(Fair disclaimer, we are a distributor for CWP, Wood Harbor, Wellborn, and Wolf cabinets)The advantage to a big, established player (like any of the above) come to things like -* Quality of finish (Paint in a controlled shop is way different than paint at some guy's uncontrolled shop)* Warranty* Quality control of doors and boxes* Quality of construction* Service and Logistics* Quality of hardwareWhen you're talking about local manufacturers, they're oftentimes not building in an environmentally controlled environment.

I find that a lot of house flippers miss out on controlling the contracts with their contractors. 

Yes, if you buy the note you have more control. 

I have had an IRA with Fidelity Investments for probably 35 years and given the controlled environment, it is almost impossible to break a rule.  

I don't like condos for some of the same reasons you've probably heard, mainly the lack of control and added expense of the HOA.

Remember you don't have to own a property to control it.

It is entirely possible to purchase or control a property without having notified an existing record lienholder.Of course, this will put a certain amount of the risk burden upon you.What if the lien was paid off?

I have a situation that I have not run into before and I'm looking for some opinions.I just purchased a 5 acre parcel, and during my due diligence I found a tiny slice of land-locked land along one edge of the propert...

One great trick is to mount the saw upside down to a sawhorse or small worktable, then you can crosscut or rip right on your marked line easily without straining to see the line through the dust or control the tool. 

For instance; I've had one recent trust litigation where the Grantor (person who set up the trust) retained the ability to control the property of the trust until death, voiding the irrevocable nature of the trust.