Parade of Homes, Spring Fall 2014 [Editor’s Note: Broken clocks are accurate twice a day. Similarly, my post about the Parade of Homes — and the challenges and opportunities it presents for home buyers and their Realtors — is correct twice a year. The first time is the Spring Parade; the second is the Fall...Read More
“Just Sign Here” Which sounds less intimidating (at least if you’re not a lawyer): “let’s meet at my office at 6:30 p.m. to go over the paperwork.” Or, “let’ s meet at 6:30 p.m tonight to review and sign the contracts.” At least to my ear, Option #1 — which is what I tell prospective...Read More
Three Questions (“Good,” “Better,” “Best”), or “Highest and Best?” Not Exactly As a Buyer’s agent, doing a good job for a client competing for a home in multiple offers means giving them good advice. In turn, that means knowing “the lay of the land” — at least to the extent that the listing agent is...Read More
But Watch Out For That Clawback Provision If you want to get the attention of Buyers’ agents, offer to pay them more. Or faster. That’s the strategy of at least one local (Golden Valley) builder, whose yet-to-be built new construction homes are listed on MLS now, but won’t be ready for occupancy until closer to...Read More
A Partial List (Half, to be Exact) What does your Realtor do to earn their commission? As a Buyer’s agent, the list includes: –Making you aware of a house you wouldn’t have otherwise found. Or, certainly not as fast. –Positioning you to buy that house, possibly navigating multiple offers from competing buyers. –Putting an...Read More
“$2,000 bonus to Realtor at closing.” –Excerpt, “Agent Remarks” section of MLS listing Most Realtors (at least the ones I know) are bottom line-oriented. So, is “goosing” the payout offered to Buyers’ agents a good way to move a listing faster and/or for more money? In my experience, yes — up to a point. It’s...Read More
