Welcome to the New Market

I grabbed the opportunity to hitch a ride with a Realtor and watch her in action. She was on her way to meet a buyer at a house just listed on the market. I climbed in the back. She piled her gear in the front passenger seat: a laptop, cell phone, Ipad, camera, a big purse and a small purse, a tangle of wires, stacks of paper. We sped away from her office.

“Don’t mind me,” I said.

She didn’t. The cell phone was ringing and the Ipad was dinging. The GPS computer-voice person squawked from the dashboard, “Proceed point-three miles and turn right.” The Realtor snapped a wireless earphone gizmo to the side of her head.

“Hi Jim,” she said. “Jim, could you hold on a sec?” She clicked her earphone gizmo. “Hi Linda, can I call you right back?” Click. “Jim? Hi. I’m on my way now.“ Click. “Hi Linda, let’s meet Jim at the property……..” She told Linda the property was $249,000, and, “……square feet? Hmmm. Let me check….” She leaned over and opened her laptop. She was oblivious to the sounds of honking and screeching outside.

I attempted control of the car from the back seat. I shifted my weight back and forth, gripped the head rest in front of me, and made noises like, “Ooh, Unnh, and Yeeow!” My technique proved successful- we made it.

The house looked like a party scene, the street lined with cars. People strolled the yard. They filed in and out the front door. Jim found us. Here came Linda.

“How long has this been on the market?” asked Jim.

“A few hours,” said the Realtor. “I have the offer ready. Quick, let’s go see the house.”

Later, I got the report. Seven offers. The house sold to a cash buyer (not Jim and Linda) – $10,000 over asking price.

“Welcome to the new market,” said the Realtor.