Special offer

who needs a paper-shredder?

By
Real Estate Agent with Jameson Sotheby's International Realty

Some people purchase paper shredders.  In today's society, we certainly can't just throw away sensitive documents.  And in our industry, we're in the "sensitive document" business.

I don't actually need a paper shredder.  My little 14 pound gus-gus IS a paper shredder (he's my Havanese).  This evening as we were sitting around, he was acting a little feisty... he wanted to play.. so i gave him one of those insert cards from a magazine to play with... knowing it would keep him occupied.

It sure did... he shredded it into little tiny pieces.  I looked like a little circle of confetti on the floor of the den, and kept him occupied for a good ten minutes. He did as good a job as any professional paper shredded.

I just have to remember to never leave a contract anywhere within his reach.

(I'm so sorry, Mr. and Mrs. buyer, but my dog ate your homework!.... [dial tone].... hello?    hellllo?)

Posted by

 ALAN MAY, Realtor®   
Specializing in Evanston Real Estate and North Shore Real Estate

Jameson Sotheby's International Realty, 2934 Central Street, Evanston, IL 60201
Office: 847.869.7300      Cell: 847.924.3313      Email: Almay@aol.com

Evanston Real Estate & North Shore Real Estate
Licensed in Illinois

   

Comments (27)

Susan Haughton
Long and Foster REALTORS (703) 470-4545 - Alexandria, VA
Susan & Mindy Team...Honesty. Integrity. Results.

What IS it about paper?  My dog is the same.  Would love to see a pic of your little guy in action!

Aug 21, 2010 04:38 PM
Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Alan,

Right now until my new office is ready I have files and papers everywhere.  I sure am glad none of my dogs have the paper addiction.  

Aug 21, 2010 04:42 PM
John Pusa
Glendale, CA

Alan - gus-gus shreded those paper perfectly. Goog blog.

Aug 21, 2010 05:07 PM
Don Spera
CR Property Group, LLC - East York, PA
Serving York and Adams County, PA

I just hope Gus doesn't recycle.  SO GROSS!

Aug 21, 2010 05:48 PM
Claudette Millette
The Buyers' Counsel - Ashland, MA
Buyer, Broker - Metrowest Mass

Alan:

Who needs a mechanical device when you have lovable gus-gus to shred your papers for you. It sounds as though he is earning his keep. Does he do other tricks?

 

Aug 22, 2010 01:21 AM
Missy Caulk
Missy Caulk TEAM - Ann Arbor, MI
Savvy Realtor - Ann Arbor Real Estate

We have a new puppy, inherited from my son. On top of the 4  other dogs we have, this one Charlie loves to chew paper. At least you put a positive spin on it. LOL

Aug 22, 2010 02:13 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Don - he was just "borrowing" them.

Joan - I'd pay close attention to her.

Susan - I'll be sure to take a photo next time.

Larry - that could be "deadly" to allow gus-gus in there.

John - yes, yes he did.

Don - I think it'd be great if he recycled.

Claudette - yeah, he can turn my heart to mush with his eyes.

Missy - oddly enough... he doesn't "chew" the paper... just tears it into pieces.

Aug 22, 2010 03:13 AM
Bill Burchard
3B Realty: 951-347-3818, CA - Murrieta, CA
Broker, Realtor, Representing Buyers and Sellers

My Maltese seems indifferent to paper, Alan. She pays no attention to it. But if I barbecue a steak? She stands below the grill and barks incessantly, demanding her share!

Aug 22, 2010 03:53 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Bill - maybe you're reading the wrong paper? (or buying the right steaks!?)

Aug 22, 2010 03:59 AM
Karen Fiddler, Broker/Owner
Karen Parsons-Fiddler, Broker 949-510-2395 - Mission Viejo, CA
Orange County & Lake Arrowhead, CA (949)510-2395

It's so funny you mentioned this, I cleaned out my office recently and threw so many pieces of paper from transactions in the trash (they are archived elsewhere) and almost finished the job. Something stopped me and now I have a date with my shredder. I had bank statements, prequals....all kinds of personal things about my clients....FICO scores...yikes. But I stopped myself.

Aug 22, 2010 04:59 AM
Jenna Dixon
Momentum Real Estate Group LLC - Marietta, GA
55 & Over | New Constructions | Horse Farms

Unfortunately, I have actually said, "my dog ate your contract", it's not as cute to the client as you might imagine...

Aug 22, 2010 05:06 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Karen - it's a little scary how much information we have on those forms.... our older contracts also contained social security numbers... yikes!

Jenna - yeah... I didn't figure they'd giggle and laugh when they heard that.

Aug 22, 2010 05:51 AM
Larry Bettag
Cherry Creek Mortgage Illinois Residential Mortgage License LMB #0005759 Cherry Creek Mortgage NMLS #: 3001 - Saint Charles, IL
Vice-President of National Production

Could have brought it to my back yard burn last week.  That works well also!!!!

Aug 22, 2010 06:22 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Yeah... then the two of us would recuperating together... (I'd provide the bourbon, and cigars).

Aug 22, 2010 06:24 AM
Chris Ann Cleland
Long and Foster Real Estate - Gainesville, VA
Associate Broker, Bristow, VA

Cute story and semi related comment coming.  I remember that one difficult contract I was working last summer was continuing to grow and grow.  The sellers were divorced and fighting among themselves....and fighting with the buyers.  The email trail was probably 1000 sheets of paper, sitting on the floor beside my desk.  One day, my cat backed up to it and tinkled all over it.  I had to laugh.  When he finished I said, "I agree."

Aug 22, 2010 02:43 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Chris - I don't think I would have been quite as calm about it.

Aug 22, 2010 03:25 PM
Richard Green
U.S. Cybertek, Inc. - Houston, MO

LOL! *gasping for air while laughing my fool head off* The dog ate your contract! Oh that's priceless!!! ;) Just be sure to have a hidden camera on the other end, you'd will millions from America's Funniest Home Videos just from the look on their faces! ;)

Aug 23, 2010 09:45 AM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

Phly - oh, that's the last thing I need on video (okay, well maybe not the LAST thing... the LAST thing would probably be a video of me, wearing a spandex jogging outfit, while running on a treadmill in slow motion.... think Jell-O in slow-mo..... ewwwwwwwwwwww)

Aug 23, 2010 10:32 AM
Richard Green
U.S. Cybertek, Inc. - Houston, MO

 

*crying with laughter* Alan!!! Oh, the visual image horror! LOL! (Though personally I think nothing is worse than super-fat women in tubes tops and daisy dukes! An unfortunately common sight in Missouri in the summer *shudder*) One word to make it all better. . . Spanx! ;)

Aug 23, 2010 01:08 PM
Alan May
Jameson Sotheby's International Realty - Evanston, IL
Home is where the hearth is.

One word to make it all better. . . Spanx! ;)
~~~~~~~

Phyl - oh, you're kind to offer, but my wife doesn't allow me to date.  (and whoa, kinky!)

Aug 23, 2010 02:48 PM