Real Estate Seller Story: What One Conversation Taught Me About Listening

When you’ve been in a home for 30 years, it’s never just a house.

That’s what I kept thinking during a recent conversation with a potential seller—an elder woman now living in a senior facility. Her home was still full of belongings and memories, and though she had moved out, she hadn’t really let go.

She had put a lot of work into the house in 2019, thinking she'd stay longer. But when the opportunity to move came up, she took it—and left the house behind. Right away, I could feel some hesitation.

She didn’t trust realtors. Said they asked for too much and took too long. What she wanted was simple: a high offer, quickly, and preferably over the phone. She didn’t want anyone to see the property. She made that very clear.

A Real Estate Seller Story That Was About More Than Numbers

We listened carefully and tried to understand her priorities. But as we asked questions, she didn’t open up easily. Then she began talking about the house itself—how much she loved it, how she’d poured herself into it.

I told her, “It sounds like it’s your baby.”

She paused. “Yes. It really is.”

That moment changed the tone. I connected with her deeply then—because I’ve been in my own home for almost 20 years. I get it. A house becomes part of your story, part of your identity.

When an Offer Isn’t Enough

We offered her a cash solution that aligned with the condition of the house and current market factors. Here’s how our cash home buying process works. It’s built for people just like her—those who want a simpler, faster, less demanding way to move on.

But it wasn’t what she wanted.

I asked if she’d consider meeting in the middle. She said she’d think about it and get back to us.

And she hasn’t yet.

That interaction stayed with me—not because we didn’t close a deal, but because I felt like we could’ve done more to connect. Not with a better offer, but with better questions.

Real Estate Is Personal—And So Is Value

What this real estate seller story reminded me is that people don’t always know how to articulate what they need. And as buyers, we don’t always know how to ask in the right way.

Value doesn’t always mean money. For some, it’s speed. For others, peace of mind. For this seller, I think it was about respect—for the house and for what it represented.

We believe real estate is never one-size-fits-all. Everyone’s story is different, and that’s why we get to know people as individuals before offering solutions. This isn’t just a philosophy—it’s a promise we laid out in Here’s What You Can Expect From Us: Real Solutions for Homeowners, where we share how we show up for people in tough situations. This story reminded me exactly why that approach matters.

"Be the buffalo." When buffalo sense a storm coming, they run toward it—to get through faster. Other animals run away, only to face the storm longer. This quote is a guiding principle for me: face the hard things directly, and with heart.

When Healing and Growth Apply to Business

We didn’t just learn something about a home that day—we learned more about how we want to do this work. With care. With curiosity. And with patience for what people are really feeling underneath the transaction.

"When in doubt, zoom out." That’s what a gallery manager in Estes Park, Colorado told me recently. It stuck with me—and helped me remember that sometimes, perspective is everything.

Final Thoughts

Not every deal is meant to close—but every conversation teaches us something.

And sometimes, the most important thing we can do is slow down, listen harder, and remember: behind every property is a person.

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Molly Ancel and Jerry Anderson are Minnesota-based real estate investors helping homeowners overcome financial challenges with flexible solutions. Former business professionals, they now focus on empowering families and strengthening communities. Learn more at peerpointmn.com.