Peppermints, Pinkie Rings and Pineapple

Finding a stranger rich environment is like finding a honey hole when fishing; when you get a couple of good hits - you keep going back. Where you might ask is my new honey hole??? Model Homes. Sometimes you can get in and out without having to fill out any paperwork, but other times - you only have to give them minimal information to get all the floor plans as well as the guided tour. I found distinct groups touring the homes: the solo's who are tired of renting; the just married's or just pregnant's; the empty-nester's; the just looking's and me.

Recently the kids and I went to two separate Grand Home communities and toured their model homes. At the Enclave @ Emerald Forest, I met Viviana who is the Community Sales Manager. The homes at the Enclave are spacious and prices start in the low $240's. At Jackson Hills, I met Tom who is the Community Sales Manager's assistant. The homes at Jackson Hills are smaller, still roomy and the prices start in the low $190's. The two communities are less than a mile apart, two different cities, two different counties and Viviana and Joe couldn't be more polar opposite; Viviana in her designer shoes and Joe with his pinkie ring.

Both of them were very personable and yet I don't think either one of them heard that I had New Year's resolution to meet a new person everyday. No worries. When Joe gave me the tour, he was sure to point things out in the kitchen, the laundry room and the "hers" (his term) room which was really just an extra bedroom and yet nothing about the "man" (my word) office. But he did tell me about all the recent upgrades that have been recently been made by the builder that is passed along to the customer without cost. Joe's house has free peppermints and he did tell me that he was married with grand kids. When Viviana gave me the same type of tour, she pointed out things like the hardware used for the cabinets and in the bathroom as well as where the outlets were positioned throughout the house. Viviana also gave me the spiel about the upgrades and I should point out that out of the two - she is the only one to have called me back, but no peppermints and no personal information.

Of course, I realize that you don't decide to purchase a house based on peppermints or gathering personal information from the sales people - it's location, location, location and a fresh pineapple platter with a Tom Thumb gift certificate.