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Do Four Lovely College Co-eds Really Count As "Beautiful Views?"

By
Real Estate Broker/Owner with Cornerstone Business Group Inc 0225086119

My lovely wife is not the jealous type, but she does have a unique way of describing my former girlfriends in ways that don't reflect the girls I knew.  One in particular girlfriend seems to get the brunt of her humor. 

I made the mistake of telling her that this particular young lady stuck a straw up her nose when she was two or three, and her pediatrician had to go nostril diving to retrieve it.  It appears that she was out with her mom shopping when they stopped by a dime store snack bar for a little lunch.  During lunch, while mom wasn't looking, she slid her small paper straw up her nose until it disappeared. 

I guess the fear of telling her mom that her straw was up her nose was greater than the uncomfortable feeling of having a paper straw somewhere between her eyes and her frontal lobe, so she stayed quiet.  After a little while, her nose began to run and when a day of two passed with no noticeable relief, her mom took her to the doctor.  Imagine his surprise when he found the straw up there. 

Now, the part of the story that my wife always messes up is the age part.  But, she often forgets to relay a few other factual aspects of the story.  For instance, she rarely tells that it was a small paper straw.  In her story, it was more like a plastic curly straw with a favorite cartoon character attached.   In her typical, "Bless her heart voice" she explains that it was the cause of a slight lobotomy, but it was only minor brain damage.  After all, she went on to be cheerleader, right?  And finally, she gets the actual age of my former girlfriend wrong each time.  I've heard everything from 15-18.

What's my point?  Marketing.  When we list a property and put a description in the MLS, it should resemble the property listed, at least a little.  I'm always fascinated when I'm with a buyer who has found a house on one of the more common consumer listing websites, and it has a glowing description.  Wow!  All of that for $49K.  Let's go see it. 

Imagine my surprise (not really) when the listing doesn't live up to the write-up.  Let me encourage you to be creative.  Be a WordSmith.  Use visiual language to describe your listings, but make sure I can find it when I drive down the street.  If it says, "Beautiful views," I don't expect that to mean the four college girls living across the street.  "Recently landscaped" is not the same as filling an old truck tire with flowers.  Be creative, but at least get close to an actual descripiton. 

 

 

 

Comments(27)

John McCormack, CRS
Albuquerque Homes Realty - Albuquerque, NM
Honesty, Integrity, Results, Experienced. HIRE Me!

Mike, Too funny but so true! I cant count the times I have read the listing, walked through the door and thought I must be in the wrong place and my client is saying this doesn't look right. Seriously if its crap please tone down the hyperbole.

Aug 30, 2011 05:07 AM
Liz and Bill Spear
Transaction Alliance 513.520.5305 www.LizTour.com - Mason, OH
Transaction Alliance Cincinnati & Dayton suburbs

Mike, I can think of plenty of buyers that would prefer the beautiful views you describe over lakes and parks! :)  Bill

Aug 30, 2011 05:38 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Eric, I see a trend here.  8-)

Mike, I can see that wading pool being a pond in the back yard.  Not a very good one, but a pond.  Thanks for dropping by!!

It can get pretty wild, Liz.  Thanks for commenting!

John, I've had that "Is this the right house" thought more than once.  8-)

Me too, Bill.  Maybe that is something we could include in the listing.  I have a rental with four college students in it, and they are lovely!! 

Aug 30, 2011 05:54 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

She just wants to stick it to you for having had other women in your life besides her. Great analogy, though. The description barely resembles the actual circumstance.

Aug 30, 2011 06:11 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Oh, Jill, if you could hear the descriptions you would be amazed.  8-)

Aug 30, 2011 06:18 AM
Conrad Allen
Re/Max Professional Associates - Webster, MA
Webster, Ma, Realtor

Hi Mike - Gives new meaning to using a straw to buy a home:)  Now you want truth in advertising.  Picky, picky.

