2020 in Review, Part 2: Five real estate stories that summarize my year

Some years whisper; 2020 did not. It arrived with curveballs, reroutes, and an endless chorus of “you’ve got to be kidding me.” And yet, inside a year that stretched everyone thin, real estate still did what it always does—it revealed the quiet heroics behind the scenes: the climb into a dim attic to photograph a cracked truss, the 10-month project plan that wouldn’t quit, the backup offer that became the winning one, the roof that went from hail-pocked to brand-new, and the third-time’s-the-charm contract that closed a chapter on a high note.

Five real estate stories that summarize my year

Real estate stories that summarize my year: This episode closes the year with five true stories from one local practice—snapshots of what the job actually looks like when a closing depends on equal parts grit, patience, and stubborn optimism. Think of it as a highlight reel from a year that refused to stick to the script.

1) The attic, the cracked truss, and the blinking cursor of a deadline

A good inspection doesn’t just find problems—it gives everyone a chance to solve them. In one early-year listing, an inspector crawled into an otherwise tidy attic (newer roof, solid insulation) and spotted a crack along the grain of a roof truss. Nothing was sagging, but buyers want peace of mind, especially at a top-of-market price. The ask: repair the truss and get a structural engineer’s sign-off.

That’s where 2020 reality set in. Structural engineers, like appraisers, inspectors, contractors, and surveyors, were overwhelmed. Most didn’t answer or declined the job. One veteran local engineer finally agreed—on the condition that detailed attic photos be provided first so he could spec the repair, then review post-repair photos before the final visit.

Cue the attic: poor lighting, insulation hiding joists, and the ever-present risk of a misstep through drywall. After a careful search, the damaged truss was found and photographed from every angle. The engineer drafted the fix, a contractor sistered the member, photos went back, the engineer inspected, and a letter cleared the way. The repair was done, the close happened on time, and a near-miss became a case study in calm coordination under pressure.

2) Ten months, two utility shutoffs, and a full-price finish

Another story began with a single homeowner in a very large house that needed… everything. While one competing agent pegged the value near $180K, a more ambitious plan targeted roughly $235K–$250K—if the work got done right. That meant organizing a long list of updates, walking a granite/quartz warehouse via FaceTime to pick budget-friendly slabs, lining up installs and plumbing, and keeping the logistics moving as the seller relocated out of state.

Then came the inspection day twist—twice. An automatic utility payment hiccup shut off power and water on the morning of an inspection, triggering a frustrated call from the buyer’s agent and, eventually, a fallen contract. Months later, after repairs and refresh, the home returned to the market, went under contract at full price… and the utilities cut off again on inspection day due to a card update issue.

This time, the utility company restored service the same day, the inspection proceeded, and everything clicked. From first prep to final signature, the process ran about ten months, with countless check-ins and long drives to keep the house show-ready. The payoff: a full-price closing that made the out-of-state move far smoother—and a reminder that “project management” is as real in real estate as it is in construction.

3) The backup offer that wasn’t a consolation prize

In a tight market, flip candidates are rare, and “under contract” listings are easy to skip. But one under-contract property showed signs of strain—missed close dates and repeated extensions. A call to the listing agent confirmed it: the primary buyer’s deal was wobbly.

A clean backup offer went in. With that leverage in hand, the listing side pushed the primary buyers to perform or release. They couldn’t produce funds (money shown pre-contract had gone elsewhere), the primary fell out, and the backup snapped into first position. The client closed, flipped the home, and sold it for a solid profit.

Lesson learned: a well-timed backup isn’t Plan B—it can be how you win Plan A.

4) Hail on the roof, a hammer-only roofer, and closing anyway

Hailstorms rolled through the Duncan area just after a client went under contract. With an insurance adjusting background, the roof got a careful look from a ladder: enough impact to warrant replacement. The seller wasn’t easy to negotiate with, but a new roof was agreed to.

Then came the 2020-flavored complication: a one-man roofing crew (no nail gun, hand-driven nails) on a large roof, moving slowly enough that completion before closing was impossible. Rather than blow up the deal, the parties structured a close with clear post-close contingencies and accountability. Weeks later, the new roof was complete. Beyond the cosmetic fix, this mattered for insurance: undisclosed prior hail can jeopardize future claims. In the end, the house closed, the roof got done, and the buyers started life in a home protected from both water and claims headaches.

5) Outbid. Outbid again. Then, the third time’s the charm

One buyer search began with a tight budget and an open question about old vs. new. They fell for a home with features rarely seen at the price, and they wrote a clean, full-price offer. Multiple bids beat them. Weeks later, the listing agent called—the chosen buyer’s financing was unraveling. The same offer went in again; multiple bids beat them again.

Time passed. That same home reappeared—again—after another financing failure. Before drafting a third offer, the listing side was asked for a simple commitment: if the sellers would sign first and accept a full-price offer straight, the buyers would countersign immediately and get it to closing. The sellers agreed, signed first, and the buyers finalized their end. Under contract at last. In a year of “you can’t make this up,” writing the same full-price offer three times and finally winning might be the perfect closing image.

What these five moments say about the work

• Representation is action. Calling ten engineers, climbing an attic, FaceTiming stone yards, and sweeping a vacant house—none of it shows up on a yard sign, all of it moves a file forward.

• Markets reward readiness. A backup contract can be a scalpel, not a Hail Mary. The right ask at the right time—“sign first, then we sign”—can keep a deal out of a third bidding war.

• Details compound. From utility autopay to post-close roof contingencies, the small stuff isn’t small when inspections and insurance are on the line.

• Persistence pays. Whether it’s ten months of prep or a third swing at the same address, staying engaged often creates the luck everyone needs.

And together, they really are five real estate stories that summarize my year—a year where “ordinary” transactions rarely stayed ordinary, and where steady follow-through made all the difference.

Watch Or Listen To The Selling Greenville Podcast

Subscribe to the Selling Greenville podcast for real-time insights, bold perspectives, and unfiltered takes on the Upstate housing scene. Whether you’re buying, selling, or simply watching the market unfold—this is where Greenville goes to stay informed.

Bottom Line

A year like 2020 doesn’t just test deals; it tests habits. The stories here trace the same throughline: prepare well, communicate clearly, and keep moving—whether that means texting an engineer from an attic, renegotiating after a blown inspection, or turning a backup into a win. Real estate will always throw surprises. What matters is being the steady hand that gets everyone to the finish line.

Ien Araneta

Journal & Podcast Editor | Selling Greenville