House flipping is a business to which I have the privilege of sharing the process and ownership with my husband and oldest son.
This past April, I posted my blog “Here’s What’s New In My Life.” It was all about having new chickens and the house we purchased to flip. At the end, I promised an update on the results.
So today’s blog will be an update on the process of the house. The update on the chickens will be for another time.
Purchasing A Home To Occupy or Flip, With or Without A Realtor
Our youngest son Matt, happens to be our realtor. However, now and then we come across a property that is a lead from our Estate sale company, Allay Estate Sales LLC.
When that is the case, usually this is what takes place: potential clients call for a consultation and we set up an appointment to visit their home. Not everyone we meet can use our estate sale service, for one reason or another. In this instance we were able to help the client and they hired my husband’s company to do a clean-out.
In the process, it came to our knowledge that the property would soon be for sale, which in turn lead to a negotiation between my husband and the owner of the property. A price was agreed upon, a closing company was hired, and the sale of the home took place.
There are other unconventional ways to purchase a reasonably priced home. You just have to be patient and know where to look. Maybe that’s a good topic for a future blog.
However there are times, especially if you have no experience buying or selling a home, when hiring a realtor is in your best interest.
Starting The Renovation For The House Flip
We are fortunate with our house-flipping business that my husband and son have the ability to do most of the renovations without hiring an outside company. Another important aspect of our house flipping business is when they can’t tackle something on their own, they have the resources for someone who can.
It’s Best To Have A Priority List Before Starting Your Renovation
The guys started with the most difficult and important tasks such as; fixing the gutters to prevent roof damage and leaks inside, electrical and plumbing updates.
Then they moved on to: tearing out carpet and tile, disassembling doors, plastering and patching up holes, and replacing all lighting, etc.
Bathroom Renovation
In the bathroom, the plumbing for a shower was installed along with a new tub surround and fixtures. Also, a brand new crisp white vanity and toilet which replaced the originals to the house. We chose all white bead board for the bottom half of the walls complimenting it with a rich, darker blue gray paint called Summer Storm, by Behr.
And last but not least, the old bathroom door was replaced with a nice sliding barn style door. We decided to leave it unfinished so the new owner could choose what type of finish they desired.
New Floors Throughout
Our son installed all new floors throughout the house, which came out just beautiful (see photos below).
Refinishing Kitchen Cabinets
My husband disassembled all the kitchen cabinets and had the tedious job of sanding and cleaning them, in preparation for the primer and paint.
Once prepped, they were painted in a beautiful medium gray semigloss called Dolphin Gray, by Behr. After each coat of paint they were left to dry for at least 24 hours. New black iron knobs and handles were then put on. A new counter top was installed, and the walls were painted in white with a light gray trim color.
All the walls and trim throughout the rest of the house were also painted, along with most of the ceilings.
The Completion And Satisfaction of Renovating And House Flipping
When the renovation process of flipping the house gets close to the end, I always seem to get impatient for the completion. However once it is complete, there is a huge sigh of relief and a great sense of accomplishment that I feel.
At that point the three of us usually take a step back to review the process. We talk amongst ourselves about the things we’ve learned, and the do’s and don’ts of our next flip.
The Process of House Flipping Isn’t Complete Until The House Is Sold
With all the renovating behind us, we are now ready to put the house on the market. So with the help of our realtor, the house is listed and actively for sale. We have also learned that the process of house flipping isn’t over until the day of the closing, when we sign the house over to the new owners.
For now we will bask in the sun of accomplishment, being thankful for the strength God has given us, and taking pride in the hard work our hands have completed.
Informational Related Blog on House Flipping: “5 Mistakes That Can Make House Flipping a Flop”
