When the Neighbors are the Dealbreaker Prospective Buyer: “We love the house. But we could never live across the street from that pornographic statue.” Phil Dunphy: “Oh . . . huh . . . I never noticed it.” Prospective Buyer: “Yeah . . . you can see it from inside when you look out the...Read More
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder Buyer When should a listing agent (representing the Seller) explicitly market 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. Most MLS’s allow 24 photos; websites like EdinaRealty.com effectively allow...Read More
Telltale Symptom: Wavy or Uneven Floors How do prospective home Buyers (and their agents) know that a home has pronounced settling without setting foot in the home? (note: foundation settling is usually benign — up to a point — and typically results in wavy or uneven floors). A. The settling shows up in the (online)...Read More
Indoor Spiral Staircases vs. Outdoor Spiral Staircases Maybe it’s because I’m a 6’2″, 220 lb. male, but I’ve never particularly been a fan of spiral staircases. Too tight (at least for me) and occasionally, flimsy. Like overly-generous use of mirrors, they also suggest cramped quarters that somebody is trying not to make seem even smaller...Read More
Test your knowledge of the housing market, and identify which of the following can be a deal breaker for many family buyers with young children: A. Not enough Bedrooms on one level. B. Dated Kitchen and/or Bathrooms. C. Busy street. D. No view of the backyard from the Kitchen. Answer: all of the above. While choices A, B,...Read More
