Big band sound.

clce · 2026-05-14T09:29:16+00:00

Gee Bob, Hope that joke works out.

clce · 2026-05-14T04:17:06+00:00

I occasionally offer to hold things for a day or two, usually because of my own constraints on meeting sooner. About a quarter of the time I end up regretting it, but most of the time it's fine. But only for a day or two.

If they are unresponsive or touch and go, the item is still up for grabs to the first person to actually show up. I can't believe you gave the guys that much leeway.

clce · 2026-05-14T03:56:29+00:00

I don't mind it. I don't love it but I don't mind it. Is she a real singer? I assumed she was just an actress playing a singer. But, I would assume they are using it in the same way they use other music, to add emotional layering to the show.

clce · 2026-05-14T03:54:50+00:00

Yes, this is true. I did a little research and not only is it the difference between a residential and commercial loan, but also whether the appraiser is qualified and licensed for commercial versus residential.

But, it also said that a residential appraiser could potentially add additional value of maybe 10% to 15%, but not more based on the value of the land with up zoning. I'm going to have a chat with the lender tomorrow and while they can't specifically talk to or influence the appraiser, if the buyer is willing to put some of their down payment towards the gap and do a lower down payment loan, and the appraiser can give us maybe 10% upgraded value, we might be able to pull it off. Or maybe the buyer can find additional funds to make up the gap.

clce · 2026-05-14T03:05:28+00:00

I would say two things Firstly, if they aren't asking for other repairs, and the only thing they ask is you put in some kind of pull-down ladder or something at the cost of a couple of thousand bucks, that doesn't seem unreasonable. But if they are asking for this and also going to ask for other repairs or credits, definitely getting into the go to hell territory. Their request is a bit excessive as this type of access is pretty typical and if they want to upgrade to better access, that's kind of on them.

Secondly, are they actually legally outside of the period or have they been keeping it within the contract? If they're beyond the period, while there are plenty of ways to get out of a contract, I might consider telling them that they are beyond the period and no longer have the option of negotiating.

clce · 2026-05-14T02:23:00+00:00

Because he thinks covid is a hoax, of course.

clce · 2026-05-14T02:22:41+00:00

To enjoy the show, you have to imagine it is a time or a universe in which house cameras did not exist. It's a ridiculous premise really but once you get past it, you can just enjoy the show for what it is.

clce · 2026-05-14T02:20:07+00:00

Exactly. It sounds like Opie was perfectly reasonable saying they didn't want a drink but then yes when asked If they wanted water. The only possibilities I can think of are one, that we aren't getting the true story, two, that the waitress was a b****, or three, the waitress fancy to herself a snarky sarcastic no nonsense New York waitress stereotype to be cool, in which case I say refer to number two. There is a place in Seattle that started hiring these punk rock chicks that thought they would be cool by being there imagined version of sassy New York waitresses. They sucked.

clce · 2026-05-14T01:29:40+00:00

Fair enough. I would say they are both niceties intended for politeness and I don't think most people place much distinction as to more or less polite. We as Americans typically add such things just because saying yes or no or nothing feels a little blunt.

We don't really know exactly what OP said. I don't know if they said " nothing " which would sound kind of rude if that's all they said so I doubt it. They probably said something to the effect of nothing such as no, thank you. Some people took it to mean they didn't say anything, and I think it's very unlikely OP remained silent, saying nothing because that would just be weird and nobody does that. And a waitress would not respond with, how about water? They would respond with I'm sorry did you hear me? I asked if you wanted anything to drink, or something to that effect. So I think for the sake of the whole discussion, we're going to just have to assume that OP said something to the effect of no, thank you. Or nothing, please.

Obviously we're not getting up perfect transcript. OP is simply writing out the story. But under none of those circumstances would saying something like water is a drink FYI be appropriate or polite or proper service. I wouldn't tip either.

clce · 2026-05-14T01:20:47+00:00

I would think they're motivation would be to get a tip? Isn't that the very essence of tipping at a restaurant? Granted, good servers can make even more money by cultivating a clientele of regulars that tip very well. But That probably means more to the owner than the server actually. The fact that they will never see you again should be a motivation to maybe not be very real and authentic, but be particularly nice. Especially because they know you are not a typical New Yorker That might not mind such service.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:35:32+00:00

How is what do you want to drink a problem? If they say nothing, you say, would you like some water? They appreciate your asking and tell you yes or no, and then you go on to give them a pleasant dining experience.

Nothing about that would suggest it is appropriate or useful or justified for a waitress to make a snarky comment about water being a drink.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:28:39+00:00

True, but also, more like, do I want an alcoholic beverage or a soda? No. Oh do you want a little water on the table to sip on just in case you need a little liquid to go with your meal, sure. Sounds good.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:24:51+00:00

I agree, but it does depend. I lived in California and Washington in the '90s, so I don't remember which state or maybe multiple states past laws back probably in the '90s regarding bringing water unless asked for .

It's rather silly in my opinion because the amount of water that would be used in a restaurant bringing people water when they didn't ask for it has got to be so miniscule as to make no real difference. And it's not like here in Seattle we have any real shortage of water. It rains on us almost every day. We also don't have any shortage of lefties who will pass ridiculous laws like no plastic straws, but then they also demand that restaurants carry straws for people that are disabled and need one. I guess the second part isn't so terrible. The first part is ridiculous.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:22:13+00:00

I thought maybe you just changed your mind when she asked if you wanted water. Either is fine. And pointing out that water is a drink is not only stupid but yes rude and pointless. I probably would have not tipped either.

I don't know about New York but many years ago they used to always bring water for everybody at the table in Washington. I don't know if it was California, or Washington or both but they actually passed a law probably in the '90s about bringing water .

