Now, THAT’S Going Cold Turkey! Speaking from experience, it’s almost impossible to completely disconnect from work the couple of times a year I take a genuine break. Somehow, the resolve to only check emails once or twice a day erodes, or, some unanticipated issue with a file pops up that requires my (hopefully) brief attention. Which is why...Read More
Shining a Spotlight on Dubious Charges Supposedly, right angles don’t exist in nature. Similarly, people seldom make purchases for even amounts. So, the grocery/gas/dry cleaning bill is almost never exactly $40; rather, it’s $39.72 or $40.17 or some such. “That’s Odd!” (Literally) Consumers can use that phenomenon to help thwart credit card fraudsters who —...Read More
Listing Agent Retort: “I’ll Tell You Right After You Tell Me How High the Buyer is Willing to Go” You (almost) never hear a listing agent (representing a Seller) say to a Buyer’s agent at the outset of negotiations: “let’s cut to the chase; what’s the most your Buyer will pay for my client’s property?”...Read More
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder Buyer When should a listing agent (representing the Seller) explicitly market that a home “needs cosmetic updates” (or the equivalent)? Less often than you might guess. Here are my three reasons why: One. The pictures tell the story. For years, websites like EdinaRealty.com have allowed an unlimited number...Read More
“This Offer is Only Valid Until Noon, January 16” [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.] At least in Minnesota, where I sell real estate, deadlines are incorporated...Read More
Deal Insurance for Home Sellers, or, “The Art of the Backup Offer” [Editor’s Note: one of the perks — and pleasures — of working for a Berkshire Hathaway affiliate like Edina Realty is having office privileges in hundreds of locations around the U.S. Like in Scottsdale, AZ, where I recently visited. The post below was...Read More
