Flipping houses is like flipping a quarter, it either closes with a profit or it doesn’t. So why take the chance, why flip a quarter and risk losing twenty-five cents when you can flip a nickel. When flipping a house, always keep in mind: you don’t have to love it. So why spend $1500 worth of your favorite glass tile, when there are much cheaper choices that could save you hundreds on just a backsplash. From Home Depot to any other home improvement store, keep an eye out for deals and just imagine the thousands you could save.
To quality paint or not. You might think that $15-a-gallon for quality paint is “cheap.” But what happens when you have to use more than 4 coats just to darken a wall. You could always turn to the paint-with-primer, which covers in two coats and goes for around $35-a-gallon. Sure it’s less work but it’s almost half the price. But, what if it wasn’t. Nobody’s perfect and neither are home improvement stores. The paint departments will almost always have custom-color paint and those departments will almost always have an “accident” section, where they put the paint they colored incorrectly or just used the wrong base. And that’s where you go in for the kill. You could find paint for up to $7-a-gallon. From there, you could mix them (if they’re the identical finish) and the possibilities are endless AND cheap.
A yard’s landscape is the easiest way to bump up curb appeal. The easiest way to save on plants and mulch: the spring. Landscapers, home improvement stores, even grocery stores, offer deals as spring rolls in. Even the plants you chose could save you hundreds. From the drought-resistant Salvia to succulents, just a few attractive plants could spruce up your yard and edge out the competition. And to cover up the surrounding, just use mulch, which coincidentally is sold at almost $3 a bag during the spring. And you could find it even cheaper at a nearby landscaper, who would also deliver it, saving you in both the mulch and the delivery.
Another easy way to save is big bargain stores. Who knew Costco sold mosaic tile? You could find everything from wood to light bulbs to faucets to toilets to garbage disposals to flooring, all at bargain stores like Costco. Stock may not be guaranteed and inventories are constantly fluctuating but why question competitive prices. Don’t let these guaranteed savings pass you by.
Additional tips include asking a fellow investor or friend for suppliers, who at first glance you may wince at, but ultimately discover incredible bargains on amazing materials and supplies. Also, don’t forget to repeat what works. If it’s inexpensive and it looks good, rinse and repeat. Once you’ve used the same materials for a while, you’ll learn how to work with them and make them look stunning, while saving just as much.
Keep in mind that saving doesn’t mean cheating potential buyers. Don’t cut corners, follow and stay up to code, and never do subpar work.