3 Things You Can Learn from a Plumbing, Electrical, or General Contractor

Chris Deziel / apartments.com • May 21, 2021

You might have hired a contractor to complete a specific job, but the relationship doesn't have to stop when the job is done.

If there's good communication between you and your contractor, you might be surprised by unexpected benefits. Besides skill, good contractors have a wealth of experience and knowledge, and many are happy to share what they know.

1. A contractor can help you understand your property

Every property has its own idiosyncrasies. The structure of the building, the heating and cooling system, and the electrical and plumbing systems are part and parcel of a unique package. None of it is new to a seasoned contractor, though, who can help you decipher seemingly unrelated issues.

Want to remove a wall to create space?

A building contractor can inspect your property and explain which walls are bearing and why, based on the structure.

Need to add lights or outlets?

An electrician can help you decipher your house circuitry to determine the best place from which to draw power.

Have water problems?

Get a plumber to pinpoint the source and recommend the most cost-effective repair. If the property is incurring excess energy costs, a general contractor can help you determine whether you need to insulate, upgrade the heating system, or both.

Even though your house is unique, the materials and techniques that went into building it aren't, and contractors have seen them all before in a variety of contexts. They are familiar with traditional materials as well as modern ones and can advise you when upgrading is cost-effective and advantageous.

2. Contractors alert you to code violations

Many properties are a hodgepodge of DIY improvements, many of which were completed without a permit. They may result in amenities that are actually hazardous and expose you to potential liability. For example, consider a set of deck stairs with uneven tread spacing built by a weekend warrior. Someone using them for the first time could trip, and you could end up being liable for the injury. A building contractor will recognize the problem immediately and advise you to fix it.

Code violations create problems when it's time to sell. They can lower resale value and chase away buyers. It's best to correct them before you offer the property, but it often takes the trained eye of a contractor to spot them.

Before you sell, save yourself some grief by hiring a general contractor to look over your property before potential buyers send in an inspector. Even if you decide against correcting the violation, you won't suffer the disadvantage of surprise when the inspection report comes in.

3. A contractor can teach you how to do it yourself

The contractor who will work alongside a property owner is rare. Most prefer—for reasons of liability as well as quality—to work independently.

However, many contractors will happily agree to allow you to complete part of the work on your own. They may even show you what to do. Most jurisdictions have no problem permitting remodeling work completed by property owners, so working on your own property is a great way to learn and gain experience.

Doing your own work isn't always a money-saving strategy, but it can be. For example, suppose you need to install electricity in a new addition. Wiring switches and receptacles is a repetitive task that you can learn from an electrician, who might agree to work in another part of the house while you complete a bedroom. The contractor can check your work when you're done. In addition, certain procedures, such as installing a window or weatherproofing a door, are easier if you learn the proper technique from a seasoned pro.

How to find a good contractor

A contractor's experience can work in your favor, so take advantage of it. Money spent on a consultation during the planning stages of a project or when an emergency arises is money well spent. Of course, this assumes the contractor is competent and not simply trying to drum up business. Here are some ways to separate ethical, reliable contractors from scammers:

  • Get the contractor's license number and check it online. If you live in California, you can check license numbers here. Other state licensing boards have similar web portals. They are listed in this general directory.
  • Get two or three references from the contractor and contact them.
  • Check notice boards at the local lumberyard for ads.
  • Ask friends for recommendations.

A good contractor is an asset, and the relationship is one to nurture. When you find one, put the info in your contact list right alongside that of your lawyer, accountant, and other professionals that help you maintain your rental business.


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The #1 Regret Sellers Have When They Don’t Use an Agent

By KCM • February 2, 2026
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Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth.

