From Check-Ins to Closing: A Listing Years in the Making

Not every listing starts with a sign in the yard. Sometimes, it starts with a birthday text.

We first met Carla and James back in 2019, when they were curious about whether it made sense to move. The timing wasn’t right then. Nor was it in 2020, or 2022. But every few months, we’d check in—send over market updates, answer questions about renovations, drop by with a treat at the holidays. Nothing big. Just enough to let them know we were still in their corner.

When they finally called earlier this year, it wasn’t with a question. It was with a decision. “We’re ready,” Carla said. “And we knew we didn’t need to call anyone else.”

Getting their SE Portland (97202) home ready for market was its own journey—decluttering, coordinating repairs, prepping photos—but the foundation was already there: trust. They listened when we suggested updates. We listened when they shared their concerns. The result? A full-price offer within the first weekend.

Moments like these remind us that real estate is about people first, homes second. That showing up consistently, even when there’s no immediate payoff, matters. That the “long game” isn’t just good business—it’s the only kind we want to do.

In Portland real estate, relationships often move slower than the market. But when they bloom, they’re the reason this work feels so meaningful.

Every home has a story. We’re here to help you write the next chapter.