Answers by Josue Brique

There is usually no true whole-house reset unless everything is under one ecosystem, so in most cases you do need to clear it device by device. I would remove each lock, camera, thermostat, hub, and doorbell from the app first, delete old user codes and automations, clear any stored video or cloud subscriptions, then factory reset the devices before closing. After that, make sure the hubs are wiped, Wi-Fi is changed, and test from your phone while away from the house to confirm you no longer have access. It is a little tedious, but it is the safest way to protect both you and the buyer.

If the goal is to help someone truly qualify, I’d lean toward the price cut. A 2-1 buydown mainly makes the payment easier for the first couple years, but it usually does not fix the bigger affordability issue. The buydown is better when the buyer already qualifies and just needs a little breathing room up front.

Most legitimate business owners understand compliance requests, so this alone should not kill the deal. That said, I believe this FinCEN rule is currently on hold, so for this transaction the bigger question is whether the title company is asking for it because of an actual requirement or just its own policy. If the buyer gets unusually evasive about basic ownership information, that would concern me more than the request itself.

A contingency is a condition that must be met for the deal to stay in place. It gives a buyer or seller a way out if something important, like financing, appraisal, or inspection, does not work out.

Yes. A real estate agent can absolutely help with leasing land, especially if they have land, farm, or rural property experience. In Virginia, leasing land falls within normal real estate license activity. For 12.5 mostly open acres with pond and spring access, I would just make sure you use someone who understands more than pricing. The big issues are permitted use, access, insurance, maintenance, water rights, fencing, hunting, livestock, and liability. An agent can help market it and find the tenant, but for the lease terms themselves I would also want a good attorney involved if the use is anything beyond very simple.