Chances of Selling: “Possibly” vs. “0%, 100% Guaranteed” “In the land of the blind, the one-eyed man is King.” —proverb The real estate corollary to the proverb above? “During a time of year when inventory of good homes is depleted, and lots of “For Sale” homes are temporarily off the market (“TNAS,” or Temporarily Not...Read More
Or Maybe They Should be Called “Dismaying Jeans” Yeah, yeah, I know what fancy-schmancy retailers mean when they refer to “distressed jeans”: jeans whose various holes and patches somehow make them look chic ” and worth a huge mark-up (also referred to as “vintage clothing” in some quarters). My definition of “distressed jeans” is a...Read More
Who Qualifies as a “Relative?” At least in Minnesota, licensed real estate agents must disclose if they’re related to their client. The logic, I assume, is that agents have a negotiating and knowledge edge over non-Realtor “civilians” — and therefore anyone closely aligned with them does, too. Definition Ahh, but that just begs the question:...Read More
Is There Such a Thing as “Solace Food??” Never mind comfort food. Whether it’s the local weather (cold, wet, and dark); the drumbeat of incessantly negative news (Pittsburgh synagogue massacre, mail bombs, immigrant caravans, etc.); or just unrelenting 24/7 Trump, the Kaplan household is lately craving something more . . . potent. Call it, “solace food.”...Read More
Answer: “About 50°” In the middle of August, on an especially humid day, a nice breeze — if necessary, generated by a ceiling fan — is especially welcome. Fast forward six months (or three, if you live in Minnesota), when local temps are 40º to 60º(!) cooler. That same breeze is now officially a “draft”...Read More
There Oughta Be a Word For That What do you call all the things outside a home ” like concrete steps, pavers, custom handrails, retaining walls, etc. ” that don’t quite qualify as “landscaping?” “Flatwork.” P.S.: “Flatware” refers to eating utensils and plates.Read More
