. . . vs. a Pound of Cure The “ounce of prevention” — at least for the listing agent (representing the home seller) — is straightforward: when the appraiser (representing the Buyer’s lender) schedules an appointment to view their client’s home, they email or call to introduce themselves. My usual m.o. is to tell the...Read More
Buyers Who Hear Footsteps (i.e., Backup Offers) “Offer accepted contingent on 3 weeks of due diligence by builder. Accepting back up offers now. All showings through listing agent.” –Agent Remarks, MLS Normally, “Contingent Upon: Other” on MLS means a property — typically a condo or townhome — is under contract, but that the Buyer is still reviewing...Read More
Two Types of “Non-MLS” Listings Not every “For Sale” home is on MLS. That’s the case even if the home is being represented by a professional Realtor. Why would a homeowner who truly wants to sell not want to reach the broadest possible range of prospective Buyers (on MLS), and instead quietly market their home?...Read More
It’s Going to Be Hard to Check the Basement Mechanical’s “Bring a flashlight, property has no power/lights. Use extreme caution when showing inside as property has been gutted and stairs are open. –Excerpt, MLS “Agent Remarks” Laymen may not realize it, but there are TWO types of “Remarks” on MLS: those intended only for other...Read More
The Key-Less (Clueless?) Realtor There may be a good explanation why a full-time, professional Realtor doesn’t have a smart key . . . but I don’t know what it is. For the uninitiated, a lockbox is how Buyers’ agents access an MLS-listed, “For Sale” property. While there are two kinds of lockboxes — electronic and manual...Read More
“$2,000 bonus to Realtor at closing.” –Excerpt, “Agent Remarks” section of MLS listing Most Realtors (at least the ones I know) are bottom line-oriented. So, is “goosing” the payout offered to Buyers’ agents a good way to move a listing faster and/or for more money? In my experience, yes — up to a point. It’s...Read More
