July 14, 2006
House Flipping: A Messy Business
Everyone likes pictures, so shame on me for not posting any new ones in a while. Here are some that I took yesterday while I was waiting for the primer on the back side of the cabinets to dry.
Last weekend’s house wrecking party shed some light on what was hiding behind the wood paneling on the front porch. I’m very pleased with the look of the brick pillars supporting the wood columns. I think I’ll rip out the little wall that encloses them and link them with a simple railing.
Hey - nice brickwork behind the wood paneling, right? Oh no, my friend, there is nothing nice or natural about this house in its current condition. That is not real brick. It’s some kind of shingle-like material designed to replicate the appearance of real brick. I haven’t had a chance to see what’s behind the fake brick wall yet. Maybe I can just paint it?
The living room has become a temporary demolition waste storage area. Don’t worry, a dumpster will be dropped off tomorrow and this will all be history. What a fun way to spend a Saturday…
The kitchen has almost been stripped to its bare bones. I just sold the stove and fridge on Craigslist to defray the cost of new appliances (these ones look pretty good in pictures, but are really dented and dirty in person). Cabinet doors are in the process of being primed and painted (waiting until later to paint the frames since there will be a lot of work going on in the kitchen). Still have a lot of tasks in this room (install new subfloor, lay new tile on floor, frame out ceiling, install / wire recessed light cans, patch plaster, put new sheetrock on ceiling, have new countertops installed, put backsplash in, paint pantry, install new pantry door, install a large-windowed back door). Yikes.
The wood paneling on the upstairs railing encased four lonely spindles.
Lots of work left to do in the bathroom too. I can’t decide which surfaces to tile and which to leave as drywall/plaster. I haven’t been able to pick materials or colors either. I would like to drop a nice marble or granite countertop into the existing vanity, but it’s a non-standard size and the sink is strangely positioned off-center, so having a custom top made is looking expensive. I did buy a toilet, so I guess that’s some progress, but I don’t have much done beyond that.
[…] For all of you who want to be a rehabber, I found the article for you: Flipping Houses: A Messy Business, written by the Flipperati, shows exactly why flipping isn’t for everyone, especially you neat freak, germaphobes. Lots of fun pics for everyone to see. The blog seems pretty cool too as it details his flipping adventures. Permanent Link | Post to Del.icio.us | Digg it! | reddit! […]
Wow, I have been renovating properties in Maine and now Tampa for a while. This person has his/her work cut out for them. I agree it is exhausting work but the design element and the final product reward is worth it - I have finally found a biz partner who make the job more fun - he and I get along great and we laugh, don’t talk, talk, confer, argue (once in a while). I like the time off too while the place is being sold - older homes (ie the northeast and mid west) are really a challenge but if the basics are there - there is nothing like creating a new place from the old - rejuvinating the forgotten and downtrodden - and - in Florida - redevelopment is “green” ie. not destroying the habitat that these beautiful birds and wildlife need. Huzzah to all of you who go there. GERT
Woah that is a lot of work! Who puts up fake brick?! LOL Best of luck to you!! Can’t wait to see the finished product!
wow… first time here. my wife and i have been rehabbing properties for five years. keeping them in rental portfolio for now,so no experience in flipping. we can definately relate to the massive workload. the pics look very familiar.
I’m on the homestretch now and getting ready to market the house in mid-September. Certainly don’t miss the initial days of this rehab, but it’s good to know that others have done it and survived.
I was actually considering rehabbing a condo after I finish this project and starting a rental portfolio. I wonder if I’ll have to get a new website name if I starting renting…
Hello,
I enjoyed your blog. What do you reommend I do with the money I saved to flip houses. I have 40k and a 200 thousand loan approve at 10% down. Now i need help finding one that would gain profit..
I remember the very first rehab work I did from the first foreclosure home I bought. I thought I would never get out of the clearing the junk mode. It was disgusting! I just have to keep motivating myself that there will light (ooops I mean cash at the of the tunnel).
We bought an old house (circa 1905) and took our time fixing it up. In the end, we just couldn’t part with it and it became home. We have had numerous offers, but we put too much work into it to part. I don’t think that this is how “house-flipping” is supposed to work!