April Saxe, May Burke & June Hatch

On a New Learning Curve

By June Hatch, with additional reporting by May Burke and April Saxe

 

It is hard to say if our most recent “deal-making” is a result of Covid-19 and the slowdown of real estate negotiations or just keeping up with the necessities of life. The other day, April and May met up in the municipal lot behind our dark Houlihan Lawrence office for an exchange of goods. From six feet apart, April unveiled the two packages of Walter’s hot dogs she had scored at DeCicco & Sons in Harrison for a six-pack of toilet paper from May’s personal stock. The trade went well. In fact, it felt very normal; even the masked stranger who witnessed the entire exchange from his car seemed unphased.

 

We are all adjusting to our new sense of normal and finding our way by taking pleasures in simpler tasks and oddities.

 

For some levity, we recently shared to our Instagram account, @whatsthe456, the slew of unidentifiable items our husbands were purchasing while stuck at home: a door hinge, umbrella holes, internet extenders, and so much more. But the weird ritual of opening the box is filled with anxiety and questions: kick, Lysol, sit, open, wash hands, repeat, followed by “was that worth it?”

 

In our real estate world, it has been a learning curve to be sure. Transactions are happening because we’re all getting comfortable with virtual showings. Being part of a large Zoom meeting may have its challenges, however. Technology rarely operates just the way we want it. Someone is not muted and is yelling at their dog, child, or spouse. Another sits too close to the camera, has their feet up, and is yawning!

 

And what is with all the walking? Miles upon miles of family walks, lonely walks, six-feet-apart walks, where are we all going?

 

The good news is we know we are not alone, but alone together.