New Oven: $500. New Wall: $3,000 One of the stealth issues for prospective home Buyers is the old-but-still functioning wall oven — often times, two of them. The risk, which rises with the oven’s age: that the model has been discontinued, and there’s not a same-size replacement. When that’s the case, the fix isn’t just a new...Read More
When Government Gives You a Free Subsidized Lunch . . . Take It! “America’s housing system was at the centre of the last crisis. It has still not been properly reformed.” —The Economist, “Nightmare on Main Street: the Horror Underlying America’s Housing Market“; August 20th -26th 2016. If you don’t want something (else) keeping you...Read More
Realtor-Speak, Translated I don’t know about other listing agents (representing Sellers), but I have to suppress an eye roll when, following a showing, the Buyer’s agent contacts me and asks to be “kept in the loop” if something happens. That “something,” of course, is another offer. Sometimes, Buyers need a day or two to put...Read More
“This Offer is Only Valid Until Noon, August 4” [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.] At least in Minnesota, where I sell real estate, deadlines are incorporated...Read More
Using a Lowball Offer . . . to Get One That Isn’t “A crisis is a terrible thing to waste.” –Paul Romer (repeated by Rahm Emanuel and many, many others) “A lowball offer is a terrible thing to waste.” –Ross Kaplan [Editor’s Note: a least in the Twin Cities, lowball offers on well-priced, well-marketed homes...Read More
Marketing Theory: Absence of a Negative = a Positive Although Minnesota has been ramping up its radon disclosure requirements for several years now, it wasn’t until last week that I actually saw a (new) radon remediation system touted in an MLS listing. I think there’s a good reason for that — “that” being no other...Read More
