I’m late. I’m late. That is the tenor of my life recently. One of my sons is house hunting and like hundreds of other parents, each weekend we trudge around with our adult children hoping against hope that we will find something in their price range.

The houses are always so interesting. The building reports are complete fiction and the marketing descriptions are pure comedy. Sometimes the effort is rewarded in unexpected ways. Yesterday we went to a house that was redolent of Sarawak. I once lived with some people who hailed from that region. It was a real blast from the past. A gift. Thank you, house.

38 thoughts on “The Next Chapter”

  2. If house hunting is anything like rental apartment hunting (which I do) you have my sympathy. Why do the real estate agents misrepresent the properties? Do they think you will buy site unseen or something.

    The best one I heard 2 weeks ago was ‘the magnificent view of the city in the distance’ on the website advert. I knew immediately that a fairly newish apartment block behind the building hid the city view completely and that the photo on the website must have been taken about 7-8 years ago.

    Wish I’d bought a property back in the 1970s when a house cost Aus$25,000.

    Good luck with the house hunting.

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    1. Vicki, Martha commissioned a ChatGPT ad for her property as an experiment. I would not be surprised if that’s how all the marketing blurbs are written these days. Probably explains why no one reads them. We killed ourselves laughing at a backyard that was described as low maintenance. We were pretty sure the description should have been no maintenance. I was worried about breaking my leg tripping on something hidden in thigh high grass, and you know much I like grass.
      It is so hard for renters. Maintenance does not seem to be a priority for some landlords.

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  3. House agent blurbs are a gift, in the UK anyway, affording hours of innocent fun. Have you seen a house with ‘an outdoor living environment’ yet? You might have thought it was just – a garden. Good luck however, in this thankless task.

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  4. I have read house jargon and then the realtor’s take: Cozy means it’s tiny. Quaint means it’s gonna need work. Airy? There might be some holes somewhere. Breathtaking views? Your neighbor’s immaculate yard is in view. It’s a jungle out there, Tracy! 😆

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      1. Ah! The realter turns that around so you can ‘add the roof of your choice to customize your house to your liking.’ It never ends…. Good luck.

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  6. Tracy, after reading this I had to ask DhatGPT to write a blurb for my house.

    ME:Can you make this completely factual description of my house sound like a place someone might like to buy?

    1920s stucco adobe style two bedroom, one-bath house in a small Colorado town in the San Luis Valley. The kitchen has the cupboards it was built with. Small laundry room and cupboards by the back door. An enclosed porch serves the current resident as an art studio. Lilac hedges border the east side. The current owner’s dogs have dug up most of the yard, but there are gardens and a deck that needs painting. The front yard has a lawn and spots where the current own is trying to convert it to wild flowers. The bathroom has the original bath tub and toilet as well as a small sink.

    ChatGPT: Step into the charm of yesteryear with this delightful 1920s stucco adobe-style home nestled in the picturesque landscape of a small Colorado town within the scenic San Luis Valley. Boasting two cozy bedrooms and a quaint bath, this residence exudes character at every turn.

    As you enter, you’re greeted by the authentic charm of a bygone era, with the kitchen showcasing its original cupboards, preserving the timeless appeal of the home’s heritage. A convenient small laundry room and cupboards by the back door add to the functionality of daily living.

    One of the highlights of this unique property is the enclosed porch, currently serving as an inspiring art studio, offering a serene space for creative pursuits or simply unwinding while soaking in the tranquil surroundings.

    Outside, lilac hedges border the east side, adding a touch of natural beauty to the landscape. While the current owner’s dogs have left their mark on the yard, there are opportunities to reimagine the outdoor space, with gardens waiting to be cultivated and a deck awaiting your personal touch with a fresh coat of paint.

    Take a stroll through the front yard, where a lush lawn invites relaxation, complemented by patches where the current owner is nurturing the transformation into a vibrant wildflower haven, promising bursts of color and charm throughout the seasons.

    Retreat to the bathroom, where the original bathtub and toilet evoke a sense of nostalgia, paired with a quaint sink that adds to the vintage allure of the home.

    With its timeless appeal, convenient layout, and potential for personalization, this charming abode offers not just a place to live, but a unique opportunity to own a piece of history in an idyllic Colorado setting. Don’t miss your chance to make this house your own and create lasting memories in a home that truly embodies the essence of a bygone era.
    User

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  7. We’re in the process of selling the parents’ house as Mum’s care requires more funding. The real estate person is a breeze compared to dealing with 4 other siblings 🙄 Houses do have memories from various sources. Good luck, Tracy.

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  8. Oh, good luck Tracy. House hunting is so hard and the longer it goes on the more it becomes a chore. I never even thought that AI would be used as a description. I have to wonder how my place would be marketed.

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      1. Oh, tell me about maintenance jobs. My OH is a DIY avoider and I haven’t the energy or balance on ladders any more to do anything but minor tasks. As for tradies the best ones only seem to want big jobs and the others are hit and miss.

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  9. Good luck with the house-hunting! It can be time consuming and discouraging, but you usually find something good eventually. As for the descriptions, they’ve gotten worse, probably because they’re generated by SnapChat or whatever it’s called.

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  10. House hunting is exhausting. I remember around ten years back we wanted to shift from our apartment and for six months or so all weekends were spent looking at apartments. The ones we liked were either beyond our means or had some issue. The one we had set our heart on slipped out of our hands because our agent was too slow. So we are still staying in our old one.
    Good luck with it, Tracy.

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