Bon Voyage!

It's been 10 years since Jill came to work for me, overseeing countless projects that amounted to untold hours of toil and dedication. During that time, she's coordinated teams of vendors, remodeled kitchens and bathrooms, overhauled gardens and yards, became far too familiar with Home Depot, and most importantly, employed creative solutions at a moment's notice. No matter what I've asked of her, she's risen to the task. In short, she's proven to be invaluable. So when Sarah and I joined forces at COMPASS six years ago, Jill accompanied me as part of the package deal. For better or worse, we travel as a pair. (Just ask my husband.)

In fact, we've spent the better part of our lives as a "pair," starting in the womb until college, careers, and marriages conspired to pull us apart. Jill raised her family in Sacramento while I stayed in San Francisco, later relocating to Piedmont, but we always remained close - as did our kids. Twins have an unspoken bond.

Once Jill's girls left the nest, she returned to the Bay Area and began a new chapter in her life. Now, after a decade of renting in Jack London Square, she's decided to move to Barcelona (Espana!), to start anew. This journey puts her closer to her grown daughters who live in Boston and London, and while she and I will be apart. I see it as a bold and daring new adventure for her, and why not?

Will it be difficult without her? For sure.

Will I miss her? Desperately.

Is she replaceable? Egos aside, we're all replaceable, but things will be decidedly different.

Different's not so bad. Different can be an opportunity for growth.

But after a life spent dedicated to her husband's success, her children's success, and MY success, it's time she put herself first. In fact, it's well overdue. So I'm sending my sister off to Spain with nothing but love and respect, and I suspect her departure will provide me with ample excuses to visit Europe more often . . . and that's certainly not a bad trade-off.

In truth, change is an inevitable course of events, although it doesn't come without a cost. First, you have to want it, and then you have to take action to achieve it. (Action is what trips up most people.) I admire Jill for setting fear aside and doing exactly that. (Courage comes to mind.)

Which brings me to Real Estate (you knew I'd get there eventually). Whether buying or selling, "change" is at the forefront of every move, and no, it doesn't come naturally or easily to most of us. In fact, moving - even under the best of circumstances - is one of life's biggest stress points. Or as one friend succinctly summed it up years ago: "A move is the physical manifestation of a life event that has, or is about to take place." (And so it is.)

With that understanding, it's important to acknowledge that moving can be overwhelming, and overwhelmed people are rarely at their best. (That's okay, we got you.) Which means that sometimes, Sarah and I are prodding, pleading, and pushing our clients out of their own way and across the finish line. (Thank you for the faith and trust.). Admittedly, Sarah is better at sympathizing with the struggle, while I'm more adept at cutting through the distractions, which is why, together, we've been a highly successful team. We each bring different strengths to the equation, and both are needed in equal measure.

However, not everyone struggles equally. This week, I was reminded of grace when our client received only one offer on her adorable and charming home, which, truthfully, surprised us all. The response to the home had been overwhelmingly positive, and we felt certain multiple offers would emerge and drive the price much higher. When that didn't happen, it was a letdown to be sure. While the offer certainly met the market, it didn't exactly blow us away, but it was clean, it was well-intentioned, it had a quick close, and it was accompanied by a heartfelt love letter, not to mention a steady and well-respected Agent we knew would get the job done.

"You're not required to sell the house," I said, after discussing the pros and cons. "We're prepared to hold it open again on Sunday if you prefer to keep going."

"No," she said, "I'm ready to let go, and please tell their Agent I appreciated their letter. They seem like the right people, and I'm free of any further obligations regarding the house. Let's sign."

And just like that, she'd moved on.

Reminding me that while not every sale is a home run (as much as we'd prefer that outcome), resolution always provides a solution, AND when we live in "solution," the rest falls into place.

Adios, Jill. You will definitely be missed, but you and I know this isn't goodbye; it's simply "bon voyage!" Thank you for your years of support and companionship. Thank you for caring so much about the quality of our product. Thank you for making us better. Thank you most of all for being my best friend as well as my cherished sister. Our loss is Barcelona's gain. (Always remember, you're irreplaceable to me. I love you.)

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