Shoutout to the old guy in Burlington who told me to use a mirror on a stick

I mean, I thought it was a dumb gimmick for years, like why not just use a camera? But last month I had a real bad creosote buildup in a tricky offset flue on a house in Essex Junction. My camera died, so I dug out this cheap mirror on a pole I got at a yard sale. Idk, seeing the actual reflection, not a screen, let me spot a hairline crack in the clay liner I would've totally missed. Has anyone else had a simple tool surprise them like that?

Serious question, has anyone else had a client insist on using those chemical chimney cleaning logs? A homeowner in Bellingham swore by them for years, but when I finally got in there, the creosote buildup was almost an inch thick in places.

Just found out my 'standard' non-compete clause is basically unenforceable in my state

I've been signing freelance contracts for years, always skimming over the non-compete section because I figured it was just boilerplate. The one I signed last month for a six-month project in California had the usual line about not working with similar clients for a year after. I was about to turn down a great new offer because of it. Then my friend, who's a paralegal, asked to see my agreement over lunch. She pointed at the clause and laughed, saying California law makes those almost impossible to enforce for independent contractors. I felt like a total fool. I'd been limiting my own income and turning down work based on a scary paragraph that had no real teeth here. All that worry for nothing. Has anyone else in a state with strict non-compete laws had to push back and get that section removed before signing?

Can we talk about awkward neighbor chats during open houses?

I always avoided talking to neighbors when hosting open houses, thinking it was a waste of time. But last weekend, the guy next door came over and shared some funny stories about the area that the buyers loved. I mean, it totally broke the tension and helped seal the deal. Maybe it's just me, but now I see how useful those chats can be. Idk, I might start engaging more with the community.