What’s in an Adjective? A LOT It may seem like a subtle distinction, but home sellers are a LOT safer billing their “new” Kitchen as simply “newer.” The difference? Buyers purchasing a new Kitchen might reasonably expect to see paid receipts. So might the appraiser representing the Buyer’s lender, once the deal advances from inspection...Read More
“Nice Try” Department I give the listing agent (representing the Seller) credit for trying: the line (above) certainly sounds like a compliment. And it may even have been true, once upon a time. But, best guesses are: a) the home was built a long time ago; and b) it’s hardly beautiful now (there were no pictures accompanying...Read More
First Rule of “For Sale” Home Prep: Consistency Fellow blogger and Twin Cities Realtor Teresa Boardman has a nice piece explaining why Kitchen remodels can backfire on would-be home sellers. See, “Kitchen Remodels That Hurt Resale.” In addition to Boardman’s two reasons, I’ve got two more: One. The owner did a great job remodeling the...Read More
“Counter”-Productive Improvements What do you call an old Kitchen with new granite counter-tops? A. An updated Kitchen; B. An old Kitchen with new granite counter-tops Answer: B Admittedly, that’s not the answer that many home sellers (and their listing agents) would give. However, that’s how the vast majority of Buyers are likely to view it. In...Read More