PANIC ATTACK!!!! I mean my first estate listing - no pressure, I've got this.

Huge credit to my family for giving me the confidence early in life that I needed to not freak out when I received my first call to sell a home due to a death in the family.

Estate listings are difficult because there are a ton of people involved who are all grieving and don't agree how things should be handled. The money from the house is needed quickly to cover expenses. Information can be difficult to get. There are a ton of hoops to navigate with the title and the mortgage. The house is not in great shape because caring for someone who is dying or grieving someone who lefts so suddenly that you are still in shock makes home maintenance unimportant and impossible.

That being stated, it is a great honor and responsibility to be chosen to help in this time of need. Emotions are high because grief sucks. Correction, grief super duper sucks and there is no way to make it better. Time helps make it bearable, but it still sucks.

Kind and compassionate were expected in our home so dealing with emotional people has never been a problem. "Treat everyone the way you would want them to treat your grandma." I had the honor of caring for my grandma as she was nearing the end of her life so this quote has deep meaning to me.

Luckily everyone involved in this first one got along. One person was in charge. There were no legal issues, The house was in good condition and in an excellent location. No one was in need of money from the sale of the house. It is the easiest listing I have sold.

I researched the current market value which was higher than anyone in the family was expecting. I gave the house a little extra TLC, posted the listing, marketed it to my contacts, did an open house, and had a cash offer in less than a week. The family accepted the offer, the inspection went well, and we closed without any issues except a tiny panic attack from the buyer just before closing that I was able to calm quickly and quietly. I could not have been more thankful that everything went smoothly.

I was very happy that I had not panicked and lost sleep worrying about all the standard issues of an estate listing when they didn't exist in this one. I have found that there really is nothing to stress over when you are honest and up front. All the people involved want it to go well so with cooperation it always works out in the end.