By KCM • January 28, 2026
Are Big Investors Really Buying Up All the Homes? Here’s the Truth. It’s hard to scroll online lately without seeing some version of this claim: “Big investors are buying up all the homes.” And honestly, if you’re a homebuyer who’s lost out on a few offers, that idea probably sounds believable. When homes are expensive and competition is tight, it’s easy to assume giant companies are scooping everything up behind the scenes. But here’s the thing: what people assume is happening and what the data actually shows aren’t always the same. Let’s look at what’s really happening with large institutional investors in today’s housing market – because the numbers tell a much different story than the headlines. The Number Most People Won’t See Online Let’s start with the most important stat. According to John Burns Research & Consulting (JBREC), large institutional investors – those that own 100 or more homes – made up just 1.2% of all home purchases in Q3 of 2025 (see graph below): That’s it. Out of every 100 homes sold, only about 1 went to a large institutional investor. And here’s an important point that often gets missed: that level of investor activity is very much in line with historical norms. It’s not unusually high, and it’s actually well below the recent peak of 3.1% back in 2022 – which itself was still a small share of the overall market. So, while it can feel like big investors are everywhere, nationally, they’re a very small part of overall home sales. Why Investor Activity Gets So Much Attention There are two main reasons this topic gets so much attention: Investor activity isn’t spread evenly. Investors are more active in certain markets, which can make competition feel intense for homebuyers in those areas. As Lance Lambert, Co-Founder of ResiClub, explains:“On a national level, “large investors”—those owning at least 100 single-family homes—only own around 1% of total single-family housing stock. That said, in a handful of regional housing markets, institutional and large single-family landlords have a much larger presence. ” Investor is a broad term. Part of what makes the share of purchases bought by investors sound so big is because many headlines lump large Wall Street institutions together with small, local investors (like your neighbor who owns one or two rental homes). But those are very different buyers.In reality, most investors are small, local owners, not massive corporations. And when all investors get grouped together in the headlines as a single stat, it inflates the number and makes it seem like big institutions are dominating the market (even though they’re not). Yes, big investors exist. Yes, they buy homes. But nationally, they’re responsible for a very small share of total purchases – far smaller than most people assume. The bigger challenges around affordability have much more to do with supply, demand, and years of underbuilding than with large institutions competing against everyday buyers. That’s why it’s so important to separate noise from reality, especially if you’re trying to decide if now is the right time to move. Bottom Line If you want to talk through what investor activity actually looks like in our local market, and how it impacts your options (or doesn’t), let’s connect. Sometimes a little context makes all the difference.

Why January Is the Best Time to Kickstart Your 2026 Home Search

By Inner Circle • January 22, 2026
It’s a new year, and if buying a home in 2026 is on your mind, there’s one simple piece of advice worth hearing first: get started now. Not in March. Not in spring. Not “when the weather gets better.” Now. Why? For starters, buying a home takes time. A recent Realtor.com article suggests getting started at least six months before you plan to close. That doesn’t mean starting in January automatically puts you on track for a June closing. In fact, if you get started now, there’s a good chance you could be in a home much sooner than that. On the flip side, even if you don’t plan to move until later in the year, beginning the process early still puts you in a far stronger position when you’re ready to make offers. You’re almost always better off starting sooner rather than later. There’s a lot involved beyond simply finding a house you like. Financial preparation, getting pre-approved for a mortgage, understanding what you can truly afford, getting a handle on the existing inventory, touring homes, writing offers, negotiating terms, and finally closing — all of that takes time. And that’s before factoring in local competition and inventory. But as we head into this new year, there’s another reason starting early matters even more — and it has everything to do with what’s happening in the market right now… It’s Finally a Buyer’s Market in Many Areas… But It Might Not Last One of the biggest reasons to begin in January is where the market stands right now. In many areas, conditions are unusually favorable for buyers — and that’s not something to assume will stick around. According to recent housing market data , there were roughly 37% more sellers than buyers across the U.S. in November 2025, one of the largest gaps on record going back to 2013. A gap that large can give buyers more negotiating power. It often leads to more options, more time to consider choices, and greater leverage when it comes to price, terms, and requests for seller concessions. But that gap can easily close. Many buyers put off looking for a home until the spring market “officially” begins. That’s in quotation marks because there really is no official date for when the spring market begins. But at some point in the next few months, there will likely be a surge of buyers entering the market. When that happens, competition will increase and many of the advantages buyers enjoy early in the year will likely begin to shrink. Buyers who wait may find themselves facing more multiple-offer situations, tighter negotiations, and less room to ask for concessions. Getting started in January doesn’t just give you a head start — it gives you a shot at taking advantage of conditions that may look very different just a few months from now. The First Thing to Do After the First of the Year If you’re even just thinking about buying a home in 2026, the most productive first step after the new year isn’t scrolling listings or heading out to open houses — it’s having a conversation with a local real estate agent. National headlines are helpful for understanding broad trends, but real estate is extremely local. Conditions can vary dramatically from one city to the next, from one neighborhood to another, and even from one price range to another within the same town. An agent can walk you through what inventory looks like right now, how competitive buyers are in your target price range, and whether sellers are negotiating or still holding firm. They can also help you come up with a timeline and strategy based upon your personal situation and the current market conditions. The Takeaway: Buying a home almost always takes longer than people expect. That’s why many experts recommend starting the process at least six months before you plan to move. That doesn’t mean it has to take that long — plenty of buyers find and close on a home much sooner. But it does mean that giving yourself time is rarely a bad idea. Starting as early in the year as possible is always smart, but starting early in 2026 may be even smarter. With roughly 37% more sellers than buyers — the largest gap we’ve seen since 2013 — today’s market is offering buyers opportunities that may not last once more people jump in later this year. Waiting until spring could mean more competition and fewer advantages than buyers see right now. If you’re even thinking about buying in 2026, getting the ball rolling in January can put you in a much stronger position. And the best first step isn’t browsing listings — it’s talking with a local real estate agent who can explain what’s happening in your market, help you set realistic.
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