Comparing Honey Crisps to Braeburns One of the more quizzical looks Realtors get is when they (try to) explain to a prospective home Seller that their neighbor’s house isn’t a “Comp” (Comparable Sold Property) for pricing theirs. For the uninitiated, a Comp is one of the three homes Realtors and appraisers use to determine fair market value; once...Read More
“Hollywood Squares?” Nah, Minneapolis The discerning photographer who captured the image above isn’t me — it’s my 12 year-old daughter. Can’t tell what you’re looking at? Here’s a hint: think “ceiling,” not “wall.” Give up? It’s what you see looking up in the IDS’s Crystal Court. That’s the IDS building (at least, that’s what it...Read More
“MLS Show & Sell Tell”: When a Calendar Isn’t Just a Calendar [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced.] “Tell” /tel/ Noun: (especially in poker) an unconscious action that is thought to betray an attempted deception. –Dictionary...Read More
On What?!? So, what do Realtors mean when they say — with not a little frustration — “let’s get it on?” Here’s a hint: the more accurate line is, “let’s get it on already!,” and the person the (listing) agent is talking to is their client and would-be home seller. If that’s not obvious enough,...Read More
Passing of Two Twin Cities Icons Twin Citians of a certain age (I qualify) will forever associate Mary Tyler Moore with her iconic ’70’s sitcom. Runner-up associations: the Kenwood home featured in the show’s opening credits; and the photo (above) showing Ms. Moore exuberantly flinging her hat in front of Dayton’s department store in Downtown Minneapolis....Read More
Subjective Tolerance Levels First, the good news: assuming the house is a couple of decades old, the settling is very likely historic. So, for a home that was built in say, 1925, the settling likely occurred (and stopped) by 1928. The bad news? It’s (very) hard to correct. It’s possible to use floor jacks —...Read More
