How a Set of Doorknobs Nearly Cost Us a $25,000 Deal

[Jeremy Beland]

In real estate, the biggest hurdles are often the ones you least expect—and sometimes, they’re as small as a crystal doorknob.

Back in 2019, a simple set of crystal doorknobs nearly cost us a $25,000 deal on a home on Burgess Street. The seller, who had inherited the home, wanted to sell and move in with her elderly father. But it wasn’t a smooth transaction. Her half-siblings, who felt she didn’t deserve the property, were dead set against the sale and refused to cooperate. Without their signatures, the deal was in jeopardy.

After some negotiation, her older sister agreed to sign, but she had one unusual condition: she wanted to keep the home’s vintage crystal doorknobs. It seemed a minor request, so I agreed without a second thought. But when I brought it up to the seller, she was adamant. “Those doorknobs stay with the house,” she insisted. Just like that, the entire deal was on the line.

I decided to try one more approach. I went back to the older sister and explained how the doorknobs would be part of the home’s charm for the next family, just as they had been for her. This time, she agreed, and the sale finally went through.

This experience reminded me how seemingly minor items can hold enormous sentimental weight. Sometimes, bridging these emotional gaps can be the key to closing a deal. In this case, we saved the transaction by understanding what mattered most to each party and finding a way forward.

What’s the most unique concession a seller has ever asked for in a deal?