All Forum Posts by: Dorene Mangels-Bacalhau

Welcome Amanda-sounds like you are well on your way with a positive balance of career/family. I'm in NJ doing interior design, soaking up everything RE investment wise to begin flipping and holding vacation rentals.

@Corbin Jones I will check that book out, thanks for the recommendation. Just to set the record straight here on BP the term House-hacker refers to a multi-family residence where you live in 1 unit for low or no rent because your tenants rent is coving expenses. Perhaps the too good to be true-questionable flip could be considered a Mirage.

@Corbin Jones it is so true about wearing both hats. Too many times I see a house flip back on the market with little time and money invested only looking for the big pay day. Those fast flips are obvious since they kept a crummy layout-why bother with "the lipstick on the pig" approach? It's usually shoddy workmanship with cut-corners to fool the perspective homebuyer. Those despicable investor types should be the definition of a "house-hacker". As for the hiring of professionals such as Architects and Designers...some are narcissistic and don't take their client's wishes and lifestyle into account while other times the fault is the micromanagement of the homeowner. 

I am currently witnessing the latter with my friend's addition(over 2yrs in the making). She and her husband bought at the height of the market thinking the only changes they had to tackle were dated floral wallpaper and paint colors. They completely overlooked the 7' ceilings throughout, steep shallow staircase, and minuscule master closets. They were newly married and had no children yet. The 3br/ 1.5ba/ 1-car garage on1/2acre appeared huge compared to the 1br apartment they were sharing w/2kittens. The listing boasted 'NEW' Kitchen & Bath and they were blinded by the clean white kitchen cabinets/tumbled marble backsplash and new vanity in the main bath that they didn't see how cheaply it was done. As they settled in and started expanding their family quality issues arose as did the lack of space. They had made changes outside immediately to personalize the house and  improve its curb appeal. With two growing children they had hired an architect for plans for an addition before finding out she was expecting her third. This back and forth with plans has been years; I even tried to help her putting what we discussed in floor plan & in 3D with various budget options to get her everything on her wish list most economically. She ultimately went in a completely different direction...literally-the addition is now out the side which maxed out 16' wide. It doesn't fulfill 1/2 what she was aiming for and relocated the laundry and mudroom further from convenience. By the look of the addition from the outside it doesn't seem like an architect was involved at all.  Proportions and style doesn't tie in to what's existing or enhance it. I wonder if she's still working with him and he's just trying to screw them over for dragging it out on tier pricing or did they think with the contractor could do better?

Hi @Noah Goldenberg, I'd love to help with your REI from the layout and design aspect. I'm an Interior Designer living in Kearny with my husband we have a MF which we recently renovated and rented. PM me I'm connected to realtors, contractors and tradesmen that can get this going. I'll be at the Meadowlands Expo Center August 17th to check out the Home Builders Show-hope to hear from you.

Jarred I enjoyed your post and like all television it's there to entertain...HGTV, DIY and Live Well are just a few that happen to educate also. I've taken the 3day coarse from Than Merrill, watched several blogs by the various real estate morals about the different avenues of flipping, wholesale and house hacking and have felt overwhelmed on where to begin. I would like to team up with someone-either a contractor or realtor who has flipped before but wished finishes could be selected for them. I've done renovations before personally and for clients; NOW I'd like to do it for profit-who's interested?

My husband and I just renovated an income suite with vinyl floating floor that looks like hardwood. $2.49sf Home Depot, I installed it myself but it takes some getting used to. It can be used over concrete:) so I plan on using it in our basement for my craft room as well. Humm- won't let me attach the photo. It's rustic maple interlocking planks by traffic master lifetime warranty in residential/ 5ys commercial. That's $56.42/box =22.66sf score and snap to trim