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Originally Posted by maat55
I have nothing against realitors or doctors or mechanics. I just don't use them for things I can do myself. I've sold two homes and bought one FSBO with no problems or commissions.
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So noted.
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Originally Posted by maat55
Buying and selling homes,IMO, is no different than buying and selling a car
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I respectfully disagree. One thing that I am not proud of is that I buy and sell a lot of cars, not as investments but more like a hobby. I've probably bought and sold close to 50 cars in my life. I generally buy and sell several cars a year.
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Originally Posted by maat55
Do you call an auto dealer to sell your used car?
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It's on a case-by-case basis. If there are problems with the title, or if it's a difficult model to move, I would use a dealer. If it's a highly desirable car, dealers may be willing to pay more as well. For quick sales, I would definitely use Carmax.
For other situations, I would sell privately, although the decision would depend on the spread between trade-in and private sale value. If the spread isn't much, I'll just take it to Carmax to save time.
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Originally Posted by maat55
Do you call a mechanic to change your spark plugs?
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Again, it depends on the application. Note that I used to work as a licensed mechanic.
For most transverse 4-cylinders, or most longitudinal engines, I would change spark plugs myself. For 5+ cylinder transverse engines, longitudinal engines with tight clearance, boxer engines, mid or rear engines (Porsche, Ferrari), or weird engine alignments (VW VR6), I would definitely use a shop not because I don't know how to do the job, but because I don't have the tools or the facility.
For example, on a V8 Camaro you have to drop the engine to change spark plugs. On a V6 Camry or Accord, you have to dismantle the entire intake manifold to get access to the rear cylinder bank.
On my Dodge Ram Hemi V8, there are 2 plugs per cylinder. I can do it, but due to the ride height and how far back into the firewall the last 2 cylinders go, and with my bad back, I just can't reach that far.
On practically all mid or rear engine Ferraris and some Porsches, it's necessary to drop the entire subframe to get access to the plugs.
Even still, on a simple car like a Corolla or a Civic, improper removal and installation may damage the spark plug threads, which requires repair of the cylinder head. In the worst case scenario, you'll have to disassemble the engine and machine the head to adequately repair the damage.
As you can see, it's not as simple as you may think, and most people don't know until they get halfway into the job. A spark plug R/R usually runs somewhere around $75-300 for most cars. Considering that trying to save $75 on a simple job could cause you $1,000 to get the head repaired, I would say DIY mechanics need to be careful and follow all instructions.
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Originally Posted by maat55
Do you call a doctor to put a bandaid on a cut?
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I call disneysteve
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Originally Posted by maat55
If I needed a realitor to sell something I couldn't, I would call one. If I'm looking for a house to buy, no one know's better than me, what I want and where I want to live. I'm not trying to be aurgumentative, just practical.
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Originally Posted by InDebtInDC
I never use realtors to find properties. I do my own searching and browsing. I only use realtors to negotiate contracts.
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I think we are in agreement here. I just realize that there is more to buying and selling real estate than most people make it out to be.