Verify The Scope Of Work
Now that you know what everything will cost, sort-of, and you are sure of your
figures, you may want to reconsider some of the aspects you originally thought
would be possible. Do not be reluctant to reduce the scope of work to match your
available cash for the work so you can produce the gross profit you need to make
the project worthwhile.
This is a difficult process. You may not get the slab granite counter tops you
prefer, and have to settle for Formica. You may not get hard wood floors, and
have to settle for carpeting.
But remember, you are not going to live in this house. You are selling it
for a profit. Let the new owners perform some of the improvements as their money
and time allows. Be satisfied with your profit and move on to the next flip.
Expect each flip to be slightly easier to complete than the last. Well, that is, better
until that bad flip shows up in the sequence where you break even and can't wait
to get out from under it. That will happen if you are at this long enough.
Mine was an $80,000 property which I worked on for eighteen months in my
spare time while holding a full time job. I put cash into the project all along.
Then when it came time for the balloon payment, I had to get out from under and
sold for $80,000 paid to the loan holders. I cleared nothing from the
transaction except that I lived there rent free for the eighteen months. It was
not worth it. I still have scars.
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