Issues That Do (and Don’t) Come Up on Inspection Want to know how much it costs to fix a cracked chimney cap? A veteran Realtor probably has at least a ballpark idea. Ditto for a new roof, boiler, electric service panel, or central a/c. However, it’s a good bet that the same agent doesn’t have...Read More
The Easy Way . . . and the Hard Way The Buyer’s inspection revealed a material defect in the home that the Seller doesn’t dispute. Both parties want to stay in the deal. What are their options? Option #1: the Seller fixes the problem, prior to closing. Here are the related steps: Buyer and Seller...Read More
Listing agents (representing home sellers) are big fans of home warranties. Personally, I love them. Test your knowledge of residential real estate today, and see if you know why: A. Realtors don’t pay the premium (Sellers typically do). B. Realtors get a commission for each home warranty policy they sell. C. Listing agents know that...Read More
Biting the Bullet vs. Discounting the Sales Price Can Minnesota homeowners sell a house with a red-tagged furnace? The somewhat surprising answer: “You betcha!”** Ahhh, but is it smart to sell a home that needs a new furnace? The answer to that is more nuanced. Here’s mine: “Usually not — but it depends on the home’s...Read More
The Easy Way . . . and the Hard Way The Buyer’s inspection revealed a material defect in the home that the Seller doesn’t dispute. Both parties want to stay in the deal. What are their options? Option #1: the Seller fixes the problem, prior to closing. Here are the related steps: Buyer and Seller...Read More
Target Market: Realtors “Get Met. It Pays.” –Advertising slogan of the Metropolitan Life Insurance Company. It turns out that companies selling home warranties — increasingly, a feature of many home sales — market their policies the same way other insurance companies do. Namely, by touting how many claims they pay. The difference is that the...Read More
