Rhubarb and Real Estate
Some years ago, in June, we received a call from a client. We had just helped her prepare her aunt’s home for sale. All was going smoothly so we were surprised when we heard the urgency in her voice. “Please, can you help? I need to reassure my aunt this will be taken care of!” It truly was an emergency! In all the planning, prepping and moving something was missed: Who will pick this year’s rhubarb?
Now, in situations like this, when a client needs help finding a new home for things, we usually reach out to one of you! This was no different, except that my parents were in town. As soon as they heard the call to save the rhubarb, they were on it! John grabbed a knife. Mom grabbed a few bags. Dad and I grabbed the keys and off the four of us went.
The rhubarb was certainly ready for us. We got our hands dirty as we cut the rhubarb and put it into the bags. This all sounds perfectly logical, right? Well, unless you are the neighbor. All he knows is that a sweet neighbor has moved. All he sees is a group of strangers hunched over in the garden. I will never forget the ‘energy’ this neighbor had when he approached us. Trying to explain, John handed him a business card. But my mom handed him rhubarb. With a simple, quiet nod of approval, he showed he understood. Peace was restored.
What lessons learned? First, when someone asks for help with their rhubarb, ask just how many wheelbarrows you’ll need (we ran out of bags!). Second, never underestimate the power of fresh rhubarb when solving life’s issues!
We picked the rhubarb, shared some, and kept some for ourselves. Just enough to create a sweet glaze over vanilla ice cream. (If you’ve had this, you know.) As we savored this delicious outcome of a perfect day, mom and dad asked us how real estate is going these days. “Sweet as ever, mom and dad, sweet as ever.”
By Kristin Beise RE/MAX Advantage Plus
