Pike Porter

These last few months I've read some interesting research summaries regarding buyer psychology. One little tidbit: In a market like we now have with an abundance of inventory and thus choices for the buyer--a buyer's market--buyers are actually more likely to be dissatisfied with their purchase then buyers buying in a seller's market. Why? Because the wealth of options in a buyer's market creates a paralysis of choices. With so many options, it is harder to chose just one. The choice they make, when they finally do pick one, allows buyers to reflect on their purchase and say "we should have gone with..." "if only we had purchased...." A seller's market offer buyer's far fewer choices and thus far fewer reasons to second-guess thier decisions. Consequently, they are more content with thier decision. A second interesting tidbit of buyer discontent: While the common reasoning says buy the smallest, least expensive house in the most desirable neighborhood which will allow buyers to build more equity than purchasing the largest home, buyers are usually more satisfied later by buying the nicest home in less desirable neighborhoods. Why? Because a home is more than a business decision. Though we don't admit it, and may not consciously believe it, we do compare ourselves with our neighbors--Veblen's keeping up with the Jones theory. We are less content being the small fish than being the big fish. Huh.

So VREIN was to purchase vtopenhouse.com from me for $250.00. Tonight after an interesting night at the Art Hop I arrive to my inbox with this in the VREIN newsletter:

The new site, VermontOpenHouses.com, will allow homebuyers to view schedules for open houses throughout Vermont. A range of user-friendly search options will also allow visitors to view detailed information about a home, print a route planner, and request information directly from the listing agent.

So I must assume that they no longer wish to purchase vtopenhouse.com. What surprises me is the lack of any communication to me one way or another. You'ld think that they could send along an email with, " Thanks Pike, but we've decided to go with another domain name," or "we've decided that vtopenhouse.com doesn't target our desired demographic," or whatever.

Instead they went elsewhere after verbally agreeing to purchase my domain name.

But that's okay. Cuz now I have the chance to go head to head with them and find out who can garner more hits from their advertising. If I lose? well, what do I lose?

On your marks VREIN, get set, go.

Last year was a great year for me: over 4.6 million in production, 19 homes closed, #8 agent in our company, number #4 in Chittenden County, a top Century 21 agent in Northern New England. Last year I also donated to about 1/2 dozen organizations, not including underwriting VPR which I think of as advertizing. The Women's Rape Crisis Center got $500 in 2007 and it was my most satisfying donation. Burlington Community Health Center, Vermont Youth Conservation Corps, a few others I can't remember at the moment also received $500 or an in-kind donation of $500.

Burlington had a horrible rape and murder 2 years ago: a UVM student. It was discovered she was missing when she didn't show up for a dinner with her parents who were visiting for parent's weekend. I imagine what those hours and days were like for her parents who, before they found her body, knew to expect the worst but sneeded to hope for the best; I image what those last few hours and minutes were like for the student; they are all haunting imaginings.

So this year I'm focusing my donations on the WRCC and bumping them up a bit. I'm donating $500 for every transacation in 2008 to the WRCC. If I keep even with last year, that'll be $10,000. I'm hoping to donate $20,000. I've only got $19,500 to go. I'll let you know how it goes.