Online dating and house-hunting: ‘Hey. What’s your (for sale) sign?’

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Published Date 12/9/2022

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.” When Shakespeare wrote that line, it was about finding the right girl, not the right house. But if you think about it, house hunting is very much like dating.

ReMax’s Stephanie Visscher points out how she picked up on how searching for a home online feels oddly like her dating app days, but with fewer happy hours mixed in. “Anyone who has ever created an online dating profile is guilty of posting at least one picture that’s a half-truth.,” she says. “In the same way, you never get the full picture from listing photos. I’ve walked into homes that I thought would feel cramped, only to find vaulted ceilings and plenty of windows that helped make the space feel bigger.” She goes on to admit that she has planned entire barbecues in her head based on a single photo of a backyard, before visiting the home and realizing the patio was in the shadows most of the day. “One home had photos that showcased plenty of vintage charm, but in person I realized the place actually needed several updates.”

Her savior for whittling down which homes she wanted to see? Virtual tours. “They help me get a better idea of the layout so I can picture where I could put my WFH desk, and how easy it would be to host game night (when social distancing ends). Still, just like a first date, you’ll never really know if you and a home click until you meet IRL.”

Visscher says that although she never really Googled a date beyond making sure the place a potential date worked at existed, when it comes to house hunting, she takes internet research to the next level. “I look up the address on Google maps, make a list of nearby restaurants and map how long it would take me to walk or drive to my favorite coffee shop,” she says. “I look at the street view to see if the nearby park is somewhere I would enjoy going for a run or if it’s mostly dominated by playgrounds.” She even says it not unusual for her to find the satellite view of the home that interested her, and plug in important places such as her office or yoga studio to calculate the drive time in each listing. In other words, she has become a super sleuth.

Online dating profile photos are just as dangerous as online images for houses, she warns. But she does look carefully at the listing descriptions. “Many descriptions offer hints and tips about the property that you might not be able to glean from the photos,” she says. “One I saw pointed out that the restaurant around the corner was recently rated the best in my city, and others have listed local farmers markets or music festivals that are within walking distance in the summer.”

Of course, in-person reality is often different from any of that. That gorgeous washer and dryer in the listing photo may not be included in the sales price, and the home gym will probably be stripped of its equipment. The stunning fruit tree and herb garden? It’s useful to find out when it’s in bloom instead of salivating over the online picture of it in January.

She admits you can overthink EVERYTHING on a listing, just as you can with an online potential romance. Unlike a guy getting resentful of your detailed questions about his likes, dislikes, and dating history, however, she knows there is nothing too trivial to ask her Realtor when it comes to making the largest investment she has ever made. “Whether I’m asking how much it will cost to upgrade a shower, the impact on resale value of sharing a wall with a ramen restaurant, or if a firepit is allowed by the HOA, she has the inside scoop that helps me confidently evaluate if a home meets my needs.”

Source: Drippingspringshomestaging | ReMax | TBWS

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