The Half-Full Glass Yes, Amazonian heat and humidity — plus record-setting downpours — are taking a toll on Twin Citians this Summer (nice alliteration, huh?). So, who has this weather been especially kind to? Here’s my list: –Local dry cleaners (no chance of wearing my dress shirts more than one day in this heat and humidity); –Retailers selling...Read More
Realtor Name-Dropping After almost a decade attending Edina Realty “Exceptional Properties” meetings — held weekly at an upper bracket Twin Cities home — I figure I’ve now heard my colleagues sing the praises of something like 2,000 homes, cumulatively worth a cool $3 billion or so (and have pitched a few of my own listings at such meetings). And yet, I...Read More
“Collapse? No Chance of That Happening” Aren’t these guys supposed to spend a fortune on public relations consultants?? That’s the question that came to mind seeing the 26-story headquarters (left) of Madrid-based Bankia, which is listing at what looks like at least a 5 degree angle. Yes, the Rock of Gibraltar is already taken (by Prudential), but...Read More
“Pardon my French Condensation” Notwithstanding the oppressive weather in the Twin Cities the past few days, I’ve been busy showing homes. Which means viewing homes with tons of condensation on the windows; walking through basements with leaky or overflowing dehumidifiers; and seeing a/c coils that are laboring mightily. To their credit, in each case the listing...Read More
Now You See it . . . Now You Don’t! Once upon a time, homeowners hung a portrait above their fireplace mantle — or simply left it bare. With the advent of flat-panel TV’s, that spot has increasingly been devoted to entertainment. But what if you’ve got company, and actually want to talk instead of watch...Read More
Passing on Unsaleable Listings Want a good Realtor to list (and ideally, sell) your home? In a Twin Cities market full of fussy Buyers and lots of inventory (with notable exceptions), you’d better meet the following three criteria. One. Be motivated. No, “motivated” doesn’t mean “desperate.” To a Realtor, a “motivated seller” is someone who’s willing...Read More
