Getting You More Money For Your Home & More Home For Your Money After 13+ years selling homes, I think I finally have come up with a succinct definition of what a good Realtor does: they maximize what you get. The sales side of that equation is straightforward: a good Realtor maximizes the money you get, net...Read More
A Little Passover Irony, or “Wait a Second! Isn’t ‘Exodus’ Associated with Getting OUT??” I’ve made my peace with paying close to $10 for a movie ticket. However, $4 for a smallish candy bar or a box of M&M’s is another thing. So — full confession — we Kaplan’s have been known to smuggle a...Read More
Backup Offers As high school seniors (and their parents) are acutely aware this time of year, colleges have waiting lists. But so does residential real estate. It’s just that the real estate version is called a “backup offer.” The usual scenario: a runner-up Buyer is very interested in a property that is now under contract, and wants...Read More
Real Estate Oxymorons Well, yes, that “new roof in 1998” would be a selling feature — if it were 1999 or 2000. Almost 20 years later, however, what the listing agent is really telling prospective Buyers is that the roof is close to if not past its expected life (20-25 years for most 3-tab asphalt...Read More
Aren’t Multiple Offers Good For Sellers?? Listing Agent: “How did the showing go?” Buyer’s Agent: “Great! They loved it.” Listing Agent: “Is the Buyer going to write?” Buyer’s agent: “No.” Listing agent: “Why not?” Buyer’s agent: “The Buyer doesn’t want to participate in an auction.” –Email exchange between Buyer’s agent and Listing Agent (representing Seller)...Read More
