FlipperToolbox

It’s no secret that the real estate market can be a bit of a racket. But why do agents get paid a percentage of the final bill? Doesn’t carrying out a $40 steak take the same amount of effort as a $15 burger? The truth is, the real estate industry is one of the few that remain unregulated, and because of this, agents can charge clients whatever they want. However, if you shop around, you might find that the amount isn’t always the same for every listing.

For example, I recently paid an agent 5% on a 1.2M sale. The agent did a lot of work to make sure the sale went through. They created a list of repairs to be done, arranged the repairs, did an extensive deep clean of the house, staged the house, marketed the home on various blogs and websites, and held an open house. We had an overwhelming amount of interest in the home and ultimately got the sale price that we were looking for.

At higher end sales, clients are more than willing to pay extra for a real estate agent to take care of the hard work. This includes things like staging, cleaning, marketing, and arranging repairs. This not only takes a huge load off of the client, but also ensures that the home sells higher than it would if it was sold without the help of an agent.

Overall, the real estate market may be a bit of a racket, but in the end, it’s worth it to have an experienced agent on your side. Whether you’re selling a $15 burger or a $40 steak, the amount of work an agent puts in is the same. And if you shop around you’ll find that agents are willing to negotiate their commission fees. So if you’re looking to buy or sell a home, make sure you find an agent that can give you the best deal and the most value for your money.Read more“The city of Los Angeles is known for its Mediterranean climateWhat is Los Angeles Famous for in Terms of Climate?”

As a seller, it’s incredibly frustrating when buyers can’t make good on their offer, and I’m in that exact situation. The buyers can’t muster the funds to close, and they’ve asked me to pay $8k of their closing costs to make the deal work. As a working class dude, $8k is not pocket change, and the funds would certainly ease my current situation of buying a new house.

The buyers initially presented as strong with an approval letter for $60k more than their offer. However, I’m now confused as to why they think the $8k should come from me.

I’ve heard various options, such as taking their earnest money and re-listing, or hoping that the buyers can magically find the money through family and friends. However, I’m personally PISSED about these last minute shenanigans and have no interest in negotiating, bargaining, or considering what ifs. My stance is a firm “no,” and I would rather relist and give somebody else the $8k, even if it means going back to market.

In this situation, my best option is to stick to my guns and turn down the buyers’ request. Taking the $8k hit would be unwise, and I’d rather relist than be taken advantage of.

It can be intimidating to think about how to improve the security of your home, especially if that means spending money. I know this from personal experience, as I have had multiple WiFi cameras stolen from two different home addresses. Though I’ve filed police reports, it seems that police are unwilling to do anything about it. So, how can you improve your home’s security without spending too much – or any at all?

First of all, it’s important to remember that there are two types of thieves – opportunists and planners. To deter opportunists, you want to make your home as inconvenient and noisy as possible to get into. This means investing in better locks and doors for your front and back doors. Even if no lock is truly impervious to brute force drilling, a thicker lock that requires loud drilling can be off-putting enough to deter a casual thief. Sliding doors are also hard to break into, so if you have any of those, make sure to double-check the locks.

Another step you can take to deter opportunists is to make sure that any windows are securely locked. Many thieves will try to pry open windows to gain entry, so having sturdy locks on them is key. Adding window bars can also help.

When it comes to deterring planners, one of the best things you can do is to install a security system. This may seem like an expensive option, but the truth is that there are plenty of affordable systems that can be installed easily. They usually just involve installing a few sensors, a couple of cameras, and a keypad. With a good security system, you can be sure that any attempts to break in will be quickly noticed and deterred.

Finally, one of the best ways to protect your home is to invest in a good home insurance policy. This will help you to recoup any losses if your home is ever broken into. It also gives you peace of mind knowing that you are protected.

Improving the security of your home doesn’t have to be expensive or difficult. By following the tips above, you can make your home much safer without breaking the bank. Investing in good locks, window bars, and a security system can make a big difference – and having a good home insurance policy is always a good idea.

