“The Answer to the Seller’s Question, “Do You Think I Should [ _____ ] . . . ?” is Always “Yes”** Consider the rather provocative question ” from a homeowner contemplating selling their home in a few years ” posed to The Ethicist, an advice column in The New York Times: We live in a large house...Read More
Written vs. Verbal Counter-Offers [Note to Readers: 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.] OK, so “Written vs. Verbal Counter-Offers” isn’t a very sexy title. But it’s a fascinating subject....Read More
Answer: It Depends on the Buyer ” and the House* It may be a surprise to people who associate Minnesota with year-round Arctic cold, but summers here ” while admittedly not long ” can be hot and VERY sticky. Hence the locals’ preference for central air conditioning. Which raises the question: if a home lacks...Read More
First Dentist Visit Since March How do you respond when your dental hygienist asks if “anything has changed” since your last visit? (in my case, that would be March 4, just over 4 months ago). You mean like . . . –A global pandemic that’s already infected more than 3 million Americans, and killed almost...Read More
“Highest & Best,” Defined One of the more anguished ” and fruitless ” laments uttered by Buyers who just heard they lost in multiple offers is: “But, I would’ve gone higher!” Then, they should have. The way “highest & best” works is . . . pretty much how you’d think. One round, highest and best...Read More
Low(er) Odds of Wet Basement Older may not be better when it comes to furnaces, roofs, and major appliances. However, if there’s any question about whether a home’s basement is wet, old is very good. Why’s that? Because carpeting that repeatedly gets wet and dries out becomes moldy, discolored, and generally starts to deteriorate. Ditto...Read More
