Best things to do for a live in flip

Best things to do for a live in flip

Member since 2026 · 6 posts · 0 votes

Just closed on a 3 bed 2 bath ranch house in Barrington village with a partially finished basement that has an Unofficial bedroom. Plan to live in the home  for 2 years then sell. Planning on doing light kitchen remodel (refacing cabinets, quartz countertop, new appliances, paint) which would cost about 8k. Moving the laundry which is currently in the basement to the main floor would cost me about 5k. Also planning on painting, new trims, doors etc and renovating the 2 bathrooms. One of the bathrooms has a 30x30 shower that’s very small but could be expanded if we knock down a linen closet. This would cost about 5k. Sanding and restraining floors will be about 5k as well.  Is it worth knocking down that linen closet? Will I see an increase in home value from that? Which of these things would give me the biggest return on investment? Can’t add any more bedrooms or bathrooms. I also would like to put a nice hood above the oven and have a built in microwave in one of the drawers. For reference,  bought the house for $465k.  Would love any advice and guidance. How much should I budget in total for renovations. 

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  • Bo SmithPro Member
    Hinton, WV · Member since 2026 · 1k+ posts · 373 votes
    7mo

    Elena, on the $465k buy with a live-in flip, I'd prioritize kitchen and laundry upstairs first. Buyers in the $550-650k range (which is probably where you're selling after the reno) absolutely notice an outdated kitchen. Yellow granite reads as old, and moving laundry from basement to main floor is worth $5-10k of perceived value to buyers -- it's convenience they think about daily.

    The bathroom expansion question is tougher. That 30x30 shower is cramped, but knocking out a linen closet to expand it only works if it actually makes it feel spacious. If you're just gaining 18 inches, skip it. But if you can actually create a proper walk-in shower with dual heads or a bench, buyers will notice. The other factor: is the second bathroom currently unusable or just small? If it's functional, expand the kitchen instead.

    Don't overthink the basement. With a 3-bed main floor, your buyer pool doesn't need that bedroom unless it's finished AND has a full bath. A half bath won't cut it. Better to leave the basement as clean unfinished storage space than half-finish it. You'll save money and buyers won't be disappointed by half measures.

    On total budget, sounds like you're sitting around $30-35k already. I'd cap it there and focus hard on kitchen and flooring. Are you planning to sell in spring/summer or holding through next year? The timeline might matter for your staging strategy.

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