Different Focuses, Priorities What’s the difference between an inexperienced Buyer’s agent and a veteran? When the novice shows a home to clients, they study the home. When an experienced agent shows clients a home . . . they study their client. Of course, if the client likes the home, the agent forms an opinion about...Read More
The Hilltop Home in a Flood Plain (Huh?!?) When a home appears on a Federal Emergency Management Agency (“FEMA”) map showing its “flood zone designation,” you might assume that the home was located in a flood plain — and subject to (very expensive) flood insurance. Unh-unh. It turns out that ALL Minnesota homes have been assigned a flood...Read More
[Your Name Here] Award I have no idea for what, or who decided (actually, some organization called “American Registry” emailed this to me, along with a pitch to pay them money). But, it says so in the fine print on a plaque, so it must be right . . . 🙂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
Opportunity? Or Deal Breaker? Water damage in the lower level — explicitly disclosed by the Seller on MLS — represents which of the following: A. A deal breaker. B. An opportunity for the right Buyer. C. Both “A.” and “B.” Answer: “C.” At least in this case, Buyers decided that the Golden Valley rambler (pictured above) was...Read More
Electric Toothbrushes and Modern Gas Pumps One of my favorite “Family Circus” cartoons shows the children in the bathroom in their grandparents’ house, holding a manual toothbrush. The caption: “Look, Mom! A toothbrush you don’t have to plug in!” The Kaplan household recently had our own version of that experience, when my 17 year-old son (and...Read More
