Hope you all had a merry christmas and may the new year be prosporous to all of us.

Virtually nothing goes to tax sale in the Willamette valley you need to go to rural areas . and areas were you had large recreational developments that were put in during the post war land boom era.you will find those in Christmas Valley OR  and Klickitat county WA. 

One thing you might do, is try to look right before Christmas and just be honest with the contractor and offer the $300 for a quick estimate (when it is presented).

Side Note: The real losers of the fight for $15 are those that have put in the extra effort and worked their way up from $8 to $18 who will have their buying power severely diminished as their lazy co-workers all get participation trophy auto-raises.People will use their newfound buying power to compete for limited housing.

Christmas time is a trap for them.

"Our company bonus is Christmas cookies from XYZ bakery for rent paid on time and zero neighbor complaints" Or whatever prize you can offer.Assume the contractor is actually Bubba that I described.

Last month I got a call from a tenant, wanting to get out of the lease, because her husband was being relocated to Arizona 2 weeks before Christmas! 

I started out in construction and then taught school while still working construction after work, on weekends, Christmas break and summer.

Last winter it was - 20 for about a week, pipes busting, you want that call on Christmas morning?

Have them pay the extra for the water bill...and if they complain (which I doubt) about the extra at Christmas, tell them too bad.