The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-09-04
Much Rain browns Out
Vigor of Real Estate
Agents.
MOVING WEEK ALSO j
HAS DRAW BACKS
Conditions Not Favorable to
Rushing Business, but, All the
Same, Agents and Others
See Bright Days on Ahead.
A Few Sales
Made.

Rain, rain. rain" and yet more
rain. and 1t was moving week. too.
How could you expect real estate
men to look pleasant or to do any
business worth talking about?" That
was Just the way an agent answered
the man of news when asked about
trade news for the week. He went
on further to explain that In order to
make sale the real estate man must
first show the property to the prospec-
tive buyer, and IN order to show goods
he must first make an engagement at
least one day ahead OF time with that
prospective buyer. and he must do his
level best to have that engagement
mature at an hour when the clouds
are not belching forth floods. Now"
said he. what chance did l or any
other real estate man have to meet
all OF these requirements at any time
this week?' And without waiting for
an answer to his question he walked
away with the air OF man who mad
done his full duty and left nothing
more to be said in explanation OF the
general dullness which pervaded the
real estate market all during the week
that has Just closed.
Doing Office Stunts.
Another agent took less dolefu1
view OF the situation and declared that
he really sometimes welcomed a rainy
week that shut of rushing, outdoor
business. for. said he, that enables
us to clear UP our desks and wind up
transactions that have already been
made and get ready for new business.
and Just at this season such sur
cease from the rushing outdoor work
90 In DE fxpa1 a a
you live we are going to have lively
times this fall. and II is a good thing
IL we can start in on the busy season
with cleared decks"
Being further questioned. this agen,
said that all OF this talk about the
scarcity of money for real estate In
yestment was poppycock. there being
nothing in II. and that ~ the indi-
cations point to good business all OF
the fall. He declared that there are
to-day more men in and about Rich
mond with money to start home
building than there were year ago.
and all OF these will be IN the market
ior lots. He says further that there Is
to-day more inquiry for business prop
erty than at any time within the last
three years. and that spectators and
investors have not gone anywhere.
there being many of them who know
that Richmond .ralty OF the right kind
Is the best possible investment man
can make In these changing times.
Moving Day Hns Bad Effect.
Other agents expressed similar views
as to the future. but very few of them
had any remarks to make about the
business OF the past week. AS a mat
ter OF fact. the almost continuous rain
was not the only thing to hold back
business In the real estate line. Near
ly all OF the agents had to conflne
themselves largely to the rental busi-
ness, Tor September was moving day
and the owners OF wagons. moving
vans. drays, push carts and tarpaultns
did land Office business. In fact, the
things they had to deal in were going
at premium all the week. For some
reason the house renters conceived an
idea this year that rents were bound
to come down. and largely more than
the usual number put or the duty OF
signing years contract until the
last moment Whether or not these
tactics had the desired effect OF re-
ducing rental charges this deponent
snyeth not. but the fact remains that
agents were Kept mighty busy in the
dying hours of the month of August
in signing up and closing up belated
rental agreements, and but few of
them had any time to devote to sales
and prospective sales.
BUSINESS That Was Done.
All of these untoward conditions re-
suited In small sales and only a few
of them, that is only few that we're
actually closed UP and the final papers
signed and the >money passed over the
counter. Nevertheless some were made
and many more were hung on the
string for future development. AS
many as five auction sales were pulled
OFF between showers, and rumor hath
st that a pretty lively transaction IN
ed through BY way Of trading Mha p'lsni and
swapping The Monument Avenue
property that figured In the deal was
traded for down town business prop
erty, went into the hopper at valu-
said that the trader who thus became
the owner intends to erect a handsome
home on the ground acquired on that
delightful thoroughfare,
Il Among the salesEof the week was
one of the new stores or Office build
tngs on Eighth Street, and this. rumor
says. was sold for $1,000. Three Of
these new buildings were leased dur
Ing the week to parties who will oc-
which are to become real estate Offices.
arc located between Main and Frank
lin Streets and the third one, between
Franklin and Grace, Is to be shoe
store.
Wctness and the Suburbs,
If rain hurts the business Of the
city real estate fellows, 1t Is equally
as bad. If not q little worse, on the
dealer in suburban property. How
ever, ihe-e was something doing In the
suburbs in spite OF wetness. Out IN
the nowiauburh Of Norwood there were
many Investigators and some pur-
.chasers, among them, Dr.. Allan w.
II. eeman, assistant Health Commits
sioner Of the State Health Department.,
who took unto himself one OF those
Handsome new. houses recently erected
by John SWartout. 81
y Rattery Court, too, was under the
eye Of prospective home-makers, and
the agents report the sales OF several
lots upon which houses are to be erect
ed at an early date.
Westhampton has been visited he-
tween showers by several who expect
TO be buyers, and while the agents res
port no actual sales for the week they
fpeak lof not less than a dozen that