The Connections Bridgewater Somerville Edition November 2021 - January 2022

theconnectionsnj.com HOME & DESIGN PAGE 24 Showing homes, and preparing client’s homes to be shown by other agents, is part of my job as a real estate agent. In recent years, it’s become common practice to ask visitors to remove their shoes when entering a home. Obviously, this prevents dirt and moisture from being tracked inside. As an alternative, we may also provide disposable shoe covers. In con- cept, the covers should be easy to slip on over shoes. But in practice, it’s a challenge to keep your balance. If you haven’t attempted to slip a cover over your shoe while standing on one foot, try it! Having a place to sit makes it much safer. If an entry doesn’t already have a seating option, I suggest the owner place a chair near the door for the purpose of shoe removal/cov- ering. Posting a polite sign making the request in print encourages cooperation. Of course, if you are in the habit of visiting homes often as I am, it’s simple to choose your footwear based on easy removal. Then you have the choice of whether to wear the covers, or re- move your shoes at the door. Now that we are in the era of COVID-19, we also see homes where owners provide hand sanitizer, wipes, and masks at the entry, depend- ing on their level of concern. Buyers may arrive with their own PPE, as well. I had an interesting experience while host- ing an open house. The home was immaculate,* with light carpets, and the owners wanted all vis- itors to remove their shoes. Naturally, we provid- ed shoe covers and a convenient bench tomake the process simpler and more comfortable for prospective buyers. A few visitors came and went without inci- dent. Then a couple rang the doorbell, and I answered. They stood on the porch, each with a tall takeout coffee in hand. As they entered, the buyers complied with my request to slip off their shoes, which they were able to do on their feet, hands free. But, still holding the cof- fee cups, they moved toward an adjacent room. “Pardon me,” I insisted, “but I don’t believe the owners would be comfortable with you carry- ing your beverages through. Would you please leave them here on the dining table?” Seriously, they were just going to walk through this home sipping lattes, if I hadn’t spoken up! Hey folks, I thought to myself: You’re not boarding a flight. This is not a store or showroom. This is some- one’s home. Leave your coffee in the car! In case you ever wondered who’s standing between the coffee drippers and your white car- pets, it’s me! Speaking of respect, I’ve noticed a disturbing trend lately. People are used to quickly and easi- ly ordering anything they desire, and losing their appreciation of the human effort involved. For example, when using DoorDash, a meal delivery app, you select and pay online, and a third party picks up your restaurant order and delivers it to you. Now, real estate websites are attempting to offer on-demand services, providing buttons for immediate appointment requests. Inexperi- enced home buyers assume they should click a link to see a home with 30 minutes notice. This is impractical for many reasons. The site connects you to a message center and eventually refers your inquiry to a real estate agent who may or may not cover the area in question. Making an appointment to tour an occupied home (where people and sometimes pets reside) requires a complicated human interaction, taking into ac- count the personal schedules of multiple par- ties. A vacant property can be dangerous, and you really need to know who you’re meeting. Consumers who put themselves into the hands of impersonal websites are risking frustration, in- convenience, and potentially unsafe situations. Browsing homes online? Great! When you see something you like, or, ideally, prior to find- ing your dream home: call a real estate agent you know or ask someone you trust for a rec- ommendation. If you make the effort to find an agent’s actual contact information (not the web- site’s fake phone number) and reach out directly, you will get a much better level of service. Seek- ing authentic business relationships and setting clear expectations are the best paths to a suc- cessful real estate experience. ( *likely the #1 misspelled word in published descriptions of homes for sale!) Contact local expert Johanna Wiseman of RE/MAX Preferred Professionals at 908-705-0652, or visit www.MyBridgewaterHome.com A vacant property can be dangerous, and you really need to know who you’re meeting. Consumers who put themselves into the hands of impersonal websites are risking frustration, inconvenience, and potentially unsafe situations. In case you ever wondered who’s standing between the coffee drippers and your white carpets, it’s me! STANDING IN MY SHOES - A REPORT FROM THE FRONT LINES By Johanna Wiseman, RE/MAX Preferred Professionals Expires 1/31/22