Hi Everyone – I am traveling, so with your permission, I am re-posting a blog from one year ago with just a few changes. It had a lot of responses, and some things just bear repeating:
The MLS and the L.A. Times Real Estate pages should be on Oprah’s Reading List. Seriously. There are so many typos and outrageous remarks in the MLS that it makes for great leisure reading. The newspaper ads certainly add to the merriment. I love houses with features such as a “slimming pool” or a “crook’s kitchen,” especially if those features are in a “Post and Bean” house. And what could be more entertaining than a “barge yard” (for your barges of course) or a “wall of widows?” Thus, I have compiled some of my favorite typos. So take a moment to smile, fiends. (Uh, I meant “friends.”)
Would YOU Buy This House???
Large slitting room (Is this Tony Soprano’s house?)
House on Beautiful wok street (But what if I don’t cook?)
“Libary” with built in shivs (In all fairness, perhaps this is in a prison.)
Disclosure: Crack on back side (Relax, we all have one.)
Call lasting agent (It’s true, there aren’t many of us left!)
Oven flew in from Italy (Paid for with frequent flyer miles, no doubt.)
Built in wino bar (Is there a stool with my name on it?)
Lunch severed (One misplaced r and you’re dead.)
Snacks and drunks okay… (My sentiments exactly.)
Bang hard (Let’s just not go there).
Let’s Sell This Sucker
Seller moved but furniture strayed (In most states that’s grounds for divorce.)
Brick Drivaway (Mama Mia – Those bricks must have flown in from Italy with the oven.)
Seller in NY – Coming out soon (Okay, this was in West Hollywood…think about it.)
Plumbing needs motivation (Way too much information.)
Seller says Gas is a problem (His plumbing must “need motivation” also.)
Terrorist yard (Another head-scratcher.)
Pouter room (A place to go when the first payment is due)
Call Frist (Will the Senator filibuster for me?)
Beautiful terpentine tiles in shower (Note to self: Do Not Smoke in the Shower.)
Rear entry blocked off (Eat prunes already.)
Pieceful feeling (Especially when in the shiv room)
Seller can’t say no (Neither could my ex…hence the “ex.”)
Weird and Random
Rooster somewhere in the neighborhood, but not for long. (Need I say more?)
Screams reported at twilight open house were coyotes we think. (Or a rooster perhaps?)
The foundation bolted (But the house stayed???)
Grass fireplace starter (For a home on the tundra…)
Owner says dog likes the taste of people. (What are his thoughts on fresh rooster?)
Built-in smoker (Grandpa won’t leave.)
Strange glass windows (I’m too dumb to make this stuff up.)
Cemetery nearby (This guy really knows how to close the deal.)
Ass is (Seriously? …I mean SERIOUSLY?)
Agents to be split down the middle. (One screw up with a Tudor and suddenly you’re on the rack!)
No smaking please (But you deserve one upside your thick head.)
Close to Therapy, Rehab and Shopping (One of those choices is bound to work.)
Designer Don. (A decorating offer you can’t refuse!)
And in Case You Need Your Own Motivation:
Call then go. But call again if you can’t get in. Then try again. (Fool me once…fool me twice…)
Call for show times. No kids. Seller may be there and can’t handle anything less than four feet tall. (Hey Bozo – half the kids in Hollywood can probably afford to buy your dump!)
Seller says he’ll give dog to buyer. Check with city for past complaints. Cute dog. (Uh-huh.)
Does anyone want a noisy bird? (To feed to a “cute dog” maybe…)
Hysterical Home (Is it in the Hysterectomy Books?)
Recently bombed for fleas. (That may have been overkill.)
Marina Del Ray houseboat w/ great living style. Ask about leaks and other issues. (Uh-huh…)
Biggest Sellers, So take Note:
No earthquake insurance. But this is a few miles from the San Andreas Fault so you’ll be fine. (Good to know…IF YOU’RE SUICIDAL!)
Voted Safest Neighborhood until last year. (So I take it the chalk outline has some significance?)
Driveway is shared, but other party doesn’t share too good. (That explains why the chalk outline is in the driveway.)
Neighbor on N. side is nasty. You’ve been warned. (Yes – I saw the driveway…)
And My Fave
Seller leaving state, Going to State of Denial. Kidding. It’s just a bad market.
Okay, so I know what you all are thinking: Los Angeles is not a state of mind…it’s a mindless state. But at least we are colorful and constipated. I mean consistent. Until next week, go in piece.
