Posts in category 'Real Estate Life'

Technology keeps changing the real estate game, but what if the next big thing for sellers and their agents wasn't AI… but a Roomba? That's right—the humble robot vacuum.

Researchers recently compiled a list of 104 ways robotic vacuums could be repurposed to do more than just chase dust bunnies. Sure, some of the ideas are far-fetched and may never make it past the brainstorming stage. But if researchers are really looking for creative ways to upgrade these rolling robots, home sellers and their listing agents could certainly add a few things to the list!

Here are six clever ways a robotic vacuum could come in handy while someone's home is on the market:

1) Pet Wrangler

For listings with pets, it's common for showing instructions to include a polite plea, such as: "Please don't let the cat out." But even the most alert agent can struggle with a determined escape artist. While they're trying to let their clients in though a barely-cracked door, that cat is already plotting its exit.

So, since many pets are naturally terrified of robot vacuums, why not program one to cut them off at the pass and scare them away from the door long enough for the agent and buyers to come in through the door, without having to shimmy their way in.

2) Shoe Patrol

Even when it's in the listing instructions, spelled out in the showing notes, and backed up by a little basket of booties near the door, some buyers ignore the simple request to take off their shoes while walking around the house.

It would be great to be able to program it to follow them around as a not-so-subtle reminder, and if they continue to ignore the hints, it should get progressively more aggressive and start bumping into their feet until they get the hint.

3) Feature Tour Guide

Even the best buyer's agent isn't going to know the house like the owner or the listing agent and can overlook a cool hidden feature. A well-trained Roomba could cruise over and politely interject itself into the conversation when it senses that the agent is overlooking a selling point.

4) Feedback Enforcer

Getting a buyer's agent to give you feedback on how the showing went can be like pulling teeth sometimes. So rather than having to hound them with countless calls and text messages, just make it mandatory for them to give you feedback before they even leave the house.

Having the ability to program one of these to roll up and block the exit until the agent and their buyers provide some constructive feedback would be a gamechanger. And, if need be, perhaps it can follow them out the door and to the next showing until they do.

5) Key Keeper

Every agent has a story (or two!) about how they got home only to find a random house key in their pocket from one of the houses they showed that day. It's embarrassing and a nuisance for the buyer's agent, and it can get in the way of the seller's house being shown in the meantime.

So having a little robotic assistant give agents a quick reminder to check their pocket before leaving could save everyone a lot of time and aggravation.

6) Timely Texts

Ideally, sellers leave the house to give buyers enough time and space to look around. What isn't ideal is that sellers often drive aimlessly around town for 45 minutes just to make sure they gave them enough time.

Problem is, they never know exactly when to come back. So it'd be a huge plus if their robotic vacuum could scan the house to make sure the buyers are gone, and send a text letting them know it's safe to return as soon as the showing wraps up!

Think you've got a good eye for real estate? Listing photos can reveal a lot more than just square footage and staging, especially if you know what to look for.

Agents are trained to catch the little things that others might miss—the kind of stuff that can hint at a home's true condition, value, or quirks.

Take this quiz to see how your instincts compare. You might be more real estate savvy than you think!

The Rules:

For each question, pick the answer that feels most like your gut reaction—and note the point value. At the end, total up your score and check your results!

1) What's the first thing you notice in a listing photo of a bathroom?

1. The outdated 1950's tile. (2)
2. The toilet seat was left up by the photographer. (3)

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For those who think the real estate grind slows down in the cold, think again. Winter doesn't stop buyers, sellers, or agents—it just makes the process a lot more… interesting.

To be fair, it's certainly not as extreme as some jobs can be in the extreme cold! But when the temperature drops to face-numbing levels, even the simplest of real estate tasks can turn into unexpected adventures.

Here's a peek at 3 surprising things agents have to deal with when it's bone-chilling cold outside:

1) Frozen Lockboxes

Years ago, agents had to fumble with combination dials like they were cracking a safe in the Arctic in order to access the keys to a house. Fortunately most lockboxes work electronically now, but sometimes the key dispenser gets frozen in place which can take a fair share of banging from a nearby rock in order to get it to budge.

But even then, the fun isn't always over… Sometimes the key is frozen inside the lockbox and you have to chisel it out of a block of ice!

2) Frozen Front Yards

When front yards freeze, good luck getting "for sale" signs in or out of the ground! New listing? That "For Sale" sign isn't going anywhere. Closing day? The buyers may be stuck gazing at that sign on their front lawn until the first signs of spring.

However, there are some weathered agents (pun intended) who actually carry around drills in order to make starters holes for their signs.

3) Showing Houses That Feel Like Walk-in Freezers

Agents often have to show bank-owned homes that are completely vacant and have the utilities turned off because they were foreclosed. Somehow these houses can feel even colder than it is outside! The upshot is that it can actually make it seem tolerable outside… at least for a few minutes.