As a service person who’s been in the HVAC/R trade for the past 17 years, I know what it’s like to sit in the truck for 5-10 minutes. People may be wondering what I’m doing, but I’m actually just using my truck as an office. I’m eating, ordering parts, making bids, and occasionally watching YouTube videos to remind myself how certain equipment works. During this time of year, I’m usually cooling down in the A/C after coming out of a 130°+ attic before going into another.

That’s just the tip of the iceberg. At many larger companies, there’s a lot of information I have to enter into various apps. I have to check in to the system, log my arrival time, review the job description, make a list of items and tools needed, and mentally prepare to go knock on a stranger’s door. I might even grab a snack.

I’m usually also doing paperwork, checking email, returning phone calls, YouTubing how to do the job, and documenting my day. I’m looking at reminders of why I’m at the house I’m at and making sure I have everything I need.

All of this can take a few minutes, and some of it is necessary to make sure the job is done right. So the next time you see a service person’s truck parked outside your home for a few minutes, know that there’s a lot more going on than meets the eye.

I’m so thankful for everyone’s help with my question about my friend’s power bill. I’ll provide some relevant information about her house and what we have tried so far, then I’ll explain the issue.

My friend and I have the same utility company, Alabama Power. She lives in North Alabama and I’m in South Alabama. Everyone here has been so helpful and spot on with their answers!

The house is about 1000 sq ft and was built in 1979. The metal roof is less than 10 years old and the AC unit is around 15 years old. The storm windows are around 20 years old, but in good condition. They also have an electric water heater.

The issue is that her power bill is too high and she’s always behind. I can only compare it to our house, which is a 1959 house, 1200 sq feet, and has original 1959 wooden windows. In two years, the highest power bill we’ve had is around $175.

I feel like something is wrong and I don’t know who to call. She doesn’t run the AC a lot and doesn’t do anything that would cause a high bill, so I’ve even gone so far as to confirm that she definitely does not have a weed factory in her house.

What can we do? Is there something wrong with her power company? Who do we talk to? We need to get her power bill under control so she doesn’t have to struggle so much.

Any help would be greatly appreciated!

Tiling around my shower and tub was a pain, but by far the most challenging part has been the caulking. It has been a real mess! I have tried using tape to create a smooth line, however it is not perfect and leaves a harsh line. To avoid this, I use less caulk than necessary and then use my finger to pull the extra caulk to the area I am smoothing out. This way I get the exact amount of caulk I need without the mess. I have done this multiple times in about 50 to 60 bathrooms and it has never let me down.

I understand that caulking can be a difficult task for perfectionists, but my best advice is to have confidence. Before beginning, make sure that the surface you are working with is prepped and there are no surprises that will disrupt your caulking process. Mentally rehearse what you will do before you start and adjust slightly if necessary. With this approach, caulking becomes a much smoother process.

I found that watching a tutorial video on caulking helped me. Seeing how it is done in real-time gave me the confidence I needed to succeed. With enough practice and experience, caulking can become an easier task.

After learning the hard way about the importance of quality bulbs, I decided to upgrade my lighting. I had bought a bunch of bulbs from Lowe’s and Amazon, but I realized that they weren’t up to par. Most of them had died within two years and I was stuck replacing them. After doing some research, I decided to go with Philips Ultra Definition 95CRI bulbs and a few Caseta dimmers. Now I can control the lights from the comfort of my favorite chair with the Caseta dimmer switch and pico remote.

The new bulbs will arrive soon and I’m excited to see the results. I’m sure they’ll make a huge difference compared to the old ones. Not only are the Philips bulbs more energy-efficient, but they also have a higher color rendering index, which means the colors will be more vivid and accurate. Plus, I can dim the lights to my desired level.

I’ve been living with bad lighting for too long, and I’m relieved that I finally have the opportunity to upgrade. I’m sure my family will appreciate it too! Hopefully this time, the bulbs will last for more than two years. If not, then I’ll be holding everyone collectively responsible.

I’ve learned that when it comes to lighting, it pays to invest in quality bulbs and switches. Although it may cost more upfront, you’ll be saving money in the long run. Plus, you get the benefit of having better lighting and more control over the ambient brightness in your home. So don’t be like me and skimp on quality lighting. Go with Philips and Lutron and you won’t regret it.

