Not Just Superstition Any More I’ve long suspected that at least a few home sellers were eavesdropping on prospective Buyers with listening devices. But I just, umm . . . heard (through the grapevine, as they say) of a substantiated case in Minnesota. Apparently, the Seller overheard the Buyer say how much they would pay for...Read More
Negotiating One Deal — or Two?? Good agents instinctively know that “he who negotiates least, negotiates best.” Which is why they avoid drafting early move-in and holdover agreements — and discourage their clients from entering into them. Side Deals The vast majority of the time, the issue never arises because the Buyer takes possession from...Read More
Jury of One’s Peers, or, “It Takes One to Know One” Want to know who the top local Realtors are for any given area? Not just sales volume, but actually talented, professional, effective, etc.? Ask their peers. Specifically, ask the agents who’ve done deals with them — and have witnessed, first-hand, how well they market,...Read More
Moot Unless Something’s Happened to the Home It’s not what I recommend to my Buyer clients, but there are plenty of Buyers who put off doing their walk-thru inspection until just before closing. Like, on the way. At least in theory, the Owner has an ongoing duty to update their Seller’s Disclosure up to and...Read More
Practice Makes Perfect Is it true that the best negotiators are the ones who’ve done it the most? If so, then the world’s best negotiators, bar none, are residential Realtors. While wheeler-dealers like Donald Trump or gambling mogul Steve Wynn may be involved in a couple dozen major deals in a career, it’s not uncommon...Read More
Doing Deals on Napkins — and Toothpicks; or, “Bend it Like Beckham Buffett?” Probably Not [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. Edina Realty’s ultimate parent company is Berkshire Hathaway, whose CEO is Warren Buffett.] If Warren...Read More
