Natural Catastrophes — U.S. & Foreign — Post-Katrina No matter what this country’s problems are, they pale in comparison to those facing Haiti, especially now. Even though its residents aren’t Americans, it’s hard not to see a little bit of post-Katrina sentiment motivating the truly massive relief effort apparently underway, i.e., no one should be...Read More
Friends, Family — & Clients: Tough Mix You can love your pet, just don’t LOVE your pet. –“The Truth About Cats & Dogs” (1996) That’s one of my favorite lines from the movie starring Janeane Garofalo and Uma Thurman. Oddly enough, it also applies to Realtors’ relationships with their clients (and I mean that in...Read More
Inconsistent Provisions, Fees, Enforcement: A-Not-So Necessary EvilUntil recently, I’ve always defended municipal point-of-sale inspections — required by 14 municipalities locally, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, Bloomington, and St. Louis Park — as a well-intentioned (if annoying and occasionally, expensive) hurdle for home Sellers. Typically, so-called Time of Sale Inspections focus on safety-related concerns such as the...Read More
