Yesterday, we got a call from someone looking for estate services—or so I thought. The caller had worked at the Office of the Public Guardian and Trustee, an organization we’ve spent 40 of our 60+ years trying to collaborate with. I hoped this would be our chance to demonstrate Gordons expertise.
However, it quickly became clear that we couldn’t take on the project. The real estate was already committed to another agent, and the caller misunderstood our services, thinking we could fix the problems caused by poor sequencing and wasteful, fragmented services.
The real issue? They didn’t see it as a problem. Their outdated protocols involved splitting the project into isolated tasks, each managed by different specialists—none of whom considered how their actions affected the final outcome.
As always, we provided guidance. Years ago, we founded MaxSold to provide a “liquidation of goods fast” solution. However, the issue is typically caused by engaging a realtor too early, focusing on a quick real estate sale rather than a holistic plan to achieve all the desired outcomes. Realtors, driven by commissions, often treat everything like a nail to their hammer—often creating negative consequences that ripple through the entire process.
If you take away one thing from this post, DO NOT call a realtor first. While realtors have a role, their early involvement can derail the process, leading to tens of thousands of dollars in waste, hundreds of hours lost, and unnecessary stress for families.
Instead, start with a certified executor advisor (as one example). Our team helped develop sections of the certification focused on managing physical assets—because getting this right from the start can save significant time, money, and stress!
At Gordons, we take a holistic approach. Our real estate commission covers all the expert services you need—move managers, appraisers, advisors, and realtors—ensuring a seamless experience. The property sale happens last, once everything else is in place, to avoid unnecessary complexity, cost, and waste.
Most families tell us, “I wish I had known about Gordons sooner.” Unfortunately, outdated protocols still dominate estate processes, leaving clients frustrated and overwhelmed.
So, let’s revisit the quote: “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” Ironically, scholars agree it wasn’t even said by Mark Twain—a fitting reminder that assumptions can lead to costly mistakes.
