Tips for keeping your flipping costs low

Tips for keeping your flipping costs low

Member since 2021 · 3 posts · 0 votes

Hello there, we have been thinking of flipping a house for a long time. Well we finally have a property and the finances to be able to flip this house. Just like any flip we need to keep our costs low to ensure we turn a profit, but given the current state of the housing market the bids I'm getting make me worried we would just break even or even lose money on the project. ARV is roughly $125k to $135k.

The good news, is we inherited the property free and clear but it's basically worth lot value due to it's age, condition, etc. So it's basically a gut job, only thing that is brand new is the water heater.  :-) 

We figured we could save by doing some things yourself like painting, some demo, and acting as the GC on some of the projects like HVAC, Roof, windows and siding, then using a GC to coordinate everything on the inside.  We also continue to reduce the scope and eliminate expensive projects like removing load bearing walls. 

So far I've estimated our flipping costs at about $35k just for siding, windows, roof, doors, and new HVAC.  To make this project work I'd like to keep my total budget under $80k, ideally, under $65k.  

Any tips or resources you could point this newbie to. Sorry if this has been summarized somewhere else. :-) 

0Reply
53 views

4 Replies

Jump to latestLatest
  • Real Estate Agent · Grand Junction, CO · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 736 votes
    5y

    So @Clayton Yearns you are saying your time has no value... :)  - If you got the property for free and you spend $80k on it to get back $125k then that is $45k into your pocket. Could you do nothing and sell it for $45k or more without investing time, energy, and $$? Could you scrape the lot and build new and make more? Does this house have historical value and charm that make it worth the hassle? 

  • Member since 2021 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    5y

    Thanks Teri.  Definitely not trying not discount my time for sure but am trying to leave a reasonable buffer for project overages. I know how quickly a project cost can skyrocket. As I refine my estimates I'm getting closer to $100k for these projects. 

    Sadly the home has no real historical value or charm, it was built in 1930 and is plan jane in design. The structure is sound just old, moldy from a previous sewer issue and severely pet damaged.

    Curent market value is approximately $20k in present condition. 

  • Contractor · Mickleton, NJ · Member since 2020 · 114 posts · 112 votes
    5y

    vet a good contractor, firm estimate, and understand your budget, variables and contingencies.  keep everyone accountable and stay consistently engaged....

  • Member since 2021 · 3 posts · 0 votes
    5y

    @Account Closed - we are interviewing at least 2 to 3 contractors for each major area.  The general contractor we will likely use was recommended by a friend that uses him for his investment properties in the same area. He has been incredibility transparent, responsive and upfront with us so far.  Sharing quotes directly to us for projects he would sub contract out, like the roof, electrical and plumbing.  So I know he isn't putting them on his paper just to mark it up a few percent. 

    We are looking into adding a 3rd bedroom/2nd bath in the basement which should give us a better ARV of closer to $150k. It's currently only a 2 bed, 1 bath.

Join the conversationCreate a free account to reply, vote on answers and follow this thread.