Admin

When you really don't want to sell that listing

By
Real Estate Agent with Compass

I just had a closing today for a wonderful home that sold after one showing and 0 days on market for full list price. This will not be a typical Realtor post where I brag about what a great job I did, but instead, I am sad. For this house was owned by some dear friends of mine who are moving to San Diego.

Sure, we will keep in touch and it's great to have an excuse to visit San Diego, but it's harder when friends leave at this stage in life.  I guess it's always hard but it is something you expect more in your 20s, even early 30s. These were friends I met through my youngest son. This group of boys all plays soccer together and the parents all get along really well.  One happy hour after a soccer game together and the rest was history.  Years of parties, playdates and friendship has enriched my life, and my family's, in so many ways: laughing to tears, dancing to 90s rap songs and hours of pure fun just being silly adults while the kids play until they collapse from exhaustion. And sure we will all still get together, but it won't be the same...no more pool parties at "Club Pfau." My son asked how long they were moving for. It was hard to get him to understand that it was a permanent situation. Not just going away for a little while.

When my friend called me to tell me she was moving, I cried. I asked if she would make me feel better by hiring me to sell her house and she did. So yeah, it was a nice house to sell and market and a great commission, and I am SO grateful and humbled they chose me to do this for them,  but if I had to choose, I'd keep my friends here in Arlington.

Have a great time in Sunny San Diego my Pfaus!  We will miss you dearly!

 

 

 

 

 

Comments(22)

Show All Comments Sort:
Jill Moog
Coast & Country Homes and Estates, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
Carlsbad, CA Homes for Sale

Hi Coral, You can be sure your friends will be welcome in San Diego! Hope you can visit often.

Aug 03, 2015 09:44 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Coral, that's a nice tribute to a friendship that will last and last. Congratulations on the sale, and the best to your friends.

Aug 03, 2015 09:54 AM
Mike Frazier
Carousel Realty of Dyer County - Dyersburg, TN
Northwest Tennessee Realtor

I love happy endings and quick closings. Thanks for sharing.

Aug 03, 2015 10:54 AM
William Feela
WHISPERING PINES REALTY - North Branch, MN
Realtor, Whispering Pines Realty 651-674-5999 No.

It can be sad when good friends move away and are so far away

Aug 03, 2015 11:16 AM
Amy Gutschow
RE/MAX - Sheboygan, WI
Professional Real Estate

I sold a friends house and it was very bitter sweet!  I know what you mean. 

Aug 03, 2015 11:47 AM
Troy Erickson AZ Realtor (602) 295-6807
HomeSmart - Chandler, AZ
Your Chandler, Ahwatukee, and East Valley Realtor

Coral - It is a bummer that you seem to be losing such good friends, but at least they did have you sell their home. Hopefully you will continue to stay in touch and be able to make some trips to San Diego.

Aug 03, 2015 12:40 PM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

That would be a challenging home to sell.  An honor to list it and bitter-sweet in the end as your friends are moving.  You have many cherished memories ... which stay with you forever.

Aug 03, 2015 12:41 PM
Tammie White, Broker
Franklin Homes Realty LLC - Franklin, TN
Franklin TN Homes for Sale

That would be a difficult sale. I haven't felt that way about a friend for a very long time.

Aug 03, 2015 02:13 PM
Bob Crane
Woodland Management Service / Woodland Real Estate, KW Diversified - Stevens Point, WI
Forestland Experts! 715-204-9671

Sorry to hear that your friends are moving away Coral, but at least with facebook and other social media you can still keep in touch.

 

Aug 03, 2015 04:01 PM
Richard Alan Naggar
people first...then business Ran Right Realty - Riverside, CA
agent & author

The post exudes happiness. The pictures suport it too Coral Gundlach thank you

Aug 04, 2015 12:18 AM
Coral Gundlach
Compass - Arlington, VA
Real Lives. Not Just Real Estate.

