Biting the Bullet vs. Discounting the Sales Price Can Minnesota homeowners sell a house with a red-tagged furnace? The somewhat surprising answer: “You betcha!”** Ahhh, but is it smart to sell a home that needs a new furnace? The answer to that is more nuanced. Here’s mine: “Usually not — but it depends on the home’s...Read More
Buyer: “My Offer is (WAY) Below Your Asking Price Because . . .” It’s no sin trying to buy a home at a discount. Of course, especially in a strong Seller’s market, such a strategy has almost no chance of succeeding . . . but there’s no harm in trying (as they say). What I wouldn’t recommend...Read More
Client to Agent: “What Would You Do?” “You break it, you own it.” —The Pottery Barn Rule. “You make it, you own it” (translation: if you make a decision for a client . . . you are responsible for the consequences). —Real estate corollary, Ross Kaplan. Whether it’s in the context of choosing a home, negotiating a deal,...Read More
High Washout Rate [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.] One of the last things that can come up before would-be home sellers officially hire an agent is what Realtors call an exclusion (or sometimes protected) list. In...Read More
“You Know One When You See One” “The race is not to the swift, nor the battle to the strong ” but that’s the way to bet.” -—Ecclesiastes (with an assist from Damon Runyon). For the benefit of non-Realtors, here’s a “Top Ten” List of ways that Realtors know that a home Buyer is serious....Read More
Realtor Showings, Previews, and “Quasi-Showings” A Realtor showing is straightforward: it’s when an agent privately takes their client through a “For Sale” property. Just the Realtor and client (no homeowner), usually for an hour — much less, if it’s a “pass” for the client. Similarly, a public open house is self-explanatory: it’s when agents throw...Read More
