Savvy Strategy for Getting Realtor Referrals Smart Realtors know that the most important people coming through weekend open houses aren’t necessarily checking out the house. Rather, they’re checking out them. Specifically, the open house visitors — often neighbors — want to see if the agent is doing a good job marketing the home, is knowledgeable, easy to talk...Read More
“TNAS” vs. “Active, Subject to Inspection” “Seller Shall/Shall Not have the right to continue to offer the Property for sale until this Inspection Contingency is removed” (check one). –Standard Minnesota Purchase Agreement, lines 192. – 193. [Editor’s Note: The views expressed here are solely those of Ross Kaplan, and do not represent Edina Realty, Berkshire...Read More
Open 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m. Sunday (March 4) Where: 2521 Kipling Avenue South, just west of Minneapolis’ Cedar Lake. What: 1.5 Story, 3 Bedroom/3 Bath home with over 2,200 finished square feet on a huge lot (75′ x 138′). When: on the market today (March 2). How much: $439,900. Who: listed by Ross Kaplan, Edina Realty –...Read More
Qualifying Buyers #101 In the course of holding hundreds (thousands?) of Sunday open houses over the years, I can usually tell relatively quickly whether a given prospect is serious or not. See if you can guess which of the comments below indicate serious Buyer interest: A. “I LOVE this house. Why is it so cheap?!?” B. “What...Read More
Realtor Showings, Previews, and “Quasi-Showings” A Realtor showing is straightforward: it’s when an agent privately takes their client through a “For Sale” property. Just the Realtor and client (no homeowner), usually for an hour — much less, if it’s a “pass” for the client. Similarly, a public open house is self-explanatory: it’s when agents throw...Read More
Leads, Serious Leads . . . & Tire Kickers After hosting a couple hundred (thousand?) weekend open houses, I still learn useful things about Buyers — as well as the home I’ve been hired to sell. Which is why I do ’em (vs. letting newer agents pinch hit for me). The most important insight? It’s...Read More