After an owner move-in eviction found my ass on the street a few years back, I resolved never to rent again. At the time things were slowing down, but they weren’t nearing full stop as they are now; so yes, interest only loans were still quite the popular option for teachers and similarly paid neophyte buyers with delusions of grander domiciles.
My agent, whose name I never speak unless I’m drunk, and even then, won’t say more than twice in row for fear that she, like Beetlejuice, will materialize on the third iteration, was evil. She would constantly take me to $650-$750K condos that I fell in love with, whispering in my ear sweet lies about how an ARM would make them more affordable than rent. When I later viewed properties in the $400K range, I hated them- yet they would have been perfectly acceptable if not viewed through the “but for just a few hundred more per month, you could have something so much nicer” lense. She was, for this and other reasons, the embodiment of why people ask “Why are Realtors such assholes.” (And they do ask that, and others answer: You can see for yourself on this Frontsteps blog post.)
But now I’m jaded. Still renting, but ever so much more informed, and well aware that I have no business in a $700K home. This is why I ask, nay beg, Realtors to be better at advertising on open house days. Say I’ve come to look at something in particular: Invariably, I will see 100 signs for other places also open that day, all in the same ‘hood, easily visited. In fact, so ubiquitous are these signs, we may soon see a law against them crowding the sidewalk, as reported on Schtuff. But though plentiful, these advertisements aren’t very useful.
First off, the entire sandwich board is generally taken up by the brokerage logo, and the address of the home for sale. Some also include the hours of the open house, and very occasionally, more info, like CONDO or SFH. See, now I know to try the former, but avoid the latter, since I recognize my income limitations. Helpful.
Better still though would be full disclosure: type of property, number of rooms, square footage, and yes: price. I’m not the only buyer to appreciate this idea either. I got the photo above from a blog by Tracey Taylor, on a similar theme. I realize, Realtor that I’m not, there is some reason for this evasion of detail. But buyer that I am, I tell you, I need it un-evaded. For properly informed, I would come to your open house if I knew I belonged there. I would not come if I did not.
…How much time could we all save?
My agent, whose name I never speak unless I’m drunk, and even then, won’t say more than twice in row for fear that she, like Beetlejuice, will materialize on the third iteration, was evil. She would constantly take me to $650-$750K condos that I fell in love with, whispering in my ear sweet lies about how an ARM would make them more affordable than rent. When I later viewed properties in the $400K range, I hated them- yet they would have been perfectly acceptable if not viewed through the “but for just a few hundred more per month, you could have something so much nicer” lense. She was, for this and other reasons, the embodiment of why people ask “Why are Realtors such assholes.” (And they do ask that, and others answer: You can see for yourself on this Frontsteps blog post.)
But now I’m jaded. Still renting, but ever so much more informed, and well aware that I have no business in a $700K home. This is why I ask, nay beg, Realtors to be better at advertising on open house days. Say I’ve come to look at something in particular: Invariably, I will see 100 signs for other places also open that day, all in the same ‘hood, easily visited. In fact, so ubiquitous are these signs, we may soon see a law against them crowding the sidewalk, as reported on Schtuff. But though plentiful, these advertisements aren’t very useful.
First off, the entire sandwich board is generally taken up by the brokerage logo, and the address of the home for sale. Some also include the hours of the open house, and very occasionally, more info, like CONDO or SFH. See, now I know to try the former, but avoid the latter, since I recognize my income limitations. Helpful.
Better still though would be full disclosure: type of property, number of rooms, square footage, and yes: price. I’m not the only buyer to appreciate this idea either. I got the photo above from a blog by Tracey Taylor, on a similar theme. I realize, Realtor that I’m not, there is some reason for this evasion of detail. But buyer that I am, I tell you, I need it un-evaded. For properly informed, I would come to your open house if I knew I belonged there. I would not come if I did not.
…How much time could we all save?