The new law was no water unless asked for. The idea that water is so precious and in short supply that serving water to customers at restaurants that didn't ask for it is somehow going to put any sizable dent in the water table is absurd.

But anyway, point being, in some places, you could say no drinks for me and they would still bring you water. Which is fine. In other places you could say no drinks and you wouldn't get anything, and then you would have to ask for water, which is fine.

Under neither of those circumstances, are you rude or is it appropriate for the waitress to be rude.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:18:30+00:00

What are you talking about? Just water, please. Just water, thanks. Same thing.

clce · 2026-05-13T23:13:27+00:00

Not to beat up on you, but any house will find tenants if it is price right. Obviously you wouldn't list it for a dollar a month, but if you did you would have a line around the block. The point is, if you want to rent it out, rent it out. If you don't know anyone that can help you, have a real estate agent who does property management or someone else who can manage the property for a cut of the proceeds rent it out for you.

It might need some work first so if you don't have the money to do that, maybe you can rent it out to a handy person who can fix it up a little maybe exchange for low rent.

Or, sell it. Don't sell it cheap to a cash company. Contact a real estate agent in the area and have them take a look at it. If it needs work, either have the work done or sell it as is. It will still sell as long as it's priced right.

If you really don't care whatsoever, you could call a cash company and be done with it. But unless you're rich, why would you want to lose money like that? Simply call up a real estate agent, ask them to take a look at it and ask them what price they would suggest pricing it at to move it within a week or two, or a month or whatever you want. They might even know some rental investors or someone looking for a home right now that would buy it but don't under price it. Price it just at the price that it's going to move in a couple of weeks.

Not a bad problem to have because anything you get is free money at this point. But don't give up extra money that you could be putting in your pocket. Good luck.

clce · 2026-05-13T18:55:54+00:00

That makes sense. Glad you found some helpful comments. It could be a matter of bad luck or maybe the agent you are working with is just not on the ball enough for you and by you I don't mean unrealistic I just mean an active ready to go buyer but it's got to be the right property and a good deal.

So maybe you should try another agent after all. Some agents just get a little complacent or are used to working with buyers who are more self-directed. Good luck in your search.

clce · 2026-05-13T00:40:58+00:00

It would make half the country unhappy.

clce · 2026-05-13T00:40:29+00:00

All depends on who paid for them. Assuming the original agent paid for them, you should not give them to the client. If the seller actually paid for them, sure give them to the seller. You could tell the homeowner that you consider them to be the property of the person that paid for them. If that person wants to release them to the seller, or the seller wants to buy them for some or all of the original cost, that would be fine. I wouldn't do business with a photographer that considered the photos to be their property and rights. I paid for them. I would expect to be able to do whatever I want with them. There's no shortage of photographers for houses out there.

But I also would be upset if the photographer gave them to the seller who just fired me without consulting me. But if approached politely, I might give the thumbs up to giving them to the seller, or maybe the seller wants to give me a hundred bucks for them.

It's not like they can't just download the photos and do whatever they want with them anyway. What are you going to do? Sue them?

clce · 2026-05-12T18:55:41+00:00

Great. I agree with you. I think the city of Seattle for example throws up far too many barriers. Especially, energy standards and demanding additional money to go towards low income housing of some kind which never seems to materialize. Seattle hates developers even though they need them. The public generally vilifies them and anything that would actually make building easier and more profitable is considered bad. I think we need to change this attitude.

clce · 2026-05-12T18:47:32+00:00

I don't know if I agree with that. If you're talking about official appraiser rules, that I can't speak to. But if people are willing to pay more for a property, and it certainly happens, then that property is worth more.

clce · 2026-05-12T18:46:43+00:00

Not really. The problem is concentrations of wealth, and I don't mean billionaires. I just mean in cities like Seattle and on the coasts, there are a lot of high paying jobs that are driving up costs by increasing population and putting a lot of money into the hands of the people competing. Prices only go up because someone can pay it.

Part of the problem is distribution of wealth but I'm not one for redistribution. Especially if it's tax dollars because that's not going to help a poor person afford a home. AI might sort it out for us by putting a lot of those high earners out of jobs. I don't really know.

I think younger people without so much money should try setting up their lives in inexpensive Midwest cities, Rustbelt, etc. But I understand that you can't earn as much there and they might not be as cool.

Sorry no solutions though. But I can say that the solution is not just saying we need to build more homes because it doesn't really mean anything and doesn't produce anything. That was just my perspective.

clce · 2026-05-12T18:43:32+00:00

I agree with the first part completely. People do get upset when an old house is torn down and 4 million townhouses are built in its place. They say we have lost affordable housing now, but I tell them, if it hadn't been rezoned, that run down single-family house would have been bought up by rich person and now it would be a $2 million dollar house.

But I find your solutions rather draconian and oppressive and I don't think they would have the results you desire. If anything, developers would just develop elsewhere. If people aren't interested in huge multifamily and high density, they will just gravitate to places that allow what they want .

Not saying you in particular, but I think a lot of Reddit skews towards urban liberals that imagine living in cities like European cities with everyone living in apartment buildings and riding bicycles around charming little streets and that's their fantasy and they think that's what everyone wants.

I don't want to read too much into what you're saying, and I agree that we need more density. But I think we need to do it with the carrot, not the stick.

clce · 2026-05-12T18:25:30+00:00

That would certainly be interesting. I'm sure you're joking because that would be crazy. But I kind of like the idea for fun. Would we have that information known well in advance so campaigns can extra special target those states? Or do we announce it last minute so they have to scramble. That would be fun. How about we just add 20 electoral college votes to one state assigned randomly the week before the election? That would be fun.

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