As Jason said you will be able to draw equity out or put up that house as collateral for another purchase.

So if something is winterized, and subsequently freezes, then needs an emergency repair, who's going to get the call?

This is the 4th time this exact scenario has happened to me :(Back to the drawing board.

I appreciated the post, and much of the subsequent discussion.

Draw your own conclusion.Ask the broker who wants the listing for a full marketing plan including where besides MLS will she advertise the house, will she be using a professional photographer to take pictures, will she put together and have printed a full color brochure, will she be holding open houses for both other realtors and prospective buyers, does she have any exclusive contacts with out of town buyers and if it is an investment property does she work with investors.Depending on these answers it may be worth considering.In answer to your other question many real estate agents would prefer not to sell a flat fee listed property because they realize that the flat fee listing agent will do almost no work and they feel they will end up doing both the selling agents job and the listing agents job for 1/2 of the commission.

Charles,I made an offer of $500 and the buyer initally told me to "have a nice day" then 30 seconds later (literally) called back and said could I draw up a contract.

On expenses, things pertaining to the property are readily determined and I don't think there is much value in trying to draw inferences from a study.

Anyhow, I would differently have an attorney draw up the papers.

This being you draw a triangle and put a T within the triangle.

Simply nothing more than the luck of the draw.