Green Means “Go?” Not by Lake Calhoun During Rush Hour

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“Meticulously Maintained,” Deciphered

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Not new — but “meticulously maintained.” Real Estate Synonyms — and Antonyms True or false: “Meticulously maintained” means the same thing as “updated.” Give up? The correct answer is “False.” In fact, “meticulously maintained” is almost always Realtor code for not updated. Ditto for synonyms such as “well-loved,” “quaint,” “vintage,” “long-time owner,” etc. (all very nice things, by the way — just not the same as “updated”). See also , “ Real Estate Marketing 101: When to Acknowledge a Home Needs Updating — & When Not To “; “ Real Estate Euphemisms “; and “ Real Estate Clichés and How to Avoid Them .” from RSSMix.com Mix ID 8230700 https://ift.tt/2I20bKN via IFTTT
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Inspecting Condo’s

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Life is Inspections are like a box of chocolates. You never know what you’re gonna get.” –Forest Gump (paraphrased). [ Note to Readers : 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.] Why should a Buyer waste $300 or $400 inspecting a condo that doesn’t have a foundation, roof, or other structural elements? Why not just apply roughly the same amount towards a home warranty, that will protect the Buyer in the event that something breaks? Two reasons: 1) home warranties exclude preexisting conditions; and 2) to mangle  paraphrase Forest Gump, you never know what an inspection is going to turn up, even in a condo that is updated and appears to be in pristine condition. Limits of Seller Disclosure So, I’ve seen condo inspections uncover stealth issues relating to windows, plumbing, or other condo features that no one suspec...
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Home Seller (and Staging Client): “It Looks So Good, Now I Don’t Want to Move!”

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The Gold Standard for Staging Advice “Nice listing . . . congrats!” –Uttered by exiting Buyers’ agents at a broker open; when the listing agent knows the price is right and the home is likely to sell quickly. See, “Realtor Compliments.“ The equivalent for a staging job well done is when the client appreciatively remarks at the end, “My house looks so good, now I don’t want to move!” When the listing agent hears that, they know two things: 1) the stager did a (very) nice job; and 2) the client “gets” it. Emotional Tug Especially for older, long-in-place Sellers, it can be emotional to allow a stranger to come into their home and rearrange things — sometimes, dramatically. So, it’s always a relief to hear, after the fact, that they’re receptive and appreciative of the stager’s efforts — which in turn indicates that the owner is actually ready to sell. Even if they say otherwise . . . P.S.: Thanks to ace stager Mary Amlaw, who consistently elicits such comments from my selling...
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