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Friday Night Dating? or Real Estate Surfing?

By
Real Estate Agent with Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty

Here is a reblog of one of my first posts. Considering what to do tonight, sit and watch a movie with my husband or continue searching MLS for a new buying customer, I recalled this fun blog.

Hope you enjoy it, then go hang out with someone you love!

 

  What do Real Estate and online dating have in common?

While keeping abreast of Real Estate articles, blogs, and trends, it came to me quite easily to assimilate that most of today’s buyer’s transactions are treated just like an online dating experience. 

First of all, the computer has become the lead form in looking for matches with online searches. Just like a social website is selected for its marketing success or word of mouth recommendation, so too is the Broker/Agent. Often, dating singles look on more than one site, flipping back and forth (unfaithful to just one). 

 

When they create their profile some things are true, but most often false and pumped up. How much they make, what they are willing to spend, clear intensions…

 

 

 

 

To describe their ideal type, they describe a picture perfect tall, fit, blonde haired partner, who is religious, a dog lover, professional, and a gourmet cook. Yet when they come upon a brunette, bartender and yoga instructor with one kid, they are intrigued. So don’t rule out that colonial near the park, even if they say they only want a contemporary on a hill with a view.

In selecting a location, it is often challenging to pin that down too. An attractive match that’s out of area can easily draw the attention of an active looker. Which means first impression or curb appeal is what gets the attention and the first date or appointment! 

Most likely, the player selects more than one experimenting with likes and dislikes. In one case he/she likes what’s on the outside but unveiling the inner contents gets turned off. Sometimes it is a surprise, deeper feelings are felt than expected. Maybe the outside was plain, but inside unveiled an exciting departure.

 

 

Love at first sight is rare but possible, as long as all parties agree to seal the deal.

 

 

Often it can be a timely relationship with ups and downs, but as the courtship is furthered, practicality and reality is defined. Relationships as in structures are tested. Inner boundaries are explored. Financial realities are laid out and exchanged. Questions are asked like, “will we be happy together? Do we share the same future plans? Does he/she meet my needs?” In real estate, it is put in term of the # of bedrooms and baths, tile or wood floors, location and school district….

Finally, love is inevitable and a proposal is made. 

“The Offer.” 

The rings (keys) are exchanged and when the deal closes, the Realtors® job is done!

 

 

 

 

 Have you experienced an affair with real estate?

 

 

 

 

 

Comments (21)

Sonja Patterson
Keller Williams - BV - College Station, TX
Texas Monthly 5-Star Realtor Recipient for the Hou

Ellen, this was really good for one of your first posts (my first posts make me laugh)!! Some great analogies and humor make it a fun read!!  Have a wonderful weekend!

Mar 23, 2012 10:35 AM
Shannon Jones
The Shannon Jones Team - Long Beach, CA
Long Beach CA Real Estate

Ellen, great post.. good analogies. There are definitely some stretched truths and in both online dating and online real estate descriptions. Hope you have a good weekend!

Mar 23, 2012 10:37 AM
Bob Miller
Keller Williams Cornerstone Realty - Ocala, FL
The Ocala Dream Team

Hi Ellen, very cleverly written post and I enjoyed seeing it.  Hard to believe it was your first!  So talented!

Mar 23, 2012 10:42 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good evening Ellen,

I did not see this one and am so glad you wrote this way back when! Excellent post you are indeed talented! Have a great week-end!

Mar 23, 2012 12:46 PM
Marte Cliff
Marte Cliff Copywriting - Priest River, ID
Your real estate writer

Love it! What a fun way to describe the search for a home - or a mate.

Mar 23, 2012 02:08 PM
Janet Jones
Just Your Style Interiors, LLC - Kihei, HI
Home Staging, Interior Redesign Kihei, Maui, Hawaii

Hi Ellen--this was your first post?  Wow, it was great.  Love the analogies because it is so true that MLS descriptions often stretch the truth and buyers have a long list of "must-have's" but buy something that doesn't come close to meeting all of them.  Hope you have a great weekend. 

Mar 23, 2012 05:05 PM
Roger D. Mucci
Shaken...with a Twist 216.633.2092 - Euclid, OH
Lets shake things up at your home today!

Wonderful analogies my friend and such great information.  You are such a talented writer/artist/person.

