Five-Step Checklist One of the last steps before closing ” in fact, sometimes done on the way to closing* ” is the Buyer’s walk-thru. To my mind, at least, the Buyer’s walk-thru has these five goals: One. Determine that there’s been no change in the home’s condition since the Inspection Contingency was removed. What can...Read More
“As Is” ≅ “Pass/Fail” [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.] It seems obvious: if the Seller isn’t going to correct anything — the definition of “As Is” —...Read More
Man Bites Dog ” Real Estate Edition One of the odder anecdotes from a continuing ed class the other week was the hapless home seller who got sued not because their house was haunted ” but because it wasn’t. Apparently, the Seller had disclosed in their Minnesota Seller’s Disclosure that the home had experienced “paranormal...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 Answer to the Seller’s Question, “Do You Think I Should [ _____ ] . . . ?” is Always “Yes”** Consider the rather provocative question — from a homeowner contemplating selling their home in a few years — posed to The Ethicist, an advice column in The New York Times: “We live in a large house...Read More
“Animal/Insect/Pest Infestation? Check ‘Yes’ or ‘No'” Do a cursory search online for “animal control,” “bat removal,” or similar, and you’ll find at least a dozen Twin Cities contractors advertising their services. Meanwhile, something like 35,000 Twin Cities homes sell each year. Even if bats inhabit less than 1% of Twin Cities homes, there should be...Read More
