Dangers of Dual Agency: Representing the Seller, and Angling to Represent the Buyer, Too [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.] I just went through a “For Sale” home on high-profile France Avenue near Minneapolis’ Cedar Lake,...Read More
“That About Covers It” Department The line, “owner occupant and investor offers welcome” sounds plausible enough. Then I stopped to think: is there another kind of Buyer?? Short answer: not that I’m aware of. I suppose “2nd home” or “vacation home” Buyer, if the property had been a lake cabin. But in this case the...Read More
Deal Makers & Deal Breakers I don’t know about other housing markets, but at least in the Twin Cities, it’s not customary to include floor plans in MLS listings. In fact, I’d estimate that fewer than 1% of all listings have them. The two exceptions I’m aware of: 1) new construction, especially upper bracket and...Read More
Chaperoned Showings: “Listing Agent Must Be Present For All Showings” It certainly CAN be a negative when a “For Sale” home — usually upper bracket — has restrictive showing instructions (other variants: lengthy advance notice; financially pre-qualifying Buyers; no previews; and/or no public open houses — ever). It’s also usually a “no-no” for a listing agent...Read More
28 Showings in 2 Months Whatever their shortcomings may be, the agent who generated 28 showings for their listing client in less than two months isn’t a lousy marketer (note to non-Realtors: that’s A LOT of showings — at any price point). And yet, the Realtor’s client reportedly wasn’t happy with them. What gives? The...Read More
Too Many Showings? Far be it from me to tell anyone who to vote for. But, let me suggest borrowing a criterion from the world of residential real estate to pick the next President (or major party nominee). Letting Buyers Off the Hook When I work with Buyers who remain lukewarm about a home even...Read More
