Most of us don’t struggle with having problems. We struggle with what we do the moment one appears.

We panic. We ask whose fault it is. We spin stories about how this is going to ruin our plans, our reputation, or our day. We run around, scream and shout, and somehow make the original issue bigger.

I take a different approach. In a recent episode of my Unnamed Real Estate Podcast, I walked through a real-world example and laid out a practical method I simply call “working the problem.”

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The Case: The Missing Tesla Charger

An agent called me the day after the prior episode dropped. The situation was straightforward but high-stakes: the night before closing—after the buyer’s final walkthrough—the seller returned to the house and removed a hardwired Tesla wall charger from the garage.

She insisted it was hers. The problem? It was a fixture. It had been wired into the electrical panel, not merely plugged in, and the purchase contract required it to stay with the property. I routinely walk clients through what constitutes a fixture for exactly this reason.

The agent was frustrated and unsure what to do next.

How I Work the Problem

The Tesla charger situation is useful because it shows the method in motion: narrow the issue, contain the damage, involve the right people, and create a path forward before emotions take over.

Here’s the framework I use:

1. Clearly identify the actual problem
   Strip away the six-month history of difficult interactions, the emotional backstory, and the blame. The only issue that mattered: a contractually required fixture was missing.
2. Stop the situation from getting worse
   Call escrow right away and put the closing and fund disbursement on hold. Prevent the car from going over the cliff before you figure out how to steer.
3. Gather useful allies and isolate the noise
   Contact the other agent (they share the same liability risk). Inform the necessary parties. In this case, the deal involved a divorce, so communication had to be managed carefully—especially with the ex-spouse—to avoid adding unnecessary emotion. Avoid large group calls that can quickly turn into arguments.
4. Assess the real impacts
   If the charger stayed missing, the buyer could potentially sue multiple parties: the seller, both agents, and both brokers. Attorneys often prefer (and profit from) letting these issues go to court. A competent agent can often resolve them in minutes.
5. Generate clear options and “if-then” backups
   First choice: have the seller return and reinstall the charger.
   If she refuses: research the local cost of a replacement and professional installation (I mentioned using tools like Grok or ChatGPT for a quick, realistic number), then instruct escrow to withhold a sufficient amount—say $1,500—from the seller’s proceeds. This protects the buyer while still allowing the transaction to move forward. Document everything in writing.

Why This Matters Beyond Real Estate

The goal is not to win an argument or prove someone is difficult. The goal is to deliver the property as contracted and protect everyone involved from unnecessary liability.

The same approach works in almost any setting. A refrigerator fails at a VFW post an hour before an event. A kitchen catches fire. In those moments, the first priority is often immediate safety or containment. Once the fire is out, you deal with the secondary mess.

Too many people lack basic problem-solving skills. They either freeze, escalate, or ask the wrong questions—even when using AI tools. The result is that small issues become larger ones.

The Takeaway

When a problem shows up, resist the urge to focus on feelings, fault, or future catastrophe. Instead:

• Name the problem precisely.
• Stop it from getting worse.
• Bring in the people who can actually help.
• Map the consequences.
• Offer practical solutions with clear next steps.

It sounds simple. In the middle of chaos, it rarely feels simple. But it works.

That’s the method I use in real estate transactions every week—and the one I recommend for just about everything else.

— Charles Ray Dawson
Associate Broker & Residential Sales Manager, ProStar Realty