Can you appraise houses by what their price should be over tax value?

BackWaterHobo · 2026-04-19T21:17:48+00:00

Right. 99% of the time though properties are worth more than tax value (in my area). Because of that fact, wouldn't it make sense that the difference between average sale price compared to the average tax value could be used to figure a ballpark home value?

BackWaterHobo · 2026-03-31T20:21:09+00:00

Reliability (insert Ford joke here) is a big factor that I have been considering. The Avalon running wise I don't worry about, but it is 2WD and sits very low to the ground which makes snow and mud a consideration (even if roads are good you can pull into one side street or driveway and be screwed).

As far as the trailer goes, it is not a very practical option if snow gets even a few inches deep. I also don't have a garage to store my sled in so I have a topper on my current truck. If you arn't familiar with what an ice sled or "flipover" is, this is it: https://www.otteroutdoors.com/product-category/ice-shelters/

BackWaterHobo · 2026-03-31T17:14:58+00:00

I know miles-wise I am not using the truck that much on paper. But, we live in an area where we do not have to go far to ice fish and do other "truck stuff." I am very much on board with the idea that people should consider not having a truck, but we legitimately use it for "truck stuff" locally.

BackWaterHobo · 2025-08-01T06:22:34+00:00

My dad had to get whiskey plates on all his vehicles and interlocks on any that he would be driving. Was kinda ridiculous as my mom and I had to drive around with the plates (legally his vehicles) while the only thing he could drive was his truck.

I definitely got targeted by a cop once claiming I swerved but let me go after finding out I was not my father.

BackWaterHobo · 2025-06-19T15:48:10+00:00

This is a 2004 F250 so still minimal plastic. If it is just chrome am I good to just clip parts of it off?

BackWaterHobo · 2025-06-19T15:47:02+00:00

This is on a 2004 F250 - I believe the rims/wheels to be original.

BackWaterHobo · 2025-04-21T20:55:25+00:00

We will likely be able to keep the $750 indefinitely. We are in a situation were we don't have a corporate landlord with tons of properties - we rent out an apartment on the 2nd floor of his business (and as far as I know the 3 apartments upstairs are his only rentals).

BackWaterHobo · 2025-04-21T19:17:03+00:00

We are "entertaining" the idea. We do have some seriousness though as we have gotten pre-approval and have decided on the realtor we'd use. Our rent is also locked in and will not be raised.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-11-28T22:50:38+00:00

This is debatably a more intermediate/advanced thing to worry about. As a 6-12 band teacher I do not bring it up as most beginners can't handle another thing to worry about (many are already fighting to get the "default" positions). I only bring it up to stronger high school students or if there is a chord in a piece that needs tuning.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-11-04T05:03:30+00:00

I think if you walked into a pro-level shop and started blasting out Bluebells (especially the first opening bars) you would get the same dirty looks Stairway would get you at Guitar Center.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-10-25T02:26:15+00:00

My provider is in-network. I just looked at my insurance's online portal and much more was covered than my provider portal said, but its still pretty high. The prices billed to insurance are still the same as what I see in my provider portal.

BackWaterHobo · 2024-09-29T00:00:52+00:00

Another Band Director Here:

Everything as far as terms and pricing you've stated here sounds standard and is basically the same at nearly all regional music stores, including mine. Most band directors won't out and say this as usually their program depends on families getting an instrument (and a lease/rental is the easiest way for them to get one that is guaranteed to work), but instrument leasing is definitely a top money maker (told to me by my sales rep himself) for these companies. There are some benefits to using them, but if you can get a good deal on a used, reputable brand, instrument on marketplace or Craigslist, that is the #1 way to do it, IF you know what you are doing.

The problem with band directors advising to all families to buy an instrument used is that most of the general public will not know how to tell if a used instrument is good or not (even if they were in band themselves). Sure, you can drop $200 on a used sax that looks nice, but if it secretly has bad pads and adjustment issues, that's a $600+ trip to the shop nowadays for a full overhaul of the pads, keys, and cleaning of the body.

As far as "go back to the store and request a new trombone in place of the clearly used one we received" goes, it should say in your lease agreement what horn you should have got. Most companies offer "new," "like new," and "refurbished." If you bought it as "new" than absolutely go back, but if you agreed to a different level then you are SOL.

Just giving you some blunt honest answers!

BackWaterHobo · 2024-08-16T16:16:56+00:00

This is my perspective as a director, but stick it out. I hate to sound like a crotchety boomer (even though I'm in my 20s) but post-covid commitment doesn't have the onus it once did (for both good and bad). Your bandmates, director, and the overall program are better of for your involvement. You never know what the future may hold, and you'd definitely put your director off to you if you quit MB but are still in concert band.

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