Words to Avoid in Real Estate
YIKES!
This post in UnReal Estate was inspired by a recent conversation with an agent who told me that the house on the hill above was slipping, “but only a little.” I live in earthquake territory, folks. There’s no such thing as “slipping a little.” That’s like being “partially pregnant.” Thus, I asked around and gathered some contributions to the Words to Avoid list. Please enjoy:
First, the Absurd…
“Oh, heck, we all grew up with black mold.” (Is that why your eyes roll inward and your tongue hangs out?)
“They had a pot-bellied pig that ruined the carpet.” (I had a pot-bellied husband that ruined the couch.)
“The old lady next door is crazy but nice.” (So I should ignore the face in the window?)
“The place was busted because the owner’s father had a brewery in the basement.” (No problem – my grandmother had a meth lab in the bathroom.)
“The heating lamp in the bathroom needs attention.” (No wonder your hair is on fire.)
“This was used as a grow house.” (No wonder I have the munchies.)
“The four dogs next door seldom ever bark.” (Then I will “seldom” ever use my tranquilizer darts.)
“The lights flicker and dim sometimes, but it’s nothing to worry about.” (Sell that to the guys on Death Row.)
“It may be showing some wear and tear, but it’s obviously not going anywhere.” (That’s what they said about the Titanic.)
And now, the Sublime…
“A little baking soda will get rid of the smell.” (But will it get rid of their bad taste?)
“The lime in the crawl space is to absorb moisture.” (So what’s with the hatchet and the duct tape?)
“The odor was from something that got trapped in the crawl space.” (Has anyone found the agent?)
“Although it’s filthy, they never had vermin.” (Oh yeah…that explains the 14 morbidly obese cats.)
“The house isn’t bolted, but it’s very secure.” (No problem -The buyer is with Indymac – they’re very secure.)
“His score is low…but he’s working on it.” (My patience is low…so get outta my face.)
“That’s a pine cone in the pool.” (And I suppose that’s lemonade in the toilet.)
“The cracks in the foundation are small.” (So is our offer.)
“You should see the garden when it’s lit.” (You should see my uncle when he’s lit…)
“Can I still get zero per cent financing?” (Let me explain the signs of mercury poisoning and its effects on the brain…)
“The soggy area above the septic tank is from the sprinklers” (You’re full of crap.)
“All those steps will keep you in shape.” (So why are you carrying that defibrillator?)
“The pool leaks.” (So does Aunt Bea when she sneezes.)
“The lawn sprinklers don’t work.” (Then call Aunt Bea.)
And Those Words We Hear Most Often:
“Can you reduce the size of your commission?” (About as easily as I can reduce the size of my butt.)
“It’s been sitting for months with no activity!” (So has Aunt Bea, but she doesn’t complain.)
“I think we’re backing out of escrow.” (Fine. Now grab this frayed wire and touch your tongue to this metal pole and…)
Thanks to my colleagues at Sotheby’s International Realty and my friends at Coldwell Banker and Keller Williams for all your funny stories.
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This article published on Friday, May 29th, 2009 at 5:00 am | Contact the editor
Topics: Friday, Green, Highlights, Marketing, Public Relations, Real Estate, Realtors, Silly
About this Columnist (Full Profile)
I wear several hats: My mink fedora real estate hat belongs to Sotheby’s International Realty on the world famous Sunset Strip. I’M not world famous, but I’ve garnered a few Top Producer credits along the way. I also wear a coonskin writer’s cap with an arrow through it, having written a few novels and screenplays and scored a few awards there, too. (The arrow was from a tasteless critic.) My sequined turban is my thespian hat for my roles on stage, and in film and television, Dahling. You can check me out in all my infamy at LinkedIn, LAhomesite.com, SherlockOfHomes, IMDB or you can shoot arrows at my head via email. I can take it.
Email Gwen Banta
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size of my butt… LOL!!! http://cli.gs/jsXubS (via @LaniAR) love this post, too funny, poor Aunt Bea and her leaks!
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Reading: "Worst Words to say In Real Estate" (http://twitthis.com/rzqofx)
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@agentgenius Words to Avoid in Real Estate http://bit.ly/4NJTMQ
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HILARIOUS: @agentgenius Words to Avoid in Real Estate http://bit.ly/4NJTMQ
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#agnow Thanks, for the mention, Memphis! http://bit.ly/bA3tbF
Benn Rosales
Conal Campbell
Elijah May
Lani Rosales
Tara Steele
Marti Trewe
Charlene Jimenez
Gwen,
Thanks for ruining my monitor this morning – had to plug the spare in after shorting out the other with my coffee snort after reading this post!
