Real estate is a practical investment you can make with successful returns, and many people make a career out of purchasing and reselling properties. If you've always wanted to get into the property business, you don't need to study for a realtor's license or build a structure from the ground up. Instead, start with house flipping: buying a low-cost property, fixing it up, and reselling it at a higher value.
If you want to try your hand at house flipping, you'll need to know what renovations to focus on and what to leave to your buyer's tastes. Take a look at these areas to pay attention to as you prepare each house for resale.
Exterior
First impressions can color the way buyers view a potential property, permeating their thought processes through the rest of the showing. If you can create curb appeal that the house was lacking, that may be the key that turns viewers into buyers.
If you have the budget, hire professionals to paint the siding or door, add symmetry to the view, and redo the yard; if not, thorough cleaning and mowing can help the exterior and give viewers a blank canvas.
Kitchen
The kitchen is one of the most crucial selling points in any home purchase and can make or break your sale, so you should give it as much attention as you can. First, make sure that all of the functions of the kitchen work well. Any gas, electric, or water issues need immediate resolution.
Updating the cabinets, appliances, and countertops will help you make a pleasant impression, especially if you emphasize a functional design.
Bathrooms
Immediately following the kitchen, the bathrooms are a point of interest for the vast majority of home buyers, specifically the master bathroom. If you take the time to have professionals update the fixtures, like the sink, bath, or toilet, you can gain a lot of value for the home.
One or two luxury touches will send it over the top — add a spacious tub or multifunctional showerhead, and you'll have your buyers' attention.
Spare Rooms
Some states require that a room meet a set of standards before qualifying it as a bedroom, but this can work in your favor. You can dress the room up with new windows, decorative doors, or fresh paint and leave it otherwise a blank canvas.
Whether you have a couple looking for a home office or a family that needs a children's playroom, a room without an assigned purpose is full of potential that can let their imaginations run wild.
Cautions
When you get into house flipping, you may find yourself overstepping in one of two common ways.
The first is bringing too much of your personal style into a home you're preparing for someone else. While your tastes may demand bright colors or elaborate fixtures, you risk alienating a buyer who has a different style and can't see past your choices. Keep decorations and fixtures neutral to appeal to more buyers.
The other area flippers don't always handle well is the price you pay to renovate each property. You may find it easy to get carried away and redo the entire house, but you should avoid putting more into the property than it will be worth in the end. Focusing on the most significant renovations (the ones listed above) will help you create a professionally renovated home while keeping your budget intact.
If you need to remodel a home to sell or keep forever, Genuine Home Builders, Inc., has you covered. We have over 35 years of experience in renovation and remodeling as a husband-and-wife team. We pride ourselves on satisfying the exact needs of our customers, no matter how discriminating.
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