Some Properties Are Bought, Some Are Sold True or false: what Realtors call “the selling agent” once a deal closes represents the Seller (no, this isn’t another “Grant’s Tomb” question). Answer: false. The agent who represents the owner/seller is called “the listing agent”; post-closing, the Buyer’s agent is referred to as “the selling agent.” Nomenclature...Read More
Gutter Extension Camouflage I usually associate “staging” with the inside of a home. But, when it comes to selling a house, few things matter more than curb appeal, and a key ingredient of curb appeal is landscaping — specifically, in front of the home. Ergo, the advice my stager gave to a Southwest Minneapolis client...Read More
I’m Pretty Sure the Old Survey Isn’t Stored on a Flash Drive I’m handling an Edina home sale now where the owner needs to get an updated survey. My client asked if I had any names (I do), but then it occurred to them to see who did the now 72(!) year-old survey, from 1942....Read More
The Easy Way . . . and the Hard Way The Buyer’s inspection revealed a material defect in the home that the Seller doesn’t dispute. Both parties want to stay in the deal. What are their options? Option #1: the Seller fixes the problem, prior to closing. Here are the related steps: Buyer and Seller...Read More
Getting You More Money For Your Home & More Home For Your Money After 13+ years selling homes, I think I finally have come up with a succinct definition of what a good Realtor does: they maximize what you get. The sales side of that equation is straightforward: a good Realtor maximizes the money you get, net...Read More
Seller’s Market Side Effects “Twin Cities Housing Market Caught In A Supply Crunch As Demand Intensifies.” —Headline, Twin Cities Business (April 14, 2016) One of the side effects of a Seller’s market with very tight inventory is a surge in so-called “reverse contingencies,” whereby a homeowner agrees to sell only if they can find another...Read More
