House flipping can be a very lucrative and rewarding business if you have the know-how and are willing to put in time and effort. This corner of the market has exploded over the past decade (largely thanks to reality TV shows on house flipping), as more and more people have gotten into buying older homes for cheap with the intention of renovating and selling them for profit. Arizona in particular is a great place to get into house flipping, as the real estate market in general is strong but still has plenty of older, decrepit properties being listed for cheap.
The good news is that just about anyone can flip a house, even if they don’t have prior experience. All it takes is dedication, a little creativity and of course, some investment up front. In fact, many people who start with just one house end up doing it again and again because their experience was so rewarding (financially and, very often, personally). We’re here to help you with the financial investment that flipping houses often requires, but in the meantime here are some tips you can use to get into flipping houses and turn your venture into a success.
Keep Doors Open
There are a lot of ways to find great opportunities right here in Arizona for house-flip projects. If you want to explore a lot of low-price options in a short period of time, it is a good idea to enlist the help of a realtor. Otherwise, you can find a great deal on your own if you’re willing to put in the legwork. Using websites like Zillow is one way to find cheap listings in the area of your choice, and it is also possible to get one through a foreclosure auction. If you do find a house online, just be wary of sending money online or being asked for a check without seeing the property in person and without a realtor involved. Always do your research, which of course brings us to the next tip…
Do Your Research
Whatever you do, don’t jump to buy the first cheap house for sale without knowing exactly what you’re getting into. After all, some people make the mistake of buying a cheap house, investing a lot in renovations, then pricing it way too high for the neighborhood it’s in. Likewise, some people don’t go as far as they should with the renovations, and the house still ends up looking a bit run-down in comparison to its neighbors. No matter how the house turns out, it just won’t sell (or at least not for as much as you want it to) if it no longer fits in with the surrounding area.
Don’t Neglect the Exterior
All of your hard work on the inside of the house won’t matter much if you can’t even get prospective buyers in the door! After all, many people tend to drive by houses for sale before they decide to take a tour up close, and there’s no easier way to turn someone off from this idea than to have an unappealing curbside view. The outside of the house should therefore be inviting, and any lawn should be well-kept. If there are any trees or hedges, they should be trimmed and far from unruly. This of course includes cleaning up and properly disposing of any remaining construction / renovation tools.
Another great way of making sure the outside complements all the great features the inside has to offer is to add pops of color. All too often forgotten, for example, is the mailbox (if applicable). Installing a cute, unique mailbox is always a great idea, but at the very least you should give it a fresh coat of paint. Other ways of adding touches of inviting color include a brightly colored door (as long as it does not clash with the rest of the exterior colors) and / or window shutters.
Don’t Over-Do It
When you’re looking to flip a house, you should first look at what the property does currently have to offer. After all, why spend a lot of time and money on large-scale renovations when you don’t actually need to? Sometimes a house just needs to be updated rather than fully renovated, saving you a lot of unnecessary time and money in the process.
Slow and Steady Wins the Race
It’s healthy to set timelines and goals for yourself, but it’s never good to rush things. Be realistic with the amount of time you’re going to need to flip the home. It’s important to not rush through the project, as then you risk having to list the house for far lower than you planned. Take the time to actually execute the renovation properly and ensure that the value of the property increases as it should.
Don’t Be Afraid to Ask For Help
We all need a little help sometimes. If the house needs some extensive renovations that require more than a coat of paint or other basic modifications, it’s a good idea to consider going with a professional contractor or at least enlisting the help of someone with more experience. When it comes to actually putting the house up for sale, you may also want to sell through a realtor or consider hiring a professional stager to ensure the house is in show-ready condition. Arizona has a booming real estate market, and so the good news is that you can hire the professional help you need without spending a fortune.
And of course, if you need any assistance on the financial front, Barrett Financial Group is here for you. Please feel free to reach out to us to learn more about how we can help you achieve your house flipping dreams.
