Day 23 of 90-Starting Over, back to cleanup

I usually write these blogs in the morning, first thing, while I am still at home and it is dark outside.  I like that, it works for me.  This morning I did that and several times during the writing the computer froze and then wouldn't save.  My expectation is that my technology will work, all the time for me and when it doesn't I feel very put out.  So I got to the office early to work on my main computer and remembered my Sanford lesson for today.   I am to go back and work on all the things I missed. Sanford systems provides a disc with all the material so I loaded it up and started to look at it.  During these first weeks I acknowleged his ideas and organization and went about servicing the work I have. I did not follow through with his exercises as written. Today, in going back, I realize I have left a gold mine of letters and questions that, if I put into place today, will build the base of my knowledge, experience and growth.  Boing! Ok then just do it!  Not like Tiger anymore, but that is a different story. I yield my space to a guest writer.

From my good friend the appraiser in Milton, MA Gerry Hailer, ghailer@aol.com, he is also on Linkedin and Twitter

"Brokers are like advertising people. With any property, there is good and bad.  The job is to identify both, minimize the bad, and polish up the story on the good.  The way it might read in the listing, is, "excellent location, just minutes from Dallas North Tollway"  My guess is that Meadowcrest would be a tough street to get any flow going on a game of street hockey, in spite of the light traffic at the time of the shoot. (Gerry is a New Englander where kids play hockey on the street. We all know we won't see that on Meadowcrest.)
 
But I like the street.  Looks just like HoustonBellaireSanAntoinoAustinCorpusChristi.  and you know how much I love that town.  Plus, it's not like Brook Road. (This is the busy street where Gerry lives)  The house is air conditioned, which means in summer, you're inside with the windows closed staying chilly, unless you're out in the yard barbequeing and drinking beer.  Then, all you have to do is listen to the sound of the car tires on the other side of the 8 foot privacy fence out on Preston Road, without 747s with landing gear and flaps down, coming in over your rooftop, on the way to Logan, every 30 seconds. (What Gerry is saying is that he would trade his house for this one.)
 
Now here's the humor in it.  It's about the differences in language when describing the same thing, from different points of view.
 
In Brokerspeak:
 
"Rare find!  A 2-story floor plan in a fantastic North Dallas location, nestled in a cozy neighborhood near 289, within minutes of Dallas North Tollway.  This diamond-in-the-rough has been recently polished up and is just waiting for your personal touch to turn it from house to home."
 
In Appraiserspeak:
 
The subject property is a 1.5 story brick exterior dwelling situated on the corner of Meadowcrest and Preston Road, (Route 289), which is a busier street with heavier daily traffic counts. Meadowcrest appears to be a possible cut-through street to Dallas North Tollway. It is in a neighborhood of similar dwellings, all in average condition overall.  The subject has somewhat similar curb appeal to other properties in the neighborhood, with the exception of its corner lot location.  While all mechanical systems and fixtures appear to be modern and functional, it appears that the subject would require significant updating in order to compete more favorably with similar properties at the upper end of the subject's value range.  Required updates include, but may not be limited to, remodeling of kitchens and baths, new carpeting, full interior paint, general carpentry, and new roof.  There did not appear to be any evidence of infestation or mold, and the slab foundation did not appear to be cracked or damaged.  However, it should be noted that the appraiser is not an expert in these areas.  It is the appraiser's opinion that a prudent buyer should first consult an expert in these areas in order to determine the actual condition of the improvement in these regards.
 
And so it is, we go from there.
 
The Broker's Job:  Minimize the negatives, then sell, sell, sell the positives.
 
The Home Inspector's Job:  Find what's wrong with the house, and plant red flags everywhere, in writing.
 
The Appraiser's Job:  Look at the good and the bad, balance one against the other, and call it as you see it.
 
As usual, the truth probably lies somewhere in the middle of it all.
 

Thanks Ger for giving me the opportunity to get past my computer glitches and stay on track. Thanks Walter for reminding me where the path is.