Flipping Houses - The Ins And Outs
Flipping a house refers to the process of buying a home, quickly and inexpensively renovating it, and then reselling it at a profit. In the right market conditions, flippers can net hundreds of thousands of dollars in pure profit, and have fun changing a ho-hum house into a treasure.
Flipping houses successfully depends on picking the right one to purchase. The best choices are houses with problems that are merely superficial and cosmetic and in desirable, popular neighborhoods. If the previous owners failed to sell because of problems they weren't willing to correct, you may be able to buy at a bargain price.
Flippers purchase the house and then attempt to renovate it as quickly as possible. Speed is vital, since the longer the house remains in the flipper's ownership, the more costs the flipper will have to pay in mortgage and insurance. Those who specialize in flipping houses often employ a dedicated, hand-picked crew who will work around the clock to get the house done.
When flipping a house, you must be selective about what you change. Any obvious problem that detracts from the cosmetic appeal is mandatory, but you also should concentrate on features most important to buyers. For the biggest returns, focus on glamorizing kitchens and bathrooms, areas most buyers find significant and consider strongly in their decision.
A flipper can start in the kitchen, where a few simple and inexpensive renovations can mean a large profit. Upscale tile or granite surfaces or updated appliances and cabinets make a big difference to the visual impact of the kitchen. Bathrooms are another key location, where replacing the bathtub, sink, and vanity can also mean big profits without a huge investment.
House flippers should avoid, if at all possible, making any changes that involve removing or moving walls, since these renovations can be highly expensive and net only a small additional profit. However, a non-weight bearing wall can be removed inexpensively to combine two rooms or open up a space. Flippers may also wish to avoid doing extensive renovations to non-master bedrooms, hallways, and dens, as these spaces do not usually create increased profit.
Flipping houses is often a strong appeal to those who want to increase profits and go for the quick sell. Renovations should be stressed, or purchasing upgrades such as quality granite countertops typically yield a boost to profits. "Staging" a room or rooms with distinguished or appealing furniture or decor can also be a method to increase visability and profits, as well as decorating with what is known as "power colors", colors such as deep reds and golds that attract buyers.
Flipping houses can be a very lucrative way to make money in real estate. It is important to know however what to expect with each project you are getting into. Kitchen remodeling can add a lot of value to home as well as flooring. Be sure you do not have to do too many high cost projects like moving walls as these are expensive with little profit to be made. Be sure to stage the rooms when flipping a house as this can add to the value. Investing in real estate in this way can bring great financial rewards to you if you do it right. If you would like a unique version of this article for your website please visit http://www.investing-secrets.com/recommends/article-flipping1
Published October 24th, 2007
Filed in Real Estate