Mar 23, 2012 07:36 PM
Ginny Gorman
RI Real Estate Services ~ 401-529-7849~ RI Waterfront Real Estate - North Kingstown, RI
Homes for Sale in Southern RI and beyond

Ellen, i love this affair thing!  Yes, i had one with this house i bought...i walked around the side of it and saw the waterfront view and it was love at first sight!!

Mar 23, 2012 10:41 PM
Kristin Johnston - REALTORĀ®
RE/MAX Platinum - Waukesha, WI
Giving Back With Each Home Sold!

Wow,  your first?  Amazing...I will have to check out what mine was now, but I am scared to find out!!

Mar 24, 2012 12:24 AM
Lee & Carol Barbour, REALTORS
Murphy and Hayesville, NC; Hiawassee, Blairsville, Blue Ridge GA - Murphy, NC
Mountain Living Team in Murphy NC and North GA
What a great post and analogy. We've run into some real estate stalkers along the way too.
Mar 24, 2012 12:26 AM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

Certainly worth reprinting...what a great analogy Ellen!  Love how similar the two aspects of life are.

Mar 24, 2012 04:10 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Sonja, I have to go back and repost many of my first blogs, didn't get as many comments, and meet nice faces like you.

Shannon, hope you enjoy your weekend, whatever you do!

Bob, I'm gonna repost more of them...I always had that sense of humor but maybe I've covered the funniest topics already.

Dorie, there were changes in my life that took some of this wit of of me, but I'm getting it back now!

Marte, guess you can tell I worked in marketing at one time in my career.

Janet, not the first but in the first few months, before I had a following, and I had so much fun writing them, as now I have fun creating Whale Tales.

Roger, your so kind, now I need to believe it myself and finish those last 50 pages of my novel to get it published and reall be called a writer.

Valerie, perhaps we could charge a fee like those dating sites, and instead of just waiting our time, we'd make some $ too.

Ginny, thats the good thing, we can still stay married but have our affair!

Kristin, hope you don't mind but you'll be seeing more of these....my early fun witt!

Lee & Carol, Watch out for those stalkers, find the right mate and close the deal!

Sharon, do you ever think back and recall something you posted that makes you laugh? I'm sure your Wordless Wed, collection is the perfect example. Well I'm resurecting those that still stick out to me as my fun creative works.Hope you like them.

 

Mar 24, 2012 08:11 AM
Joshua Zargari
MJ Decorators Workshop LI staging and home decorating - Lynbrook, NY
MJ Decorators Workshop

Good morning Ellen.

I do agree with the above comments about your great talent.

Have a nice day.

Mar 24, 2012 08:15 PM
Nick T Pappas
Assoc. Broker ABR, CRS, SFR, e-Pro, @Homes Realty Group, Broker/Providence Property Mgmnt, LLC Huntsville AL - Huntsville, AL
Madison & Huntsville Alabama Real Estate Resource

Ellen, I know you said that this was "one" of your first posts, but it was clear even then that you would be a terrific writer.

Mar 25, 2012 01:16 PM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Thanks, Josh, just doing what I love.

Nick, I had written several Real Estate stories before even joining AR, it was my intension to start a monthly newsletter to distribute from the office, then I took a class and learned about AR and the rest is history.

Mar 26, 2012 01:28 AM
Jill Sackler
Charles Rutenberg Realty Inc. 516-575-7500 - Long Beach, NY
LI South Shore Real Estate - Broker Associate

This was just wonderful and should have been suggested way back when, so I did.

Mar 26, 2012 11:23 AM
Rebecca Gaujot, RealtorĀ®
Lewisburg, WV
Lewisburg WV, the go to agent for all real estate

Ellen, great analogy and love this post and glad you reposted this one.  Suggested ths one my friend....you are such a talented writer!!!

Mar 29, 2012 12:05 AM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Jill, it does surprise me how some of my early stuff slipped past the Suggested button, but I'm not complaining....I do it for fun and my friends here in the Rain.

Rebecca, I better get my novel done....it may be better than I think, especially considering you all like my writing!

Mar 29, 2012 01:14 AM
Laura S. Baker
First Weber Inc - Lake Mills, WI
Realtor (920) 728-4118, First Weber Inc

This is one of your first?  Oh gracious,... mine was a huge block of words that I think I will go over and delete before anyone gets the chance to see it!

Mar 29, 2012 12:07 PM
Ellen Caruso
Daniel Gale Sotheby's International Realty - Glen Head, NY

Laura, I did love to write from the start...always something fun....now I mix it up with my drawings, Whale Tales, and other fun mediums.

Mar 30, 2012 09:42 AM