I replaced part of my fence recently. If you live in North Texas, you know that’s not unusual—between the wind and the weather, fences around here take a beating. I’ve done it a few times now and, like most folks around here, I’ve gotten pretty decent at it.
But this time was a little different. For the first time, I had to replace the gate. And I didn’t have anyone around to help that day. Still, it was the time I had carved out to do it, so it was either figure it out or wait who knows how long. I wasn’t waiting.
So I sat down and thought it through. The plan I came up with was to leave the gate attached to the fence while I installed it. That way, I could hang the hinges one at a time without needing an extra set of hands.
I started working, following the plan as I pictured it. Now, if you’ve ever tackled a project you’re not super experienced with, you know the plan usually goes off the rails about five minutes in. That’s what I expected. I was sure I’d hit a snag somewhere and end up with a half-built gate my dog could wiggle through.
But—shockingly—this time, it worked. Exactly as I’d imagined it. The last cut was clean, the gate swung open perfectly, the hardware lined up on the first try. Everything just… worked.
I’ve probably gloated about it more than I should have. It wasn’t some high-level job—any contractor could’ve done it half-asleep.
But I’m not a contractor. So yeah, I was proud. That said, I also knew going in: worst-case scenario, I mess it up and have to call someone. A few hundred bucks, tops.
Real estate is different.
It seems simple—until it isn’t. People try to sell their own land or lots all the time. Sometimes it goes fine. But more often than not, they hit a snag they never saw coming. And unlike a fence, the stakes aren’t a couple hundred bucks. It could be tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars lost because they didn’t know what they didn’t know.
Why? Because they were trying to save on commission. But when you’ve got a professional negotiator in your corner, someone who understands land valuation and how deals actually work, you could net more—even after the commission.
If messing up costs you a few bucks? Go for it. Take a swing, impress your neighbors, tell the story at the next cookout.
But if screwing it up could cost you real money? Stick with the experts.
Got a lot you might want to sell?
Get a FREE, no obligation report on what it could sell for today.
Get Your Lot Valuation
Own land instead?
Get a report for that here:
Get Your Land Value
Just a glutton for punishment?
Sign up now to get more articles like this in your email.
Sign Up Now
