By Bill Cherry
Dallas Broker-Realtor
It's been about 20 years ago now, but it happened during the time that I had a large residential brokerage firm with offices in Galveston and Houston,Texas. The phone rang and it was a call from Ubenisky.
He told me that he had been born in Germany, and had traveled his entire life. Now that he was ready to retire, he and his wife wanted to settle down and to own their first home ever.
They had never been to Galveston, but they knew that a major portion of the early settlers had been from Germany. They figured the Germans had influenced the architecture and fabric of the island, so it was likely to feel like home to them.
We set an appointment to meet the following Saturday at my Galveston office. I'd show them around. I was very proud of the East End Historical District's early but on going and vibrant revitalization, and I knew in my heart that the Ubeniskys would fall in love with it.
Instead that Saturday morning the phone rang, and it was Ubenisky. He said, "Bill, we've just driven into Galveston, but we're going to turn around and go back to Houston." I asked why.
He continued, "Well, when you can call and tell us why the main entrance to Galveston looks as bad as it does, we'll try to re-evaluate. But for now, we're not interested in living there because we think Broadway's look is indicative of the city's overall attitude. And that attitude is intolerable."
I immediately got in my car, drove across the causeway, turned around, and made the trip back into town, this time trying to see it through the eyes of the Ubeniskys. I learned a great deal about my hometown that day.
Perhaps it's time for each of you to make that same drive into your hometown. And then if you don't like what you see, hold those responsible for how it looks to change it, and to change it now. And don't give them a moment's rest until they do.
Here's what I saw in mine. Trash everywhere. Unpainted buildings. Property code violations by the hundreds. Cockeyed, peeling signs, grass growing on to sidewalks and over the curbs. So many tall weeds one could wonder if they are the city's designated plant rather than the oleander.
Obviously I had been seeing that landscape for so long that I had no longer noticed it.
Excellent post and very good food for thought and subsequent action, Bill. My town has very appealing entry points and the overall feel is very peaceful, caring and stable. As well much pride is evident throughout the city.
I can think of a neighbouring town though, the one where I grew up, which constantly gets a bad rep and reviews as a place that most newcomers do not want to move to. Also the locals do not rate it highly. The identical property in that town sells for $15,000-$30,000 less than here due to the image the town gives to the public.
What does one see when one first enters that town off of the trans-Canada highway ? An automobile wrecking yard. Yep. It is a pretty sad case. I now realize, thanks to you, why that town just can't seem to pull it's reputation out of the dregs.
Jo
Jo and Shaun, thanks for commenting about your own towns.
One Sunday I decided I would go to early church because Patty had told me the night before that she was going to sleep in. So I left home about 6:30 AM, and the sun was out and it was a lovely day.
There was relatively little traffic or anything to deflect my attention from what I was seeing.....it was one home after another with very obvious building code violations. And that's when I realized that the people living in them weren't responsible for that, it was their landlords. They were milking the property to death, and the people living there were prisoners because they couldn't afford to move.
That is inexcusable, and I'll guarantee you it happens lots of places. If you are going to have rules, codes, regulations and laws, they need to be enforced. It you're not going to insist on enforcement and abidance, then take the things off of the books.
I agree with you Bill. Sadly most bylaw enforcement officers only do their job when a neighbour or someone else complains. Part of the fallout of municipal cutbacks ~ not enough inspectors.
Jo
Bill... if it would get any attention why not write to the paper. My local paper has "guest " editorials on Sundays...yours would be a great read and maybe acytually stir up some interest.
Our town is always conscious of the "Gateway" image...did you ever talk to the Ubeniskys again!
Joan, I'd love to write the Ubenisky story for your paper. Give me the name and address and their criteria (maximum words, etc.), and I'll send it off this week.
Here's the rest of the Ubenisky story. I called him the next weekend, and I told him that I had made his pilgrimage and done it through his eyes. I told him it was totally abhorrent...that I agreed with him, and that I would do my best to get the issues addressed.
And then I said, "It takes only a few moments to pass that area of town, and then you're in a neighborhood of homes just like those built in your childhood town in Germany. And the house I want to show you was built by German craftsmen. You're going to love it. I promise."
He laughed, came back, and bought the house. The first one I showed him. The one build by the German craftsmen. And he was one of the few people I ever sold a home to who looked at only one before they bought.
Overcoming objections. Still the most important sales talent/tool there is.
Thanks, Miss Joan!
Your friend,
Bill, I'm going to email the paper editor today!
I,ll email you the info so you can follow through!
Hi Bill...me again
I sent them an email with a link to your blog post (I snuck in a link to mine too LOL)
Here is theirs: http://www.concordmonitor.com/
I'll get busy and send them something. Thanks, Miss Joan.
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Joel
Thanks for telling us about climate.fizber.
Bill