Inexperience and over ambition cost me in but the plus side is I know not to go into projects looking at myself as the one swinging the hammer.

Bear in mind these are licensed agent who should have at least know to disclose and should be hammered.

As a very experienced (30 years in construction as a hammer and nail guy as too which I also have 26 years of combined project management and ownership in various construction service businesses and have done work at THOUSANDS of properties) I am often shocked what inexperienced REI's think a projects cost is "A" but it really is "Z" because they really do not know what it takes to get from where a property is to where they want it be.

If you had a plumbing leak and I handed you a hammer, you'd look at me funny and wonder what help I was being (wrong tool for the job).

I'm older, so probably give the impression that I wouldn't know a hammer from a screwdriver, but I've renovated -- with my own two hands -- more bathrooms and kitchens than I've ever cleaned, so more than once I've had the pleasure of turning that around on them LOL. 

To a man with a hammer everything looks like a nail.

agree. someone done dropped the truth hammer. 

I'm reminded of the saying "If you only have a hammer, everything tends to look like a nail".

If you fear for your safety, **** the hammer.

You have to go up the ladder but things like guarantees can be limited or reduced over time.All fine points can be hammered out depending on the borrower and the property.