We are all busy. Whether the responsibilities that overwhelm us are professional, personal or, most commonly, a combination of the two, who hasn’t lamented the lack of a clone for accomplishing the myriad tasks that 21st century living heaps upon us? There are certainly days when I’d give my eyeteeth for an hour in the lab with the scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep. Here’s my blood sample, now how soon can I get Paulie 2000 licensed by the Arizona Department of Real Estate?
Sharing the overscheduled and understaffed burden with the rest of society at large, one can’t help but find amusement in the march of technology towards supposed convenience. Why, in no time at all, we’ll eliminate the 6-8 hour period of insufferable downtime that less assertive types passively refer to as “sleep.” Productive little bunnies that we aspire to be, that precious block of REM is better spent chasing cabbage. Against a backdrop of planned obsolescence, it is little wonder that we delegate the menial tasks whenever and wherever we can. Secretaries to answer the phones, grocery delivery service, cardboard cut-outs of our likenesses to attend our kids’ soccer games … we, as a people, are a busy lot.
As the parental doppelganger is not recommended, there are a host of tasks that require eyes-on commitment. Tucked neatly between personal attendance at an anniversary dinner and showing up for your own open heart surgery is viewing property. While many aspiring titans of industry can likely conjure numerous higher and better uses of their time than knocking around houses for two hours on a Wednesday afternoon, this is one of those tasks that really does not translate well to delegation. Enlisting an assistant to go in your stead is not only a mild affront to your chosen REALTOR (putting the value of his/her time on a par with said assistant), but much more significantly, a form of sabotage to your own interests.
Sure, who wouldn’t want someone else to fight through the forest of current inventory with a machete to blaze a clear path to the penultimate home? In theory, the lackey can contend with the clingy vines and pit vipers while you focus on more important matters. Let Indiana Jones return with a map to the treasure, and you can take it from there. Simple.
Not so simple. The problem with joining the adventure late in the game is that you lose the context, the knowledge gleaned along the way. Even if your stunt double has your taste completely wired, and returns with an appropriate assessment of which home(s) is (are) worth your time, you will have missed out on valuable comparison shopping. Stacking up neighborhoods head to head, comparing current values … every advantage gained through the cumbersome experience squandered.
Shopping for a home is a serious endeavor. If you are not ready to commit to the process, you would really be better served to wait until your schedule opens up enough to permit a generous allocation of your time and energy. With the advent of Internet home shopping, consumers have more ability than ever to research from the comforts of their own cramped apartments. Agents, likewise, are better equipped to screen and vet properties before dragging their busy clients out of the office to see the latest hot bank-owned property. Don’t miss the good ones (which still sell quickly, by the way) by adding a 4th layer to a 3 layer cake. Glean what you can from the listings that don’t quite fit so that you are ready to act in a direct, unequivocal manner when you do see the right one.
By committing to the effort now, your hunt will resolve itself sooner. Don’t turn a 3-6 week tour into a 3 year search party by treating it like an adjunct to your day, rather than a primary component. This is your new home we're talking about here, not a pair of relaxed-fit designer jeans.
See you at 3 PM, sharp.
The assistant can patch any urgent calls to your cell while we’re out.
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Home for lunch and I thoroughly enjoyed this post! Though I employ an assistant my clients never speak with her. I am my business and would never have someone else show property for me. I know that agents sometimes do that to leverage their time and make more money but like you it's just not my style (and I enjoy sleeping and actually having fun with those I love too). The other point you make concerns not just that specific connection and context between you and the buyer but when showing properties, I am in the field gathering real time info about what homes in my market are all about. Sitting in front of a computer and reviewing homes online only yields a "snapshot". We have to be knee deep (well maybe that's extreme) in it to grasp and communicate in some sort of articulate and educated manner with both our sellers and buyers.
BTW relaxed fit = fat boy ;-O
Cuts both ways, too, Russell. Just like I wouldn't send someone in my place to show and evaluate properties with my clients, I expect my clients to afford the exercise the same diligence. Had several requests to meet with "assistants" lately who would view the property, and then tell the buyer whether it was worth seeing. Ignoring the fact that previewing is already in my job description and the inherent difficulties that arise with adding someone between myself and the principal, all of the benefits of personally viewing property go out the window if the client abstains from the process. How do you know if one is really the one if you haven't looked at any others?
At some Jersey broker opens they do serve sheep.
With you all the way. Need to experience the inventory to advise intelligently. Real estate bombards the sensory and subjective regions of our ...
medulla oblongata?
Real estate is a living/breathing organism...as is our perception of it. And where that perception comes from is as important as what that perception is.
But I'm thoroughly disappointed, Paul. I thought you were going to share a secret recipe for cloning, so that I don't once again find myself in the kitchen at 6:30 a.m. "baking" a dessert for my son's Valentine's Day party, which is taking place "TODAY, Mommy!" -- Tanya in Montreal
Despite what you've heard, Lenza, there is nothing wrong with my medulla oblongata that cannot be readily cured by full frontal lobotomy.
So it's a recipe you seek for a clone, Tanya? Take three eyes of newt, mix them in a cauldron (or food processor, if handy) with beef stock, round bacon and 4 drops of blood from a motherless goat. Season with salt to taste. Parcel out mixture into a non-stick muffin tray to make 12 small Tanyas or 6 large ones. Bake in the fires of Hades for 12-15 minutes (timing will vary based on elevation). Remove Tanyas from Satan's oven and let cool to a smoldering, pithy Canadian on drying rack for ... 5 minutes? 5 eternities? Doesn't much matter.
If your clone attacks you with a butcher knife, you added too much bacon.
Round bacon = peameal bacon, and we Canadians are famous for it.
Who you calling a large Tanya, mister??!!!
And how did you know what makes you think I have a cauldron??!!
I may be smoldering, but I am never pithy.
What does pithy mean?
Pretty sure "pithy" means "someone who owns a cauldron."
I learn something every day on ActiveRain.
I was wishing for a clone just last week but Lenza put the kibosh on that one. Seems he feels the world isn't ready for two of me. One of my selling features when I interview for a listing or a buyer is that when they call me, they get me. Not my assistant, who doesn't exist. Not my clone either because Lenza is so opinionated a better judge of this than I. I can't imagine the ego of a buyer who deems himself too busy to look for his own house! And what about your time. When the assistant narrows it down, you'll have to show the final picks to the real buyer!
Hmmm..."I'd give my eyeteeth for an hour in the lab with the scientists who cloned Dolly the sheep.."....lol
You know, taken out of the wrong context, Liz ...
I tried to clone myself, Susan, but the non-compete my parents signed all those years ago is air-tight. For the better, anyway. The CDC won't let just anyone handle my cells on a petri dish, you know.
Apparently cloning won't work if the buyer is too superior busy to look for his/her own house. I'm amazed that all buyers aren't thoroughly excited about buying their next home - I know I've been thoroughly engaged in the process for the two homes that I bought!
Loved your photos, Paul, and how they integrated with your post!
Paul, great post and look forward to following. Keep up the good work/humor....
Crazy, isn't it, Melissa? Hard to fathom a house hunter not being all that interested in the hunt, but I suppose that's just my industry bias talking. I like looking at houses even when I'm not actively in the hunt. You never know from when and where the thunderbolt will come that demands you "Buy me! Now!"
I'm too controlling to hire an assistant. I used my daughter when she was in high school (She was awesome!) But now she's in college *sigh*. But I can't imagine a buyer sending their assistant to house-hunt for them! That makes absolutely no sense!!