As Thanksgiving approaches, I’ve been thinking a lot about gratitude. This time of year always gives us a chance to slow down and reflect — not just on what we have, but on who has shaped us along the way.
For me, one of the greatest blessings in my life is that I had the opportunity to work with my dad in real estate.
🏡 The Last House We Walked Together
Just before my dad’s stroke, we spent a Friday afternoon together looking at a house in Santee. It wasn’t anything glamorous — a full-on hoarder house, to be honest — I loved every second of it.
Aside from spending time with my wife and kids, there’s nothing I enjoyed more than walking houses with my dad.
That Sunday night, two days later, he and I were on the phone talking about the property. The seller had received another offer, and we were reviewing the purchase agreement together. It was messy — full of loopholes, confusing terms, and one-sided contingencies.
I remember both of us laughing and shaking our heads as we tried to make sense of it.
“Does this really say the buyer can walk away at any time?”
That was our last conversation. And it couldn’t have been more fitting — two guys who loved this business, on the phone breaking down a deal.
🙏 The Lessons I Carry
My dad had a simple philosophy: do business the right way.
He believed in fairness, in follow-through, and in keeping your word — values that are at the heart of The Perfect Cash Offer.
When I think about what makes our company different, I realize it’s really just an extension of him. The idea that a deal is more than a contract — it’s a relationship. That trust is earned through clarity and communication. That integrity is the real foundation of every transaction.
Those weren’t things I learned from a book or a seminar. I learned them side-by-side with my dad — in driveways, in living rooms, and on the phone talking through real deals.
🎓 My Graduation Gift
When I graduated from BYU, my dad asked me what I wanted as a gift. He wasn’t the type to buy something fancy — what he loved most was making deals.
He said,
“Go find a house. I’ll lend you the money on it.”
That was my graduation present — the chance to go out and do a deal with him. It wasn’t just a gift of opportunity. It was the gift of trust.
That deal set the foundation for everything I’ve done in real estate since.
💛 Gratitude in the Middle of Grief
I miss him every day. It’s still hard knowing I can’t pick up the phone and call him about the next property or talk through the next deal.
But more than anything, I’m grateful — grateful for the time I had, for the lessons he taught me, and for the example he set.
Not everyone gets the chance to work with their dad, to learn from him, and to share a passion like we did. And that’s something I’ll always count among my greatest blessings
My Dad and I closing deals at the title company together.
🦃 This Thanksgiving
As we gather with family and friends, I’m reminded that the things that matter most aren’t things at all. They’re moments, memories, and the people who shaped who we are.
I’m thankful for my dad, for my family, for the people I get to work with every day, and for the chance to build something that carries forward the lessons he taught me.
From my family to yours — Happy Thanksgiving.
🏠 1-800-BUY-HOUSES The Standard for a Cash Offer on Your Home Building trust. Doing the research. Closing with integrity.
✍️ About the Author
Paul Baird is the co-founder of 1-800-BUY-HOUSES, a company built on trust, transparency, and the values his father instilled in him. He has bought and sold over $500 million in real estate and helped hundreds of homeowners sell their homes directly for cash. Through The Perfect Cash Offer, Paul continues to carry forward the legacy of honesty and integrity that began with his dad.
