I’m sure the conversation wouldn’t be quite so cordial, but that’s a situation I potentially faced at the airport. I was bringing different gourmet-type cheese from Oahu to Kauai, and wasn’t sure if I could carry it in my carry-on. I read numerous online forums about how TSA won’t allow it because blocks of cheese look like explosives and some people have had their cheese confiscated. Other people said they had no problems. I didn’t want to pack the cheese in my luggage because I could imagine my luggage just sitting in the hot sun on the tarmac and my cheese melting in my bag. I emailed the TSA figuring they would have the most accurate information, but they emailed back and said it would take about three weeks for an answer. I was leaving in three days. Finally when I got to the airport I went up to a TSA agent before checking in and asked if I can put cheese in my carry-on. She said as long as it’s hard cheese, it’s okay. No problem.
Isn’t that how life is sometimes? We search all over for the answers, when we should have just gone straight to the source. The internet is a great tool, but with so much information, how do you know what is correct? Everyone with access to a computer can post their insight and advice, sometimes passing it off as truth, when in fact they are not the best source for the answer.
The same can be true with real estate. You can search online forums for advice and information, but how do you know it’s accurate? Each market is different. Just because one thing is true in one town, doesn’t mean it’s valid in another. Why would you trust an anonymous person with possibly your single largest investment?
When seeking answers to your real estate questions, go straight to the source. Look for a real estate agent that is knowledgeable about your town of interest. Be sure they know the real estate laws and market conditions of the area you are looking at because even neighboring communities can have different factors that impact house values. You can search online for tips and ideas, but you should seek an expert in your area for the best and most accurate information to help you make an informed decision.
