This morning, I found myself back in court, filing an unlawful detainer against a tenant who hadn’t paid rent. Now, I don’t end up in court very often—most of the time, I’ve got a great relationship with my tenants, and we can usually work out a solution that benefits both of us. But every once in a while, I’m sitting in that courthouse, working through an eviction.
As I sat in the hallway outside the courtroom, I was reminded of how deals really get made: through good, old-fashioned conversations, face-to-face negotiations, and digging deep to understand the challenges people are facing. The hallway was packed—hundreds of people, from plaintiffs and defendants to attorneys, all trying to hammer out deals. It took me back to some of the great agreements I’ve struck in that very courthouse, even down the hall in the probate department. I have to say, I’ve missed the energy of these hallways.
Spending time here reinforces what I’ve always believed: the money is made in the conversations we have. It’s never about trying to take someone down; it’s about finding a solution that works for everyone involved. Most disputes—even evictions—can be settled peacefully if we just take the time to calmly listen to each other. Sure, some tenants are only looking out for themselves, and in those cases, there’s not much you can do since that’s a one-way street.
But for the most part, whether I’m in eviction court or discussing a probate deal, there’s always an opportunity waiting for those who know how to lead a conversation with everyone’s best interests in mind. That’s where the magic happens.
To your success,
Ernie “Courthouse Veteran” Vargas
