Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Unintended Compliment

Today a real estate appraiser told me a story about a conversation he had recently with an unhappy homeowner (HO).
  The HO was trying to borrow money from his house after doing some improvements and consequently the lender asked for an appraisal.  Apparently the appraisal was not as high as the HO wanted and so he called the appraiser to inquire.  (For an experienced appraiser in a flat to down market I am sure he is used to a call like this.) 

  After clarification was complete, very early on supposedly, the HO devolved into a personal attack including this comment which is the UNINTENDED COMPLIMENT--"Well I guess that is why I have a house like this and you drive a car like that."  

  You see what the HO doesn't know is that the work car is paid for, the house of the guy who drives the car is paid for and the guy who drives the car could retire today if he wanted to.  Furthermore, the appraiser, the guy who drives the car, had so much fun telling me this story we were howling with laughter.  (did I mention he had that day had a flat and was sporting a spare tire just to emphasize the look?)
 
 We digressed a bit to wonder (fear truthfully) whether the HO is more representative of the average American homeowner than the appraiser.  How can we all be encouraged by those around us who do the right thing everyday whether they look like it or not?  How can we compete with our peers to save more, spend less, and don't do anything stupid, as a financial planning friend from Denver always says?

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