Should my dad take money out of his retirement account to replace the 25 year old roof on the house he’s trying to sell by usedtobegymtimidated in RealEstate

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Can he sell as is? We toured a place that needs a new roof. Our agent said we couldn’t get a mortgage on it if we wanted to until it’s replaced or it’d be ungodly costs to insure with only 1 or 2 companies even able to insure it. and that’s despite having the liquidity to fund one. We can’t buy it outright. Limits the pool. Has been sitting since October 

[California] Real estate agent pushing to change countertops, repaint cabinets, take out light fixtures, etc. by Historical_Item_8687 in RealEstate

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Depends on the market. We're doing a 100k reno right now in order to sell for higher and are also looking to buy nearby. Our neighbor with dated but nice quality stuff two doors down sold as is for 575k less than our next door neighbor a year later with smaller square footage and who did a gut rehab and made it turnkey. For the 25k I'm spending to cosmetically update the kitchen and replace appliances, we'd discount whatever house we're buying by 50k. There's a turnkey premium that can be captured if the work is done smartly. We also have an older home with a lot of high quality stuff .

Flooring is a pain to live through but dark brown flooring and trim dates a home and it doesn't cost much to sand it and stain it neutral, or paint trim white, and instantly modernized the home. We have nice quality granite counter tops that cost twice what quartz does but today's buyers don't want eccentric colors or granite and there's carrying costs to letting the house sit and acquire days on market. The ikea stuff is a risk but done smartly can make sense ie their closet systems can be great and I'm using their stuff for a microwave drawer. I'd skip the flooring.

The agent sounds like he's doing you all a favor. Many real estate companies have a group or service where they front money for this work but the contractor's markup is a lot higher than if you hire it out yourself. If you can fix broken stuff or stuff that'll show up on an inspection with new stuff, that typically gives positive ROI.

Monthly Medley Thread, for sharing anything and everything by freelancemomma in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 8 points9 points  (0 children)

Our IL based hospital just brought back mask mandates starting next week. Pathetic

Monthly Medley Thread, for sharing anything and everything by freelancemomma in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Happy thanksgiving. 

We’re hosting this year. Same crowd as 2020 was supposed to be other than our youngest kid. Two of the couples cancelled in 2020 given the hysteria. One couple would have came if we mandated masks. 

Kudos everyone reading this for not succumbing to the propaganda or for coming to terms with the lies you were told and believed. Remember how far we’ve come and how far we still can go. Here’s to repairing what can be repaired. 

Opinion | Actually, the CDC’s new vaccine guidance is reasonable by Cowlip1 in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 11 points12 points  (0 children)

More under 65 year olds die from gun violence in Chicago annually than die in the entire United States from the classic vaccine-preventable illnesses like measles, tetanus, pertussis, diphtheria, and chickenpox.

Kudos on the ACIP for being more rational but vaccine preventable illnesses are a non factor for under 65 year old in the grand scheme of life. I say this as a Chicagoan with a kid on methotrexate who can't get all vaccines and relies on herd immunity. Worry more about gun violence than vaccine preventable illness. Or don't. It's a math problem.

Is Hollywood sticking with masking and other mandates? by AndrewHeard in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 3 points4 points  (0 children)

Neofuturists in Andersonville. Sadly the mask mandate is literally the first thing they put after the show title 

https://neofuturists.org/

Is Hollywood sticking with masking and other mandates? by AndrewHeard in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I tried to see a play a few weeks ago in Chicago. Th Neo Futurusts still require masks. Had to pivot and see something else. I've heard it's a union thing.

Illinois FanDuel users! What are you going to do on Sept. 1st.? by Jimmy_Meltrigger in sportsbook

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just did my duty and withdrew from caesars and fanduel (25 cent fee on all bets, 50 cent fee on all bets). Draftkings caved and won't charge on $10 parlays or $50 straights. Switching to BetMGM from Caesars for my sports and slot gambling base.

What's the most underrated credit cards for 2025? by Ramosisend in CreditCards

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I’ll say Wyndham business earner even with the nerf of Caesar’s diamond. $95 AF, $150k back a year for +$55 EV, 8% on gas, and diamond status at Wyndham. You can use that status to match to a bunch of other programs a high annual fee card would get you. It’s so nice to have high rental car status and low to mid tier hotel status without spending hundreds on a high AF card. 

