Voluntary Benefits Articles and Publications


Flipping Houses - The Ins And Outs

by Scott Roemermann

Flipping homes means purchasing a property, renovating it as fast as possible, and reselling it for a tidy profit. Depending on the market, flippers can stand to make hundreds of thousands of dollars in profit from a few months' work. They also see fulfillment and challenge in creating a so-so house into a really beautiful home.

The most important thing when flipping houses is to buy wisely. An ideal home to flip is one in a developing neighborhood with a few unsightly but inexpensive cosmetic refurbishments to be made. The house may have sat on the market for a long time, untouched because of its cosmetic flaws. Its price may have been drastically reduced by the time you come around to buy it.

Flippers buy a property and quickly perform the necessary renovations. Insurance and mortgage expenses add up quickly so the flipper must complete the renovations in the shortest time possible. People who make a living by flipping houses prefer to rely on a specially selected team who they know will conscientiously work until the renovations are finished.

Another factor that is important to making a profit by flipping a house is making smart choices about what to renovate. Obviously, any major cosmetic problems must be fixed. Beyond this, the big money-makers are bathrooms and kitchens, both of which are important attractions to potential owners.

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.

When flipping houses you should strive to avoid any remodeling or renovation that involves removal or moving of walls, as this comes with high expense and little net gain. It is possible, though, to remove a non-weight bearing wall without much expense if you are hoping to open some space in an area. It is also wise to stay away from extensive renovation of rooms or areas such as non-master bedrooms, hallways, or family rooms, since these areas typically generate no extra profit.

Finally, those who are interested in flipping houses should consider pitching their renovation toward buyers to net an increased profit. This may include "staging" a house (temporarily adding attractive rental furniture and decor), purchasing hot-ticket items like a high-end swingset or top-of-the-line granite countertop for the house, and using "power" colors designed to sell (for example, deep reds and golds).

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 Business, Finance