New & Improved (& Bigger!) Once upon a time, the only kind of banner ad was . . . a real, live banner (usually made out of weather-resistant nylon). With the advent of the Internet, banner ads took on a new, digital meaning: a horizontal ad spanning the top of your computer screen. Starting this Spring,...Read More
High Washout Rate [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.] One of the last things that can come up before would-be home sellers officially hire an agent is what Realtors call an exclusion (or sometimes protected) list. In...Read More
Current Twin Cities Inventory of “For Sale” Homes: < 9,000 Units** Exactly how tight is the Twin Cities housing market at the moment? So tight that Saturday open houses are mobbed, never mind Sunday. One Edina Realty – City Lakes agent reported that 60 people came through her Saturday open last weekend. **At the peak...Read More
Getting You More Money For Your Home & More Home For Your Money After almost 15 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,...Read More
Comparing Honey Crisps to Braeburns One of the more quizzical looks Realtors get is when they (try to) explain to a prospective home Seller that their neighbor’s house isn’t a “Comp” (Comparable Sold Property) for pricing theirs. For the uninitiated, a Comp is one of the three homes Realtors and appraisers use to determine fair market value; once...Read More
I’ve probably seen > 100,000 property photos on MLS, but I don’t recall previously seeing one where the caption — in this case, describing Kitchen features — was embedded in the photo (“superimposed” also works). Pros: it’s hard(er) to miss. Cons: it risks looking cluttery. Verdict? At least for my listings, I’m going to stick...Read More