When it comes to flipping properties, one of the first things you want to look into after securing the deal, is the utility connections. This may sound odd, but many home that have been abandoned will require the new water, sewer, gas and electrical lines be installed from the street to the house. Obviously this is expected when you are dealing with new construction, but you should always confirm with the town or city when you are purchasing a distressed property.
My team member took this house form worst to first! 88 Rosewood Street in Mattapan. This project was a full renovation that transformed a horrible purple house to a tremendous home .
Beware of Fake Real Estate Investors. These are the folks that go to a weekend seminar and think they are qualified to purchase your home and even say they’ll buy your house cash. While there are legitimate investors and buyers, most of the so called self proclaimed “cash buyers”‘ are fakers. Ask tough questions about their experience before you entertain their conversation.
I call this one The Dog house because the previous owners literally let it go to the dogs. Enjoy this pre-construction tour of my next flip located in the Dorchester Neighborhood of Boston MA.
So my wife and I have completed 61 Ballou Ave in Dorchester (AKA The Dog House) and it has been sold! This property will be featured on HGTV in the months to come.The crew has already filmed unit 1 and we’ll keep you posted on when it will be airing on the network. We took this foreclosed two family, which was the worst house on the street and turned it into the best house on the street! We ended up selling it as two condos to first time home buyers that have both moved in and are happily enjoying their new home. Stay tuned for more! We have more plenty more Boston Condos that are being renovated or developed and will be listed this Spring, In Dorchester, Roxbury, Jamaica Plain and Roslindale. Contact me for details.
I started flipping homes back in 2009 and while I’ve learned a lot, the one constant is that nothing stays the same. More and more buyers are becoming increasingly knowledgable about homes and as a result flippers need to adjust their strategy to make sure they are selecting finishes that are in line with buyer’s expectations. As more and more buyers are watching HGTV and other home entertainment shows, they are coming to expect higher quality finishes. This is important because, if a home is not in line with these buyer’s expectations, it will take longer to sell or may sell for less vs. other homes on the market that have been renovated to a higher level.
So what does this mean for flippers? It means you need to be tight with your numbers. As construction and material costs increase, your profit margin decreases. As a result, you need to be certain you are basing your numbers on quality finishes fit for today’s home buyer when evaluating deals. In years past you could get away with apartment quality finishes and sell it quickly but buyers in todays market want a lot more. For example, in 2009 I could get away with using contractor pack cheap 12×12 porcelain tile, but I now use higher quality 12×24 tiles for flooring and smaller tiles for the shower walls. In the kitchens, I used to see flippers get away with laminate counter tops but most buyer want to see stone counters tops and to take it a step further, many want quartz stone because it is more durable than granite. This means higher budgets and lower margins.
Before you get into flipping homes be sure you have the right team and process in place that will set you up for success. I will be discussing how to do this in my courses and posts to come. Stay tuned for more!
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As a seasoned veteran in the game of real estate, I have a lot of knowledge and experience I’ve acquired over the years. Follow me as I take you on my daily journey in the world of real estate, as a flipper, broker, investor and developer. Since 2004 I have helped hundreds of buyers, sellers and investors acquire and sell properties. As a result my posts will empower you to get a better understanding of residential real estate a whole
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