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). In plain English: it isn’t relevant ” at least directly ” for pricing their home. For the uninitiated, a Comp is...Read More
Three Benefits Listing agents (representing home sellers) are big fans of home warranties. Personally, I love them. That’s because listing agents know ” even if their clients don’t ” that a home warranty can help smooth over inspection issues (“Benefit #1”), and make a dated home more attractive to cash-strapped, first-time home Buyers — especially...Read More
Assuming Two Risks, Not One [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] If Buyers can waive a home inspection altogether (they can), it stands to reason they...Read More
Left Holding the (Garbage) Bag: Reason #17 for Buyers to Do a Walk-Through Inspection It’s certainly possible that the weekly garbage collector will haul away all of the Seller’s junk, left curbside. But, I wouldn’t count on it. And neither should the Buyer. Instead, I’d negotiate either: a) a $500 escrow (holdback) from the sales proceeds,...Read More
More than WHAT? My short answer to the question, “Can I get more for my house if I put on a new roof?” is, “yes, you can.” That is, if by “more,” you mean, “more than what you could have gotten for the home without a new roof ” especially if the current one is...Read More
Not Just Price Tag, Scope of Work Discounting for a home’s “vintage” condition is inherently subjective. Some Buyers don’t want to tackle anything more challenging than painting a Bedroom (if that). Others ” especially if they have contracting skills (or access to them) ” are up for remodeling the Kitchen, Bath’s and anything else that...Read More
