“The More Things Change” Department Once upon a time, when I started selling real estate in 2002, the worksheet that Buyers and Sellers signed at closing was simply known as . . . the settlement statement (or just the closing worksheet, to avoid any jargon). Then it became the “HUD-1” (HUD stands for “Housing and Urban Development,” the federal...Read More
Home Seller Lament: “But, I Got it (Full Price) Before!” One of the toughest pills for home Sellers to swallow is revisiting their asking price in the wake of a failed deal, especially if the deal was for full price (or more), early in the listing. That’s especially so when the deal later fell apart solely...Read More
Listing agents (representing home sellers) are big fans of home warranties. Personally, I love them. Test your knowledge of residential real estate today, and see if you know why: A. Realtors don’t pay the premium (Sellers typically do). B. Realtors get a commission for each home warranty policy they sell. C. Listing agents know that...Read More
The Home Seller – Realtor Interview (aka “Listing Presentation”): What Agents Need to Ask Homeowners [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. If you need legal advice, please consult an attorney.] When it comes to listing presentations —...Read More
List of Tasks What goes into hosting a successful dinner party? My list includes: –Make sure the home is cleaned up and inviting; –Buy/prepare food + desserts; –Set out plates and utensils; –Provide a mix of drinks (soft and otherwise), plus glasses and ice; –Send out invites in a timely fashion; –In wintertime (at least...Read More
The “For Sale” Home With 82(!) Photos Once upon a time — like, seven years ago — the maximum number of photos on MLS was 10. Then the number was increased to 18, then to 24, and most recently to . . . no limit. The record (so far) for an individual listing since the...Read More