Aug 30, 2011 07:15 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

 ROTFL 

Aug 30, 2011 07:58 AM
Donne Knudsen
Los Angeles & Ventura Counties in CA - Simi Valley, CA
CalState Realty Services

Mike - Ok, seriously now.  What a timely post!  Just last night, I was complaining to hubby about what complete morons some Realtors/agents are.  Yes, that right, I said morons!  First it was all the absolutely ridiculous MLS pics I was coming across.  Seriously Mike, I think the CA DRE needs to start to include some basic photography CE courses in our license renewal requirements.

Don't even get me started on some of the descriptions (that's a whole other post).  There are so many stagnant listings in our market right now that make the property sound absolutely stunning!  Having actually seen some of these listings, I know for a fact that they're actually run-down, dilapidated, dumps.  I mean seriously!  Do they really think they're fooling anyone putting lipstick on their pigsty listings?  SERIOUSLY!!!

Crap like this should be MLS violations at the least and misrepresentation or false advertising as well.  Ok, my little mini rant is over now and I'm getting down off my soapbox.  Hilarious post Mike!  Have a good day.  :)

Aug 30, 2011 08:05 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

I know, Conrad.  I'm a little over the top here.  8-)

Rant away, Donne.  I feel your pain.  LOL!

Aug 30, 2011 08:56 AM
Ron Tarvin
Residential, Investment properties, rehab projects, property management, luxury homes, new construction! - Katy, TX
Broker, Katy, Houston, Cypress 77450,77494,77095

That can be a challenge with some listings!  And sometimes descriptions can become pretty monotonous (not to be confused with lobotomous!)

*did I just make up a word?!* 

Aug 30, 2011 10:10 AM
Nancy Pav
Century 21 Redwood Realty - Ashburn, VA
Nancy Pav, Your "GottaHave" Realtor

Puffing at it's finest.  I love the analogy and I totally agree.  I love reading how the hardwood floors gleam and then when you see them, they're dull and scuffed. 

Aug 30, 2011 10:11 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Ron, that might just show up again.  How can I work "lobotomous" in a sentence?  8-)

You bet, Nancy.  I've seen those floors.

Aug 30, 2011 10:18 AM
Cathy Criado
Criado Realty - San Antonio, TX
Making Real Estate Profitable

Mike, Right?  I'm saying, just be honest about it because it's a waste of time. Great analogy!

Aug 30, 2011 10:47 AM
Mimi Foster
Falcon Property Company - Colorado Springs, CO
Voted Colorado Springs Best Realtor

My husbands ex-girlfriends tend to have warts and peculiarities that he never knew about either.  I love it when that happens.  Your wife is a good woman :)

Aug 30, 2011 11:01 AM
Jennifer Chiongbian
Specializing in all types of Manhattan apts & townhouses - Manhattan, NY
Real Estate Broker - NYC

Ha! Ha! Ha!  I guess a beautiful view and landscaping has many meanings to different individuals.  Albeit-- his was far from what us brokers would consider the meaning in the traditional sense. Ha!

Aug 30, 2011 11:29 AM
Steven Cook
No Longer Processing Mortgages. - Tacoma, WA

Mike -- how about those with "peek-a-boo" views?  You know the ones where you have to lean over the upstairs window sill sideways on a clear day to see the mountain or water?

Aug 30, 2011 11:50 AM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

Thanks, Cathy!

That's weird, Mimi.  They sound just like mine.  8-)

Aug 30, 2011 12:53 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

It was a lovely view, Jennifer, but those lovely coeds do graduate eventually.  8-)

There you go Steven.  Now you're thinking.  Thanks for commenting!

Aug 30, 2011 12:55 PM
Pamela Seley
West Coast Realty Division - Murrieta, CA
Residential Real Estate Agent serving SW RivCo CA

The straw up the nose sounds painful, like many of the listings we view that don't live up to the expectations we get from the MLS. I agree we all could use words better to describe our listings.

Sep 01, 2011 06:03 PM
Mike Cooper, Broker VA,WV
Cornerstone Business Group Inc - Winchester, VA
Your Neighborhood Real Estate Sales Pro

You bet, Pamela.  Thanks for dropping by, and have a great Friday!!

Sep 01, 2011 09:29 PM