Neighborhood Shortcuts Every Realtor has their favorite stock questions to ask homeowners so as to best market their home. My list includes: –“What do you like best about living in this neighborhood?” –“How many kids are nearby, and which school(s) do they go to?” –“Where do you go for groceries?” Debriefing Sellers In addition to the above,...Read More
Lender-Speak, Translated What they said: ‘the check’s in the mail.’ Translation: ‘I’m late paying the bills.’ What they said: ‘The dog ate my homework.’ Translation: ‘I didn’t do the assignment.’ What they said: ‘I have been holding off on submitting the file until we are within 60 days of closing (for both the rate lock and because the...Read More
Shorts in February Quick — which represents a bigger swing in temperature: 10 below to 50 degrees above, or 30 degrees to 90 degrees? Answer: they’re exactly the same, 60 degrees difference. But my guess is that if you live in a temperate climate, anything below, say, 40 degrees just seems . . . cold....Read More
Never Saying, “I Told You So” How do Realtors establish credibility with clients? I wish it was only a matter of coming across as authoritative about the housing market, being on top of new listings and “Sold’s,” having great references, etc. In today’s housing market, however — especially with clients who don’t already know you...Read More
Credit Card Deals As I was checking out at Home Depot today, the cashier asked me if I wanted to open up a Home Depot credit card and save $25 off my purchase. I told her I already had a Home Depot card, so I wasn’t eligible. “Not so,” she informed me — you can...Read More
Tomorrow’s “Onion” Headlines . . Today! I can just see The Onion’s retort to today’s lead headline in The Wall Street Journal (“Germans in Talks to Buy Big Board”) — maybe something like this: “Chinese Negotiating for Large Pipe.” Of course, the “Big Board” in question is The New York Stock Exchange, as it is otherwise...Read More
