An old friend calls them "white-outs".
Like when its snowing so hard you can't see anything but pure perfection in white, and can not make out the lines or shadows of anything because there is nothing to see.
I had a "white out" today, but sadly not from snow- but from anger.
I've had a few in my lifetime. Today was the first in a while.
Despite blogging that I had one, Im not proud that I did.
In a deeply religious country I have tamed the beast within and try to stay calm for the most part or walk away from conflict. Not easy when you are a chef. But I've mellowed over time.
But today a few people of this deeply religious country had me furious.
What gets me so angry as to have a "white out"- lies and being lied too directly.
My mother always said since we were children " tell the truth and shame the devil", "Liars go to hell" and many other anecdotes about those who can't find the truth as important as most.
Today I took on the role of investor. Seeking a new house to buy.
A luxury our generation has.
My parents bought 2 homes in all my years. The first home we grew up in and the second home which carried my mother to her end. Two homes in around 50 years.
Im on my tenth home buy now in 20 years....some have been quick flips for profit, others investments, the one today is for a writers retreat for the future, a place I will call, ONCE UPONA TIME and close the doors to the real world on the outside and write like the wind, within.
So as an investor I ventured forth to several properties and corporate developments.
The first was the worst.
Having seen the properties and display homes on-line I visited to see the same. Truth of the first was that the development itself was miles from the display homes. Display homes of each variety and size where neatly lined up in pairs. One was the cheap bare turnover option and the second of the same variety was the fully loaded completed finished and furnished expensive option. The display homes, despite having sat since 2007 where in pristine condition, freshly painted, cleaned and perfect.
I chose a small three bedroom with landscaping.
Simple. Priced right. Looked amazing. options affordable.
Broker pushed for signing of papers and payment of deposit on the spot and kept asking.
What's the rush I thought, the development has been around since 2007, if there where leftovers, then they were not going anywhere soon.
I asked to see the real house.
This was obvious as I had all along told everyone this was a purchase for IMMEDIATE RFO (Ready for Occupancy).
Some times what I want, I want it now.
So be it.
So I requested to see the house, I was about to buy and pay for in full.
The broker discussed with his boss, the boss spoke to his boss and a supervisor came to speak with me.
She was nice. Friendly and affable.
I explained , I want to see the house because I want it ready for occupancy and want to see if its ready.
A car was arranged and away we went.
Quite the drive from the picture perfect Wysteria Lane version of the Display him area, across bridges covered with display boards hiding reality behind them, through some unsightly construction and past underdeveloped areas we really should never have been shown.
Finally entering the -Ready For Occupancy - area, we passed the guards hut which was unfinished and un-roofed and more importantly unmanned.
Driving down the street I noted that every house was identical. This was an entire subdivision of the same 3 bedroom house, all the same color. Why would any one do this?
Why rob the subdivision filled with one bedroom homes priced at below one million when you could walk two blocks and rob every single house priced in the multiples, each with three bedrooms.
Make it easy for the thief's by putting the rich all together. Why make them work for the task?
This entire line of thought and questioning completely flew over the Broker and supervisors heads!!
Pulling up in front of the Home I had requested to purchase, the car doors clipped shut.
Without even lowering the tinted windows, the Supervisor said, "Please note you do not have permission to leave the vehicle."
I was stunned and annoyed.
I unclipped the car door, and exited.
Supervisor followed me yelling that I was not allowed onto the property.
I answered that if , "Im spending my money and being pushed for a signature and deposit , Im going to look at what I'm buying."
I requested a look inside?
It was denied with a lie."I forgot to bring the keys", she replied
No problem I replied, "the side door is wide open anyway.?"
As I rounded the car port, I kicked the bricks from the wall, the concrete grouting holding them , long deteriorated from flood waters I believe, or simply poor workmanship.
I continued and entered the open doorway.
Filth, garbage and animal droppings filled the tiled floors.
Broken pipes and cracked tiles completed the picture.
Being followed by a shouting agent and supervisor I ran for the stairs and upward to the bedrooms. Cracked walls, door frames hanging off the wall and a balcony so cracked its pieces where easy to kick free from their foundations.
The supervisor caught up with me, and stated, "Sir you have no permission to enter the property, "I can be fired for you being here."
And thats when the snow fell!!.
Total "white-out" ensued.
"White Hot" or "White Out", call it what you want, but I had heard enough.
Surely an Investor has the right before purchasing a Ready for Occupancy home, to view what it is he is about to purchase?
My money, My right?
Why waste my time taking me to see the outside of a home I wished to buy, from the curb side, from the inside of a car. I may as well have just viewed corporate brochures.
My anger built because the Supervisor thought I was dumb enough not to understand that she had lied to me consistently.
The only reason they did not want me to leave the vehicle was the tragic poor low standard of their development. She did not wish me to then enter the property, for the same reasons.
