Clean–Really Good

Sometimes we find a flip that the owners really took care of the carpet, or better yet just had it replaced. With the onset of the market fall out many mid priced homeowners were met with foreclosures as their only option. The higher the price point ,the higher the quality of the carpet…usually. So in our search for potential flips we have come across homes that just needed a good cleaning; no replacement necessary. You can determine this on your first walk through and make note on your Property Repair Estimate Sheet.

We would suggest investing in one of those steam cleaners. Lord knows we have used ours plenty of times. It is truly amazing what a good steam clean can do for some dirty carpet. You can find a good one online for under $300. This is something you could definitely work on during your lunch hour.

Replace

In almost all our flips it is necessary to replace the carpet. It is in reality one of the top items on our SOW almost always. Nothing make a home look newer inside than replacing the carpet and a fresh coat of paint. Lots of times the carpet will hold the odor of the previous home owners. If they were smokers or had animals we don’t have to tell you that your potential clients will be turned off as soon as they walk in the door and the odors hit their face.

Be smart about what grade of carpet you choose for your flip. Make sure you choose neutral colors that won’t be hard to match furniture and decor. Also make sure the new flooring is comparable with the rest of the homes in the area. While builder grade carpet is mostly fine for flips, make sure it is comparable to other homes in the area. Easy way to check this is other listings on the MLS.

Strip Away

Sometimes you are lucky enough to find a nice surprise just laying there under the dank, dated carpet. Like one of our flips from our Flipping House series, The What Lies Beneath House, where we were shocked to find hardwood under the carpet. Hardwood floors are still a trend that have sticking power; homeowners want it. So if you flip up a corner of carpet on your flipper and discover solid hardwood flooring, you’re in luck. Remove the carpet and sand the floors. Keep in mind that you can always install engineered wood flooring or, as a last-ditch attempt, wood-look laminate flooring.

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Faucets

The right faucet can add a special look to your bathroom. Different designs, styles and features allow you to dress up and draw attention to the space. Always try to update the fixtures especially the faucets. Make sure if you switch out the sink faucet you also match it to the shower or tub faucets as well. There are also many options for style.

Different Faucet Styles

Coordinate your faucet color and finish with the rest of the fixtures and accessories in your bathroom. Choices include:

• Black
• Brass (antique or polished)
• Bronze
• Chrome (matte, brushed or polished)
• Copper
• Gold
• Iron
• Nickel (brushed and pearl)
• Stainless Steel

Cabinets

Hopefully you can resurface or refinish the cabinets with paint or new stain. But if you have to pull the old ones you can replace them or do away completely with the vanity part and just add a wall mounted sink for a more contemporary look.

Toilet

Pretty basic stuff here. Be sure to look at options that match the sink if you go ceramic. Also a lot of consumers will be interested in water conservation so add a low flow toilet if code allows it your area.

Vanity/sink

Many options here. You can do a granite or marble vanity which or most common or you can do a vessel sink. Vessel sinks have become very popular and add an air of sophistication to any bath. There are also ceramic, metal and glass options. Or they can be built in to the vanity which is very traditional. There are also stand alone and wall mounted options which are more expensive.

Tub/Shower combo

Make sure to update the hardware to match the sink. If the old one is fiberglass or acrylic, consider relining it or if your budget allows tile the sides to make the bathroom really pop.

For more options on tub and shower options check out this link.

http://www.inman.com/2012/02/17/pros-and-cons-9-bathtub-materials/

 Stand Alone Shower

Again the material used is probably fiberglass, ceramic tile or acrylic. Replace or repair any damaged tiles or go full tile if it is not upgraded. 

Flooring

Most out of date bathrooms will be floored with linoleum or laminate. If your budget allows, adding a tile floor will impress potential buyers. If you have a more meager budget, go for a good grade laminate that “looks” like tile. If there is carpet in the bathroom (yes we have actually seen this.) replace it.

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• 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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