A Big Move, A Bigger Win: Lessons from a Cross-State Transition
Some closings feel like clockwork. Others? Like holding your breath while building a house of cards. This one was definitely the latter—and it made the win that much sweeter.
The Bray family—Emily, Jordan, and their son Parker—made a major life decision: selling their home in North Carolina and moving to Chattanooga so Parker could attend McCallie School. That kind of move is more than just a change of address. It’s a leap of faith, a sacrifice for education, and a logistical puzzle of deadlines, decisions, and dependencies.
The pressure was on from day one. McCallie’s start date was a non-negotiable August deadline, and that meant juggling two closings—selling their current home while securing a new one, all in sync. But we found the perfect home. The only catch? A first right of refusal clause the sellers initially wanted in the contract. This clause can cause major complications: if another offer came in, the Brays would have just 24 hours to get their NC home under contract or risk losing the house altogether.
Here’s where strategy and communication came into play. We negotiated to remove the clause—protecting the Brays from the stress and risk it would bring. Once under contract, the sellers set clear expectations: the Brays had 10 days to list their NC home and meet certain contractual milestones.
The power balance in real estate is often subtle, but critical. In this case, once under contract, the buyers (my clients) had options and flexibility, while the sellers had less room to pivot—especially because they didn’t yet have another home secured. That added another layer of emotional and logistical weight to the deal. And for the Brays? They’ll be in an Airbnb for a month while everything aligns—but they now have a secure home and a solid foundation to build their new life in Chattanooga.
This deal reminded me of an old game—remember “Pitfall”? One misstep and you're out on the street. That’s what this felt like at times. Had we not pushed back on certain terms or strategically timed our listing, this deal could’ve fallen apart. But it didn’t. It held. And it closed.
The Takeaway:
Real estate is rarely just about houses—it’s about timing, pressure, and people.
Having a knowledgeable buyer's agent in your corner can mean the difference between navigating complexity and being buried by it.
A win like this doesn’t come easy—but it does come with growth, gratitude, and a lot of lessons learned.
To the Brays: welcome home (almost)! And to every family chasing a better future—know that with the right plan and a little grit, the puzzle can come together.
