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Uploaded: Thursday, February 14, 2013, 10:08 AM
Updated: Sunday, February 17, 2013, 7:13 AM
Real Estate Matters: Deal killers are superstitions, core beliefs
Seller discloses death in house, even though it was his cat
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by Nancy MacLeod
Pleasanton Weekly Staff
There are two types of deal killers in real estate: those that are correctable or avoidable and those that are core beliefs or superstitions and unalterable.
The buyer may not even consider making an offer to purchase a home if certain conditions are present. Many of these beliefs are held in multiple cultures so the groups are not identified by name in this article. As of late, Realtors are seeing more superstitions coming into play.
Understanding their clients' needs is extremely important. Realtors can do some extra work by reviewing homes to save time for their clients if they understand their issues and needs. There is no need to show a property with problems unless there is a creative solution. A few of these can be remedied with mirrors, crystals, screens and repositioning an entry door, but some are just not going to work for certain buyers.
Here are some of the superstitions and core beliefs that can impact a potential sale:
* The shape of the lot: A lot that is shaped like the head of a tiger is undesirable in some groups and they will not even consider buying the property. On the other hand one shaped like a cow's head is good. These shapes are found primarily at the end of a cul-de-sac or a court. The tiger has a very narrow front and the back end is wide. The opposite is true of the cow. A square or rectangular lot is preferred.
* Sunlight exposure: Many cultures have sunlight issues; they differ depending on the ethnic groups. Some will only accept a home that faces south/north with south being the entry to the home. Others want a south/west frontage or only an eastern entry. Thank goodness they do not all want the same exposure so many options are open for the seller.
* The house is located on a T intersection: A house that sits on a street where another street is directly perpendicular to it will cause some buyers to cringe. The orientation of the perpendicular street brings in excessive energy toward the home that can disrupt good fortune from being able to settle inside the home.
* House numbers: Some groups do not want a number 4 in their house numbers. The number 4 means death. Another group does not like the address numbers ending in a downward stroke. An address with the last number ending in the number 1, 4, 7 or 9 indicates that the house will bring bad luck to the occupants. The downward stroke when the number is written causes all good luck to decline. On the other hand some believe that a number 8 or 9 brings good luck and fortune.
* The number of steps on the staircase or the location: On the first ascending step to the front door, the buyer chants "gold," second step, "silver," third step "debt." This chant is repeated until the last step is reached. If the last step lands on debt there is no deal. For some, a descending staircase that leads to the front door is a sure sign of future failing finances. Its presence indicates that all money entering the household will surely flow out due to the direct pathway of the stairs to the front door.
* The back door can be seen as you enter the front door: If the back door is parallel with the front door when entering the home, some believe that all good fortune experienced while residing in that home will be short lived. Good fortune will go in the front door and quickly come out of the back door. Others believe the garden should not be seen from the front door for the same reason.
In California, we have multiple real-estate disclosures that have to be filled in by the seller. The buyer is given the disclosures to approve or disapprove the purchase. I instruct my sellers to disclose every negative issue they are aware of other than superstitions to protect them and the buyer.
My favorite answer was by one of my sellers whom I had assisted several times with his homes regarding buying and selling. On his last sale he marked the "yes" box that there was a death in the home within the past three years. When questioned about his answer he replied, "Our family cat died last year." Precious and thoughtful answer, would you agree?
It is fortunate that not all people have strong superstitions but it is helpful for the seller and the Realtor to have compassion and understanding regarding the feelings of those who have genuine beliefs that may affect the purchase of a home.
Nancy MacLeod has run an independent boutique real estate firm, [http://Homes2Buy.com Homes2Buy], since 1999. She was named Palo Alto Realtor of the Year in 2011. She can be reached at nancy@homes2buy.com. Are you receiving Express, our free daily e-mail edition? See a sample and sign-up for Express.
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Posted by Mike, a resident of the Highland Oaks neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2013 at 4:37 pm "Many cultures have sunlight issues"
(Unlike yours, right? May I suggest that "preferences" might be a less derogatory choice?)
"they differ depending on the ethnic groups"
("group," right?)
"Thank goodness they do not all want the same exposure so many options are open for the seller"
(Let's ignore the punctuation. "Thank goodness they do not all want" in this context gives the impression that you see a buyer with potential "sunlight issues" as a frustration or inconvenience for the seller. May I suggest that "The great variety of preferences, however, means that the seller shouldn't have any trouble finding a match" might be less ego-, ethno- or occupation-centric? After all, this is a general local news site rather than a trade journal, right?)
Mike
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Posted by Michael, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2013 at 4:49 pm In a news article, shouldn't information be provided? I mean, ethnic groups? Which ones, specifically? Or all ethnic groups? Is this news article meant to warn prospective buyers of what to expect from 'the ethnics', whomever they may be?
This article has to qualify as one of the silliest (and most ludicrously racist) articles I've ever read. I mean, did PW hire Tea Party Freddie to write this news item? What a scream.
I know the editors have access to a delete button to be used when posters post something inappropriate; what about when its own staff writers write something comically bad and offensive?
Beware, the ethnics are coming, the ethnics are coming!
Perhaps in Pleasanton, with so few 'ethnics', writers think they can write something like this and people won't notice. I guess that's why some prefer Oakland or SF to this backwater yokel slum.
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Posted by anti-michael, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 17, 2013 at 10:20 pm This article was starical, no doubt. Can you imagine any culture stupid enough to not make an offer on an other wise perfect house, other than it's address has a '4' in it? Really, do these type of mental midgits actually exist?
Mike, I know you're really into critiquing the writer's style, but the one's that really need help are these fictional 'core believers' and superstitious pinheads. Imagine if these imaginery dolts could vote or drive cars.....I bet we all know what party they'd vote for.
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Posted by Godless, a resident of the Downtown neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 5:35 am This superstition, ignorance & backwards thinking is much more prevalent then she lays out in this article. Visit any house of god on the weekend and you'll find hundreds of people who believe in fairy tales. It's the same willingness to push aside critical thinking and believe ridiculous things that were explained at a young age. Pity.
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Posted by Fn Suite, a resident of the Canyon Oaks neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 8:20 am wait until "they" realize the longitude/latitude of pleasanton is loaded with unlucky numbers.
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Posted by liberalism is a disease, a resident of the Birdland neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 1:40 pm
liberalism is a disease is a member (registered user) of PleasantonWeekly.com Godless, I'm sure you're ready to welcome lots of 3rd world black magic practitioners as long as they believe (oh, there's that word again) as you do, that man was created out of thin air by no one in particular.
I'm sure you've spent countless hours in a house of god to come up with your incorrect premise. Thanks for sharing your first hand experience with ignorance.
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Posted by Some Dude, a resident of the Castlewood neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 2:46 pm liberalism is a disease: I usually just ignore your weird posts, but this one makes absolutely no sense at all. Are you getting the care that you need? Is there someone we should call on your behalf?
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Posted by john, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 4:38 pm "I'm sure you've spent countless hours in a house of god to come up with your incorrect premise."
What in the world? This person needs to lay off whatever he/she is taking, or maybe take more of it?
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Posted by Godlike, a resident of the Another Pleasanton neighborhood neighborhood, on Feb 18, 2013 at 8:23 pm Godless claimed : Visit any house of God on the weekend and you'll find hundreds of people who believe in fairy tales.
How would you know? You and the loons posting above who have never set foot in a church haven't a clue. Not only are you all in denial that God exists, your protests
indicate that you know you're wrong and can't face the truth.
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