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Youre Not Paranoid: The House Really Hates You
If you've just bought a house, you may be able to relate to a fascinating essay in Maya Angelou's book, Even the Stars Look Lonesome. When Ms. Angelou moved into a designer house in California, she says, nothing worked. Her pictures didn't look right on the walls. Cakes fell in the oven and curtains fell off the rods. The house, she concluded, hated her. And it wasn't much consolation to realize the house hated her husband, too. What I want to know is, how could she tell? Let's face it, most houses hate their new owners. They have adapted to the rhythm of one family and resent being sold. Like most cats that you rescue from the pound, your house probably believes, "If I'd waited awhile, a better owner would have come along. So I'm going to make this one's life miserable." When you move Those who are trained in modern research methods will be skeptical, but there's plenty of evidence. Everyone knows what happens when you move into a new house. "You'll see a lot of repair services in the first six months," I was warned. "When a house hasn't changed hands in five years or more, lots of little things will happen when you move in." Now, you'll notice this doesn't happen when you rent a house or apartment. Some friends of mine rented a house while they saved to buy their own property. For two years, the refrigerator purred and the air conditioner hummed contentedly. The plumbing flowed silently and the insect life remained hidden. Encouraged ("see, a house isn't so bad after all!") they took the plunge and bought their own home. I'd like to say they're doing great but in fact they've dropped out of sight. They can't take phone calls any more. "Sorry, we can't tie up this line. We're holding the phone open till we hear from the handyman..." Or the pest control guy, or the electrician. They considered Call Waiting but were afraid to jinx the only object in the house that seemed to be working. If you seem particularly gullible, (e.g., the house senses that you're new to this game), your appliances may join the fun. I am absolutely positive the once-faithful refrigerator sent out a message: "How about this, guys. Let's really confuse everybody. I'll put out a leak, send the water over to the sink, and they'll think it's a big pipe in the wall. After they've poked a few holes they'll realize it's time to wake up that sleeping repairman!" And one day my security system kept getting an "Open Door" signal even when the door was firmly locked. The tech found nothing wrong and it never happened again. My lawn service person knew how to work the system: Let Them Know Who's Boss. After he cut back the hedges and pulled some over-aggressive vines, the bushes stopped sulking and started putting out nice flowers. They knew what would happen if they didn't. Making Peace with the House Soon you've emptied your bank account to create a peace offering -- a new floor or a paint job or a screen door."Every so often," I'm told, "you even get thirty days with no service calls. But after six months or so, the house gets bored and it'll start all over again." One thing is certain. In your house's "Lose the Owner" contest, there's one simple rule. Whoever costs the most, wins. For serious advice about moving, download Making the Big Move. About The Author Cathy Goodwin, Ph.D., is an author, speaker and career/business consultant, helping midlife professionals take their First step to a Second Career. http://www.cathygoodwin.com. "Ten secrets of mastering a major life change" mailto:subscribe@cathygoodwin.com Contact: cathy@cathygoodwin.com 505-534-4294
MORE RESOURCES: Landmark Settlement Breaks Up the Real Estate Cartel The American Prospect Top real-estate CEO sees decades of housing pain ahead: 'What the Fed did will have a 30-year tail on it' Yahoo Finance Commercial Real Estate's Systemic Threat: Separating Fact From Fiction Commercial Observer Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know The Associated Press Refined Real Estate: Historic Queen Anne Polson House lists for $6,950,000 seattlerefined.com Luxury's Latest Battleground: Real Estate | BoF The Business of Fashion The Realtors' Big Defeat The New York Times Local real estate agents face uncertain future with new negotiation rules WJHL-TV News Channel 11 Seabold Construction Ties Demise to Dispute with Real Estate Developer Engineering News-Record Investigation underway after 44-year-old real estate investor seen on video firing shots off boat docked at Lakeview ... WSVN 7News | Miami News, Weather, Sports | Fort Lauderdale Will March bring more madness to Craven County's real estate market? New Bern Sun Journal Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know Lufkin Daily News Central Texas housing experts talk impacts from $418M real estate settlement - 25 News KXXV and KRHD Central Texas housing experts talk impacts from $418M real estate settlement 25 News KXXV and KRHD What National Association of Realtors agreement means for Texas real estate KAMR - MyHighPlains.com A luxury agent on how the NAR settlement will change his business The Washington Post Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know KXLY Spokane Cities Face Cutbacks as Commercial Real Estate Prices Tumble The New York Times National lawsuit could shakeup housing market, cut into real estate agent commission 11Alive.com WXIA Swimmo Invest Opens up a New Chapter in the Real Estate Industry Markets Insider CrewBaltimore’s mission to accelerate women’s success in real estate Afro American Newspaper What Seattle-area homebuyers should expect after national settlement The Seattle Times Realtor group will pay $418M to settle commission lawsuits The Associated Press Realtors Reckon With a Seismic Shift to How They Get Paid The Wall Street Journal Realtors settlement to lower home sale costs, alter commission structure - The Washington Post The Washington Post Settlement will affect Iowa homebuyers KCCI Des Moines National Association of Realtors Agrees to Slash Commissions to Settle Lawsuits - The New York Times Israeli real estate event: Legal complaints escalate NorthJersey.com Making Sense of New York's Confusing Luxury Home Market The Wall Street Journal A commission settlement may affect housing market 9News.com KUSA What the death of the 6% real estate commission means in D-FW The Dallas Morning News China's Real-Estate Market Just Set a Record—but Not a Good One The Wall Street Journal Real estate commissions, unassailable for decades, could crumble after landmark settlement The Denver Post Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know Northeast Mississippi Daily Journal Illinois real estate: Home sales in Peoria, Tazewell, Woodford counties Peoria Journal Star Is the Era of the Celebrity Real Estate Agent Over? Industry Reacts to Settlement That Could Slash Commissions Hollywood Reporter Bay Area Real Estate Executive Charged with Wire Fraud, Identity Theft in Investment Scam - Hoodline Once America's Hottest Housing Market, Austin Is Running in Reverse The Wall Street Journal Pension funds snap up real estate at steep discounts Financial Times Foreclosures Are Rising—Especially in This One State—but Not for the Reason You Might Think SFGATE Rules that helped set real estate agent commissions are changing. Here's what you need to know News10NBC Realtors Reach Settlement That Will Change How Americans Buy and Sell Homes The Wall Street Journal Real estate lawsuit settlement upends decades-long policies that helped set agent commissions WQAD Moline Chicago Voters Face Choice on Tax to Fund Homeless Programs The New York Times Manhattan Real Estate Update westsiderag.com The NAR Settlement's Impact On Commissions And Home Prices Financial Samurai End of 6% real estate commissions could mean lower home prices The Atlanta Journal Constitution A Look Into the Future of Home Buyers' Agent Commissions The Wall Street Journal Bridgemarq Real Estate Services (TSE:BRE) Share Price Passes Above Two Hundred Day Moving Average of $12.93 Defense World National Association of Realtors to cut commissions to settle lawsuits. Here's the financial impact. CBS News Blackstone, World's Top Alternative Asset Manager, Eyes Record Highs Amid Real Estate Bottom Investor's Business Daily 4 Ways a Settlement Could Change the Housing Industry The New York Times Agent Migration and the Power of New Mike DelPrete Real Estate Stocks Drop As NAR Agrees to $418 Million Settlement Markets Insider Colony Ridge violated deceptive trade practices, Texas says The Texas Tribune |
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