Seller Disclosure Conundrum I’ve certainly seen Sellers who waive their home disclosure. Less commonly, I’ve also seen Sellers who not only (conscientiously) complete their own Seller’s Disclosure, but provide the previous Seller’s Disclosure as well (lawyers call this “tacking”). But, I can’t recall previously seeing a home Seller who did . . . both. It’s...Read More
Minnesota Home Seller Disclosure Duties — and their Realtor’s(!) Just like good stand-up comedians establish themes that they keep revisiting (see, Jerry Seinfeld; Chris Rock; Louis CK), a good continuing ed speaker repeatedly invokes a mantra for practitioners (Minnesota Realtors like yours truly) to heed. Yesterday’s (much repeated) mantra: “if you crack the door open a...Read More
Moot Unless Something’s Happened to the Home It’s not what I recommend to my Buyer clients, but there are plenty of Buyers who put off doing their walk-thru inspection until just before closing. Like, on the way. At least in theory, the Owner has an ongoing duty to update their Seller’s Disclosure up to and...Read More
Is the Absence of a Negative a Positive? Yes, But . . . Do home sellers get credit for a dry basement? Answer: “absolutely” (I mean, “you betcha!”). It’s just not something that — as a listing agent representing the owner — I’d necessarily put in the home’s marketing materials.* Rather, a bone dry basement ensures that the...Read More
Doing Your Homework Before You Buy What’s “due diligence?” It depends on what you’re buying. If it’s a dozen eggs . . . it’s checking to see that none are cracked. If it’s a multi-billion dollar corporation, it consists of poring over the company’s books, auditing its cash and accounts receivable, scrutinizing the company’s intellectual...Read More
Coming Soon? Maybe (and Define, “Soon”) The Twin Cities’ Southwest Light Rail line sure has traveled a bumpy path. And that’s just the discussion phase — never mind the actual route. The latest, uhh . . speed bump: Whether a stretch of the line in Minneapolis is to traverse Lake of the Isles and Cedar...Read More