Not as funny, but here’s couple I’ve experienced:
If the offer’s right, they’ll get rid of the cars (all 14 of the derelicts in the back yard – where are the owners?)
The homes shares a septic field with the next door neighbor (what the hell’s a septic FIELD?!?)
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Nice. What others say if funny. What you’re thinking in ( )s is beyond funny. Don’t you wish there was one day a week when it was perfectly acceptable to reply to “dumb ass” with equal or greater “smart ass smack”.
What fun that would be. I nominate your “pine cone/lemonade” retort #1.
rock on
size of my butt… LOL!!!
Your description made ME snort coffee, Joe – you are very funny!
Yes, Ken – I am constantly replying with smart ass smack, but I usually have to keep it silent. My blog allows me to rant and rave with impunity. Incidently, the pine cone comment actually happened to me. The really hysterical thing was that the pool was surrounded by palm trees. I have no idea what the floater really was, but it wasn’t a pine cone, and it wasn’t a Baby Ruth!
Hey Lani, My butt has always been a source of humor. I’m thinking of taking it on the road and working the club circuit. I’ll bill myself as Buns ‘o Fun. See you in Austin!
I’ll be in Austin for MegaCamp at the end of August, Gwen.
I’ll bring my snorter, you bring those Buns o’ Fun. I may even explain what a “Shart” is….
I’m with Ken on the pine cone/lemonade vote as #1…..
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Good googley moogley – just read your 15 May entry, and proceeded to shart myself…..
This is now going to be required reading for the Agent Leadership Council at our Market Center.
Navy Chief, Navy oh what the hell, I’m still laughing too hard…..
Gwen, I think you should tour at real estate conferences and just have bar shows after the expo closes and charge a cover, why not??? I’d totally go!!!
Can’t wait for you to visit us here in the awesomest city ever
Yay – I’ll be looking for you in the audience, Joe and Lani. I can’t wait to see Austin. I’ll call my tour “Real Estate Road Kill, starring Buns ‘o Fun.” I’ll drag my weary, buzzard-pecked carcass up onto the stage and tell the world what we agents really have to go through to sell a house without losing the remaining morsels of our sanity. It may look easy, but Escrow Street is paved with broken Pradas, crumpled listing sheets, and smashed Blackberries adorned with tread marks. For my Road Kill Tour, my theme song will be TAPS. Maybe then the public will realize that we actually DO work for our money! (Of course, everyone in the audience must be pre-approved…I ain’t as dumb as I look.)
Just call me buzzard
LOL!!!!!
I’m so late in on this conversation…actually standing outside and laughing hysterically over what I’m hearing. I SO????
???????????????????????????????????????????????????????????
Those were not my comments…. I was saying that I was SO in need of FUNNY REALTOR today…thanks for the laugh.
Allison.
Don’t know where the heck all the ?s came from.
I’m really glad to hear from you, Allison. Actually, all the question marks are so very appropriate, even if unintended. They serve as punctuation commentary for those head scratching remarks I referred to in the post. I think it’s great that we can all laugh together at this wacky world we work in.
In an add for a Russian River, CA area home “Never flooded above first floor!” Always loved that.
Gwen – Wait, did I hear real estate related comedy tour? Where do I get my ticket?
That’s great, Lisa. I saw one recently that said, no washer/dryer, but hooker in garage.” This business is not for the faint of heart!
Hi Matt – Tickets are free, but there’s a 10 drink minimum. I figure all agents deserve a night to get completely toasted. And because I love your posts so much, only YOU will receive a souvenir glass that says, “If I can survive the Road Kill Tour, I can survive any Escow – so bring it!”
Gwen – You call that a minimum? Haha. I like the idea of my souvenir glass, beats one from the Hard Rock any day.
Once you’re completed the tour, you should put it all in a book and use it for training new agents. If they laugh and have a sense of humor, they get to stay and have a wonderful career. Otherwise, they get the boot, cuz, they won’t make it anyway.
Another Classic!
Very funny post!! I have had my share of laughs in the past 30 minutes cruising around AG. You guys are funny!!!
I get this one all the time (adding to the “Words we hear most often” category), “I’m already working with an agent but she’s out of town. Can you show me this house?”
Or,
“The last agent I spoke to said we could list it for (insert inflated unrealistic list price)”
Thanks, Paula. I think laughter is the antidote to insanity!
I’ve heard those same comments, Louise. My favorite was, “If the other agent said she can sell it for (inflated price), then why can’t you?” to which I silently responded, “I could…if you jack up this piece of c__p and put another house under it!”
I guess at this point we should all be glad we have a filter between what we think and what we actually say!! Lol
You give me too much credit, Louise. I think my filter is due for replacement!
Thanks, for the mention, Memphis!