Ask David

Video surveillance during showings

DEAR DAVID: Are video doorbells a good way to monitor showings at my house? – RING MY BELL DEAR RING: Many of today’s homes are equipped with smart devices, from thermostats, to doorbells, to the ever-popular Alexa. As familiar as these devices might be, using them to surveil showings in your home can be a

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Snow Removal: is it the tenant’s job or the landlord’s?

Dear David: I’m renting a town home. My landlord and I are at odds over who is responsible for outdoor maintenance. He says snow removal and grass cutting are my responsibility, but I think he should take care of these things. Who is right? – NOT MY HOUSE DEAR NMH: Outdoor maintenance is one of

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Struggling to pick a downsizing option

DEAR DAVID: my spouse and I are in our sixties and will be retiring soon. We want to sell our family home and downsize, but we’re struggling with having so many options. This will be our final move and we want to get it right. Any tips? – WEIGHING THE PROS AND CONS DEAR WEIGHING:

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Is virtual staging a good idea?

Dear David: I’ve heard that some people are using virtual staging to sell their homes. Do you think this is a good idea? – LOOKING SHARP DEAR SHARP: Virtual staging has long been the purview of architects and decorators, and it’s growing in popularity with Realtors as well. When trying to sell a vacant home

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Why was my showing over in 2 minutes?

Dear David: We’ve been spending a lot of time getting our house ready for showings. We are disappointed when buyers book appointments, but only stay for a few minutes. In one case, we watched an agent stand on our porch and chat on his phone while his clients went through our house. How do we

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