buyers would show up at the house unannounced, causing friction between the parties. 

There were moments I was more like a therapist than a Realtor—guiding everyone through a deal that felt impossibly fragile.

We made it through.  

The buyers—despite their very valid frustrations (I won’t throw the seller under the bus with the details)—showed incredible kindness. They brought the seller casseroles. They saw her humanity and offered empathy even though the seller tried to make it as hard as possible for them.

In the end, we closed. The seller was able to move forward. She moved to a different town for a fresh start, where no one knew the headline story. Her new home was about 3 hours away. We made that trip together. The buyers got the home they loved. And I was reminded that real estate is about more than houses—it’s about people. Their stories. Their hope. Their messiness. 

Some deals are smooth. Others take every ounce of patience, directness, and compassion you have.

This one? It took all that and more.