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"Washington Times. 4721 Georgia Avenue N.W." Circa 1920 comes this picture taken for a real-estate ad. National Photo Co. glass negative. View full size.
It seems to me that the realtor sign on the tree is probably for the house to the left.
[If it is, it's in the wrong yard. - Dave]
When did the multiple listing system start?
A neighbor, newly arrived from England, was shocked to find he'd made a blunder by contacting several agents to look for a house. He knew nothing of multiple listings, said no such thing existed in England.
Zillow lists the current value of this house as $378K, 3bd, 1Ba, 1536 sq ft.
Hot water heater. Not a talking point for realtors today, but still an issue then with older resale homes and not to be assumed, just like the electric lights.
Note the lawnmower lying on the front walk and the grass clippings. Looks like someone mowed at least Ma Kettle's yard.
Since neither realtor sign (Fischer & Friedlander, Macpherson Bros) matches this ad, is is probably not for the same sale. However it does provide an indication of prices then: $12,500 in 1925 is approximately equivalent to $150,000 today.
Not sure what the abbreviation "h.-w. h." means: hot-water heat?
Houses For Sale
4721 Georgia Avenue.
$12,500,Adjacent to Saul's Addition, a 20-foot wide brick residence that will surely appeal to anyone seeking a new home. Seven rooms and a bath. Glass-inclosed sleeping porch. Open fireplace, oak floors, hardwood trim throughout. h.-w. h. and electric lights. Concrete front porch. One-car garage. Inspection by appointment only.
Shapiro-Katz Company
Realtors-Buildings
1415 K st. nw. Main 9111Classified Ad, Washington Post, Jul 18, 19125
You can make that comment to the present owner - take a look at it on Google Street View. Sheesh!
[It's the lot behind the tree. - Dave]
How many listing agents does it take to sell this property? I see signs for two of them (McPherson Bros. and Fischer Grieblander). Was it a common practice to use more than one agent at a time? If so, how did that work?
Somebody forgot to tell the real estate agent that a mowed lawn helps sell a house!
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