All Forum Posts by: Tamara Deering

This is an oldie but a goodie, I haven't seen it for awhile.  It is a scam to get banking information from the seller's account and can be used for identity theft. You did the right thing letting the listing agent know what was going on.  Thanks for reminding everyone that these are out there.

I'm not sure where you are located but you need to make sure that an open listing is ok with your association.  Also, does your broker allow you to offer a 0% listing? If they don't I wouldn't make that offer to the seller, and changing it to a open listing at the open house sounds like a bait and switch.

You would probably be better off just offering to hold an open house at the FSBO and then marketing the property with your fee added to the buyer side. Again, you need to check the logistics and ethics of this arrangement with your association. I see all sorts of complexities here surrounding who you represent - in this scenario it seems like you are representing yourself.

I would leave your tub and toilet where they are and move the vanity to the same wall as the toilet.  That is the layout that I have in my small master bath and it works well.  Moving the toilet is almost always more trouble than it's worth. The sink supply and drain are usually easier to re-route.

I use Home Depot's stock unfinished oak cabinets and hand paint them.  They look more expensive than they are and since you are painting them you can choose colors to make them look custom.  Good hardware goes along way too.

I use either Glidden or Behr exterior, like @Bob H. and I find that it is as good or better than Sherwin Williams and Kelly Moore's contractor grade paint as far as wear and fading.  The only exception is if you are painting stucco then you may need to go with elastomeric paint.  There is only so much life you will get out of paint in the Texas sun though.

My husband, brother and I refinish wood floors ourselves.  It is surprisingly easy to stitch in a repair on a floor if it is required, also a surprising amount of the stain does sand out.  You can test it yourself with a hand sander on the worst stain and see how light you can get it and if you think a nice dark stain will cover it.  Also, some wear and stains on a floor in an old house is not necessarily a deal breaker, it's patina.  In my experience a good varathane finish will seal the odor in.

You can ask a Realtor for a CMA to determine a sales price for you. The CMA report that I use has interior pictures of the sold comps.

Personally, I would do a live-in flip and keep doing it every couple of years.  New construction, unless you are doing the bulk of the work like @Dave Charron will take a while to develop equity.  Also, with permits, price of land, and utilities it gets pretty spendy.  Although, since I don't have kids it is really easy for me to live in a continuous project.  My only advice if you're going to go the live in flip route is get your kitchen, a bathroom and a bedroom done first so you at least have a place to relax.

I am going to throw in the only female opinion, I work in Ariat Fatbaby most comfortable boot around and the sole is thick enough that I don't put a nail through my foot.  I also like that they are slip on and not lace up.  So all you female GC's out there check em out.

I have had really great luck with Kohler Archer tubs, I buy the soaking tub - extra deep without jets.  If you buy a bootz tub you need to open every box and get one that hasn't been dinged up in transit to the store.  I also like the Delta curve tub, it looks a little different and is good quality.