Combating Internet Comps

I am writing this piece to my REALTOR® friends. I have run into this issue over and over again, and perhaps, it is more problematic in a place like Philadelphia, where one street or two blocks can make a dramatic difference in real estate price and value. You have to know the blocks and streets to understand the pricing.

The issue, which I have run into, is clients/prospects running comps on Internet sites such as Zillow and Trulia. They tell me my judgment is wrong and give me evidence from these sites, which is not valid. The sites are furnishing properties, which are clearly not comps if you know the area. It can pull properties, which are less valuable or more valuable.

Now, I can run a CMA and have done so, but it is expressed that I am perhaps choosing the properties that suit my purpose. Yesterday, I told the client that the only thing I left out were 2 bedroom houses, and that I was showing all other closed properties.

So, I decided to waste some time and played around on the two aforementioned sites. I pulled the two following properties. The values supplied were generated by Trulia.

10XX Mollbore Terrace sold $225,000 10/13/2009
Similarly recently sold homes is $241,500

27xx South 12th Street listed $220,000
Similarly recently sold homes is $145,250

Now, each, of these houses, sit on a cute little square. In reality, the 12th Street property, in terms of land, is a little more valuable. It is closer to stronger neighborhoods. Also, the 12th Street property is larger. Now, I understand the sale price and the listing price being different. The 10XX Mollbore property has higher end finishes. How does Trulia, however, have such a large discrepancy in the "recently sold homes"? The "recently sold homes" should essentially be the same for each property, and they are not. I am looking at over a $90,000 discrepency. To me, it makes all of their statistics suspect.

Now, I have run into this issue more than a few times.

Driving and Walking

I have been wanting to write something on this subject since sometime last week. I know it is in no way related to my self named topics here in this blog, but feel I need a little bit of a rant!

PEOPLE WHAT ARE YOU THINKING AND DOING?!?!?!?!?

How much of a hurry are you in? How distracted are you? REALLY!!!!

This past week, I was almost hit straight on, as a pedestrian, in a relatively empty parking lot. I was walking through the lot, when a woman made a sharp turn in my direction and never looked straight ahead at me. I was really surprised. I saw her, but did not expect her to make that turn into the parking spots like that. She was looking at the stores. She looked at me at the last moment and jerked the wheel. She did not look the least bit phased. I WAS!!!!

As a driver, I saw endlessly stupid and dangerous moves by pedestrians and drivers. I saw more than usual. Is everyone really in that much of a hurry? Is it worth endangering your own life and lives of others just to get somewhere a few moments faster. It is not a good way to get on the six o'clock news.

Please, SLOW DOWN!!!! And use your turn signals.

FACEBOOK Friend Requests and Hackers

I want to start by thanking one of my FACEBOOK friends for posting the names of two people identified as hackers on FACEBOOK and sending friend requests. They are a nuisance, and frankly, I don't get it!

Twice, I have had hackers pop up on FACEBOOK Chat. Both times they told me they were stranded in London, a sad story and needed money. The first one, I thought was my FACEBOOK friend, and I deleted him. Sorry Buddy! The second one had the same story, but they chose someone from my life. First, I have not seen her since 1984. Second, I know enough of about her that she would not be reaching out to me for help from London. Third, it was September, and she has children and would not likely be there at the start of school.

Of course, we have all had the hackers send messages and videos from our accounts. I hope by now, we realize it is the hackers at work. I once deleted another friend due to hackers. It was the first of many notifications that said I was reported for putting up objectionable comments and/or pictures. Sorry to that woman too!

There is another thing for my women FACEBOOK friends to look at. I have a lot of friends on FACEBOOK. Of course, I don't know all or them nor do I communicate with all of them. I was not able to get into my friend requests for several days. It was apparently one of those FACEBOOK problems we all know about and experience. I could address them on my phone, but not on my computer. I waited.

Some time ago, one of my FACEBOOK friends notified a group of us that this one particular man had only women friends, and they were all Realtors. I don't know what that fetish was about. I don't really care what it was about. I simply removed him.

Today, I went through the friend requests, which have built up. There were forty. Out of the forty, there were clearly two men that had no connection to me or a few women, and both had only women friends. I am not telling you not to accept these gentlemen as friends, however, I did not. I just question their motivation.

The other thing that troubles me is a lack of a picture, or some image other than a face. It is FACEBOOK! Generally speaking, I will not accept a request with no picture. If I know you in person, I will, but I will still go to your profile and make sure it is you.

Be careful friends, but don't be frightened! There are great people I meet through this vehicle all of the time!