Superstitions in Real Estate Can Affect Buyers, Appraisals

There is a reason high rise buildings do not have a “13^th floor" and why some people avoid "666" addresses and properties where known deaths have occurred. Superstitions often affect the real estate industry, and it takes an experienced appraiser from a respected Houston appraisal company like Reliable Valuation Services to handle properties that may see diminished value in such circumstances.

Regardless of the origins or validity, some cultures have superstitions that are typically passed along from generation to generation. People take their superstitions very seriously, affecting the decision-making process in Houston appraisal of real estate and other areas of their lives. An objective understanding of these superstitions and how people react to them can help to make dealings and transactions in the real estate industry go smoother and easier.

Look at the Numbers

Numerology superstitions often play an important part in the real estate industry and inaccurate home appraisal Houston trusts from Reliable Valuation Services. From pricing to floor naming to unit and address numbering, superstitions regarding numbers can be attractive or repellant to even the most logical and reasonable professional.

Superstitions Affecting Pricing

Superstitions can have people believing that certain numbers associated with the real estate business can bring either good or bad luck. In some cultures, the last non-zero number in a property’s price can indicate the successes or failures that come to buyers and sellers. A California city even prohibits the use of the numbers 69, 444, and 666 in new single-family developments.

8 is Lucky, 4 is Not

In Chinese culture, the number "eight" is pronounced like the word for "wealth" and is therefore considered lucky when found in the pricing of properties. It is common for Chinese properties to be priced with an "8" as the last digit in the listing. Conversely, the number "four" is seen as unlucky as it is pronounced similarly to the Chinese word for "death."

Lucky 7

In Las Vegas and many other circumstances, the number "seven" is considered a lucky number, and many properties in the area are listed with sevens before the zeroes in asking prices.

Unlucky 13

The most common superstitious number is 13. Athletes avoid it as a uniform number, and most tall buildings will not list having a 13^th floor, instead of showing floors that go from 12 to 14. Obviously, there technically is a 13^th floor in the building, but developers realize it is not worth the hassle or risk of alienating potential buyers. It is easier to go along with it and just change the numbers.

Devilish 666

The number 666 is commonly associated with the "number of the beast" in the Book of Revelation for Christians. Street addresses are rarely assigned the number to avoid discomfort among neighborhoods.

Property Death Superstitions

An experienced Houston property appraiser at Reliable Valuation Services will deal with the problem of a death occurring on properties by being honest and straightforward regarding the circumstances of the property. High profile tragedies will diminish the value of a property and make it hard to sell. The impact of tragic events on properties will fade over time but can have Houston tax appraisal impacts on the property for years to come.

Contact Reliable Valuation Services Today

Reliable Valuation Services is a respected, reliable Houston appraisal company that will always be honest and forthcoming regarding details of properties that may have superstitious reactions from prospective buyers. Contact our qualified customer service team today to have all your questions answered.