Back in the Dark Ages before cell phones and computerized MLS I first started selling real estate in the mountain, resort town of Ruidoso, New Mexico, ever so often; I would get feelings from houses. One day we had a big caravan that came up to a house that overlooked the racetrack of the World’s Richest Horse Race. As I stood on the balcony of that house I knew that I was overlooking my kingdom. It felt like I was the queen, and these people, horses, trainers and paddocks below me were mine. Wow! What a power feeling. I slightly knew the person who owed the house who happened to be the mayor of the town, but I really understood a lot more about him after visiting his abode and watching the serfs. Don’t you understand the owner’s a little better after looking at their house?
A couple of years later 2 co-workers and I were previewing houses. We pulled up to an older house in a historic district as I remember, and right by the kitchen there was a basement. I can visualize myself standing at the top of the stairs, looking down into this dark area, feeling a little creepy and really questioning myself if I should go down there. I wasn’t sure what I would find. After a deep breath I finally did go down there and nothing happened except after we left, my companions and I were discussing the negative vibes that we were getting from that room. Two of us were going on and on about the bad feelings that we were having. Finally the 3rd person said to quit talking about it because she hadn’t sensed anything, and we were scaring her. The odd part was that the two of us really did have some really dreary feelings coming off of that basement, and we hadn’t discussed it until we were out of the house. Do you think that houses harbor acts of past residents both good and bad?
Once again during an office tour, I was in a house on Alton Road in Miami Beach. Florida. It was a big, older home, and it had a large, open staircase with a banister, but in this instance I could almost hear kids running up and down the stairs. There was a lot of commotion, but it was all very vibrant and happy. I kept thinking that a large family had lived there and that was probably the best match for the house.
Today as I show high-rises in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida and along the beaches, I personally love the sense of being up high and always think of the Bette Midler song “From a distance”. It all does look prettier. The grit is too small to see and colors merge to glorious hues. Do you think people who buy high floor units are more romantic by nature?
As you preview houses for sales and listings, pay close attention to your feelings regarding the structure as they will be clues to help you be more effective in your dealing with both your buyers and sellers.