Realtors vs. Appraisers vs. Zillow “347-0″. That’s approximately the number of times ” most recently this afternoon ” that I’ve been called by Appraisers wanting the scoop on a property I’ve recently sold, vs. the number of times I’ve called an Appraiser to find out the same. Inside Scoop (Literally) Which makes sense: as the listing...Read More
Realtor “Atta-Boy”: “Nice Listing!’ A new listing has a surprising number of parallels with the opening of a Broadway play. There’s the opening night anticipation. There are the hopes (and fears) about whether the audience (prospective Buyers) will like it. And there can be a sense of dread about what the toughest critics will have...Read More
“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
Seasoned vs. Green Buyers; The Role of Pre-List Networking “The first Buyer is (often) the best Buyer.” –Popular Realtor saying. It’s accepted wisdom amongst veteran Realtors (which I happen to agree with): “the first Buyer is (often) the best Buyer.” Why’s that? The explanation has to do with the nature of the pool of home...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
“Just Say “No!'” (or, “Tomorrow Works Much Better”) As a rule, the more accessible a home is to prospective Buyers . . . the easier it is to sell. But, that doesn’t mean Sellers can never say “no” ” either to a showing request, or, to a Buyer (and their agent) literally standing in their...Read More
