“Thou shalt not speak ill of any fellow Republican.” –Ronald Reagan’s so-called “Eleventh Commandment.” Why do Realtors nationally suffer from abysmal approval ratings, roughly on a par with used car salesmen and Congress? Personally, I doubt it’s because the industry is full of hucksters and charlatans. On the contrary, after 15+ years selling real estate...Read More
Yes, I know: when people talk about whether it’s a “Seller’s Market” or a “Buyer’s Market,” they’re referring to whether Buyers or Sellers currently have the upper hand (news flash: the Twin Cities housing market has strongly favored Sellers the last several years). But, there’s also a pendulum for hosting weekend open houses. Although I personally like...Read More
[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. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Clients may not know, but their Realtors do (or should): what the statute of limitations is for bringing an action, post-closing,...Read More
Listing Agent Refrain in Early October Let’s get it on Let’s get it on, baby This minute, oh yeah Let’s get it on Please, let’s get it on –Marvin Gaye; Lyrics, “Let’s Get It On.” At least when it comes out of a Realtor’s mouth, the line, “let’s get it on [the market]”** isn’t untoward...Read More
Target Market: Realtors “Get Met. It Pays.” –Advertising slogan of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. It turns out that companies selling home warranties — increasingly, a feature of many home sales — market their policies the same way other insurance companies do. Namely, by touting how many claims they pay. The difference is that the...Read More
When it Makes Sense to “Quietly” Market a Home “Don’t be a secret agent.” –Advice to newbie Realtors. “If you’re going to put your home on the market . . . let the world know.” –Corollary, Ross Kaplan Looking for the four most expensive “For Sale” homes in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood right...Read More
