Admin

Two Sides To Every Coin

By
Services for Real Estate Pros with Ward County Notary Services 607851

Like a coin, most every story has two sides to it. When it comes to buying and selling a home we see a lot of coinage. The examples are endless so I will stick with just one.

To MOST people the word new means just purchased. In  Real Estate it can mean any number of things. Often it depends on who is saying it, Buyer, Seller, Appraiser or Real Estate Agent. Here are the meanings.

1) Just Purchased and still in the box.

2) Purchased at the time of listing and installed.

3) New this past year.

4) New in the box, purchased 15 years ago, stored in a clean dry place.

Other examples may be:

1) New Roof in 2020, 16 years warranty left.

2) New plumping, up graded when we purchased the house in 2018.

3) New electrical panel (1800's wiring still in place).

If you have a example of something described as NEW that we may find amusing please share it in a comment. 

Posted by

Michael Elliott
Fathom Realty - Burlington Township, NJ
Burlington, New Jersey Residential Sales

It is always safer to use dates / year than say NEW!  I mean if it has a new roof, why NOT say 2024??

Sep 12, 2024 02:46 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

And that is the way it should be Michael Elliott , give the dates!

Sep 12, 2024 06:03 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker

Michael Elliott that's what I do -- give the date of the upgrade or update. Takes away all the discussions of how new is new.

Sep 12, 2024 06:17 AM
Sham Reddy CRS
Howard Hanna RE Services, Dayton, OH - Dayton, OH
CRS

Thanks for sharing Bob!!! Great message here!!!

Like a coin, most every story has two sides to it. When it comes to buying and selling a home we see a lot of coinage. The examples are endless 

Sep 12, 2024 03:59 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank you Sham Reddy CRS . Disclosure and Transparency are so important.

Sep 12, 2024 06:04 AM
Kat Palmiotti
eXp Commercial, Referral Divison - Kalispell, MT
Helping your Montana dreams take root

To me, "New" should mean new NOW not five years ago. It's no longer new then!

Of course, five years ago seems like it just happened!

Sep 12, 2024 05:23 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

5 years ago does seem like yesterday when we, as home owners, put out a lot of money for an improvement or repair Kat Palmiotti .

Sep 12, 2024 06:06 AM
Nina Hollander, Broker
Coldwell Banker Realty - Charlotte, NC
Your Greater Charlotte Real Estate Broker

This is a major "disclosure" issue in our market, Bob... how to define new. I've stopped saying new or newer. When I'm talking about improvements to a property I just state the improvement and provide the year of the improvement.

Sep 12, 2024 05:43 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Just like Michael said, that is the way it should be Nina Hollander, Broker (Good morning my Love). 💏

Sep 12, 2024 06:08 AM
Brian England
Ambrose Realty Management LLC - Gilbert, AZ
MBA, GRI, REALTOR® Real Estate in East Valley AZ

I wish that life were as simple as wondering whether or not to go outside and eat some grass or not, haha.

Sep 12, 2024 05:52 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Wouldn't that be great Brian England ? I can tell you that not even in retirement is life that easy.

Sep 12, 2024 06:09 AM
Wayne Martin
Wayne M Martin - Oswego, IL
Real Estate Broker - Retired

Good morning Bob. Just the facts! Done in year ... Let the buyer decide how to define "new" by not using the word. Enjoy your day.

Sep 12, 2024 05:53 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Yup! Give dates like Nina and Michael said Wayne Martin . Have a GREAT day.

Sep 12, 2024 06:10 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist
KD Realty - 408.972.1822 - San Jose, CA
Probate Real Estate Services

 

I like "New electrical panel (1800's wiring still in place)."  That is a classic.  

I tend to use the word "newer" and state the date.  Or, I state dates and leave it at that. 

"New" can take on a meaning of its own depending on who is using the word and the context. 

Sep 12, 2024 06:48 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm
Ward County Notary Services - Minot, ND
Owner of Ward Co Notary Services retired RE Broker

Thank you Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist . I'd like to add to your statement  "New" can take on a meaning of its own depending on who is using the word and the context.  with and benefiting by it.

