5 Tips for Live-in Flips

Live-in flips are not for the faint of heart. 

I’m currently at the tail end of live-in flip #4, and I figured I would share some insights into how to make things go smoothly!

1. Bedrooms First - Bedrooms contain the most amount of space, with the least amount of money and time needed to remodel them. You will feel like you are off to a flying start when you crank out what seems like half of the square footage in a small amount of time. This is made possible by the fact that bedrooms are little more than paint, flooring, and perhaps some lighting. By getting the bedrooms done first, you open up crucial square footage for storage while working on the living areas and kitchen. You also, more importantly, allow yourself some semblance of normalcy and a good night’s rest.
   

1. Switch to a Paint Sprayer - Gone are the days where a good paint sprayer requires thousands of dollars and equipment like a generator, mixer, etc. There are simple and effective sprayers that work great in the $400-600 range, that include everything you need. This will easily pay for itself on your first project as you save dozens of hours and it turns out looking much more professional. This project is my first one using a sprayer and I’ve been thrilled with my choice in a sprayer - the Graco Magnum X7. Another reason to start in the bedrooms is that you can get acquainted with your sprayer prior to hitting the high visibility areas.
   

1. Live a little! - You run into so many situations in a live-in renovation where it seems pointless to set something up, only to move it in a few days. While this may be true at times, I suggest you just go ahead and take the extra time to do things such as: unpack some of your favorite kitchen items, start furnishing, make space for your daily routines. It’s also important to allow yourself some time away from the project. It’s easy to get wrapped up with the endless to-do list that is a live-in flip / reno, and work from dusk to dawn. This is ESPECIALLY true if you have a significant other, I suggest you take time each day to get out and do something enjoyable. And that doesn’t mean running to Home Depot!
   

1. Maintain a “Living Room” and “Kitchen” - After 2 weeks of eating off of our camping table, yesterday we finally upgraded to a real kitchen table.. and got a couch! What a luxury! It took us too long this time around to set these things up. The kitchen table has ended up being a crucial space for things like the toaster, microwave, etc. while the kitchen is torn up. Protect it, sure, but go ahead and get it right away and put it to use! I suggest getting a temporary living area set up right away when you start your project. Even though I will need to be moving the couch around again in couple of days, it’s worth the trouble.
   

1. Finish What You're Working On - Moving out of our last home a few months ago, I came to the realization that there were several unfinished projects started 2-3 years ago that I needed to have finished before the renters moved in. The tiny details to finish your current project professionally can be BORING. But I have made a commitment this time to truly wrap up each room or project before moving on to the next. (Think touch-up paint, trim details, outlets, switches, light fixtures…)
   

Let’s make sure that nobody can tell your project was a DIY project. And let's also ensure that you’re at least as excited about real estate when you finish your project as you were when you started.