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Frequently Asked Questions

Question: How should a value of “not applicable” be interpreted for the capital expenditures variable (CAPEX_R = -8)?

Answer: We coded CAPEX_R as -8 (not applicable) if all components of question 17 were not answered. Conversely, if the checkbox for any component of Q17 indicates a capital improvement, but no capital improvement amount is given for any of the dollar amount variables, then CAPEX_R is set to -9 (not reported).

It is difficult to say in all cases whether the CAPEX_R = -8 truly represents not applicable (i.e., zero capital expenditures) or non-response, since we did not have a place for the survey taker to indicate refusal. Still, we assumed for the published tables that not completing that question simply meant that there were no capital expenditures. We may well have been overstating the number of properties without capital improvements (versus refusals), but it is impossible to determine without the additional information about the survey. The 2015 RHFS will be electronic and will allow for more survey taker notes.