House #2 in CT a Success

House #2 in CT a Success

Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes

I decided to hold off on this post until after the closing, which took place yesterday afternoon. This is actually house #3 I purchased, however the purchase closing happened faster than house #2, and being a light rehab went quicker. I bought the home on November 3, 2015. Until mid December I had the exterior painted, and did some minor demo. It wasn't until mid December that work really began. From mid December until February 10th the house was renovated. The major rehab work was kitchen, bathroom, windows and then the basic floor refinish, paint, lighting etc. On to the specs:

1952 816 SF ranch, 3/1 with a detached 2 car garage. Nice yard, nice houses around it. It was listed for $99,000. The price then dropped to $84,900. I offered $80,000 and it was mine. I anticipated $24,275.00 to renovate. With an anticipated however aggressive sales price of $140,000, after closing and holding costs I was projecting a profit of $27,625.00.

The final numbers were:

Purchase $80,000

Renovations $25,141.86

Sold Price $144,200.00

After all closing costs profit was $29,049.22

As you can see I went over budget, however I did sell the house for what I wanted after only 2 days on the market. I never even got my for sale sign in the yard!! My budget overages were due in part to the purchase of staging furniture, which I am carrying as a loss, however will move to other houses. I also found some termite damage that needed addressing. Some in the corner of the kitchen, which was cheap, however a fair amount in the garage found during the home inspection (for the new buyer). I had to pay for the wood repair and termite treatment. This combined was $1,440.00.

Before Photos:

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  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    After Photos:

  • Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10y

    awesome job @Brian Pulaski

    Always good to see CT people making moves and being successful. 

    What's next?

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Lessons learned, as I feel this is very important with every project.

    1.) Wait to finish the floors. I had mine done in mid December, as my flooring guy was ready to go. In hind sight I spent another 2 months working on them covered in paper. I spent a lot of time taping up torn paper (I would use Ram Board in the future, however this would have been more expensive) and worrying about the floors. In the end a couple of spots had the tape pull the poly finish. A little scuff and touching up and they were as good as new.

    2.) Investigate everything at the onset. This lands me into two issues I uncovered.

       a.) Termite damage in the garage. The damage in the house was a few wall studs, door frame, floor sheathing and 4 joists. In total I did the work in an afternoon and it only cost $150 give or take. The garage damage was extensive. half the sill plates were gone, and a lot of the studs on one wall were destroyed. In the end I had a contractor come in and with my help it was done under $600 and one day... however it was found during the homeowners inspection, as I had listed the house on the market when I was finishing up cleaning the garage (cleaning lead to finding this). The next houses will get longer, better inspections, before purchase and once acquired.

       b.) I had some comments about people liking the old shower knobs. In my greedy haste I decided to leave them in place. I had checked when I bought the home and it appeared to work. After the renovation was done and the house was listed the first showing came and the buyers turned the shower on... I wasn't there, but you can tell things went bad. They couldn't get it shut off and water had splashed everywhere, not to mention the tub stopper had seized and there was 3-4" of water in the tub. After having to cut a hole in a closet wall and pay my plumber to replace both (ending up with a large, ugly trim ring) all was well. This will turn into an item I replace every single time. Every shut off valve, diverter, faucet, will always be replaced from now forward.

    3.) Do ALLL of your clean out and demo at the beginning. I left the basement with what I thought was a little bit of "stuff". I decided towards the to clean it out. Big mistake. With no hatch to the basement I had to go through the kitchen. The old basement floor had a red paint that turned to powder/dust. I ended up tracking this all through the house and it was a bear to clean off grout and other surfaces. Critical to get the place empty and demoed prior to finishes going in.

    Other than that, things went smooth. The work was enjoyable, and this was actually the first house I ended up at full time. Most investors on here hire the right subs and simply oversee. I prefer to management of subs and the hands on work, so I always do a lot of the work myself. The tile, the kitchens, the wood work, the paint, the light fixtures.... all work I did. In the end this beats the old 5:30 - 5:00 office job!! 

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Hi Michael Noto,

    The current projects are one in Middlefield which is done with demo and the rebuilding in going (however slow, which I can elaborate on with a full write up on that place), and another in Meriden I picked up a week and a half ago. That one is 1/2 demoed and I am lining up the big players (roof, siding, windows are coming next week, plumber, electrician, etc.).

