Thanksgiving Eve 2020 Wait a second ” when an otherwise well-prepped and marketed home isn’t selling, don’t listing agents try to get home sellers to reduce their price? And don’t most home sellers stubbornly resist, no matter how compelling the Realtor’s market data (or underwhelming Buyers’ interest)? Well . . . usually. But there are...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
“Virtual” vs. “Analog” (In-Person) Showings I certainly understand the temptation — in a worsening Pandemic — to substitute a virtual home tour for the real thing.** But, prospective Buyers should be aware that there are some critical limitations. Here’s my “Top Ten” list of things that are difficult (if not impossible) to detect online: One....Read More
Child-Friendly Floor Plan Test your knowledge of today’s housing market, and guess which of the following can be a deal breaker for many family buyers with young children: A. Not enough Bedrooms on one level. B. Dated Kitchen and/or Bathrooms. C. Busy street. D. No view of the backyard from the Kitchen. Answer: all of the above. Room...Read More
What Does the Home Seller Have to Disclose? [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.] It comes up rarely enough that even a former attorney (I am) needs...Read More
Missing by a Little ” or a Lot? What does a “non-conforming bedroom” look like? When it comes to “For Sale” homes, it could mean a lot of things. At one extreme, a Realtor might list a bedroom as “non-conforming” because the egress window is smaller than allowed by code, or there’s no closet. At...Read More
