[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.] As a Realtor, I know better than to challenge an acquaintance who, almost sheepishly, explains that they would’ve liked to hire me, but instead were obliged to use their...Read More
Home Buyer/Seller as Guinea Pig As a Realtor, I know better than to challenge an acquaintance who, almost sheepishly, explains that they would’ve liked to hire me, but instead were obliged to use their [insert relationship here**]. Far be it from me to poison — perhaps for years — an extended family’s Thanksgiving or Christmas,...Read More
Contractual Void [Editor’s Note: 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.] With more listing agents incorporating “Coming Soon!” into their marketing campaigns, Buyers’ agents need to be ever-more vigilant. And...Read More
His Name Isn’t “Fang,” Is It? I got a chuckle reviewing the showing instructions for a home I’m taking clients through over the weekend. They read: “Dog will be in kennel in garage, friendly.” So far, so good. The instructions continued, “Do NOT approach kennel or let dog out of kennel.” Ummm . . . OK...Read More
Enabling(?) Non-Committal Buyers (aka “Fence-Sitters”) One of the things that invariably happens in the course of representing a Seller is the Listing agent gets a request from a Buyer’s agent to “be kept in the loop.” Translation: ‘let me know if someone else is about to buy the home, so my client at least knows...Read More
Getting You More Money For Your Home & More Home For Your Money After 13+ years selling homes, I think I finally have come up with a succinct definition of what a good Realtor does: they maximize what you get. The sales side of that equation is straightforward: a good Realtor maximizes the money you get, net...Read More