Ready For Occupancy for me is the ability to move in within 48 hours of paper work and checks being passed through the bank.
Ready For Occupancy for her was 6-8 months of repairs and landscaping away.
I asked for a brand new home, not a fixer-upper.
I do not remember much of the conversation (I was the only one talking) on the way back to the display home village."White-Out's" are a little like that.
There are no shadows within the snow.
I was furious that my time had been wasted, that I had been lied to, and that they had no respect for the fact that they were asking for my money, and trying to sell me a piece of second hand poorly constructed junk, and covering every step with stupidity and lies.
If they do not wish you to enter the properties, don't suggest they forgot the keys, when the doors are left open.
Don't even take customers to the curbside of the property, if your going to refuse them to get out of the car.
Don't suggest a home is Ready For Occupancy when they clearly need months of repairs and re-building.Not the pristine home they were offering me from the display centre.
As we had left the display village the supervisor had made note of their impressive cathedral they had built for the residents of the "New Town". On the way back I had desire to remind her she would use her company's cathedral to pray for her sins as a broker and unscrupulous efforts at flogging a poorly built property to a sincere investor.
Im not proud of the lambasting I gave the real estate folks on the drive back.
Im even a little sad that others I love had to listen within the confines of the car at my anger.
But Im even more saddened that there are people out there that have zero respect for investors, zero honor in their jobs, and zero dignity in trying to flog poor investments to sincere buyers.
Not once did anyone try to apologize to me.
For that I am saddened because the real estate people feel they are the ones who where disrespected.
A sadness that means they will flog these dead horse properties to others with zero remorse.
All I can do is to blog, and to remind all investors to do your homework before buying anything in any country.
I have bought properties in several countries and have never been disrespected as badly as i was today. Always ask the tough questions and never be afraid to look foolish by asking or pushing for answers. You look more foolish if you get involved with unscrupulous sellers without having asked. It is your hard earn money, spend it where you wish, but make sure you have done your due diligence before signing the check, even if the supervisor thinks she will get fired because you did so.
It's probably just another lie.
Note; The day started badly, but ended well.
A wonderful Broker who understood my blunt line of questioning eventually found my Once Upon A Time for me.
House found, contract being worked upon.
ONCE UPON A TIME is soon to take OCCUPANCY and be the home to future writings and novels.
Like when its snowing so hard you can't see anything but pure perfection in white, and can not make out the lines or shadows of anything because there is nothing to see.
I had a "white out" today, but sadly not from snow- but from anger.
I've had a few in my lifetime. Today was the first in a while.
Despite blogging that I had one, Im not proud that I did.
In a deeply religious country I have tamed the beast within and try to stay calm for the most part or walk away from conflict. Not easy when you are a chef. But I've mellowed over time.
But today a few people of this deeply religious country had me furious.
What gets me so angry as to have a "white out"- lies and being lied too directly.
My mother always said since we were children " tell the truth and shame the devil", "Liars go to hell" and many other anecdotes about those who can't find the truth as important as most.
Today I took on the role of investor. Seeking a new house to buy.
A luxury our generation has.
My parents bought 2 homes in all my years. The first home we grew up in and the second home which carried my mother to her end. Two homes in around 50 years.
Im on my tenth home buy now in 20 years....some have been quick flips for profit, others investments, the one today is for a writers retreat for the future, a place I will call, ONCE UPONA TIME and close the doors to the real world on the outside and write like the wind, within.
So as an investor I ventured forth to several properties and corporate developments.
The first was the worst.
Having seen the properties and display homes on-line I visited to see the same. Truth of the first was that the development itself was miles from the display homes. Display homes of each variety and size where neatly lined up in pairs. One was the cheap bare turnover option and the second of the same variety was the fully loaded completed finished and furnished expensive option. The display homes, despite having sat since 2007 where in pristine condition, freshly painted, cleaned and perfect.
I chose a small three bedroom with landscaping.
Simple. Priced right. Looked amazing. options affordable.
Broker pushed for signing of papers and payment of deposit on the spot and kept asking.
What's the rush I thought, the development has been around since 2007, if there where leftovers, then they were not going anywhere soon.
I asked to see the real house.
This was obvious as I had all along told everyone this was a purchase for IMMEDIATE RFO (Ready for Occupancy).
Some times what I want, I want it now.
So be it.
So I requested to see the house, I was about to buy and pay for in full.
The broker discussed with his boss, the boss spoke to his boss and a supervisor came to speak with me.
She was nice. Friendly and affable.
I explained , I want to see the house because I want it ready for occupancy and want to see if its ready.
A car was arranged and away we went.
Quite the drive from the picture perfect Wysteria Lane version of the Display him area, across bridges covered with display boards hiding reality behind them, through some unsightly construction and past underdeveloped areas we really should never have been shown.
