Deafening Silence, Post-Inspection: When Hours Seem Like Days The inspection was completed, but the Buyer has been uncharacteristically incommunicado. What’s the likeliest explanation? A. The inspection was a disaster, and the Buyer intends to back out. B. The inspection went fine, but the Buyer got cold feet anyways . . . and intends to back out....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
“Relationship Shorthand” What’s the opposite of “guilt by association?” “Honor by association.” How does that play out in residential real estate? When, as a listing agent (representing the Seller), the Buyer’s agent, lender, inspector, and title company all check out with flying colors . . . it’s highly likely that the Buyer ultimately will, too. Of...Read More
Normally, agent networking is dominated by listing agents marketing upcoming listings; plugging a home on Broker Tour; and, occasionally, heralding a price reduction (“price improvement,” as agents like to say). Next most common is Buyers’ agents networking for any upcoming pre-lists that might be a fit for their clients. But, when you see a broadcast...Read More
Four Reasons to Inspect No one has a new car professionally inspected before they buy it (though they likely take it for a test drive — or three). Why pay several hundred dollars to inspect a brand-new home? I can think of four reasons: One. To get a professional’s assessment of construction quality. A good Realtor...Read More
