Does one-of-a-kind design have a place in flipping?

[Raven Parmer]

I have a background in architecture and a real interest in design. My dream is to flip houses, but I want them to be unique and thoughtfully designed. I love the idea of making something better. I watch all the flipping shows, and they often have a set list of finishes they use, only varying the shade of granite every now and then when they're feeling frisky. As a designer, that kind of makes my stomach turn. 

So my question is, does one-of-a-kind design have a place in flipping houses? Is there money to be made if you spend a little time to design, and you use different products each time, or go out on a limb with a design element that makes a space special? I totally understand that you want a flip to be neutral so that it can appeal to more buyers. But the neutral finishes that I am seeing on the shows reminds me of the cookie cutter McMansions I see everywhere. I don't mean to criticize those who do this, as it is probably why you are successful and I am spending weeks to pick out the trim color on the exterior of my house.  (Sidebar: we are in no rush on our house, and I do realize that time is money in the biz.)

Am I being an idealist or naive? My gut tells me that a house that is unique and thought out will sell quickly. Am I missing something? Is this a business killer?

I worry that my downfall as a flipper will be my lack of a business mindset. I am working on changing that!

[Jon Holdman]

Sorry, but you're falling into a deadly trap for fix and flipping - doing what you like.  You're not the one who's going to be living in the house.  When fix and flipping or building from the ground up you absolutely want to appeal to the maximum number of buyers.  You want to spend as little as possible.  So any dollar you spend ABSOLUTELY MUST return you more than a dollar or its wasted.

If you do a unique house you will have to find exactly the right buyer.  That's hard to do, so you will end up with a buyer who will settle for your unique house.  "Settle" means "buy at a discount".

That said, extra touches will help sell the house.  You need to go look at the competition in the area where your flip is located.  If you can be a little nicer is some neutral way you can put your property above the competition.  Maybe you get a slightly higher price (though an appraisal may kill that) or fewer days on the market.

Uniqueness in general is bad for fix and flips.  That makes appraisals tough, which means they will come in lower than you think.  Cookie cutter houses are the best fodder for fix and flips.  Its easy to come up with a value, easy to know what to do with the house and there's a big market.  

If you want to do unique work, offer your design services to homeowners.  I think most people really don't want a truly neutral house.  I don't.  Our living room has terra cotta paint and my office has three different shades of blue.  Trouble is what appeals to one person will turn off a dozen other folks.  And you want all those folks in your pool of buyers.