“Shhh! Don’t Tell Anyone My House is for Sale” “Listing agent will not also represent Buyer.” —Clause added to every listing contract I sign. [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway (“Berkshire”), or any other entity referenced. Edina Realty is a subsidiary...Read More
“Ball & Chain” vs. Source of Stability/Emotional Support A “contronym” is word that is its own antonym. Examples include the word “left” (“the gentlemen have left and the ladies are left”); “off” (“to turn off,” but also “activate,” as in “the alarm went off”); and “sanction” (both “approve” and “punish”). So, what do you call...Read More
Make That, “Good for Whom?” Thanks to MLS protocol, home sellers typically have to “OK” overlapping showing requests — that is, when one or more Buyers want to see the home simultaneously (by convention, at least in Minnesota, showings are for one hour). Should the Seller give their permission? Absolutely! As I tell my selling...Read More
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder Buyer When should a listing agent (representing the Seller) explicitly acknowledge in their marketing that a home “needs cosmetic updates” (or the equivalent)? Less often than you might guess. Here are my three reasons why: One. The pictures tell the story. For years, websites like EdinaRealty.com have allowed...Read More
Loose Door Knobs and Caviar-Stocked Fridges Test your knowledge of today’s housing market, and answer the following question: Which of the following issues are properly raised by a Buyer’s home inspection, and resolved either by a Seller price concession, or the Seller assuming responsibility for repair(s)? A. The dated Kitchen; B. A concrete driveway with multiple...Read More
Gutter Extension Camouflage People usually associate “staging” with the inside of a home. Before: conspicuously white. But, when it comes to selling a house, few things matter more than curb appeal, and a key ingredient of curb appeal is landscaping ” specifically, in front of the home. Ergo, the advice my stager gave to a...Read More
