Where’d They Get THAT Number?? Ever ask yourself that while looking at a new listing whose asking price seemingly bears no connection to market reality? In my (Realtor’s) experience, a good one-third of the time, the explanation is just one click away — on the property tax statement showing what the owner originally paid for the house. Yup —...Read More
Better Than Earplugs! Good fences make good neighbors. –proverb No, they won’t literally make your home bigger. It’ll just feel that way, especially if you have kids. What am I referring to? Solid core doors. About $150 more than their hollow counterparts, solid doors are the cheapest way I know to make a home feel...Read More
Home Improvements: ‘The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly’ Pornography is hard to define, but I know it when I see it. –Supreme Court Justice Potter Stewart Oddly, I could say the same thing about good home improvements: they’re hard to define, but you know one when you see one (ditto for home improvements that...Read More
Factor #2: Lots of In-Process Projects The original version of the above quote, of course, is “the cobbler’s kids always go barefoot.” The idea is that they’re so busy attending to their client’s needs that they neglect their own — or their kids.’ But I’ve also observed that a lot of the contractors I know...Read More
“Just Needs Your Cosmetic Touches” When the home you’re selling is lit by the equivalent of kerosene lamps, you’ve really got no choice: one way or another, you’re going to have to inform prospective Buyers that they’ll need to do extensive updating and/or remodeling (my favorite Realtor euphemism for that: ‘Just Needs Your Cosmetic Touches!”)....Read More
Two “Do’s” and One “Don’t”You just closed on your new home, and can’t wait to put your “signature” on it. What do you do first? Smaller things, like paint and carpet — by all means. Other projects, like refinishing hardwood floors, are also best tackled before you move in, due to the smell, dust, and...Read More
