Client to Agent: “What Would You Do?” “You break it, you own it.” —The Pottery Barn Rule. “You make it, you own it” (translation: if you make a decision for a client . . . you are responsible for the consequences). —Real estate corollary, Ross Kaplan. Whether it’s in the context of choosing a home, negotiating a deal,...Read More
Dubious Symbolism Every so often, I actually need to mail something to another agent. Most common example: an earnest money check, when a Buyer client prefers not to electronically transfer funds, either due to logistics or security concerns. Which means I need a postage stamp, which means I need to choose a postage stamp. What, No German...Read More
Mourning the Loss of a House: not “The One,” after all Just because no one died, doesn’t mean that home Buyers who feel compelled to cancel a deal — typically in the wake of a (very) bad inspection — aren’t disappointed. In fact, depending on how excited the Buyer was about the home in question, how...Read More
If you’re a prospective Twin Cities home buyer viewing “For Sale” homes the morning after a big snowstorm, you certainly hope that every home is already plowed and shoveled, and otherwise accessible. Plan B? Follow in the footsteps of your agent — and the imprint made by their size 13 Sorel boots (in this case,...Read More
MLS Style Category Definitions 1. (SF) One Story (ONEST) One story single-family house 2. (SF) One 1/2 Stories (ONEHF) One 1/2 story single-family house. Second floor only has adequate ceiling height in a portion of it. 3. (SF) Two Stories (TWOST) Two story single-family house. Has adequate ceiling height throughout upper story. 4. (SF) More Than Two Stories (MRTTS)...Read More
Beauty in the Eye of the Beholder Buyer When should a listing agent (representing the Seller) explicitly market that a home “needs cosmetic updates” (or the equivalent)? Less often than you might guess. Here are my three reasons why: One. The pictures tell the story. Most MLS’s allow 24 photos; websites like EdinaRealty.com effectively allow...Read More