Finally entering the -Ready For Occupancy - area, we passed the guards hut which was unfinished and un-roofed and more importantly unmanned.
Driving down the street I noted that every house was identical. This was an entire subdivision of the same 3 bedroom house, all the same color. Why would any one do this?
Why rob the subdivision filled with one bedroom homes priced at below one million when you could walk two blocks and rob every single house priced in the multiples, each with three bedrooms.
Make it easy for the thief's by putting the rich all together. Why make them work for the task?
This entire line of thought and questioning completely flew over the Broker and supervisors heads!!
Pulling up in front of the Home I had requested to purchase, the car doors clipped shut.
Without even lowering the tinted windows, the Supervisor said, "Please note you do not have permission to leave the vehicle."
I was stunned and annoyed.
I unclipped the car door, and exited.
Supervisor followed me yelling that I was not allowed onto the property.
I answered that if , "Im spending my money and being pushed for a signature and deposit , Im going to look at what I'm buying."
I requested a look inside?
It was denied with a lie."I forgot to bring the keys", she replied
No problem I replied, "the side door is wide open anyway.?"
As I rounded the car port, I kicked the bricks from the wall, the concrete grouting holding them , long deteriorated from flood waters I believe, or simply poor workmanship.
I continued and entered the open doorway.
Filth, garbage and animal droppings filled the tiled floors.
Broken pipes and cracked tiles completed the picture.
Being followed by a shouting agent and supervisor I ran for the stairs and upward to the bedrooms. Cracked walls, door frames hanging off the wall and a balcony so cracked its pieces where easy to kick free from their foundations.
The supervisor caught up with me, and stated, "Sir you have no permission to enter the property, "I can be fired for you being here."
And thats when the snow fell!!.
Total "white-out" ensued.
"White Hot" or "White Out", call it what you want, but I had heard enough.
Surely an Investor has the right before purchasing a Ready for Occupancy home, to view what it is he is about to purchase?
My money, My right?
Why waste my time taking me to see the outside of a home I wished to buy, from the curb side, from the inside of a car. I may as well have just viewed corporate brochures.
My anger built because the Supervisor thought I was dumb enough not to understand that she had lied to me consistently.
The only reason they did not want me to leave the vehicle was the tragic poor low standard of their development. She did not wish me to then enter the property, for the same reasons.
Ready For Occupancy for me is the ability to move in within 48 hours of paper work and checks being passed through the bank.
Ready For Occupancy for her was 6-8 months of repairs and landscaping away.
I asked for a brand new home, not a fixer-upper.
I do not remember much of the conversation (I was the only one talking) on the way back to the display home village."White-Out's" are a little like that.
There are no shadows within the snow.
I was furious that my time had been wasted, that I had been lied to, and that they had no respect for the fact that they were asking for my money, and trying to sell me a piece of second hand poorly constructed junk, and covering every step with stupidity and lies.
If they do not wish you to enter the properties, don't suggest they forgot the keys, when the doors are left open.
Don't even take customers to the curbside of the property, if your going to refuse them to get out of the car.
Don't suggest a home is Ready For Occupancy when they clearly need months of repairs and re-building.Not the pristine home they were offering me from the display centre.
As we had left the display village the supervisor had made note of their impressive cathedral they had built for the residents of the "New Town". On the way back I had desire to remind her she would use her company's cathedral to pray for her sins as a broker and unscrupulous efforts at flogging a poorly built property to a sincere investor.
Im not proud of the lambasting I gave the real estate folks on the drive back.
Im even a little sad that others I love had to listen within the confines of the car at my anger.
But Im even more saddened that there are people out there that have zero respect for investors, zero honor in their jobs, and zero dignity in trying to flog poor investments to sincere buyers.
Not once did anyone try to apologize to me.
For that I am saddened because the real estate people feel they are the ones who where disrespected.
A sadness that means they will flog these dead horse properties to others with zero remorse.
All I can do is to blog, and to remind all investors to do your homework before buying anything in any country.
I have bought properties in several countries and have never been disrespected as badly as i was today. Always ask the tough questions and never be afraid to look foolish by asking or pushing for answers. You look more foolish if you get involved with unscrupulous sellers without having asked. It is your hard earn money, spend it where you wish, but make sure you have done your due diligence before signing the check, even if the supervisor thinks she will get fired because you did so.
It's probably just another lie.
Note; The day started badly, but ended well.
A wonderful Broker who understood my blunt line of questioning eventually found my Once Upon A Time for me.
House found, contract being worked upon.
ONCE UPON A TIME is soon to take OCCUPANCY and be the home to future writings and novels.
 |
| ONE OF THE NICER HOMES WE LOOKED AT TODAY... |
 |
| KITCHENS ARE IMPORTANT TO ME.... |
 |
| I LOVE THE BUILT IN OPTION...SAVES SPACE... |
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