"The Pea Green Carpeting"---a true story

There is a philosophy of buying that one must concentrate on like a Zen monk. One must strive in all things--to reverse the pattern of human emotions.

When fear is in the street----One must concentrate on greed.

When everyone is gasping with delight on how high the stock market has gone and how much they are worth---giggling like they have been sipping fine whiskey-----

Sell.

My brother-in-law---Mark Hector--gave the family a great example when he purchased his first home in Hopkins. It was just a simple rambler---but it had been neglected....big time. The front room was carpeted in a dark pea green that made even the most ardent buyer vomit on entrance to the home.

What turned overyone else off---got Mark excited. He could visualize the new gold carpeting and the fireplace roaring and his wife and he celebrating the remodeling.

He made the owner an offer---a ridiculously low offer. He pointed out all the things that needed to be corrected. The seller refused the first offer. That was good. Left him a little pride. Then Mark made him an offer, just a bit higher.

Bingo.

Even today, when my wife an I are out shopping or looking at homes and I see some pea green carpeting----she just smiles and says------"No way." She knows that given the killing Mark made on that home, I will always have a weakness for pea green carpeting.