When “Sold” Doesn’t Mean “Sold” At least in Minnesota, when you see a “Sold” rider above a “For Sale” sign in front of a house, it doesn’t mean “Sold” — it means “Pending.” Huh?? The (admittedly confusing) convention is to pronounce a home that’s under contract and past Inspection — but not yet closed —...Read More
Advice to Would-Be Home Sellers on Dual Agency: “Don’t” [Note to Readers: 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.] If your prospective Realtor won’t agree to adding the clause above...Read More
Procuring Cause Paradox [Note to Readers: 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.] One of the more contentious, behind-the-scenes issues that can crop up in residential real estate is, “which...Read More
Explaining the Ghost “For Sale” Sign (Online, at least) Thanks to quirky (at least to me) MLS rules, home photos can’t include broker names or any other marketing information. Usually that’s not a problem, because the Realtor-ordered photos are taken before the “For Sale” sign is installed. Ahh, but when that’s not the case, to...Read More
Now, THAT’S What I Call Doing Your Legwork Hello, this is Stuart, a private home buyer interested in 42XX 18th Ave. South in Minneapolis. I can put together a buying agreement. Call me at a time that suits.” –Text on my cellphone (2/15/2021). What’s so unusual about the overture (above) that I received this morning?...Read More
More than WHAT? My short answer to the question, “Can I get more for my house if I put on a new roof?” is, “yes, you can.” That is, if by “more,” you mean, “more than what you could have gotten for the home without a new roof ” especially if the current one is...Read More