While I agree with a lot of what the article talks about, I think the author was painting with a very broad brush.

Torch, brushes, sandpaper, solder, and flux.  

Then use gel stain, first on the area, then on the very last coat lightly, with a nice brush, the whole side panel.  

It's really easy for my contractor, one sprays and one uses brushes.

started selling fuller brush at 14 door to door.. bagged groceries.. went to collage for a year did not like it.. got my RE license at 18  and my brokers at 20  top producer within 2 years.. never looked back. on the job training as it were..

brush your teeth.

Our current R.E. market in the U.S. as a broad brush generality (I know there's many exceptions to this) is a declining market, meaning falling values still.

The school of hard knocks (getting stuck with a hammer or paint brush in my hand, whenever a carpenter disappeared on me) was invaluable and nothing, I mean NOTHING, can teach you as being immersed in it.

Now while I know there are landlords who let their houses fall into disrepair and don't care and I would consider them slumlords I think many people paint all landlords in these areas with the same brush and would label them all slumlords because of where they invest.Although I could not invest places like this I do think investors in these areas do something in that they provide housing and preserve some value in areas that would become abandoned or squatters areas.

I would not paint that broad of a brush as to the realtors.