Comments include those made when first posted on April 4, 2009:
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Consumerism, Geo-mapping columnist
Marketing columnist
Gwen- I laughed so hard I almost “split down the middle”. Your comments are hilarious! Thanks for the Friday afternoon humor, though it is pretty sad what you can find in the MLS.
OMG “Terrorist yard (Another head-scratcher.)” – is that supposed to be Terraced yard?
Infreakingcredible – Hey I’m going to use that in my next MLS description!
Oh my goodness! I laughed so hard I had tears running down my face & could hardly breathe!
I know you didn’t make this up, but this collection is way funnier than I have seen in the MLS in 15 years!
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Thank you, John, Michelle and Vicki! This was one of the most fun blogs to write. And believe me, I have plenty left over for a sequel. For someone who can never even remember where I park, I somehow manage to accumulate a lot of these in my vacant cranium. I think it’s because they are so funny, they’re unforgettable. I bet you’ll start noticing them more often now yourselves. It’s wonderful entertainment while working!
What a great way to end the week. Thanks!
My all time favorite is still, “Large dick, perfect for entertaining.”
That was hilarious! Makes my goof of “large panty in kitchen” seem so mild.
Hilarious. Who knew we would be in such an entertaining business. Can’t wait for the sequel!
I woke my wife up, I was laughing so hard! It’s not just the agents remarks, but your comments are also hysterical.
Gwen~Thanks for the laugh. I can’t wait for the sequel.
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Hillarious….opps sounds like they could be on The Jay Leno show for newspaper ads.
Gwen,thanks for sharing, I have not laughed this hard in a long time. And to Elaine-large panty in the kitchen belongs on Gwens list up at the top. I laghed as hard at that one as I did the list.
Gwen – I swear I commented on this, but realized I commented on ActiveRain and not here. No matter where I commented, this is hilarious.
This is the funniest post I have ever read – saved in my favorites for those days when you just “need a good laugh”.
Gwen,
I am now officially a fan of yours. I loved this. One I saw years ago – that my wife and I still repeat to each other, “Good for anyone who wants to live”.
Made my day………..again!
Thank you, Paula – again and again!
Ok, thanks Gwen. I thought I’d be fine having seen this one BEFORE!!
One pair of shorts and pants later, plus a shirt in the wash because of the soda stain, and a dog that will no longer come anywhere near me, and I’m about done. I may – in fact – charge you for the new keyboard (had to get on my wife’s just to post this comment). I’ll let you slide for the monitor – it’s about four years old anyway.
Oh, and the shared driveway thing may not be a big deal in LA LA land, but lemme tell you about deeded easements in Gawgah – just in case you’re in OUR neck of the woods and FAIL to ask someone that knows about this sort of thing !
Navy Chief, Navy Pride
Joe, you are the third person today to tell me that “shared driveway” is fightin’ words in your neck ‘o the woods. One guy said they take the “ease” out of easement.
I love your description of your reaction to my post, however, I will not be happy until you collapse onto the keyboard and get a permanent impression of letters mashed into your forehead. Then I’ll start calling you “Home Row.” You’re my inspiration!
This is so awesome I cannot even pick a favorite. By the time I got to “screams reported at twilight open house….” I was rolling. Thanks for the laugh!!
I once had a client who would flip through all of the MLS listings each week and giggle at all of the typos. These are terriffic. Your point is right on!! The lack of proofreading in the MLS is out of control!
Dana, one of the best bloopers I have ever seen was one my partner spotted in our open house guide that said, “Live near the Hollywood “Bowel”!!!
Thank you, Houstonblogger! Yes, I live in a crazy but exciting city. Usually the screams at twilight open houses involve naked bodies in a swimming pool!
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Gwen – You could probably just re-post this one each week and still be welcomed as a writer here at AgentGenius. It has so much quality content, I’m going to go back and read it again.
Sad thing is that your posts are made great by bad things. Wish it was possible for you to run out of material.
Thanks so much, Matt – your praise just made my day. I agree, I will probably never run out of material – thus is the human condition. However, isn’t it wonderful when we are able to laugh at ourselves? Some of the bloopers in my column have been my own or those of very respected colleagues. Flying fingers on a typewriter and the brain’s ability to see what one meant to say (rather than what is on the page) are the enemies of even the best brains. Thus, I laugh without judgment unless the error is egregious, or the agent is so obviously lazy about looking up a word that the misspelling is beyond excuses. Example: “house in colensack,” or “clotted cheese ceilings,” “pig-in-groove floors,” “new assfault,” and one of my faves: “hand rubbed basebroads.” Enjoy your week!