When Clients Become Family: A Unique San Luis Obispo Real Estate Experience
In real estate, a common question among agents is, “Where did you get this client?” For this particular client, the story began about 20 years ago when I was waiting tables at a popular Mexican restaurant. Every Friday night, they’d come in for a wet chile verde burrito, a #10, and some margaritas. We had a lot of fun together, and they quickly became the kind of people you’re just happy to know. At the time, their daughter was the same age that my oldest child is now.
Over the years, our relationship evolved from server and customer to something much deeper—they became like family. “Mom and Dad,” as I now call them, have been a part of my life through so many milestones. We’ve celebrated together, helped each other out countless times, and built a bond that truly feels like family.
A few months ago, I got the call: they wanted me to list their home. It was a moment of excitement but also reflection when Mom asked me a serious question: “Are you too close to us?” I understood her concern; mixing business and personal relationships can be tricky, and not everyone feels comfortable navigating that balance. But I knew, without hesitation, that no one on earth would work harder for them or care more about their outcome than I would.
Delivering an exceptional client experience is what my team and I pride ourselves on, and a big part of that is controlling the controllable and anticipating potential obstacles. We approached this listing with our systematic process, ensuring everything was set up for a smooth escrow period. Within the first weekend on the market, we received a very competitive offer—so strong that Mom asked, “Is this too good to be true?” Without a crystal ball, I couldn’t definitively answer, but I had a gut feeling that something might be off. Still, the offer was too good not to explore, so we moved forward with precision and care.
During the 10 days under contract, we learned more about public utility easements than I’d ever imagined possible. Ultimately, the offer turned out to be too good to be true—something out of our control.
So, back on the market we went! Back to marketing, back to open houses, back to focusing on what we could control. It wasn’t long before we received two solid offers. This time, fate had a hand in the process. The buyers had actually met our clients while they were under contract with the previous buyer—at Mulligan’s, of all places! They’d chatted about the property and felt it could be perfect for them. And as fate would have it, they were right.
With a collaborative buyer’s agent on the other side, we negotiated a deal that felt almost miraculous for both parties. Despite a few bumps along the road to closing, my gut told me these were the right buyers. And today, here we are—on closing day—with two sets of happy clients, each ready to step into their next chapter.
Last week, as I stopped by the sellers’ home while they were packing, we reviewed the closing statement. Dad went back to work, leaving Mom and me to chat. I started asking about their final plans for the house—and then, out of nowhere, I started sobbing. I didn’t expect it, but the memories tied to that home overwhelmed me. Mom scolded me gently, saying she hadn’t allowed herself to cry yet.
That home holds so many incredible memories: watching their daughter grow up, bringing my puppies over to play with theirs, laughing until I cried, jumping on the trampoline, sitting on their patio nine months pregnant on bedrest during their daughter’s send-off celebration, and so much more.
This morning, Dad texted us: “Good job!” And yes, more tears followed. I couldn’t be prouder of the work my team and I did. They trusted us to represent them, and we delivered. I’m so grateful for the opportunity to help them with this transition and to celebrate their next adventure.
