The Aloha Opportunity

As I drove up the meandering drive to the contemporary home, the 4-acre wooded lot was alive with dappled sunlight and the cheerful flurry of birds. James greeted me, warmly, at the door saying, “Ruth and I are hoping you can help us sort this out and get us to Hawaii.”

After 20 years of calling this serene sanctuary home, James and Ruth’s lives had taken an unexpected turn. On the cusp of retirement, James had been offered and accepted a research position in Hawaii, an opportunity both he and Ruth felt was too compelling to pass up. Envisioning their next chapter beachside watching whales breach from their porch, the couple knew there was much to do before that happened.

Together, we toured their home noting items that would move with them along with needed upgrades and maintenance. The couple’s Hawaiian beach house would be ready in six months and James wanted to settle in immediately with Ruth to join him soon after. This gave us a clear timeline.

A week later, I handed the couple a plan for the next six months. One portion listed tasks to complete before the move and another identified items to sell, donate, or keep. The final page highlighted repairs and minor renovations to enhance the home’s marketability and value.

Next came a flurry of activity as I worked with the couple to contact and schedule contractors and vendors. Task by task, the house was readied for sale. As the finishing touches on the house were done, Ruth and James’ new Hawaiian home was completed. After they moved, I had the home professionally cleaned, photographed, and virtually staged. Before long, it was sold – a seamless conclusion to months of effort and planning.

“Aloha” can mean both goodbye and hello. For Ruth and James, it meant embracing a new adventure, filled with ocean views and endless possibilities. I was honored to have played a part in it.

Aloha!

A Senior Real Estate Specialist with Re/Max Executive, Deborah Wade has helped Central Maryland “boomers” and their families transition through the changes life brings for nearly two decades.