a realtor to take their time for free — again, the whole point. I just want to know if data is publicly available (even for a fee) for me to spend 3 minutes of my own time validate a ballpark price range for a casual, ad-hoc conversation with an interested party to see if it is even worth consideration. I don't need a $500 appraisal for that, as chances are high the conversation goes nowhere and I'll have no use for said appraisal (as I'm not otherwise looking to sell the lot and don't need a precise value at this time).

If the self-derived ballpark passes the gut-check and the conversation gets serious to the point there is reason to get an appraisal, I'll pay for an appraisal.


Similarly, I don't know if I need an attorney. A consult to see if there is a need for an attorney is what's needed. If it turns out that there is such a need, I will hire and pay said attorney.


Asking if anyone knows of a source of publicly available information (which much of the MLS data is), or recommendation for an attorney that deals in certain types of law and offers consultations (which is not work, and is good practice for a services business), is not asking for free work.


Again, I do a lot of management and tech consulting myself, so I understand the value of service and expertise, and at what point is should become billable.


I'll never understand why there is always someone who feels the need to misread things and pick a fight on a message board instead of either a) offering a recommendation, per the question, or b) saying nothing at all.