What a Well Taught Me About Real Estate with Integrity
I thought I knew what real estate with integrity meant until a short time ago, when I sold a home in Glen Arm, MD. Everything had gone as planned — we did the work, closed the deal, and handed the keys to a new homeowner. I thought the chapter was closed.
Then I got a call. The home’s well wasn’t producing water.
Now, to be clear, the house was already sold. The transaction was complete. From a legal and business standpoint, I wasn’t responsible. But the new homeowner was now facing a serious issue, and I felt compelled to help. I had gotten to know the buyer through the process and knew this wasn’t a problem they could easily afford to solve.
So, I called Barlow Well Drilling — a contractor I know and trust — and asked them to help. I hired them to drill a new well, and it collapsed. So, we drilled again, but months later, I got a call from the home buyer, who explained that the second well was no longer yielding. At this point, I had lost almost $100,000 on a home I no longer owned.
Like many people would be, I was tempted to stop there.
This Is What Real Estate with Integrity Demands
So I called Barlow Drilling again, and when I explained the situation, the person on the other end of the line was stunned. “Tyler,” he said, “I’ve been drilling wells for over 40 years… I’ve never seen this happen.” Then he paused and said something I’ll never forget: “God’s creation is incredible. Sometimes we don’t understand it — but it’s still amazing.”
That comment stirred something in me.
I told him I’d pray about what to do next. And I meant it. It was not just a casual phrase—I needed to talk to the Lord. The man on the line told me he loved Jesus, too, and right there on the phone, the two of us prayed—for wisdom, clarity, and the right next step. It was one of those moments that reminds you why you do what you do.
Although there was no contract requiring me to fix the well and no paperwork telling me it was my responsibility, I knew: my business decisions need to reflect my love for the Lord. And that’s the real test — not what you do when things go right, but how you respond when it’s costly, complicated, and no one would know if you chose to walk away. Because sometimes doing the right thing doesn’t make financial sense.
This is what real estate with integrity looks like to me. At Charm City Builders, we don’t just buy houses for cash and sell them. We care about doing business God’s way – when there’s no contract telling us what to do. It’s about doing what’s right, even after the deal is done.
