The Opposite of “Home Alone” It’s every home seller’s worst nightmare: they return home long after a scheduled showing, only to find strangers in their Living Room(!). With no Realtor in sight. While it’s an extremely rare occurrence — and an automatic $1,000 fine for the Buyer’s agent — that makes it no less upsetting for the owner. Buyer’s...Read More
At Least One Bullseye: “Hire a Good Realtor” Money Magazine is out with its 2016 Spring Real Estate Guide, subtitled “The 35 Best Moves for Buyers, Sellers, and Owners Now.” Do the authors know what they’re talking about? Here’s the magazine’s advice for first-time Buyers (“Starting Out”), followed by my running commentary in italics: Money Magazine:...Read More
New (Yes) and Improved (Maybe) Thanks to a corporate acquisition, Twin Cities agents are having to learn new software to set up showings for clients this week. I’m sure I speak for at least a few (cranky) veterans who didn’t think there was anything wrong with the old system. More Robust, Customizable (But . ....Read More
The High Cost of “Free” Marketing Whenever I hear a national speaker and supposed industry expert exhort Realtors to give away price opinions for free, as a marketing tool, my reaction is always, “How much are you getting paid to speak to all of us today?” (note: Realtors’ term for a formal price opinion is...Read More
Nothing New Under the (Marketing) Sun; Lesson #1: Treat Your Clients Like People How do you score a free book — in this case, “The Conversion Code” by Chris Smith** — at a Realtors’ seminar? By being one of the first 300 Realtors to register this morning for the day-long MAAR Realtor Summit at the...Read More
First Open Today(!) From 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Where: 2822 Sunset Boulevard, two blocks from Cedar Lake in Minneapolis’ Sunset Gables neighborhood. What: Colonial with 4 Bedrooms on one level, over 2,900 finished square feet. When: listed last Monday 4/25); days on market: 6. How much: $724,900. Who: listed by Ross Kaplan, Edina Realty-City...Read More
