Some closings are smooth sailing, and some keep you on your toes until the very last minute, and Grant and Lahela’s journey was definitely one for the books!
Grant and Lahela came to me through one of my favorite past clients, Grant’s brother, which already told me these two were going to be wonderful to work with. From our very first Zoom call, we clicked instantly. They were in a super flexible rental situation, which meant they didn’t have to buy, they got to buy. That freedom allowed us to take our time, dig into what they really wanted, and be intentional about finding the right home rather than just any home.
We kicked things off by getting them connected with one of my trusted local lenders to dial in their numbers and set them up for success. Once pre approval was in place, it was go time! The first house that caught their eye was in the Platt Park neighborhood, near South Pearl Street and Sushi Den, a dreamy location on paper. And when we arrived on Logan Street, it was so insanely busy. Like, you could barely hear yourself think busy. That showing turned into a great moment of clarity. We started narrowing in on what really mattered, a quiet neighborhood, space for two work from home setups, and a home that had personality without feeling overwhelming.
Then we found it, a fabulous, unique home in Englewood that checked every box. It had charm, space, and just the right amount of projects to make it their own. We put together a strong offer, negotiated terms that felt like a win, and went under contract with a solid concession in place.
And then came inspection. Cue the plot twist.
The inspection revealed a pretty hefty list, a roof repair, a sump pump, a water heater, two non functioning fireplaces, basically a laundry list of must fix items. The sellers were in assisted living, so it was a bit of an estate situation with lots of moving parts. When the listing agent came back and said, “We gave you a concession, we’re not doing any repairs,” it didn’t sit right. That concession was never meant to replace inspection repairs, and my buyers were understandably frustrated.
We held our ground and asked for what was fair. The next thing I know, the listing agent slammed the property back to active on the MLS, while we were still under contract and before our inspection resolution deadline. Definitely not okay. My buyers were upset (rightfully so), and I had to gently remind the other side that we were still under contract and she needed to move it back to pending.
And to add to the chaos, I was in California, standing in line at Disneyland, waiting for “It’s a Small World,” negotiating inspection repairs on my phone! It came down to the final hour of our resolution deadline, emotions were high, and we stuck with it. After a few rounds of back and forth, we got nearly every single repair handled.
In the end, what could have been a deal breaker turned into a win. Grant and Lahela closed on their Englewood home and walked away with a house that truly fits their life, space for two offices, character, and a peaceful street to call home.
It was an emotional journey, and it reminded me that great outcomes come from persistence, communication, and keeping your clients’ best interests at the center. I couldn’t be more excited for them and their next chapter!
