We're looking at a condo and considering flipping it. We've done this enough to know what to consider going into the deal. 

We know that buying right is key to making money in real estate.

And staging it right!

Home staging and DIY go hand in hand, but anyone doing home repairs should know that there are times you need to bring in professionals to make the workmanship look...well, professional.

When to say when

Smart rehabbers, investors, renters, and homeowners recognize the times when doing it themselves is shortsighted when repairs and improvements are beyond their skill set.

Besides needing the skills to do a job that will actually improve the value of a property, a person needs the right tools, sufficient time, a certain amount of patience, and maybe an extra pair of hands.

Since Mr. Lucky and I have worked alongside experienced tradespeople like masons, drywall guys, trim carpenters, cabinetmakers, flooring and carpet installers, and landscapers, we know that experience makes a big difference.
The living room had new carpeting, but 
the room felt small and boring. 

When time is of the essence, and it usually is when dealing with real estate buying and selling, investors need to calculate the cost of doing it themselves to "save money," because in the end, it may be more expensive than paying someone else. This property needs to be on the market for springtime buying season. We wouldn't have time for futzing around and do-overs.

The ceiling fixtures didn't illuminate well,
and the popcorn ceilings were a problem. 

We have a friend I'll call Mr. Carpenter. He is our go-to tradesperson and a genius one at that!

He has saved us serious chunks of money when we worked with him on three previous houses. What’s valuable is that he comes up with creative solutions to thorny problems. Years ago he put himself through college doing carpentry and has been part of the construction industry ever since. I don’t know his age, but I know he’s almost eligible for Medicare, so figure it out.

That’s the kind of guy you want on board with a project like this.

Both bathrooms were typical of 1980s condo -- 
vinyl wallpaper, brass fixtures, and wooden seats. 

What needs fixing

These are some of the things that Mr. Carpenter's creativity can solve when we tackle this house makeover. :
  • He could make new oversized cabinet doors to make the kitchen more attractive, and install a new countertop. 
  • He could bump the vanities three inches up to make them look more contemporary, and then give them new countertops, sinks, faucets, and lights.
  • He could replace the range hood with a microwave and exhaust fan combination.
    He gave us a price for all these things that fit nicely into our penciled sheets.

    The baths were small, but at least they were
    full baths, and this one had a walk-in shower.

    Save money, buddy up

    To keep costs low, Mr. Lucky would work alongside Mr. Carpenter. And we’d do all the grunt work ourselves – removing wallpaper, patching walls, installing lights, pressure washing the deck and walkways, and clean, clean, clean.

    Of course, we’re painters, so everything would get a coat or two of fresh paint – ceilings, walls, closets, cabinets, doors, trim. We’d buy a new stove, install new posts on the deck, and clean up the landscape.

    One room had a high ceiling and a 
    ledge that I knew I could use for staging.     

    The second bedroom had a paint color that everyone 
    would love. It could take two coats to cover it. 


    We don't know if the deck is salvageable 
    with just pressure washing and/or paint.

    Staging's in the picture

    Of course, we'll then stage the property to maximize its value. We would not even consider trying to sell a home without staging it to accentuate all that's good about it, and minimize its shortcomings. In this home, the best feature is location -- waterfront. The downside is that it is small and nondescript. There are no architectural details of interest, no spacious rooms, no high-quality touches.

    So, my challenge would be to make the rooms look larger, more interesting, more luxurious, and to showcase the water. I love tackling a project like this!

    We’re almost ready to make an offer, but we want to double-check all our figures and scratch our heads some more. Are we missing anything?

    If you are considering making changes to a property and you want to know where to spend money for the best return on your time, talents, and cash, read my eBook, eBook, DIY Home Staging Tips to Sell Your Home Fast and For Top Dollar. I'll show you what home buyers look for when they shop, and how you can frugally make your home on the market someone's dream home.