SELLING A HOUSE THROUGH A REALTOR: Most people interview 2 or 3 agents before listing a house. A listing is money in the agent's pocket, even if he or she doesn't personally make the sale. You'll never have more leverage than during the listing appointment. Go for the lowest commission rate and the best perks: free advertising, open houses, or whatever else appeals to you.
Also, agents sometimes high-ball you on what your house is worth to make their competitors' appraisals look bad. If your house is overpriced when it goes on the market, other agents may dismiss it as a "dog that won't hunt." You can never recapture this initial momentum by lowering the price later. Make it clear that you want the house listed slightly above fair market value and you're not interested in fantasy appraisals...unless you're greedy, in which case by all means overprice your home.
AUTO MECHANICS: You can probably trust a dead auto mechanic, but ask for your old parts back, just in case.
DEBT: Never regard debt as an ethical or moral obligation, but merely a financial and legal contract. If you fall behind on a debt for whatever reason, one of the first ploys that will be used on you is guilt: "We trusted you with our money, so do the right thing and honor the commitment you made." Whether you fell behind because of a layoff, medical bills, or because you're just a deadbeat, the creditor will report your delinquency to the credit bureau in exactly the same manner. No distinction is made as to the circumstances. Is that fair? Is that moral? To label crooks and victims the same?
Morality and ethics simply don't enter into credit decisions as far as creditors are concerned (unless they find it expedient to use your own morals against you). Payment problems in the past mean you'll be turned down for credit today. No attempt will be made to separate *crooks* from *victims*. There's just no interest. It's business. Which is exactly why you should take the same attitude.
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