Matching paint is its own kind of pain, especially across decades of renovations. I’ve run into the exact same issue with “Swiss Coffee”—the 2010s ver...

I hear you—I've had my share of headaches with smart locks, especially in rental properties. One tenant called me at 2am because the keypad battery di...

I hear you on the closet funk—it's one of those issues that just keeps coming back, no matter how many gadgets or hacks you try. I've seen a lot of pr...

I get where you’re coming from, but honestly, I’ve found that sometimes all the data and documentation in the world still won’t sway a historic board ...

Oil does demand more attention in busy spots, but I’ve found it’s worth it for the look. That said, renters rarely keep up with re-oiling, so I lean t...

I’ve actually run into the same issue with battery-powered lights—those USB packs sound great in theory, but in practice, I found myself recharging th...

I share your skepticism about those reflective window decals. I've tried them in a couple of rental properties I manage, hoping they'd help brighten u...

I've dealt with expired permits a couple of times, and honestly, I've never seen a city waive the re-inspection fees. Usually, once it's expired, you'...

Glad to hear the polymeric sand worked out for you. I've used it on a few rental properties with similar uneven yards, and it's definitely saved me fr...

Couldn't agree more on the contingency fund point. I've renovated a couple of coastal properties myself, and no matter how thorough the initial inspec...

Good suggestion on the mesh fabric—I did something similar when finishing a basement rental unit, and it definitely helps. Curious though, have you (o...

Ran into the same issue myself last year when renovating one of my rental properties. My survey was just barely over the 5-year mark, and they wouldn'...