    Keeping me busy running around getting what I need and making sure both houses are moving along.

  • Birmingham, MI · Member since 2016 · 12 posts · 2 votes
    10y

    WOW seems like a great flip. The pictures look great, huge improvement from before. And only 2 days on the market that's great! You said you really didn't get started working until almost a month and a half after you bought it. Were you working on another flip? That seems like a good amount of time before work got started.

    Really good flip, especially as your 2nd one!

    -Evan Burke

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Evan, I had a full time 60 hour a week job and was doing a full gut and remodel on a bathroom for my father in law through November (from 5:00 at night until 10:000). Mid December my life changed and flipping went from a side job to my full time gig!

  • Investor · Corona, CA · Member since 2014 · 746 posts · 372 votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski wow! Awesome story and beautiful job on the flip. Congrats on the super fast sale! Can't wait to hear about your next adventure. Hopefully you can make the New Haven meet up on April 12!

  • Real Estate Agent · Southington, CT · Member since 2008 · 5k+ posts · 3k+ votes
    10y

    Great to hear @Brian Pulaski 

    Best of luck to you with the 2 active flips you have going. 

  • Investor · Manchester, CT · Member since 2015 · 53 posts · 52 votes
    10y
    Awesome! It's inspiring to hear other CT investors doing well. Keep it up
  • Branford, CT · Member since 2016 · 59 posts · 9 votes
    10y

    really great to hear about such good deals in Ct! Looking forgot my first!

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Thanks guys! There are deals in CT to be had!

  • Millersville, MD · Member since 2015 · 140 posts · 47 votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski  Seems like you pretty much nailed to renovation cost.  Any tips on estimating?  Great job btw!!

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Hi Jim,

    I think my background in design and construction management allows me to get a decent idea of what something will cost. Add that into doing most of the work, and I am not really guessing on a subs costs, only materials. My first flip I was also within $1,000 on the rehab costs. My ongoing projects I am confident in saving 5% on my budgets.

    My spreadsheets are very thorough (120 line items) which allows me to see where I went over on budget and under. I review each new potential project with the last, move my numbers up and down, and let the spread sheet math tell me if the deal works or not. It's not the most elaborate, but it is detailed and allows me to be confident in my costs.

  • Investor · Meriden, CT · Member since 2013 · 201 posts · 145 votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski Beautiful reno!!! and more importantly great flip!!!

    Im with you on the (3) older style shower doors. I always replace them for my rentals and also always install new ball type shut off valves.

    Good luck with your current projects.

  • NYC, NY · Member since 2016 · 619 posts · 456 votes
    10y

    Nicely done.  Congrats.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Fair Lawn NJ · Member since 2016 · 382 posts · 87 votes
    10y
    Great job and lessons learned in your feedback! Good luck on your future flips!
  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    Thanks all.

    I like to make note of and go back to any lessons learned with each project. Only finished 2 houses now but I am carrying these lessons into the next houses.

  • Gino BarbaroPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · St Augustine, FL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski

    Great job!  Did you ever have any thoughts of holding and renting?  How is the rental rate in your market.

    Gino

  • Investor · Glastonbury, CT · Member since 2013 · 53 posts · 10 votes
    10y

    Congrats @Brian Pulaski.

  • Flipper/Rehabber · Montgomery, NY · Member since 2016 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Gino Barbaro I did not think of a hold and rent scenario. This would be the next stage of investing that I would like to possibly get into, however I have not done the research yet to attempt it. I don't know the rental rate on this house, and would simply be guessing.

  • Palm Bay, FL · Member since 2016 · 76 posts · 23 votes
    10y

    Great work Brian 

  • Gino BarbaroPro Member
    Rental Property Investor · St Augustine, FL · Member since 2014 · 2k+ posts · 1k+ votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski

    I guess that's in your future!

    Good luck

  • Bulawayo, Zimbabwe · Member since 2015 · 1k+ posts · 253 votes
    10y

    great job on the flip.thanks for sharing

  • Solo 401k Expert · Anaheim Hills, CA · Member since 2012 · 18k+ posts · 6k+ votes
    10y

    @Brian Pulaski

    Excellent job on the rehab, and I am impressed with the repair estimates. Really liked the idea of using in-depth spreadsheets and analyzing the previous one before every flip. Congratulations on making it full-time to REI. Much success to you!

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