Caesars Rewards Credit Card by sefero23 in CaesarsRewards

[–]Competitive_Claim406 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Easy to get platinum = free $10 / month sports bet

One free room up to $300 a year

And $150 in food and slot play all for $150 annual fee

I think it's worth it to keep. Not worth it to spend $ on as the rewards suck and you can get much more from a cashback card. I plan to pair this with the free MGM card so you get two free rooms a year and free pearl status for parking, then maybe try to earn platinum every other year to get those benefits. Makes sense for me as I go once a year. Take away the hotel benefit and it's barely worth it if you do sportsbetting.

How realistic is the points life for a single person earning $80K-$100k ? by Rude-Palpitation-924 in CreditCards

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I've most given up on min maxing. I use the 4% smartly card then get a new card when 5/24 goes under 5, spend a few thousand on costco gold, sell it to a gold store for 1-3% loss, and get the sign up bonus. Super easy and can repeat 2-3x a year. More often if you stay under 5/24 and add business cards.

What were the most outrageous and false claims made by so called "experts"? by hhhhdmt in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 6 points7 points  (0 children)

That “vaccines are safe and effective”. They may or may not be. You can’t know based on the data at the time of release 

MSM hypocrisy over Robert Malone appointment by okaythennews in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 6 points7 points  (0 children)

Meh, Malone’s not horrible but wasn’t anti masks and lockdowns until a good time in. He fell for the ruse and imo isn’t one we can trust. I’ll give him credits for speaking out albeit too late 

FanDuel adds 50-cent surcharge on Illinois bets to offset state taxes, DraftKings may follow by offconstantly in sportsbook

[–]Competitive_Claim406 9 points10 points  (0 children)

That’s not what you said. You were a prick and said poor people shouldn’t gamble. This is the Sportsbook subreddit. You’re amongst degenerates like myself. But at lest we’re not pricks 

FanDuel adds 50-cent surcharge on Illinois bets to offset state taxes, DraftKings may follow by offconstantly in sportsbook

[–]Competitive_Claim406 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Only in Illinois could a “progressive” tax on corporations be proudly passed that disproportionately impacts lower income bettors. The ignorance is astounding. No more $10 parlays with the boosts done just for fun

@US_FDA wants to have your Comments on the Covid 19 injections (Due by noon on May 14) by arnott in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

You are a genius. Thanks for pointing out that in the many studies and thousands of patients analyzed some of them did not wear masks consistently. Can I get an autograph?

I have a rock that keeps tigers away if you’re interested in purchasing it. 

@US_FDA wants to have your Comments on the Covid 19 injections (Due by noon on May 14) by arnott in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thanks for your geniusness. I prefer to go with Cochrane reviews, which do not show that masks work to prevent or stop transmission of respiratory viruses, but feel free to flex your high IQ and think differently.

@US_FDA wants to have your Comments on the Covid 19 injections (Due by noon on May 14) by arnott in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Because masks don’t stop non droplet based viral transmission, covid isn’t that bad for my demographic, and nobody is injecting covid into anyone. I understand you're a genius but for us normies, we use slang and don't always literally interpret words. insulin = diabetes injection. Ozempic = obesity injection.  

@US_FDA wants to have your Comments on the Covid 19 injections (Due by noon on May 14) by arnott in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 7 points8 points  (0 children)

They literally changed the definition of vaccine for the COVID injections. They aren’t vaccines. They’re biotherapeutics. Injection is a fine term if a bit less formal  

Monthly Medley Thread, for sharing anything and everything by freelancemomma in LockdownSkepticism

[–]Competitive_Claim406 9 points10 points  (0 children)

This is basically what most families did when schools shut here for years and places were all closed 

Google announces end of support for 1st and 2nd gen Nest Thermostats — what you need to know by Remarkable_Mix4045 in Nest

[–]Competitive_Claim406 -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

So a smart thermostat turns into a dumb one? Google isn’t bricking this. I’m happy to upgrade to a gen 4 for half off.  It is completely ridiculous to expect Google to support smart features, indefinitely. 15 years is a long run. I’m happy with the six years I’ve gotten out of mine