I'm so out-going that I'll talk to a Pole. If your eyes are blinking, I'll start a conversation. It's easy to suggest that buyers canvas a neighborhood on their own to check it out, go in the evening, go on the weekend, and wander around, so there are no surprises, good or bad, after they move in. Sounds easy, yet hardly anyone does it.
As a Referral Agent, I'm on the alert for potential buyers because I want to do what I love and am good at: behind the scenes tours of Baltimore, and still get referral fees. Last week Judith,who lives in Baltimore, asked me to take her friends, Chris & David, visiting from San Francisco, on a Baltimore tour. Their interests: great architecture, exciting interiors and row houses of note. That's an easy tour to do, I just called some friends and asked for a favor. It was music to my ears to hear Chris & David discussing how their furniture would look in one of the houses I took them to.
I write little essays after my tours and send them out as come-ons to people who are thinking about doing a tour. As I wrote this one, I realized how helpful it is for buyers to learn about Baltimore history on one of my tours, learn about neighborhoods before buying a house or condo, and learn how to canvas an area. Let's see if you agree with me.
Chris, David & Judith had an absolutely terrific time on my tour today. I
took them into 3 private homes, to see gorgeous collections, marvelous
interior design, great stories of renovation of old row houses of Federal
and Victorian era. It really was an eye-opening day for them. They were
impressed by Baltimore brick, stone foundations, tin ceilings, gardens,
marble steps, superb architectural details, gargoyles, and much much more. I must tell you that I had pre-arranged to go into 2 homes. The third home came up just by accident, a case of Ser-en-ZIP-ity. I was examining someone's white marble steps and the door to the house opened. Rather than do what is expected and apologize, I began a zippy chat with the home owner and in less than a minute he said: "Would you like to see my house?" Caveat: we had to take off our shoes as all the carpets were just shampooed. Well, from the glass elevator --that I rode in-- to the miniature train tracks on the roof!!! My oh My oh My, what a house!! I have simply run out of words........
Chris, David & Judith can't figure out how do private individuals open their homes to me! After all, these are not tourist attractions. The Visitor Center does not send people here. How come I know all these local people? How come they thank me for coming? I've heard this so many times in the last 24 years.. I don't know where the magic comes from. I tell people this is WHAT I DO!!
I explained Baltimore's role in the Civil War, and showed them Beast
Butler's house.
I taught the history and origin of the row house.
And explained WHO were the people responsible for the inner harbor's
transformation?
I took them for a genuine malt at the oldest soda fountain still intact in
the USA.
Judith lives in the city, and could not believe what she heard and saw today. Chris & David are here for the first time, and said: their
friends in San Francisco believe there is nothing to see or do in Baltimore.
Boy, oh Boy, did I change their minds. Now there will be calls from San Francisco...... Zip
Zippy Larson
http://www.zippytours.com
Winner, Best tours of Baltimore 2005, CITY PAPER
http://www.citypaper.com/bob/story.asp?id=10591
Member, Advisory Council, Baltimore City Historical Society
Member, Advisory Council, Garrett-Jacobs Mansion
Winner, Best tour guide 1989, BALTIMORE Magazine
410 - 522 - 7334
410 - 446 - 8074
zippytours@gmail.com
Nobody knows Baltimore like I do. If you are a Buyer
looking to buy in Baltimore, I'll take you on a
no-pressure search to see the city. You'll learn what
realtors don't discuss and find out the history that most
people who live here don't know. And you'll have fun!
What a unique service!
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