The King Staged Closet Has No Clothes Conventional staging wisdom when it comes to closets (yes, there is such a thing, at least for a walk-in master closet in a more expensive home) is that two-thirds full is optimal. Less than that, and the closet looks too empty; more than that, and it looks too...Read More
Best Advice to Home Sellers: “Tell What You Know” Homeowners can be forgiven for not knowing the difference between a special assessment that’s “pending,” vs. one’s that “levied” ” as opposed to one that is assessed and currently payable. Realtors have trouble keeping those terms straight as well. The best advice to give prospective home...Read More
Conspicuously Missing Term: Asking Price One of the more confusing contracts in residential real estate is what’s called a “One Time Showing Contract.” As you might guess, unlike a Listing Contract, which allows the Realtor to market a home to the world, a One Time Showing Contract contemplates a deal with exactly one prospective Buyer. Key Terms In...Read More
Consumer Psychology and the Too-Precise Price When you see an oddly-priced “For Sale” home, there are two possible explanations (at least in my experience selling residential real estate): One. Drawing Attention. The way to stand out from homes listed at $389,900, $399,900, etc. is to price at $398,731 or some such (I haven’t seen a home...Read More
Getting “Rebound” Listings Ready for Market Contrary to popular perception, not everything in a Seller’s market sells right away — or at all. When that’s the case, it’s common for the owner to either take their home off the market, or, if they’ve already moved out, to rent it (most popular lease term: one year)....Read More
Forget a New New Deal; We Need a New GI Bill Bernie Sanders may be calling for a “revolution” (“Revolution?”), but there’s nothing radical about free (or at least affordable) public college education. That was effectively the norm in this country for over half a century, spanning from after World War II until just the last...Read More
