Online Dating for Real Estate- Sex, Lies and Video

I am looking out the window of the plane during my second flight ever. It is beautiful- the sky is a perfect blue above, and we are flying over a solid mass of clouds that reminds me something of the way the sheets look on my bed. There, alas, is no heavenly aura emanating from where I sleep as there is from these clouds, but they look solid and rumpled like my sheets.

And THAT started me thinking about computerized dating services- you don’t have to be a Rorschach scholar to see how I made that leap of thought. After we were separated, I signed up for a bunch of them- out of spite, mostly- but never hit “enter”. Just couldn’t bring myself to do it, and have never really had that first date. The thing is, by taking all of those tests, I really learned something about myself and the men I am attracted to. I cherish kindness, I find intelligence to be the sexiest attribute, I am annoyed with people who will only date people who recycle, and he has to live a long way away, like Philadelphia (oh, just kidding).

I also have a nearly uncontrollable urge to skew the results. I guess we all have an archetype in mind, and don’t want that to be shaken because of a quiz. Maybe this explains why the men who show up as my matches are the types that I would likely ditch at the restaurant after an emergency call from one of the “kids”. Hey, I never said I was low maintenance. You wouldn’t like me if I were.

A while ago, I had read that being a real estate agent was akin to acting as a matchmaker. I disagree. I think the buyer is actually going to online matchmaking sites by herself and viewing the pictures and the video. By the time she gets to me, she has a pretty good idea of the two or three dates she is ready to commit to. This consumer has spent hours online choosing properties, exploring these homes and their communities, emailing links to family and friends, and possibly visiting a mortgage officer to get preapproved.

This tells me a couple of things. Real estate agents had better get ready for their new roles. I have already touched base briefly on where I feel I contribute most in the process as far as buyers are concerned. But sellers: you want your home bringing all it can to the dating table. You need good photos, and lots of them. You need imaginative video. You need your home to work that online room and exhibit all the charm that it is capable of. You won’t even get that first date, let alone be left by yourself at the movies.

Diane Guercio is on twitter as HeyAmaretto and still has not had that dreaded first date.

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