The Opposite of “The Birthday Paradox” According to The Birthday Paradox, in a room of just 23 people, there’s a 50-50 chance of at least two people having the same birthday. In the world of residential real estate sales — at least in a bigger city — there seems to be something of an anti-Birthday...Read More
Yes, I know: when people talk about whether it’s a “Seller’s Market” or a “Buyer’s Market,” they’re referring to whether Buyers or Sellers currently have the upper hand (news flash: the Twin Cities housing market has strongly favored Sellers the last several years). But, there’s also a pendulum for hosting weekend open houses. Although I personally like...Read More
Taking Yes Full Price For an Answer “He who governs least governs best.” –Thomas Jefferson “He who negotiates least negotiates best.” –Ross Kaplan Soviet dissident (and now Israeli politician) Natan Sharansky once explained how he and his fellow dissidents helped pass the time in solitary confinement. Adept at Morse code and held in adjacent cells, they...Read More
New vs. Experienced Real Estate Agents “The reason colleges are such repositories of knowledge is that freshmen arrive with so much, and seniors leave with so little.” –Fred Hargadon, Stanford Dean of Admissions (1980) What’s the biggest difference between new and experienced real estate agents? It’s not just that experienced agents know more than inexperienced...Read More
Targeting First-Time Buyers “Hit ’em where they ain’t.” –Hall of Fame Outfielder Willie Keeler’s advice to hitters “To establish a toehold in a market, target business that others aren’t focused on.” –Corollary, Ross Kaplan Sort of like Keeler, my advice to new Realtors is to go after clients — and business — that other Realtors...Read More