Thanks Gretchen! Yes I've been there once and look forward to going back.

Tom, yes it sure is. Thankfully it is easier to keep in touch than ever now.

Jill  - I know they will love it!

Mike - Thanks so much. Friends are to be cherished.

Thanks Mike, yes it's nice when everyone is smiling at the end.

William - Yes it is! From a few houses away to a few thousand miles.

Amy - This is my second one this year!  It's an honor to work with friends but harder when you don't want them to leave.

Troy - Yes we will!

Kathleen - Yes and that's why I wanted to  blog about it. Share the memories and keep them alive.

Tammie - Great friends are hard to come by.

Bob - yes indeed!

Richie - Thanks. We've had a lot of fun.

Aug 04, 2015 12:26 AM
Jeff Dowler, CRS
eXp Realty of California, Inc. - Carlsbad, CA
The Southern California Relocation Dude

Coral Gundlach 

No doubt your friends feel the same as you. How fortunate you were to be able to help them, and quickly, with their relocation, and that it went quickly instead of dragging on and on. They will love living here in San Diego, espeically after the east coast winter of 2014-2015!!

Jeff

Aug 04, 2015 12:59 AM
Joni Bailey
101 Main St. Realty - Huntsville, TX
Your Huntsville / Lake Livingston Area REALTOR®

Man. I feel your pain.... so sorry your friends are moving, but it was clearly meant to be. Wishing them many blessings in their new adventures....

Aug 04, 2015 02:14 AM
Chris and Dick Dovorany
Homes for Sale in Naples, Bonita Springs and Estero, Florida - Naples, FL
Broker/Associate at Premiere Plus Realty

So sorry for your loss.  In a year it will be all better and you will have very fond memories.

Aug 04, 2015 04:27 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

It's definitely sad when people we've grown to love move away.  Although on the positive side, maybe you have a new place to visit!

Aug 04, 2015 04:29 AM
Margaret Goss
@Properties - Winnetka, IL
Chicago's North Shore & Winnetka Real Estate

I will tell you that this happened to me as well (except that it was so long ago I wasn't in real estate yet.)

However, on Thursday my husband and I are flying to spend a long weekend with them at their lake house - as we have done every summer for many years.  We have also traveled to Europe together twice (once with kids, once without) and other trips as well.  We just attended their son's wedding in May.

It's not ending . . . it's just beginning.

Aug 04, 2015 05:35 AM
Jay Markanich
Jay Markanich Real Estate Inspections, LLC - Bristow, VA
Home Inspector - servicing all Northern Virginia

Looks like a fun club to belong to!  And that's a long way to move it.

Aug 04, 2015 08:33 PM
Praful Thakkar
LAER Realty Partners - Burlington, MA
Metro Boston Homes For Sale

Some memories remain forever Coral Gundlach - it's life!

And this is the toughest part of our job - helping them move 'out' of our town - hopefully, relationships remain forever, correct?

Aug 07, 2015 03:11 PM
Dan Dee McGinnis The Pumpkin Man
HomeSmart - Phoenix, AZ
The Pumpkin Man

Coral

I know what you mean over 28 years ago I had a great friend Pat Murphy

who had to have passed away by now over 15 years ago call me to sell their house, I was disappointed in taking the listing.

Aug 08, 2015 06:28 AM
Donald A. Masters
Master Home & Building Inspections, LLC - Rockville, MD

Coral Gundlach , As a 30+ year resident of Arlington, with a 18 year old son, I can relate as well with the school, neighborhood, and sports connections.  When kids find great friends and stick with them as they develop, it's wonderful. When the parents then become friends as well, it's the best of circumstances. As his friends have moved, we have used the moves for summer vacations to investigate those parts of the country. Count you and your son's friends as reasons to keep the relationship alive with a trip to san Diego someday! Boys and men, more so, need to hold onto their friends as they grow up.

Aug 19, 2015 08:16 AM