Is Expierence Important?

When it comes to buying and selling real estate, I truly believe experience does matter because no 2 transactions are alike. I have been a full time real estate agent since July 19, 1985 with 928 closed sales to date. I am also the longest full time real estate agent residing in the same community I have loved since 1958, Northeast Minneapolis.
To find out how long an agent has been licensed, click here and type in their name http://bit.ly/22qyElE

Think before you jump!

With housing inventory at an all-time low, before you jump and purchase, think about re-sale!

In a low inventory market like we are in now, almost everything is selling, but if you have or want to sell in a more normal market in the future, will it sell as easily and will you get what you paid plus sales cost to be able to sell? 

http://www.realtor.com/advice/home-youre-buying-good-resale-value/ 

Proper Seller Representation

As social media is used by more and more real estate agents to showcase a new listing, I've noticed a trend. Agents are posting a new listing on social media pages before posting the property on the RMLS with captions like “Neighborhood Sneak Peak” or “Pick Your Neighbor” or “Special Neighborhood Invite”. While this may sound like a good idea, I do not agree this practice is in the best interest of the seller.

First, it must be discussed with the seller and agreed to by both the seller and the agent in writing by signing a “Certification to Withhold Property Listing from NorthstarMLS ”.

Second, withholding the property from the RMLS severely limits the property's exposure to the masses.

Third, it is a tactic used by the listing agent to possibly secure their own buyer, sell the property and enjoy the benefit of handling both sides of the transaction. In other words, these agents are looking out for their interest more than for the seller’s.

By not putting the property on the RMLS and limiting the seller’s property exposure, how does a seller really know they received the highest and best offer?

I have always represented sellers by my golden rule, “I do not tell a soul until I can tell the world”. I believe this rule is in the best interest of my seller who is with me in a contractual relationship.

Seller Concessions, What Are They?

As long as I have been in real estate, 9 out of 10 purchase agreements that come across my desk have some sort of “seller concession”, whether it be “discount points” and or “seller paid buyer closing cost”, and on average about 3%.

Read more here; http://www.zillow.com/wikipages/What-Are-Seller-Concessions-or-Contributions/

Agency Disclosure in Minnesota

Did you know under Minnesota law, a form entitled “Agency Relationships in Real Estate Transactions” must be presented at first substantive contact to a buyer/tenant or seller/landlord in any real estate transaction!

http://viewer.zmags.com/publication/31df3b26#/31df3b26/6 

Starting to see something like this in your neighborhood or on your neighbors home and wondering what it is?

It is a radon mitigation system because this home had recently been tested and was found to have 4.0 picocuries per liter (pCi/L) or higher than the EPA recommended level of radon. This is still new in the buying and selling of real estate but radon is REAL!
This year so far, 8 of my buyers and or sellers of single family homes had radon tests and 3 have tested above 4.0. Those 3 then had a mitigation system installed before listing and or closing.
I am now strongly recommending to all my buyers that the home they want to purchase be tested before completing the purchase and all my sellers before the home is listed for sale.
Read more here and consider having your home tested.
http://www2.epa.gov/radon/citizens-guide-radon-guide-protecting-yourself-and-your-family-radon 

"Pocket" listing, not in sellers best interest!

With the market being more of a seller’s market, I am seeing more and more “pocket” listings. "Pocket" means the listing agent is not putting the listing on the MLS and possibly other forms of real estate advertising.
I don’t care how you cut it; this practice does not have the seller’s best interest at heart.
http://www.realtor.com/advice/3-concerns-pocket-listings-every-home-seller-consider/

Have Gutters and Still Have Water Seepage!

Recently I went to a home the owners are considering selling but they have concerns about the water seepage in the basement. The owners pointed out where the water is coming in so I went outside to take a look at the recently installed gutters and downspouts. I found that 1/3rd of the roofs water empties to an area under the deck next to the homes foundation that cannot drain away anyhow; the roofs water goes right into the basement!

I suggested to the owners how a change in the downspout and direction could substantially reduce or possibly eliminate their water seepage problem. I see stuff like this all too often; so many installation companies sell a good sale but do not put quality in to what they are selling.

Doing this gutter installation correctly from the get-go would not have cost the owners anymore and good chance it would have resolve their water seepage problem.

Moral of the story, always get a few opinions!

How Important Are Photos?

Did you know; buyers spend 60 percent of their online time viewing listing photos, but only 20 percent on the property description and 20 percent on agent comments, according to research by Michael Seiler with Old Dominion University, who tracked eye movements of 45 people viewing 10 online real estate listings with photos.