Swipe right. According to Urban Dictionary, this term is used more and more in online dating and refers to people who want to date someone based mostly off their photos. And yes, in real estate, curb appeal, the infamous first impression, is also based on judging a book by its cover. On the surface, there are hundreds of real estate websites and probably hundreds of dating sites that allow visitors to find their dream prize. Some are exceedingly detailed, allowing you to filter feature after feature to refine your results. Yet on the dating front, it seems like fewer filters are the new trend. This led me to wonder if the real estate industry could work if online searches were conducted the same way.
With a house hunting expedition, it is worth noting that you can change the house. After all, think about all of the homes that are listed as “loads of potential” or “opportunity knocks.” Yes, some house seekers are looking for a turnkey, picture-perfect home that oozes with curb appeal. However, there are tons of buyers who realize that change can be a good thing. It is often said that the only thing you can’t change is location. It’s true, with enough money you can change just about everything else in a home. So if house hunters just swiped through homes, they could miss out on the ones that offer them the ideal location, or the perfect price point, or something else that is important to their decision.
With dating websites, it’s a different story. When selecting a person to date, the most important thing to realize is that you cannot change another person. You have to accept them. So swiping ‘til you find someone you like doesn’t mean the story ends there. You may be pleased with their first impression, but then you have to get to know them better to see if they’re a match for you.
Looking at what’s on the market, in terms of both house hunting and dating, can be overwhelming. Since you don’t have the ability to change someone else’s appearance, many dating sites are helping people narrow down their search by honing in on attraction via looks. With a house hunt though, you do have the ability to change the look so it’s not the best way to narrow down the pool of contenders. Bottom line, when looking at what’s on the market, there is more than meets the eye, but you can literally unlock the potential in a home when you get the keys and take it off the market.
By Holly Schwartz
Holly Schwartz is a realtor with Villa Real Estate who lives in Eastside Costa Mesa and has been featured on HGTV’s House Hunters.
