Retail vs. Wholesale Open Houses One of the best, early omens for a new listing is when agents leaving the Broker Open casually toss off compliments like “nice listing,” “good job!,” or simply “congratulations.” What’s another? When several newer, less experienced agents contact you, asking if they can hold a weekend open house at your...Read More
New Document Distribution Model: “Come & Get It” “Ransomware Attack Raises Concerns Over Future Assaults” –Headline, The NYT (June 28, 2017). Both professionally (as a Realtor) and as an investor (401k, etc.), it’s apparent to me how big organizations intend to safeguard valuable information from increasingly aggressive and sophisticated hackers. Step #1: lock it up in...Read More
New & Improved (& Bigger!) Once upon a time, the only kind of banner ad was . . . a real, live banner (usually made out of weather-resistant nylon). With the advent of the Internet, banner ads took on a new, digital meaning: a horizontal ad spanning the top of your computer screen. Starting this Spring,...Read More
Keeping the Listing Fresh** As a Buyer’s agent, I know an (almost) surefire way to get recalcitrant clients to buy: head to the airport. See, “Want Buyers to Buy? Head to the Airport.” What’s the equivalent for listing agents (representing Sellers)? Update the home’s photos (a necessity in Minnesota’s fast-changing, extreme climate). Keeping Up the (Sales) Pressure...Read More
Sleazy Realtor Ads, or, “Sorry, But Not THAT Sorry” According to my Realtor grapevine, at least a few Twin Cities homeowners are being solicited — immediately after the death of a loved one — by, to put it mildly . . . aggressive Realtors seeking their business. The apparent source of the lead? Government death certificates, published...Read More
Why Didn’t the Home Sell?? “We finished last with you, we can finish last without you.” –Pirate general manager Branch Rickey to slugger Ralph Kiner, explaining why he decided to trade him. The usual scenario with For Sale By Owner Homes (known in the industry as “FSBO’s”) is a homeowner who initially tries to sell their...Read More
