Monday, March 25, 2013

The Discriminating House Hunter

After spending several years and countless visits in the past few weeks looking at property in the Nashville area, I'm not really all that sure why I want to live in Tennessee; sure, the people are friendly, but then every other piece of property has one of these signs.  Not very welcoming, especially when you're trying to sell your house or property.

One of the places we looked at had so many signs, we reconsidered driving down the driveway, even though it was listed for sale and there was a sign at the end of the driveway.  No need to get shot in the middle of the woods while house hunting. 

We looked at a place that was literally in the middle of a state forest.  The road in was through the state park entrance.  Beautiful, but so far from civilization, I would have had to take the covered wagon into town once a month for provisions.  Too remote for me.

The search continues, and who knows what will happen, but I can tell you right now that I've never seen so many trailers, mobile homes, and manufactured homes in my entire life.  Does anyone build a house anymore??  It certainly makes eliminating properties much easier, that's for sure, because I'm not living on a street littered with scuzzy trailers or next door to the guy who has TEN Siberian Huskies in his yard.  Yes, ten.  I know because I counted as they rushed the fence and barked ferociously at the car as we drove by.

I like to do my own recon, without a realtor.  Most of the preliminary work is all about seeing the area, scoping out the neighbors, determining whether the roads have big rig access.  If I don't like where the house is, I don't even need to see the inside.  I just wish they had a "no trailer/no mobile home/no manufactured home" filter when I'm searching the real estate listing websites so I don't have to waste my time going to a property that's not what I want.  And what's with the deceiving photos?  Is your intent to waste every second of my time?  And all the pictures of the yard?  I'm not buying a yard, I'm buying a house.  I want to see the house.

I want a small cottage on a pretty little piece of property.  Close to shopping, close to the interstate, close to my best friend, close to the airport, close to a Dunkin' Donuts, and preferably with truck parking. 

A modest, cozy little hideaway.  Is that too much to ask?


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2012: Oh, Sweet Cream Cheesus
2011: Pit Stop
2010: Sorry, no post for this day.
2009: A Peek Behind The Sacred Pantry Door
2008: Thistle Or Thatle
2007: Big, Rich, And Free
2006: Look, Honey! A Grist Mill.
2005: Sorry, no post on this day. The blog didn’t start until May 2005!

6 comments:

Lizzie said...

Good luck with your search. I've never preferred using realtors, either.

Gil said...

Not close to an Italian market and the ocean? One of my friends posted her property on the advice of her insurance agent.

The Daily Rant said...

LIFT: Thanks! If I could buy the house without the realtor, I'd do that too! :)

GIL: This is Nashville - there are no Italian markets! Or ocean, for that matter! And I guess posting the property does make sense in that respect. Hey - maybe I need to open an Italian market, huh?

Missed Placed said...

Have you tried Realtor.com? You can do an advanced search and make sure "manufactured" homes is unchecked. That should eliminate most trailers from the results.

Anonymous said...

You do realize that Nashville is considered "the south" that you dislike so. LOL

The Daily Rant said...

ANON: Yes I know, hence all the trailers. It's quite the conundrum. :)