A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to Closing

The measure of a broker isn’t how they handle a transaction when everything goes according to plan. It’s what they do when the deal gets messy: when an inspection uncovers a problem, the clock is ticking, and their clients need someone to find answers and keep things moving.

This sale in Port Orchard’s McCormick Woods community is a good example of what can happen when a changing market, strong competition, and an unexpected inspection issue all become part of the same transaction.

My clients owned a newer MainVue Lotus home with approximately 4,097 square feet, four bedrooms, an office, a leisure room, and a three-car garage. Its Signature Outdoor Room and setting against a greenbelt of mature fir trees helped distinguish it from other homes in the area.

Responding to a changing market

When we brought the home to market, comparable sales and the cost of new construction for the same MainVue model supported our initial position. As interest rates rose and inventory grew, buyers had more choices and the market began to shift.

I kept a close eye on competing homes, recent sales, buyer feedback, and online activity. I shared what we were seeing with my clients and talked through how it affected our position. Together, we adjusted our approach as conditions changed, keeping the home competitive while staying focused on their goals.

We marketed the home across the major real estate portals and through Compass and broker channels, emphasizing the features that made it distinctive. As the market changed, we continued adjusting our strategy to keep the home in front of potential buyers. That approach ultimately brought us a buyer and an agreement that worked for my clients.

But getting under contract was only one part of the work.

An unexpected issue and a ticking clock

The buyer’s inspection raised a concern about an uneven section of the roof. What first appeared to be a question about the roofline led to a closer look at the framing underneath. A roofing contractor ultimately found damaged framing that needed a structural repair.

The contract required the issue to be resolved five days before closing. That gave us a tight window to investigate the problem, determine what needed to be done, and complete the work.

There was another complication. The buyers were moving from Georgia, and their moving truck was already on its way. The movers were scheduled to unload and continue to their next stop. If we missed the deadline and closing was delayed, the buyers could be left with a truck full of belongings and nowhere to deliver them.

I stayed on top of finding a qualified roofer and getting the repair completed in time. At the same time, I was working with MainVue’s warranty department to determine whether the problem was covered under the builder’s 10-year warranty. MainVue’s initial inspections had not confirmed the defect, so the question of coverage became a separate challenge while the closing deadline continued to approach.

A special shout-out goes to Kitsap Roof Pros, who understood the situation and agreed to work on a Saturday to get the repair done in time. Their willingness to step in helped us meet the deadline and keep the sale moving toward closing.

The dispute with MainVue over warranty coverage continues, but I made sure it was handled separately from the sale. That allowed us to focus on completing the repair and closing the transaction while my clients continued pursuing their warranty claim.

The result

The sale closed in October 2026 after months of monitoring the market, adjusting our approach, and working through an unexpected inspection issue. For my clients, it meant getting their home sold in a competitive environment and navigating an obstacle that could have jeopardized the transaction.

As one of the sellers later shared:

As one of the sellers later shared:

“Once we finally got the house under contract, we encountered a significant and unexpected issue during the inspection involving the roof and a structural repair. This is where Jeff went far beyond what I would normally expect from a broker.”

He added:

“At no point did Jeff simply tell us, ‘Here is the problem, figure it out.’ He became part of solving the problem.”

There’s also a lesson here for buyers: even a newer home should be professionally inspected. A home can look beautiful and well maintained, but an inspection may uncover an issue that isn’t visible during a typical showing.

That’s when experience, persistence, and a willingness to take ownership matter most. My job is to stay in my clients’ corner, work through the problem, and help them make informed decisions all the way to the closing table. 

Jeff Harrison is a Compass real estate broker and leader of The Reese Team, helping buyers and sellers make informed decisions throughout Seattle’s Eastside and beyond.

“I don’t sell hope, I sell probability.”