Renovating a home is a big task, and with that comes a lot of questions. One of the most important questions is whether or not to get permits. When I renovated my 1970s house, I chose not to get permits for the minor electrical work that was done under the guidance of my father-in-law, who is a master electrician. We also renovated two bathrooms and the kitchen without permits. My grandfather-in-law had experience flipping houses, and he advised me that as long as the work was done safely and up to code, permits weren’t necessary.

I understand that permits are the best option. I’m just curious about other people’s experiences with either getting permits, not getting permits, or having problems after not getting them. I’m not advocating against getting permits. In my area, permits are required for most projects, so I’m careful to get permits for anything that is outside/visible or will show up on property records, like adding a bedroom or bathroom. This is important, because if you refinance or sell your home, having a property record that doesn’t match what the appraiser sees can cause issues.

For small projects, like adding a circuit to a panel or remodeling a kitchen, I do the work myself and don’t pull a permit. I’m interested to hear what other people do in situations like this.

It’s time to replace my old gas furnace with a heatpump, so I contacted 36 different companies in my area for quotes. 12 of them replied, and 10 of them sent me quotes ranging from $12,000 to $28,000. That’s a huge range to consider! Even with three quotes, how do I know if the $18,000 is a good deal?

I’m now in the process of replacing my roof and contacted 31 companies. 11 of them responded and sent in 9 quotes ranging from $12,200 to $34,000. I live in an area with a shortage of tradespeople, and some companies don’t feel the need to provide competitive pricing. There are enough desperate people that they can take jobs without having to compete. Fortunately, tradespeople in my region are decently regulated, and licensed, bonded, and insured companies are likely to do a good job.

I’m getting a lot of comments about getting what you pay for, or that the lowest quote isn’t always the best. To be clear, I didn’t go with the lowest quotes. For roofing, the cluster from $12,000 to $14,000 seemed the most competitive, and the $17,000 to $18,000 companies are probably reliable but not as hungry. The $22,000+ bids seem like throwaway bids.

When it comes to replacing an old furnace or roof, it’s important to do your research and get multiple quotes. Make sure you’re getting quotes from licensed, bonded, and insured companies in your area. Compare the quotes and look for a cluster that seems competitive. Don’t just go with the lowest quote, as it may not be from the best company. Take your time and research the company and their reviews. Don’t be afraid to ask questions and make sure you’re getting quality work for your money.

When it comes to home improvement, it can be hard to find reputable contractors who won’t take advantage of you. This was certainly the case for me when I went ahead and got five separate estimates for a job I was having done. The prices given to me were outrageously high and my male neighbor was having the same work done as me, but his prices were less than half of mine.

I decided to take matters into my own hands and asked two of the contractors to come over on a day my husband was working from home. To my surprise, both contractors gave him the same price my male neighbor has been getting. It just goes to show that gender can be a determining factor for contractors when it comes to pricing, even if it shouldn’t be.

It’s not just in the home improvement industry that this type of thing happens. I’ve had men at a car dealership laugh when I said my engine smelled like burning syrup, saying I was imagining it. It turned out there was a crack in the radiator of my new car!

It can also happen when you’re buying a house for the first time. I was getting electricians quoting me at least $3,000 to rewire a bathroom with 3 lights and a triple gang box with a dedicated 20amp circuit for a heated floor. It took me a long time to find one that was willing to do the job for a fair price. The same goes for when we were looking to replace our HVAC. The first company that came out tried to pressure us into signing a contract without giving us the best deal.

So what can you do to avoid getting ripped off when it comes to home improvement projects? Firstly, do your research. Look for reviews and ask around for recommendations. Secondly, don’t be afraid to negotiate. Don’t just take the first quote you get without comparing it to others. Thirdly, have a friend or family member present to act as an advocate for you. And finally, if you feel like you’re being taken advantage of, don’t hesitate to speak up.

No one should be ripped off or taken advantage of, regardless of gender. Never be afraid to stand up for yourself and demand fair pricing. With some research, negotiation, and a little bit of help from a friend, you can make sure you’re getting the best deal possible.