Outsource vs. Do-It-Yourself; Racing the Inspection Clock (or Not) True or false: the $10 home radon tests sold at home improvement stores (Home Depot, Lowe’s, etc.) are less reliable than the $200+ tests performed by professional home inspectors (note: the do-it-yourself kits also charge a $35 lab fee for normal processing turnaround, for a total...Read More
Do-it-Yourself Price Reductions “If a tree falls in a forest and no one is around to hear it, does it make a sound?” Approaching the holidays, many would-be home sellers are loath to take a price reduction, even if there’s abundant evidence that that’s overdue. Why? They know that — with fewer Buyers active —...Read More
DIY Drawbacks Do-it-Yourself always has perils, but particularly so when it comes to using a drone to take home photos. Here’s just a partial list of the drawbacks and other considerations that come to mind for Realtors tempted to try it themselves: 1. The $5k required to buy a commercial-quality drone. 2. The $5k that’s...Read More
2005 vs. 2012 Once upon a time, when the housing market was overheated — like 2005 — a home that needed $100k in updates might be discounted only $50k -$75k. Today? The same home might easily be discounted twice the projected updating cost, or $200k or more. Why the shift? Explanation I see two main...Read More
