“Nobody Ever Washed a Rental Car” — Home Inspection Edition Normally, the condition of such things as TV satellite dishes, security systems, and water softeners is very important to home Buyers doing their inspection. After all, if they don’t work, post-closing, it’s the Buyer-now-Owner who’s on the hook.* So, what is the one exception to that? When...Read More
Analog vs. Virtual Unlocked Doors Once upon a time, standard Realtor advice to new homeowners, post-closing, was to change the locks: even if the Seller delivered all known keys to the Buyer, there was always the possibility of neighbors or friends possessing a “stray.” Now, thanks to smart homes — and specifically, Nest thermostats — there’s...Read More
Home Thermostat as . . . Trojan Horse*(?!?) While 2x-3x the cost of a standard thermostat, the Nest thermostat promises to let homeowners quickly re-coup that investment through lower energy bills. In turn, it supposedly accomplishes that by incorporating a more intuitive, user-friendly display and interface (see photo below); smart software that learns the household’s schedule;...Read More
