Loose Door Knobs and Caviar-Stocked Fridges Test your knowledge of today’s housing market, and answer the following question: Which of the following issues are properly raised by a Buyer’s home inspection, and resolved either by a Seller price concession, or the Seller assuming responsibility for repair(s)? A. The dated Kitchen; B. A concrete driveway with multiple...Read More
Negotiating is a crucial part of any deal, and lays the foundation for a clear, enforceable contract. Haggling is . . . an annoying waste of time. What’s the difference? Exactly two decimals. $10,000 vs. $100 So, a $10,000 item on a $250,000 house is the stuff of negotiation. A $100 item (or less) is haggling. (Note: accountants’...Read More
Exactly What Part is “Partial?” I certainly know what a “partial basement” is. At least in the Twin Cities, that often goes with a pre-1900 structure, and is commonly made of limestone. On the other hand, I have no idea what a “partial bathroom” is (and certainly wouldn’t want to use one!). That was the term...Read More
As stressful as selling a home and moving to another is for people . . . it can be even more so for family pets. The obvious reason: there’s no way to explain to them what’s happening (at least that I know). The cure? Extra attention, exercise, and TLC ” and if that doesn’t work,...Read More
Square Pegs into Round Irregular Holes The input field on MLS for room sizes asks for two numbers: the room’s width and its length. Which works great if a room is rectangular. But what if it’s not? If the room has a dormer, is L-shaped, curved, or otherwise defies a standard “width x length” measurement,...Read More
Red States, Blue Cities I’ve been filing my taxes for a couple of decades now, and once upon a time was even a CPA. Still, I’d never heard the term “SALT deductions” until yesterday (it’s an acronym for “state and local tax deductions”). Wanna guess what one of the biggest bones of contention in the...Read More
