The 201 Questions Every Homebuyer and Homeseller Must Ask
By Edith Lank
Real Estate Education Co., Chicago, 1995, 242 pages, $15.95
Writing a book in a question and answer format is not easy. Edith Lank’s newest book shows why.
The questions are very basic. So are the bland answers, apparently designed to offend nobody. Another problem is the answers are overly broad and incomplete.
Edith Lank is a longtime Realtor, textbook author, newspaper columnist and public radio personality. She understands real estate backwards and forwards. But in this book she seems to be holding back what she really thinks. Her excellent advice doesn’t shine as it usually does.
For example, in answer to the question, “What should I watch out for when buying a condo?” Lank replies, “Be sure to ask about parking: How far from your unit will it be? Are you entitled to more than one space? Where will your guests park?”
Surely, there are more important aspects to buying a condo, such as poor soundproofing (the No. 1 condo owner complaint), pet restrictions and the financial aspects.
Chapter topics include: Exploring the Homebuying Process, Learning about Those Agents, Finding and Working with the Best Agent, Figuring Out How Much You Can Spend on Your New Home, Really Looking at Homeowning Costs, Choosing the Perfect Home for You, Finding Great Homebuying Bargains, Understanding All of Your Financing Options, Picking the Right Time to Sell, Selling Your Home on Your Own, Selecting a Good Agent, Navigating Your Listing Contract, and Arriving at the Best Contract for You.
Writing a book for both home buyers and sellers must have been extremely difficult. Although Lank’s new book includes many customary home sales topics, it left out the extremely important topic of home sellers’ disclosures and how sellers can avoid lawsuits by buyers for nondisclosure.
Designed to offend nobody, this new book is good basic reading for novice home buyers and sellers. On my scale of one to 10, it rates an eight.
