The clear winner in the best-and-final round was Michel Sales, a Minneapolis-based company that began its operations 100 years ago just a couple of miles from 45 Maryland. They had been a long-time client of Phil Simonet, one of the Forte Team members hired to market and sell the building. Both buyer and seller consented to dual agency and Forte representing both parties. At this point in the transaction, it would seem to be smooth sailing. However, one of the other potential buyers came back to the Forte Team and dramatically increased their offer. After much discussion, the Andersons decided that a “best-and-final” offer meant best-and-final, and Michel Sales was the clear winner. This decision, full of character and integrity, paid off later in the transaction when Michel Sales agreed to assume responsibility for an environmental matter and replacing a roof section that was clearly at the end of its useful life.

In a world where people fight for every dollar and negotiate aggressively to get the upper hand, the Andersons chose the high road and it paid off for them and for Michel Sales who closed on the building in December 2021.