Thanks for (Almost) Nothing No, that’s not actually what the email from my cell phone carrier (rhymes with “Schmerizon”) said earlier this week. That would be this: “It’s time to celebrate! Thank you for another year. In honor of your account anniversary, we’ve added 2,000 Smart Rewards points to your balance. Now, that’s a sweet...Read More
Not Just for Hairdressers It’s WAY too early to pronounce it a trend, but . . . I am noticing selected remodeling projects around the (Minneapolis) Lakes where the homeowner is using copper to punch up the home’s exterior appeal. The most popular applications: roofs, chimney caps, and downspouts. I don’t see residential buildings doing it...Read More
Post-Fall, Pre-Winter At least in the Twin Cities, the interlude between Thanksgiving and Christmas can be dark and dreary: the days are short (sunset is now close to 4:30 p.m.); the Fall colors are long gone; but the brilliant white of winter hasn’t yet arrived. In the meantime, the dominant color seems to be ....Read More
Realtor: “Don’t Call Me, I’ll Call You” “How about never? Is never good for you?” —New Yorker cartoon, showing two people scheduling a get-together. About 2-3 times a year, I handle a deal opposite an agent who seems to have a perpetually full voicemail box. Which begs the question: “is that on purpose, or are...Read More
Let’s Hope the Parking Lot is Empty at Night [Editor’s note: with the window for Halloween-related posts rapidly closing, I couldn’t resist one more . . . ] Vescio’s Restaurant in St. Louis Park’s Fern Hill neighborhood has been closed for almost a year. But, its parking lot (photo above) has never been fuller. Halloween...Read More
Why “Fiduciary Duty” Has Two Prongs, Not Just One [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.] Even people familiar with the term “fiduciary duty” often don’t realize that it consists of two duties, not just one: 1)...Read More
