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). In plain English: it isn’t relevant — at least directly — for pricing their home. For the uninitiated, a Comp is...Read More
Multiple Offers and Appraisal Worries (Still) Alice in Wonderland would’ve loved today’s bizzaro housing market. That’s because — in the midst of an unprecedented Buyer feeding frenzy — “up” is often “down,” “in” is “out,” and “down” is “up.” Exhibit A: the Minnetonka home seller who reportedly countered a Buyer $20k below the price offered...Read More
Dual Agency Dilemma #14 [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.] Never having represented both the Buyer and Seller in the same transaction (I consider it a...Read More
Advice to Would-Be Home Sellers on Dual Agency: “Don’t” [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.] If your prospective Realtor won’t agree to adding the clause above...Read More
Better Than Mirrors** How do you make a home that may be smaller and/or have a challenging layout, feel bigger and more flowing? Pick one floor covering to use throughout. Depending on the size home, putting in a new, neutral-colored Berber carpet can cost $5,000 (or more). But, it can easily add 3x – 4x...Read More
Ironically, the better Realtors get at helping clients buy and sell real estate . . . the worse they can get at certain related tasks. Here are three areas where it’s easy for agents to let their skills atrophy — or never acquire expertise in the first place: One. Market reports/updates. Show me a listing...Read More