Quotes of the Day

Problems to Look for When Shopping for Rental Properties: 1. The Bigfoot smell; 2. The hidden third bedroom; 3. Ugly countertops and cabinets; 4. The bad roof; 5. Mold; 6. Compartmentalized configuration; 7. Jungle landscaping; 8. Junk. Problems to Avoid When Shopping for a Rental Property: 1. Neighborhood; 2. Foundation (including water leaking) issues; 3. Location-specific problems, such as being directly below a flight path or next door to loud/angry dogs. [2015] - Brandon Turner

When a Danish study came out in May 2014 concluding that regular, long-term use of certain PPIs was linked to greater risk of developing esophageal cancer, the use of this popular acid-blocking medication was put into question. It was an alarming argument, but it’s not one you should give too much credence. The authors of the study were unable to control for significant risk factors for the development of esophageal cancer such as alcohol consumption. Nor were other lifestyle considerations, such as smoking or dietary habits, taken into consideration. [2017] - Jonathan Aviv

I recently examined data from my reflux patients using the Reflux Symptom Index. Here were the symptoms, in decreasing order of frequency: 1. Too much throat mucus 2. Chronic throat clearing 3. Hoarseness 4. Lump-in-the-throat sensation 5. Chronic cough 6. Heartburn 7. Difficulty swallowing 8. Choking episodes [2015] - Jamie Koufman

Ask your tenant to provide a work place reference. Don't just call the contact number that was provided as this can be a number to their friend's cell phone who can pretend to be the tenant's employer. Call the company's office number and ask to speak to the person noted as the tenant's employer. At this time, you can also verify the tenant's income and employment status so you know whether the tenant is a qualified tenant. [2015] - Gary Wong

Always get permits for any appliance replacements that you do in your condo or ask your insurance company whether they need that. Always get sufficient insurance coverage. Speak with a professional insurance broker who can lay out all the options for you. Don't just buy the cheapest insurance policy out there. [2015] - Gary Wong