What do you guys use for rehab materials?

Question

I know most of the experienced real estate investors have a system in place for what they use over and over for materials during rehabs. What do you guys generally use for floors, counters, paint colors, etc...

I understand that not every rehab is the same, but I figured I'd start a post for everyone to see what your favorite materials are.

Scott P. · Answer

Mid grade carpet and vinyl/resilient flooring. (Cheap vinyl punctures and tears to easily).  Sherwin-Williams eggshell on the walls and white on the trim.  For exterior I always use the highest quality in order to do it less often.

There's a particular type of carpet fiber I avoid.  I'm not at my files or I'd look it up and tell you.  It's a yarn that can catch easily on vacuums and once it does it unravels all across a room.  Avoid that one.

I haven't had to change vanity tops or kitchen counters much.  With just a couple of special exceptions, I use cultured marble and Formica w/a rounded edge everywhere.

Matt J. · Answer

That's a pretty broad question, @Jesse Daconta. I suppose it depends on your end goal. You likely will choose different materials for flips than for buy-and-hold. For example, nice carpet or even hardwood may work well to match comps for resale, but durable vinyl plank is a good option for a rental.

For paint, we always use neutral colors and we tend to choose higher quality options - especially for the exterior. Often, that extends the life and saves considerable money over time (may not be a concern for a fix-and-flip). If you have several units in one area, try using the same color(s) for all of them. It cuts down on the spare material you need to keep on hand and you can buy in larger quantities, which saves money. This also works for fixtures, trim, etc.

One final tip would be finding a local surplus shop. We like the Habitat for Humanity ReStores. It's hit and miss, but we've found some incredible deals on brand new fixtures, flooring, cabinets, counters, appliances, etc. Plus, it helps a good cause.