Sep 12, 2024 06:51 AM
Kathleen Daniels, Probate & Trust Specialist

 

Indeed Bob "RealMan" Timm 

Sep 12, 2024 07:22 PM
Roy Kelley
Retired - Gaithersburg, MD

"New" tends to be a relative term in many real estate descriptions. It is better to share a date.

Sep 12, 2024 07:05 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Amen Roy Kelley !

Sep 12, 2024 07:09 AM
Dorie Dillard Austin TX
Coldwell Banker Realty ~ 512.750.6899 - Austin, TX
NW Austin ~ Canyon Creek and Spicewood/Balcones

Good morning Bob,

Our broker has always said don not use the word "New!" Define the item with the date it was purchased and that is what I do! Takes the guess work out of it!

Sep 12, 2024 07:18 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

You have a wise Broker Dorie Dillard Austin TX . No doubt he/she is speaking from experience.

Sep 12, 2024 07:35 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543
Realty ONE Group Advocates 484-237-2055 - Downingtown, PA
Selling the Main Line & Chester County

I was driving past a store one day and the sign said NEW ANTIQUES!

Sep 12, 2024 07:31 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

LOL thank you Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 . If the shop owner had more space on the sign it should have read "A new shipment of Antiques"

Sep 12, 2024 07:36 AM
Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543

Bob, I think he really meant NEW ANTIQUES looking at what was on display, they looked old but everything was new.

Sep 12, 2024 07:38 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That's even funnier but more misleading yet Nick Vandekar, 610-203-4543 .

Sep 12, 2024 07:43 AM
Michael Jacobs
Pasadena, CA
Pasadena And Southern California 818.516.4393

Hello Bob - specificity matters.  Definitions and interpretation may not ever be crystal clear.  However, it seems additional information can help to make things of all sorts to be better understood.  

Sep 12, 2024 07:34 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Specificity does matter indeed Michael Jacobs 🙂. Thank you.

Sep 12, 2024 07:42 AM
Will Hamm
Hamm Homes - Aurora, CO
"Where There's a Will, There's a Way!"

Hello Bob and yes two sides to every coin but I still think home ownership is a major plus and great investment is the long run.

 

Sep 12, 2024 09:35 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

We are on the same page Will Hamm 😊

Sep 12, 2024 10:43 AM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Good one, Bob. And I agree with Michael Elliott list the date rather than "new"

Sep 12, 2024 06:46 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

That seems to be the best solution to staying out of trouble Kathy Streib . Thank you for the compliment 😊

Sep 12, 2024 06:52 PM
Endre Barath, Jr.
Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties - Beverly Hills, CA
Realtor - Los Angeles Home Sales 310.486.1002

Bob "RealMan" Timm  here in California the state is very litigious, and I would never say New anything.... not worth it, and if there are certain things that need to be disclosed providing actual reports with dates etc. those who use "real estate poetry" are risking legal action, here in CA, Endre

Sep 12, 2024 08:56 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I think the whole country is getting litigious Endre Barath, Jr. Just look at all the ads on TV for class action law suits.

Sep 15, 2024 04:01 PM
Kathy Streib
Cypress, TX
Home Stager/Redesign

Sep 14, 2024 06:19 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You, Kathy Streib . I really appreciate the boost. 😃

Sep 15, 2024 04:00 PM
Ed Silva, 203-206-0754
Mapleridge Realty, CT 203-206-0754 - Waterbury, CT
Central CT Real Estate Broker Serving all equally

The word carries all manner of images and with the nuances of languages especially English more so 

New

Knew

Nu. From the Greeks

Sep 15, 2024 06:08 AM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

Ed Silva, 203-206-0754 I can thank eBay for that "New in the box, 18 years old". It's crazy.

Sep 15, 2024 04:03 PM
John Juarez
The Medford Real Estate Team - Fremont, CA
ePRO, SRES, GRI, PMN

I have a listing and the stove is NEW. It still has the stickers on it from the factory. It also has relative new other appliances but they are not NEW.

Sep 18, 2024 02:43 PM
Bob "RealMan" Timm

I would say that if they have the receipt and the stickers are still on it everyone would accept that as new John Juarez

Sep 18, 2024 04:00 PM