How do you save money on rehabbing properties
27 Replies
Allen Phelps
Flipper/Rehabber from Indianapolis, IN
posted about 2 years ago
I wanted to start a discussion on how you save money on rehab projects. I do a lot of on-line shopping at houzz and Amazon.
Nick Rutkowski
Rental Property Investor from Ithaca, NY
replied about 2 years ago
I do AirBNB and I live near a college. The best way to get free furniture is to wait until the end of the semester. Students throw away brand new stuff all the time. Craigslist, go to the ‘materials’ section, sometimes you’ll find bulk drywall or other building some dude is trying to get rid of.
Kuba F.
Real Estate Investor from Los Angeles, CA
replied about 2 years ago
Showing up in person at your different suppliers and going through their clearance and scratch and dent stuff takes time but will save you tons.
For counters I almost exclusively use remnants and negotiate to get them for pennies on the dollar.
Allen Phelps
Flipper/Rehabber from Indianapolis, IN
replied about 2 years ago
I have done both of those before too. Bathrooms are really good for remnants.
Thanks for posting.
Jason D.
Rental Property Investor from St. Petersburg, Fl
replied about 2 years ago
John Thedford
Hard Money Lender, Broker Associate, Investor from Naples, Florida
replied about 2 years ago
Wait for closeouts at the big box retailers. Also consider buying in bulk if you know you will need that item in the near future.
Aleshia Fisher
Flipper/Rehabber from Mesa, AZ
replied about 2 years ago
Kevin Dong
Flipper from Fort Myers, Florida
replied about 2 years ago
Buy in bulk and getting tons of discount coupon. Use the sub contractor to reduce the cost. Don't overkill on the rehab.
Mark Fries
Contractor from Jacksonville, FL
replied about 2 years ago
Allen Phelps
Flipper/Rehabber from Indianapolis, IN
replied about 2 years ago
Thanks for all the replies. Good information.
We open business accounts under our LLC wherever we can as this gets us contractor discounts. Some we even get wholesale pricing.
Tim W.
Specialist from Tampa, FL
replied about 2 years ago
The first step is not over-rehabbing a project. People get wound up in the tear-out phase and go down to the framing when it wasn't really necessary. Now they're responsible for code upgrades that could have been avoided by not tearing out the lathe and plaster to put up drywall when it could have just been re-textured and painted or just covered in your Chip and Joanna shiplap right on top of it.
Brian Ellis
Rental Property Investor from South shore, MA
replied about 2 years ago
@Allen Phelps best way to save money I’ve found is doing it myself
Terrell Garren
Rental Property Investor from Concord, NC
replied about 2 years ago
Originally posted by @Mark Fries :
@Allen Phelps1. Use same paint color, flooring, cabinets etc on every project. Enables bulk buying and saves on turnover costs 2. Less is better, avoid extravagance 3. Most important....make your money on the buy....not the sell....means buy smart!!
What type of flooring did you lock in on?
Mark Fries
Contractor from Jacksonville, FL
replied about 2 years ago
Mark Fries
Contractor from Jacksonville, FL
replied about 2 years ago
Terrell Garren
Rental Property Investor from Concord, NC
replied about 2 years ago
Originally posted by @Mark Fries :
@Terrell GarrenAllure at Home depot, khaki oak color.
Every property gets it. Replacing damaged planks easy with a heat gun and a drywall knife to pop it out.
Thanks. I used Lowes Project Source wood laminate .68/sq ft on 16 houses. Low cost, looks very good and durability are pros. Cons are expansion/contraction and damage from moisture. I used Allure vinyl plank $1.20/sq ft from Home Depot on last 2 houses. Goes down easy and seems near indestructible; however, does not look as good as wood laminate and you can feel any imperfections in the subfloor. I guess I will stick with vinyl plank given the replacement process you mention. Certainly cannot do that with my wood laminate. BTW, I started using peal and stick vinyl groutable tile in bathrooms. Man, that stuff is low cost, goes down so easy and looks ok. I don't think I will every lay another backer board or mix thinset the rest of my life.
Mark Fries
Contractor from Jacksonville, FL
replied about 2 years ago
Ashley Wise
Realtor from Webb City, MO
replied about 2 years ago
@Allen Phelps we shop bargains all the time. Snagged a $783 light fixture for $45 at local Restore—same with tile, trim, flooring. ;)
Brian Pulaski
Flipper/Rehabber from Montgomery, NY
replied about 2 years ago
I visit the clearance section of any/all stores for lighting, appliances, flooring. Recently found LED trims for recessed light cans. Normally $10 they were on clearance for just over $2. I bought 40 of them. Just picked up flooring for my current project under $1/sf for grey tile. 30" grey vanity was a Black Friday deal at $150. There is a 36" wide counter depth stainless fridge at my local store. Normally $1300, special but to $1100 and they have the floor model at $900. Trying to get a coupon and snag it for even cheaper.
Joshua Schoer
Accountant from Jacksonville, Florida
replied about 2 years ago
Max T.
Investor from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania
replied about 2 years ago
Allen Phelps
Flipper/Rehabber from Indianapolis, IN
replied about 2 years ago
We have a thrift store near us, but I can't ever seem to time it when they have things we need.