Help make our first flip successful

[Rachan M.]

Happy Sunday!

We are planning try our hand at a flip in Washington DC. We have identified a house and have worked out our ceiling of how much to pay for it. Would you chime in and answer a few questions?

• We have been watching the trend.. some flips have gone smoothly i.e. remodeled in 3-4 months while others take 1+ year and involve multiple stop order notices. What can we do to maximize our odds for a smooth permitting process?
• How do we find competent contractors, especially ones who have worked in DC before? What questions can we ask them to uncover any red flags?
• We're in touch with an architect who has worked on at least one fast remodel. What questions can we ask them to uncover any red flags?

Thanks so much in advance.

[Scott Martin]

Good luck with your flip!   I am an architect, and know more about that side of this process than the owner side.   Some thoughts:

Make decisions quickly.   I will tell you I see permitting taking way too long in times like this where everybody is busy... take as much time out as possible by being able to make owner decisions quickly.

A contractor should have references, if they can provide somebody who backs up their work... from a time standpoint, you are heading in a good direction

The architect should understand the permit process.  Is it over the counter, require planning review, structural or mechanical subs, historic, etc?  If time is the biggest factor, get them in the house before closing, doing as-built drawings, and preparing/permitting before you even close.

good luck,