The blog is back

I've been away for a while. Got real busy. Bounded through escrow on 29th Place, ate lunch, represented buyers on three different purchase deals, interviewed for a listing, arranged a lease. I'm still chasing "it" with a couple buyers; and, at long last 2042 S. Oxford Avenue is ready for market.

When you're away that long in creeps doubt: "Can I blog the way I used to? Why would anyone read what I have to write? Do I still matter?"



Then the mail is delivered and in it, a "Just Sold" post card.

Now two-thirds of my mail is real estate related: offers to refinance, recruitment letters, escrow missives, vendor promotions, slum lord solicitations (oh, we'll get to those later), etc, etc.

But this just chaps my hide. "Neighbors take notice, newbies are coming in, and they spent ten times what you paid in '72. Mos' def' they own cool electronics, original art, and check out their secret wall safe in the den." Ok, so it's not that bad, but consider again the price line: "Offered at". Offered at? How about, 'sold for'?



Oooops, in this case it sold for thirty-five grand less. Can't let that get in the way of a slick marketing come-on (particularly when it comes at the expense of somebody else's buyer, not your seller).

My friends at the big brokerages think I'm uptight. "That information can be had on public records web-sites", they counter, "furthermore, it generates business."

"You could probably generate as much business", I retort, "if you attached a giant clown head festooned with contact info to the roof of your Lexus sedan. Furthermore, you'll never do business with the buyer your Just Sold Card outed."

"You work your side of the street Janeiro", they snarl.

"Fine", I answer, "just stay out of Pico-Union and Boyle Heights."