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With April 1st right around the corner – “April Fools Day” – you may be thinking of ways to pull a fast-one on friends, family or co-workers. We found several of the best real estate-related pranks posted on the internet over the last few years:
- Ryan Gheris, real estate broker and owner of the website Hotpad, listed a chicken coop for $2.44 million for one day only (April 1). The five-bedroom, zero-bath home was listed with the following description: “Luxurious residence for the high-flyer. Security fencing will keep out even your most obsessive fans. Relax knowing you have protection from the paparazzi hawks with the aerial security system. Historical character as a conversion project from an outhouse. Radon test passed. Seller motivated. Price firm. Serious inquiries only please. Not a short sale. Must see.” He also noted that chickens and sanity were not included. No word on how many showings were scheduled.
- The National Park Service has a sense of humor! In 2015, staff at Crater Lake National Park in Oregon announced on Facebook that plans were underway to build a Space Needle-inspired rotating restaurant on the lake’s Wizard Island. More than a few folks who commented on the post admitted to being temporarily fooled. CHECK IT OUT!
- Another National Park Service location, Alcatraz, was apparently for sale that same year. One blogger broke the “news,” describing the NPS’s plans to convert prison cells in Al Capone’s former home into “micro-studios” as part of a luxury residence. But, as she pointed out, really small apartments are already par for the course in the San Francisco market anyway. CHECK IT OUT!
- After the Seattle Seahawks won the Super Bowl in 2014, Seattle-based brokerage Findwell announced plans on April 1 that year for a Seahawks-themed condominium shaped like a football. The building’s penthouse would come with a guest suite that would be occupied by a rotating cast of players and coaches, and “exclusive” accommodations would be available specifically for San Francisco 49ers fans. CHECK IT OUT!
- Agents are always looking for ways to spice up their listings, and Midwest Real Estate Data decided to take that seriously. On April 1, 2014, the company announced on its blog that a new “scent” field would be added to all its property listings. Agents could use a drop-down menu to choose from a variety of delicious smells to complement their listings, including freshly baked bread, chocolate chip cookies, apple pie, popcorn, Cinnabon, and bacon. CHECK IT OUT!
- On April 1, 2016, realtor.com unveiled its new “homes for pets” listings promising to help cats, dogs, lizards, fish and hamsters find their “purrrfect” homes. Prices are listed in pet-friendly currencies, such as balls of string, biscuits and pounds of shredded pine. CHECK IT OUT!
