The real estate industry can be lucrative – not just in terms of equity gains and rental income but also in the act of buying and selling. You can buy a house, renovate it, and sell it for a profit. In 2022, over 407,000 single-family homes in the United States received this flipping treatment, resulting in an average windfall of $67,900 per house.
It’s clear that there’s money to be made, but how does one get involved in house flipping? To get started, simply take the following steps:
- Make Helpful Industry Connections
You might have the motivation and intelligence needed to be a prosperous house flipper, but that doesn’t mean you currently have all the skills. Before you buy your first investment property and get to work, connect with experts who can help.
For example, you might contact the owner of a concrete removal service to take care of the more arduous work involved in floor, tile, and concrete removal. You might also contact trusted builders, plumbers, electricians, and structural engineers. Once you have a network of trusted experts on speed dial, you can enjoy a more straightforward and profitable business venture.
- Prioritize Education
While anyone with money can buy a house, there’s more to successful house-flipping than simply buying properties. You must have industry knowledge and market insights to know when a property has the potential to make you money.
With this in mind, self-education is an essential part of getting started in the business. Brush up on the ins and outs of your local market, and learn more about the areas with the most potential. It also doesn’t hurt to stay informed about future developments in your town or city. The more you know about real estate, the more informed your purchasing decisions will be.
- Set a Budget
Successful house flippers know how much they earn on every property they buy, renovate, and sell. That’s because the most talented flippers in the industry set a budget for each transaction stage. They also set an emergency fund aside for unexpected costs.
Setting a budget is crucial for being able to turn a profit. Spend too much, and there are no guarantees you’ll turn a profit. Spend too little, and you may end up with a disappointing profit margin.
- Start Small
It can be tempting to go all-in with an extensive house-flipping project you know will come with a big payday. However, that can be a risky move for new flippers. Without the right connections and knowledge, you’re at risk of biting off more than you can chew and struggling to achieve your projected results.
Instead, start small and work your way up to more demanding projects. Choose homes with minor flaws and few complications. As you gain skills and experience, you can sink your teeth into those more complex and costly home renovations.
Not all house flippers have great reputations. Many are known for cutting corners and producing poor-quality properties with major workmanship flaws. Before long, buyers start to know house flippers’ names for all the wrong reasons and may not buy homes they’ve been involved in remodeling.
If you’re getting started in the business of house flipping, do it because you take pride in a job well done. Align yourself with reputable contractors, and take care of the finer details that other flippers may not.
House flipping can be a lucrative venture if you time it right and take the appropriate steps. By setting a budget, aligning yourself with experts, and starting small, you can enjoy the fruits of your labor before long.
