When the Neighbors are the Dealbreaker Prospective Buyer: “We love the house. But we could never live across the street from that pornographic statue.” Phil Dunphy: “Oh . . . huh . . . I never noticed it.” Prospective Buyer: “Yeah . . . you can see it from inside when you look out the...Read More
“This side appears to be brown.” –What a CPA says, when asked the color of a horse standing in a pasture 50 feet away. “Buyer no longer interested in property.” –Buyer’s agent explaining why they canceled a showing. CPA’s (I used to be) and Realtors (what I’ve been for 16 years) are equally adept at...Read More
“I’m Not Being Rude . . . I’m Just Being a Realtor” It’s purely anecdotal, but my guess is that nobody can (and does!) end a conversation faster than a veteran Realtor. They/we aren’t being short or abrupt. Rather, we’re just juggling lots of balls, and know that, when a hard-to-reach client pops up on your caller ID...Read More
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder Buyer When should a listing agent (representing the Seller) explicitly market that a home “needs cosmetic updates” (or the equivalent)? Less often than you might guess. Here are my three reasons why: One. The pictures tell the story. Most MLS’s allow 24 photos; websites like EdinaRealty.com effectively allow...Read More
High Quality Problems to Have [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. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] Which of the following roles pose a potential conflict of interest for a Realtor? (at least...Read More
“Pour me somethin’ tall an’ strong Make it a “Hurricane” before I go insane It’s only half-past twelve but I don’t care It’s five o’clock somewhere.” –Lyrics, “It’s Five O’clock Somewhere”; performed by Alan Jackson and Jimmy Buffett What’s the work equivalent of the Jackson/Buffett song? If you’re a busy agent with clients in multiple...Read More
