Life Remodeling ain't as sexy as HGTV makes it out to be.

excessive · 03-19-2025, 08:19 AM

Working on my second complete remodel. Bought our current house in 2008 (right before the correction and recession). It was a foreclosure and needed just about everything. Previous owner was a house-flipper and had done everything on the cheap. Hired out Hvac and electrical but have done most of everything else myself: new bathroom with a claw foot tub and a warm floor (where it used to be a bedroom); theater room with sounding proofing on the floor and walls (used to be the garage); new kitchen floor (tile), island, and refinished cabinets; laid and nailed in a wood floor as well. In the yard, put up a privacy fence and got rid of all the landscaping fabric (that shit kills your soil), 4 raised bed gardens, deck addition and repair of older, water-damaged side; and an underdeck ceiling. That's a partial list.

Seventeen years later, and about ten or so neglecting upkeep, we're looking to sell, so I'm back at it: last year did the exterior, which was mostly dealing with the wet rot on sills and trim and putting up fresh paint. I left the high trim for this year. Bought a 28' foot ladder last year to do the work but haven't been up it yet. Climbing that ladder at 68 years old is a bit more intimidating than it was even at 50.

Been working on the interior this winter: painted the entire interior (2500 sq feet); just finished two minor bathroom remodels (new stick down floors, refinished vanities with new tops); and restored the finish on all the doors, trim, and baseboards. Just have to replace the tile in the entryway and finish up outside, and we're ready to put it on the market.

Also have a second home that our daughter and family have been living in for the last ten years. Deal was that they would put in the time, get some sweat equity into it, and take any gains when it was time to sell. Instead, they've trashed it. So, that deal is no longer. Purchased it for 60 grand and it is valued at 200 right now, if it were to have been updated instead of trashed. Hopefully, they will be out before the end of year, and I'll be working on another remodel. We are moving out of state (in K.C. now) but will keep the trashed house for a home base to visit the grandkids and work on it slowly.

About our next move (to Michigan to be near our son), I've told the wife: no more fixer-uppers. I'm done. We'll see.

**Rain Man** · 03-19-2025, 10:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by excessive

Working on my second complete remodel. Bought our current house in 2008 (right before the correction and recession). It was a foreclosure and needed just about everything. Previous owner was a house-flipper and had done everything on the cheap.

...

Flippers are the worst. They do nothing but waste homebuyers' money.

**notorious** · 03-19-2025, 10:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Flippers are the worst. They do nothing but waste homebuyers' money.

Shortcuts everywhere.

The quickest way to check if it’s a flipped home is the trim work. If there is more silicone than wood that’s just the beginning.

scho63 · 03-19-2025, 11:23 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Shortcuts everywhere.

The quickest way to check if it’s a flipped home is the trim work. If there is more silicone than wood that’s just the beginning.

Bathroom tile is best way. The cuts, the layout, the straightness, the grout lines. I've seen some abortions on flipped properties including some of the TV shows on HGTV.

**notorious** · 03-19-2025, 11:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by scho63

Bathroom tile is best way. The cuts, the layout, the straightness, the grout lines. I've seen some abortions on flipped properties including some of the TV shows on HGTV.

Yep. Another sign is the gray VCT plank. Some of it’s good, a lot of it is trash.

Check around the door casing to see if they took the 30 seconds to undercut or if they just jammed it in and caulked. Same with toilets.

**Rain Man** · 03-19-2025, 11:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Shortcuts everywhere.

The quickest way to check if it’s a flipped home is the trim work. If there is more silicone than wood that’s just the beginning.

It's been decades since I've been a homebuyer, but I remember being annoyed by bathroom vanities and fixtures. We'd go into a house that wasn't cheap, and the bathroom would have the absolute cheapest vanity and faucet possible. Any homebuyer would immediately pull it out and replace it. Even though it wasn't a huge waste of money, it was a big indicator that the flipper was not thinking about quality at all. I would never buy a house from a flipper, and you can tell when they've been involved.

**Bearcat** · 03-20-2025, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rain Man

Flippers are the worst. They do nothing but waste homebuyers' money.

Quote:

Originally Posted by notorious

Shortcuts everywhere.

The quickest way to check if it’s a flipped home is the trim work. If there is more silicone than wood that’s just the beginning.

03-19-2025, 08:19 AM	#1
excessive Starter Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: KCMO Casino cash: $9556885	Working on my second complete remodel. Bought our current house in 2008 (right before the correction and recession). It was a foreclosure and needed just about everything. Previous owner was a house-flipper and had done everything on the cheap. Hired out Hvac and electrical but have done most of everything else myself: new bathroom with a claw foot tub and a warm floor (where it used to be a bedroom); theater room with sounding proofing on the floor and walls (used to be the garage); new kitchen floor (tile), island, and refinished cabinets; laid and nailed in a wood floor as well. In the yard, put up a privacy fence and got rid of all the landscaping fabric (that shit kills your soil), 4 raised bed gardens, deck addition and repair of older, water-damaged side; and an underdeck ceiling. That's a partial list. Seventeen years later, and about ten or so neglecting upkeep, we're looking to sell, so I'm back at it: last year did the exterior, which was mostly dealing with the wet rot on sills and trim and putting up fresh paint. I left the high trim for this year. Bought a 28' foot ladder last year to do the work but haven't been up it yet. Climbing that ladder at 68 years old is a bit more intimidating than it was even at 50. Been working on the interior this winter: painted the entire interior (2500 sq feet); just finished two minor bathroom remodels (new stick down floors, refinished vanities with new tops); and restored the finish on all the doors, trim, and baseboards. Just have to replace the tile in the entryway and finish up outside, and we're ready to put it on the market. Also have a second home that our daughter and family have been living in for the last ten years. Deal was that they would put in the time, get some sweat equity into it, and take any gains when it was time to sell. Instead, they've trashed it. So, that deal is no longer. Purchased it for 60 grand and it is valued at 200 right now, if it were to have been updated instead of trashed. Hopefully, they will be out before the end of year, and I'll be working on another remodel. We are moving out of state (in K.C. now) but will keep the trashed house for a home base to visit the grandkids and work on it slowly. About our next move (to Michigan to be near our son), I've told the wife: no more fixer-uppers. I'm done. We'll see. __________________ "I've been known to party some, but I ain't ever hurt no one. Been ashamed of things I've done, especially when, especially when, especially when I'm stoned." D.A.C.
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