Recommending a Radon Test (or Not) No man Realtor can serve two masters.” –New Testament (slightly changed). [Note to Readers: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire Hathaway, or any other entity referenced. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Regular readers will...Read More
Writing on the Wall For Realtors still adjusting to last year’s beefed-up radon disclosure — Minnesota’s Seller Disclosure now includes a mandatory section on radon — there are more such changes on the horizon in 2016 and beyond. Such as: –A Minnesota state licensing requirement for radon inspectors and contractors. –A “system tag” indicating that a radon...Read More
What Radon and Polygraph Tests Have in Common If your furnace goes out in January in Minnesota . . . it’s a pretty high priority repair. Ditto for a central a/c compressor that decides to konk out in July. Fortunately, there’s a perfectly good, temporary solution for basements that are discovered — sometimes in the...Read More
Need a Contractor? Take a Number If you’re a Twin Cities homeowner trying to remodel a Bath, re-paint the Amusement Room, or even deal with a plumbing emergency, you doubtless already know: local contractors are in scarce supply. So, which trade/specialty has the longest backlog right now? My nominee is radon remediation contractors. Thanks to beefed-up...Read More
Other “Votes”: the Lender, Local Municipality, and Insurer Unbeknownst to the Seller, the Buyer’s inspection uncovered a material problem with their home that the parties agree should be fixed. When that happens, who takes care of it? The short answer: “whomever the parties agree” (at least if no one else has a say — see...Read More
The Slowest Day of the Year If there are other days of the year besides Christmas when there are zero cars in the Edina Realty parking lot during daylight hours . . . I’m not aware of it (even on Easter Sunday, there are usually a few Realtors around, due to the busier time of...Read More
