Real Estate Jargon 101 What’s the difference between an “accepted” offer and a “fully executed” one? Absolutely nothing. As a former corporate attorney, I actually prefer the latter term, because it’s just a tad more precise, descriptive, etc. However, it can also sound a bit . . . intimidating (especially the “executed” part). Which is why...Read More
Question #2: Is That Different Than “Large?” “Original hardwood floors have just been re-done, four oversize bedrooms, tremendous woodwork & period fixtures.” —”Public Remarks,” MLS. “Oversized” is one of those imprecise adjectives that you occasionally run into in real estate: they certainly sound good, but, on closer inspection, don’t convey much if any information. Sort...Read More
Novice Realtors Rush In Where Pro’s Fear to Tread “Never negotiate furniture.” “Never negotiate furniture.” “Never negotiate furniture.” “Never negotiate furniture.” Realtors who don’t know the above rule ” or forget it ” soon get the opportunity to (re)learn it. That’s because negotiating the sale of personal property, particularly furniture, can be more challenging than dealing...Read More
Qualifying Buyers #101 In the course of holding hundreds (thousands?) of Sunday open houses over the years, I can usually tell relatively quickly whether a given prospect is serious or not. See if you can guess which of the comments below indicate serious Buyer interest: A. “I LOVE this house. Why is it so cheap?!?” B. “What...Read More
” . . . and Your Dog’s Ugly” I recently heard about an agent who shows up at every listing presentation ” essentially, a job interview for Realtors ” with a conspicuous “Sold” sign that they leave in plain view of the prospective Seller. Apparently, the agent thinks it projects confidence, “go-getter” hustle, etc.** However, it backfired...Read More
