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I've Got A Secret...

By
Industry Observer CalDRE #01165532

 

I've Got A Secret... 

 

I've Got A Secret...  The word "secret" may lead you to some interesting interpretations.  Hidden.  Keeping unknown.  Maybe clandestine.  Confidential.  All sorts of definitions/explanations this or any word can take...

 

With the recent holidays, many of us many have been a part or witnessed a secret (perhaps more than one...two...three). So it's not only appropriate at times but desired.  

 

But if we consider real estate as well as real world consequences, are secrets necessary?    For example in real estate it may be the law in your state to properly disclose certain things(another reason to wisely choose your real estate representation).

 

Relevancy for secrecy in real estate may become apparent when it involves those closest to you.  "Close" in relationship and in distance too.  Co-workers.  Casual acquaintances and intimate friends.  Great Aunt Bessie and other family.   Quite the cast of characters and situations for sure.   

 

Maybe this comes into play when seeing a property and becoming too enthused at an open house event in front of other interested buyers or revealed in an innocent elevator ride.  Maybe it occurs at the table next to you while having a meal after seeing that "just perfect" home-of-your-dreams.  Discussions take place.  Certain things may be revealed.  So innocent.  Or so it seems.  This can happen during any stage of the negotiation process. 

 

Be mindful.  Stay aware.  Understand that people may be listening... 

 

 

 

The image in this post is from canstockphoto.com.

 

 

 

 

I've Got A Secret

Posted by

Michael Jacobs

 

CalBRE # 01165532

P. O. Box 587

Pasadena, CA 91102

Call/Text:  818.516.4393

mtj916@gmail.com

 

 

Comments (39)

Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Curtis Van Carter - that's for sure.  

Doug Dawes - some old sayings remain true.  For eternity?  Perhaps.  

Grant Schneider - that's so  true.  

Ron and Alexandra Seigel - people are listening....and they have been for a long time.

Dec 27, 2019 10:47 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Hi Michael- I know it's been said but it's true...loose lips sink ships.  And don't forget the little ones around you.   Or as my mother used to say "little pitchers have big ears."

Dec 27, 2019 12:32 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Kathy Streib - thanks for including your mother's saying.  I remember it well. 

Dec 27, 2019 07:18 PM
James Dray
Fathom Realty - Bentonville, AR

Morning Michael.

There are times when silence is golden, when looking at a home, is one of those times

Dec 28, 2019 12:44 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

James Dray - head for the "gold".  

Dec 28, 2019 06:54 AM
Kat DeLong
Realty ONE Group Mountain Desert - Prescott, AZ
REALTOR

Good Morning! Cute photo and very well written article! My motto " Silence is golden". 

Dec 28, 2019 07:12 AM
Joan Cox
House to Home, Inc. - Denver Real Estate - 720-231-6373 - Denver, CO
Denver Real Estate - Selling One Home at a Time

Michael, there are so many things we need to keep to ourselves.   When talking in public, you just never know who is within earshot of personal conversation! 

Dec 28, 2019 07:49 AM
Candice A. Donofrio
Next Wave RE Investments LLC Bullhead City AZ Commercial RE Broker - Fort Mohave, AZ
928-201-4BHC (4242) call/text

Silence is golden 

Duct tape is silver

Choose wisely  . . . 

LOLLL

Dec 28, 2019 08:34 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Kat DeLong - thank you and that motto comes in quite handy.

Joan Cox - it's often heard/seen unintentionally.  Be mindful/be aware.  

Dec 28, 2019 08:36 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Candice A. Donofrio - your comment has me thinking. Gold is for the 50th wedding anniversary.  Does a gift of duct tape qualify for the twenty-fifth?  Or is it more appropriate before/after?  The gift that keeps on giving?  So many possibilites...and more than a few traps...

Dec 28, 2019 09:03 AM
Michael Jacobs

Dec 28, 2019 09:07 AM
Candice A. Donofrio

it's for the honeymoon, natch!

