I seem to have frogs on my brain the past few days. I am not even hopping mad or anything. My post yesterday about my neighbor's pet frog perhaps was the seed for today's post.
Scientists consider the presence of frogs in the eco-system to be a barometer of how well that eco system is doing. I remember when I was a kid in Connecticut you could not drive down the road at night without running over frogs----the road would literally be covered with them if you were near a pond or swampy area-----there was also an accompanying smell that I will likely never forget. I think more and more these creatures seem to be disappearing---and not directly from being run over or served in fancy restaurants.
As a builder I always used to monitor how well my suppliers, like lumber yards and plumbing supply houses were doing as an indication of how healthy the building industry was doing---and thus the likelihood that people would need my services. One of my best friends (who I have known as "Frog"---since we were college room mates) runs a concrete foundation & decorative concrete business in Eugene, Oregon, and I would watch the ebbs and flows of his business as a barometer of how the building industry was doing.
For those of us involved in Real Estate: Realtors, appraisers, mortgage brokers, inspectors, and stagers----what are the barometers that measure how healthy our "eco-system" is?
For the last few weeks business has been very slow. When this happens I like to go around to Sunday open houses to sort of take the pulse of the industry----to see if it still has one.
I see a lot of optimism on the part of the agents I talk to----and see tremendous pent up demand to go with the growing stock pile of listings. What surprised me though was to learn that the agents were more interested in how I was doing, as they felt that Home Inspectors are a good barometer of how well the industry in general is doing. I never considered myself a barometer----don't even own one----give me a good old fashioned barometric damper any day----something I can relate to.
But I do see their point----if inspectors are busy, that would be a good sign.
I am just not sure that I particularly like the idea of being my own barometer----it would be rising all the time!
I know that real weather doesn't work that way.
Charles Buell
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Charles, did you ever see the episode of Everybody Loves Raymond when Robert is seeing the girl who is into frogs? It is so funny.
I have noticed less frogs, but only some years.There has been more development, and that could change things-Dinah Lee
Charles -- seems like things are "croaking" everywhere! The largest local title company even croaked. I'll be exersizing my larynx today in hopes that I'm not the next one to CROAK.
Charles, last couple of weeks it has been almost normal for me, inspecting 10 houses a week. All of Nov. & Dec. was really slow, doing 5 to 7 houses a week. A normal week for me is 12 to 18 house a week.
~ Life is Looking Gooder
Let me confirm that we (Realtors) very much consider you a barometer. I know that if my favorite home inspectors are busy - homes are selling. I also drive by model homes on the weekends. If they have cars out front, people going from model to model, I can usually insure that things are selling and not so slow after all. And regarding the frogs, here in Texas it is said that we don't have as many frogs or horned toads as we use to due to fire ants.... It's a shame because I loved to play with frogs when I was younger.
Charlie,
Is it just computers in Mexico or is it Halloween. Your photo looks like one of the Munsters. Have you monkeyed with it.
Tony, no---have never seen the show.
Dinah, I was near a swamp out in Redmond the other night and could hear the frogs---pretty cool to know that they are surviving in places.
Randy, somehow we all have to keep on croaking without croaking:)
Roy---you are a better man than me:)
Suzanne, thanks for the comment
Must be computers in Mexico---or perhaps the tequilla?
As a former Biology teacher- what I've read about frogs is very disturbing. I do get your point, though.
Is there tequilla in Mexico? Hmmmmmm. I'd hate to think that this last week to 10 days of my business was a barometer for anyone. They'd probably be moving to Mexico to enjoy the tequilla. Hmmmmm. That's not really fair, I've been in classes for the last week (my annual Jan. vacation [no tequilla]).
Leslie, I hear you. From what I have read, frogs are in trouble in lots of areas.
Jack, I have heard that there is----no first hand experience with it though
The agents here tell me if things are picking up or are slow. They say that inspectors get calls after the buyers sign. Makes sense we are down the chain.
As for the frogs I can recall as a kid they were everywhere. I always remember the peepers in the spring. They were almost deafening. Now I hear just a few behind where I live now.
HHHmmm, Barometers for how briskbusiness may be...... I believe a good barometer is the rising forclosure statistics.
Sean Allen
James, pretty much the same here.
Sean, where the heck you been? I would imagine forclosures would be a good barometer.
It's nice of you to go to the agent open-houses. Sometimes we need company because not too many buyers come by!! Good blog.
Thanks, Barbara. I actually enjoy going to the open houses. You are right too, sometimes agents like the company. I am always careful not to interfere when they have buyers or others to deal with. It is a great way to connect with agents I don't know as well as visit with ones I do know.
I love your insights Charles......and I love that you go to Open Houses to check the pulse! Cool!
So far there has always been one:)
Charles, Like you, I too see a lot of optimism from real estate agents out there. Time will tell...
~~ Your building consultant in Brentwood, TN - Michael
Can you hop over to my pad and we'll have an open pond!? The best barometer for my eco-system would be a tray of flies. Just set it down, about 6" from me is best, and we'll frog out. I'm really not very picky... Kind regards, Croakster
Michael, in some ways "optimism" may be our only choice:)
Hey Croakster----you look as if there are plenty of flies in your area?
It was 50 below here in MN last week and yes our frogs all croaked. Hopefully our market did not.
Kathleen, frogs are pretty resilient when it comes to hibernation----they will be back:)
yes they look so nice but Foreclosures are such tough on to stomach.