As we all know, come the weekend, real estate agents nationwide, actually worldwide, are really settling in to sales mode. Friday evenings, Saturdays and Sundays are the busiest times of the week for those in real estate. You only have to stroll around any of the neighbouring suburbs of our major cities and busy coastal holiday areas to see a plethora of real estate agency signs directing people this way and that, announcing on site auctions and opening times.
I swear, I think that there is a whole new market to be had in creating and printing maps specifically for home-buyers! I can imagine it now, little kiosks set up around key areas, almost like tourist kiosk boxes, with English backpackers kitted out in aertex t-shirts and shorts, slathered in sunscreen and trying desperately not to get their snow-white skin sunburned in the height of summer as they hand out these special real estate viewings maps…but I digress!
While it’s not so bad in the cooler months of autumn and winter, I often think to myself, how can it be comfortable on our hottest days of summer, to be lugging those heavy oversized cardboard signs – capable of giving the most awful papercut (or cardboard cut) if handled incorrectly – along with a wooden stake and then trying to hammer the stake into a dry, cakey soiled garden. I’ve seen many a real estate agent over the years, sweating, furiously wiping their brow and cursing silently under their breath as they try their best to get the job done quickly so they can focus on the multitude of other aspects that go into selling a home.
Once, when I was visiting the Sunshine Coast on a much needed relaxing break after a crazy few weeks setting up my new personal styling suite in Chadstone The Fashion Capital, as well as facilitating training courses in styling, I happened to see the most unfortunate thing! Strolling around Noosa, my eye kept catching the bright coloured real estate signs dotted along one particular street. I couldn’t help but notice one young man, early 30s, dressed in a beautifully cut suit with coordinating shirt and tie. He looked fantastic; so smart and professional. And, he was struggling to get a sign and stake to stay-put in what was, in January, one of the Coast’s hottest times of year (or any time of year for us visiting Southerners!).
Fascinated by his multiple efforts over at least a five minute period (it might have been longer…), suddenly I watched as his trousers split right up the back as he stood back up from his crouched position! It was like watching it in slow motion! I mean, for a split second, I was running across the road in slow motion, voice deepened and slowed, shouting, “Noooooooooooooooooooooooooo”… The poor guy. I didn’t stick around long enough to find out what happened and if truth be known, I did have a little giggle!