Dec 28, 2019 09:04 AM
Debb Janes

hahahahahaha

Dec 28, 2019 11:45 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

Michael JacobsCandice A. Donofrio,  Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD 


All your comments have me laughing on the floor!!! "The gift that keeps on giving?" LOL!!!


Maybe duct tape can become a fashion statement to be worn with any and all apparel or even none. 

Dec 29, 2019 04:02 AM
Debb Janes
Nature As Neighbors - Camas, WA
Put My Love of Nature At Work for You

We have heard some incredible discussions in a public setting - generally when alcohol is involved. Always best to assume someone is listening. 

Dec 28, 2019 11:47 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Debb Janes EcoBroker and Bernie Stea JD - incredible and a bit incredulous.  Sometimes at the same time.  

Dec 28, 2019 01:00 PM
Sharon Tara
Sharon Tara Transformations - Portsmouth, NH
Retired New Hampshire Home Stager

It really is a very small world. You NEVER know who is listening and who they may repeat to. 

I've overheard conversations at public places and actually knew the person they were talking about.

Dec 28, 2019 02:06 PM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP
DFW FINE PROPERTIES - Flower Mound, TX
Selling Homes Changing Lives

 This is a great topic! I was standing in line at Barnes & Noble a few weeks ago and there was a mother and toddler in front of me. The kid was being a kid and very curious with high energy. The woman had to keep stepping out of line to get her kid. Of course, it was a long line which didn't seem to move. We conversed a lot and something she said really got to me. She said, there is such a big difference in how she raised her 13 year old, 8 year old and now this youngest one. There's surveillance everywhere and she has to be on her best behavior always and keep her child in check too. I thought that was very interesting. 

As far as real estate business goes, I know there are testers out there just waiting to report anything that has to do with Fair Housing or breech of confidentiality. They get a lot of information from Open Houses. It is a whole new world!!!

Dec 29, 2019 03:55 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Sharon Tara - it's amazing things that are said and/or overheard in a public place - often private matters.  Shhhh.....

Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP - that is an interesting observation by that mother whileyou were waiting in line.  Information-gathering occurs in many places.  

Dec 29, 2019 04:08 AM
Patricia Feager, MBA, CRS, GRI,MRP

Michael Jacobs - My heart went out to that woman and then later on I thought to myself, what if she started spanking her kid and we were both on the surveillance camera and I did nothing... Lots of what ifs can float in your head when you think about it. 

Dec 29, 2019 04:13 AM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Ha Michael you are such a tease, loved your title and with that said sometimes we need to disclose our "secrets" in Real Estate:))Endre

Dec 29, 2019 07:50 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Endre Barath, Jr. - real estate disclosure needs to be followed as each state requires it.  Common sense, well, I wish it were more common -- people seem to make careless errors in judgment at times.  Be mindful. 

Dec 29, 2019 08:23 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

It used to be that we worried about loose lips of a client who gushed about a house they had seen earlier in the day while dining, unknowingly, in a restaurant booth next to the seller who were dining at the same place, same time. We have heard such tales.

Now...we worry about being overheard by the seller's surveillance system...with video included!

Dec 30, 2019 06:50 PM
Debe Maxwell, CRS
Savvy + Company (704) 491-3310 - Charlotte, NC
The RIGHT CHARLOTTE REALTOR!

OMG, Endre Barath, Jr. had the same response - sometimes there are things we learn that we do have to Disclose! 

But, you are right, Michael. The walls and even the forest seems to have ears these days so, we must always be aware and keep confidential information just that - confidential. 

Love your title and your cute picture - both perfect for this post!

Dec 30, 2019 09:58 PM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

John Juarez - isn't that the truth.  Not always obvious...

Debe Maxwell, CRS - I was tying to pull together the elements and the image and the title seemed to work for me.  I am glad you thought so too.  

Dec 31, 2019 06:46 AM