The Showing That Wasn’t Meant to Be

Have you ever walked into a house and instantly felt like something was off—even if, on paper, it checked all the boxes?

That’s what happened last week during a showing in Southeast Portland. The home was in the right neighborhood, within budget, and had enough bedrooms. But the moment we stepped inside, I could see my clients’ shoulders drop. The light wasn’t right, the layout felt awkward, and the “updated kitchen” had more cosmetic fixes than real improvements.

They tried to talk themselves into it—because in a competitive Portland real estate market, it’s tempting to latch onto the first thing that kind of works. But I asked them one simple question: “Can you picture yourselves here five years from now?” The silence said it all.

We ended the showing early. Not because the house was terrible, but because it wasn’t their house. Walking away felt like a small loss in the moment, but it was actually a win.

It reminded me that our job isn’t just to get people into homes quickly—it’s to make sure the home fits the life they’re building. Sometimes that means saying, “Not this one. Not yet.”

That pause matters. It’s how trust is built. And it’s why clients know we’re not just here to sell—we’re here to guide.

If you’re thinking about buying or selling in the Portland area, we’d love to be part of your story.