with Andrea Hoffmann

Answers to your home and real estate questions.

September, 2022

Q: I’m having a hard time getting contractors to show up for estimates. What can I do?

A: Many small business owners are struggling in the after-effects of Covid and a very real labor shortage. Look around: it seems there are positions to fill everywhere from the local coffee shop to the taxi company to the grocery store. The best thing you can do is ask the contractor if they’re short-handed before you set up an appointment. This will help set expectations on both sides, and alleviate some stress and frustration. Communication (on both sides) is key. Staying flexible with your own schedule helps, too. Some of these contractors are working many more hours than usual. If you still can’t find reliable help in your own town, consider broadening the search or asking your local online community for personal referrals.

Q: I’d like to move and I’m wondering why sellers are asking for offers that don’t have a sales contingency. I can’t buy a new home if my current home sale falls apart. That’s a big risk!

A: I think you just answered your own question. Sellers don’t want to worry about their sale falling apart. Asking for offers that carry no sales contingency helps them solidify their own plans for moving because it’s less likely that buyer will back out of the transaction. We’ve been seeing many all-cash deals, too, which are almost always a seller’s favorite since there’s no waiting on a mortgage approval. The deal can close as soon as the paperwork can be processed.

Q: I went to an Open House on a beautiful new construction home recently. The appliances weren’t the name brands I’d expect. Are builders cutting corners?

A: Without more information, I can’t say whether the appliances used are inferior to what you were expecting, but I’ll give builders the benefit of the doubt and assume they’re not intentionally cutting corners. I suspect the supply chain is to blame. Since so many appliances now have small computers in them, manufacturers could be falling victim to the chip shortage you may have heard about. Between that and a shortage of workers in shipping, logistics, warehousing and delivery… it sure makes us all miss 2019 when things were more predictable! If you want to research the appliances yourself, consider looking them up on Consumer Reports or other such reputable sites. However, I will say one more thing: if it’s your dream home, don’t let the appliances stop you. Those can be changed out eventually and with relative ease if you really want the name brands.

Get your own question featured in The Home Zone! Email me at Andrea.HomeZone@gmail.com.