There’s no denying it: REALTORS® spend a lot of time in their cars. As a homebuyer I know this firsthand, having spent plenty of time with my REALTOR® going from house-to-house carefully seeking out the property my wife and I now call home. But I’m just one client. Now multiply that by as many clients as a REALTOR® has, multiplied again by the amount of properties each client wants to view, add in stops back at the office, bank meetings, lunch meetings, visiting properties to list, and the elusive “x” that belongs in any equation and that’s a lot of time in your car (just like I said off the top). Well I’m here to help – in as much as I’ve selected 10 songs about homes (buying, selling, and living in) that I think every REALTOR® should have on their playlist. Here they are, in no particular order.
1. “Home by the Sea” – Genesis. This is the perfect song to play if you have clients looking to relocate to a waterfront property. Just focus on the positive lyrics like “endless days of summer,” “pictures of delight,” and “things that go to make up a life.” There is a tiny caveat that should accompany this track: it’s only applicable to REALTORS® living on the coasts.
2. “Take Me Home” – Phil Collins. It seems only fitting to follow up a Genesis song with a solo Phil Collins one. Is this gem about a world-weary traveler returning from a long journey or is it about the routine reality that we all seem to be trapped in – day in and day out? You can leave it to your own interpretation. I personally think it’s the magic number that will make your clients feel as if they’ve arrived at their dream property.
3. “The Old Apartment” – Barenaked Ladies. Looking to move a renter into a great starter home? This is the song to play. The apartment they describe is an absolute horror show. It’s 42 stairs from the street (which leads me to believe that there’s no elevator), there’s a mousetrap, an annoying downstairs neighbour, and the wall recently needed some drywall repair. Play this and hopefully it will subliminally convince your client to purchase that townhome they just saw.
4. “Burning Down the House” – Talking Heads. I’ve always been partial to the live version of this song. I feel it’s much better than the album version. Is it a song about paranoia? Is it about a party? Whatever it’s about, don’t put this house on your list of properties to see. I’m guessing there have been lots of complaints about its occupants to the neighbourhood watch.
5. “House at Pooh Corner” – Loggins and Messina. A song based on the children’s book of the same name tells the story of a simpler time and the adventures of Pooh, Tigger, Owl, and Eeyore. It also includes the important lyric “he came to me asking help and advice…” – something all REALTORS® know is an important part of their profession.
6. “Home” – Edward Sharpe and The Magnetic Zeros. This song tells the story of a house and everything that makes it a home. The memories, the injuries, the meals, the good times and the bad – all set to the tune of a very engaging jig – featuring a standout trumpet solo (or two). It’s an eclectic song from a very eclectic group of musicians.
7. “A House is Not a Home” – Dionne Warwick. There are many different versions of this Burt Bacharach/Hal Davis song (including Glee and Dusty Springfield) but we’ll stick with the Dionne version. Similar to Edward Sharpe’s ”Home,” this track gives a detailed inventory of everything needed to turn a house into a home.
8. “Little Boxes” – Walk Off the Earth. Taking clients to see houses in a brand new sub-division? Then this is the song for you. It gives a great rundown of everyone, from all walks of life, who you’ll find in any neighbourhood in any city. Some of you may recognize the original version as the Weeds theme song.
9. “Our House” – Madness. It would be a sin to leave this song (and the next one) off any list that deals with houses and homes. Not only did this this catchy ska, pop song reach #7 on the Billboard Hot 100 in 1983, it also answers the question “Where is our house?” many, many times over. Thirty years later this one is still a classic.
10. “Our House” – Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young. It took Graham Nash just an hour to write this picturesque song about his relationship with Joni Mitchell. It really does paint a beautiful image of an incredible domestic scene and maybe will even put a buyer or two in the mood to sign the papers right then and there. It’s significant to note that Neil Young went on to write “Only Love Can Break Your Heart” for Graham Nash after his split from Joni Mitchell. Not sure whatever happened to their house.
So what is really on your playlists, REALTORS®? Sound off in the Comments section below.
