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My open house reviews just cost me my job.


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2012 Jul 27, 3:29am   30,948 views  50 comments

by Tom Stone   ➕follow (2)   💰tip   ignore  

I reviewed a home in Sebastopol earlier this year that I described as a stage set and further claimed (Accurately) that the photographs of the property were deceptive. That review came to the attention of the listing agent and his broker and they are livid. My description of this property was accurate and the opinions expressed were honest, but the listing broker is a big dog. I now face the possibility of a monetary fine (Up to $5k)and possible suspension of my license if they decide to pursue matters. Apparently expressing an honest but negative opinion is considered to be unethical behavior by a Realtor if done publicly, in writing. I worked for a small, locally owned brokerage and they can not afford to fight one of the big dogs. That's the reality. I will be hooking up with a different local outfit, but won't be writing more reviews of homes for Patrick.net, I can't afford to. What about my principles? If the board goes after me I will fight them on First Amendment grounds, if they don't I will stay quiet. I don't like it, but my choices are not good. If you are curious about a property in Sonoma County feel free to contact me at StoneForHomes@Gmail.com. You will get an honest and informed opinion.

#housing

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41   Patrick   2012 Aug 1, 2:30am  

David Losh says

Well Tom Stone used your website to blog for business, and appeal to your readers. All of his opinions that I read should be removed, and yes some Brokerage needs to take him in hand for training.

No, none of his opinions should be removed!

Again, you totally fail to see that Tom Stone is exactly the kind of agent that buyers really want, because he's posting funny and useful opinions without the censorship that you and the NAR are imposing on him.

Buyers do not want YOU David Losh, because you refuse to tell the truth and you continue to object to any agent that will tell the truth.

You are on the side of no one but yourself, and you proudly proclaim that you will not give your honest opinion about any property in a public forum. Tom is obviously willing to take some risk to benefit buyers. Tom is the better human being, and the better agent.

42   rdm   2012 Aug 1, 3:25am  

David Losh says

What I found is that being positive about properties I saw was much more beneficial than pointing out the negative. What's negative to me is some one elses treasure.

How about just the basic facts uncolored by idiotic superlatives.David Losh says

I also assume every property needs to be gutted.

That is just stupid.

So I don't need some one to tell me the property has avocado appliances, or the bathroom is out of date.

Yes I suppose if you assume every house is a gut job then there is no reason to describe any details at all. If that is your position I half agree, no details at all is a better position than false details. Unfortunately for those that dont take your position on the gutting issue ( everybody) it means having to look at every house that meets some basic location and square ft requirement. Better idea: honesty in the presentation of the details. I know that is a shocking concept but ponder it.

Aside from the general absurdity of the position that every used house needs to be gutted, factoring gutting and reconstruction would not make you competitive in making a proposal to buy anything except a true gut job, again just a really silly position.

43   Tenpoundbass   2012 Aug 2, 5:08am  

one of my main criteria when I was house hunting, was a house that had not been touched by investor/flipper and wasn't tagged "Updated". Which is code for quality dated period appointments ripped out and replaced with Home Depot's finest crap.

My Criteria

1)the most house for the least money
2)1/2+ acre lot
3)In law quarter, or a detached income unit on premise.
4)2000+ sq ft
5)Not remodeled

44   zzyzzx   2012 Aug 2, 5:11am  

CaptainShuddup says

one of my main criteria when I was house hunting, was a house that had not been touched by investor/flipper and wasn't tagged "Updated". Which is code for quality dated period appointments ripped out and replaced with Home Depot's finest crap.

I agree. Every rehab I saw was done with only the cheapest stuff that they could buy at Home Depot, except for counterops which for some reason always have to be granite now. That and crap for paint jobs where they painted over every door hinge, outlet, and wall switch.

45   Tenpoundbass   2012 Aug 2, 6:18am  

What kills me is the over use of crown molding and wainscoating.
In a 11 by 12 room it looks like the walls are closing in.

That and if every house has it, then it isn't really a detail anymore.

46   bighorse   2012 Aug 20, 2:59pm  

Redfin has a section where their agents talk smack about a property all the time. I sense they are only bluffing you.

47   JodyChunder   2012 Aug 20, 3:23pm  

zzyzzx says

Home Depot, except for counterops which for some reason always have to be granite now. That and crap for paint jobs where they painted over every door hinge, outlet, and wall switch.

yeah, you know those home cheapo updates really get the flies buzzing. granite and stainless is what everyone wants because that is what they've been marketed. Everyone is special and everyone is posh. Good thing theres still first class airfare as a last bastion of excess to allow the sort-of rich and pseudo rich to still feel a little special.

I don't like granite or stainless. Aside being generic, you wind up with a kitchen what has the best of both autopsy theater and the cemetery.

48   rufita11   2012 Aug 21, 1:33pm  

CaptainShuddup says

one of my main criteria when I was house hunting, was a house that had not been touched by investor/flipper and wasn't tagged "Updated". Which is code for quality dated period appointments ripped out and replaced with Home Depot's finest crap.

My Criteria

1)the most house for the least money

2)1/2+ acre lot

3)In law quarter, or a detached income unit on premise.

4)2000+ sq ft

5)Not remodeled

Exactly what I am looking for with the added criterion; 6) Not a current/former meth lab.

49   New Renter   2012 Aug 23, 2:26pm  

JodyChunder says

zzyzzx says

Home Depot, except for counterops which for some reason always have to be granite now. That and crap for paint jobs where they painted over every door hinge, outlet, and wall switch.

yeah, you know those home cheapo updates really get the flies buzzing. granite and stainless is what everyone wants because that is what they've been marketed. Everyone is special and everyone is posh. Good thing theres still first class airfare as a last bastion of excess to allow the sort-of rich and pseudo rich to still feel a little special.

I don't like granite or stainless. Aside being generic, you wind up with a kitchen what has the best of both autopsy theater and the cemetery.

Well speaking as someone who knows his way around a kitchen I do see functional advantages of granite over tile or god forbid Formica. A seamless counter top like granite is easy to clean, no @#$%$ grout to scrub. Granite is fairly heat resistant. I can put a hot - not super hot - pot on granite and not worry about it melting. Good selection of colors as well.

Quartz may be even better but I haven't firsthand experience with it.

Tile is good. While I hate grout I do appreciate the ability to swap out a broken tile should the need arise. That is if one has a spare tile. Most older styles once very common are impossible to find now.

Neutral on stainless.

50   JodyChunder   2012 Aug 23, 5:49pm  

New renter says

Tile is good. While I hate grout I do appreciate the ability to swap out a broken tile should the need arise. That is if one has a spare tile. Most older styles once very common are impossible to find now.

Tile is what I have in my shack .. I keep a spare box of tiles in the workshop. My tile runs form the countertops and then curves where it meets the wall and runs all the way up to the ceiling so I can just hose it all down if and when I need to. It can get pretty messy in the Chunder kitchen as I slaughter my own animals in there from time to time. I'd like to tile the ceiling, but my back is just not up to laying around on a scaffold any more and I don't trust the labor around her for shit.

I have seen some Formica installs lately that got me taking a second look at it. Real clean and simple. I stayed in a little residential retreat in Coyote Hole last summer while my place was being tented for a spider infestation. It had a stylish little kitchen with Formica. Not that cheap nasty looking crap like what you're used to seeing in places. It had that Japanese minimal type look to it.

Stainless can be okay. I just prefer baked enamel. It's harder to come by since the process is being outlawed for environmental reasons.

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