Tips on Flooring Flips

One of the first things people notice when they walk in a house is the flooring. There are so many options out there it is hard to know where to start when flipping a house. We here at Part-Time REI have had our share of surprises when it comes to flooring. Sometimes it is an unpleasant surprise, like rotting floor board underneath. And yet sometimes we get a nice surprise like “The What Lies Beneath House”  where we found stunning hardwood under the dated carpet.  Educating yourself on flipping tips for floors can save you money and time which is what these tip blogs are all about.  Once you are ready to do  your initial run through have your Property Repair Estimate Sheet handy and check out these pointers on flooring.

• Check for hardwood. Many older homes that are carpeted have decent hardwood floors underneath the carpet and carpet pads. Before you make plans for a new floor, check to see if there might be hardwood floors lurking below that carpet that was installed back in the 70’s.

What lies beneath…

• Decide if you actually need new floors. This is a big one. Many carpets can be salvaged with  professional cleaning. Smelly carpets can

Now that’s better

sometimes be refreshed and opportunities for you to win the bid as smells usually turn residential home owners off. Bathroom and kitchen tile  floors may just need to be thoroughly cleaned to make that grey grout sparkling while.• Keep it simple. If you do decide to replace the floors, remember to keep them neutral and not too fancy. Don’t install a busy kitchen floor or bright blue carpet, no matter how much it appeals to you. Remember you are rehabbing the house so that it will appeal to potential buyers; not your personal taste.

• Do the work yourself, if you have that expertise. You can save some money by doing some or all of the labor yourself. However, this tip we suggest loosely as we are trying to save you time also and sometimes doing a job yourself will directly compete with what you are trying to do by flipping houses part time—making yourself a comfortable future with out taking time away from your family.

• Consider the neighborhood. Do the neighbors all have hardwood or tile in the bathroom? If not, don’t price yourself right out of the neighborhood. Make sure the new flooring is comparable with the rest of the homes in the area. This could be a mistake that will cause the home selling for less than what you put into it and for less than other properties on the block. Easy way to check this is other listings on the MLS.

Again since flooring can be a main focal point to any house sell be sure to make a wise decision when considering your options. The more you stage your potential flip to the wants and desires of potential buyers, the quicker you will see results from flipping houses on a part-time basis.

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Erik Hitzelberger has been Real Estate Investor since 2007. While learning the ropes in the market down-cycle, he now teaches others how to use his systems and leverage other people’s expertise to achieve their own goals.

Erik Hitzelberger – who has written 194 posts on Part Time REI.

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