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Page Turner of “Fix My Flip” knows that most problems with a home can be fixed, yet some are truly irreparable. But even then, there are ways to minimize the damage.
In the Season 2 episode, “My Way or the Highway,” Turner meets flippers Sam and Jose, who bought a house sight unseen in Buena Park, CA. They’re hoping to flip it fast and make a big profit, but the house backs up to the mighty state Route 91, a major noise disruption and eyesore.
“It would bother me,” Turner says of the location.
The HGTV star knows that this won’t be a fast, or easy, flip—but she has hope. The real estate expert says that if they can impress buyers with luxurious designs and a homey feel, they’ll forget about the huge concrete wall in the backyard and the freeway behind it. All she needs to do is persuade the flippers to invest $30,000 into the house.
Read on to learn how Turner makes this freeway house more attractive to buyers, and find out which budget-friendly upgrades will make any home irresistible.
Paint the trim for an inexpensive transformation Before: The trim on this flip seemed too dark.
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With its unique roofline and gingerbreading, this home is a storybook ranch-style house. It’s a charming design, but Turner admits that she isn’t impressed with the exterior colors. She finds the dark brown trim to be too aggressive.
So the HGTV star suggests painting the trim to lighten up the look.
“My idea is to lighten things up by painting that drab, dark trim a muted earth tone that would pick up on the tile and other accents inside of the house,” she says. “That would help turn this outdated storybook ranch into a contemporary and cozy California cottage.”
After: The light green trim gives this home a softer touch.
(HGTV)
She settles on a muted green for the trim, and in the end, the paint upgrade really pays off: The color makes the charming architecture look more welcoming.
Sometimes, simply updating the trim color, rather than the whole house, can give homeowners some serious bang for their buck.
Include custom shelving buyers won’t get elsewhere Custom shelves are a great addition.
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When Turner first sees this house, she’s disappointed to find that it doesn’t have air conditioning—just wall heaters and window units.
At first, Jose and Sam aren’t planning to put AC in, but Turner finally convinces them that buyers won’t pay top dollar for a home without it.
However, once the wall heater in the living room is gone, Turner and her contractor, Mitch, notice that the wall seems a little empty.
“Maybe we can dress the whole wall up, floor to ceiling,” Mitch says. “And maybe some shelving just to break it up a little bit, ’cause there’s a lot of drywall going on here.”
Turner loves the idea of shelving, knowing that it’ll add function while also providing a custom look.
Mitch ends up building a beautiful circular shelf that’s perfect for displaying colorful mementos. While many flippers would have left this wall blank, Turner knew that a unique shelving unit would impress buyers.
New shower tile is worth the cash Before: This shower needed an update.
(HGTV)
When Turner first inspects the bathrooms, she’s shocked to hear that Sam and Jose want to keep the old tile in one dated shower. Not only is the tile old and dated, but it even has an “S” emblem—a customization from a past owner.
Turner can’t believe Jose and Sam thought they could get away with leaving this shower as is.
After: New shower tile refreshes the bathroom.
(HGTV)
Eventually, the flipping friends come around to Turner’s request to update the shower and, when the space is finished, Turner loves the new white tile.
“Now this primary bathroom is starting to feel like a primary bathroom should,” she says when examining the design. “We didn’t take any shortcuts, and you know, it didn’t even cost that much more.”
Repave concrete slabs Page Turner was happy to see the patio repaved.
(HGTV)
The freeway isn’t the only unsightly feature in this backyard. Turner notices the old, cracked patio, and insists that the flippers pour new concrete to level it out. When Turner sees the new concrete, she’s thrilled that Sam and Jose took her advice.
The upgrade costs about $3,000, but Sam says it’s “worth every penny.”
“This was definitely a way that we can still give it some longevity but without having to demo the whole thing,” he adds.
When the patio is finished, the whole yard looks fresh and welcoming. While leveling the concrete might not seem like a fun or flashy upgrade, it does a lot to improve the look and add value.
“Nothing beats just doing something right even if it costs a little bit more,” Turner says.
Cover up unsightly walls Before: The freeway wall was unsightly.
(HGTV)
While Turner’s many upgrades will help sell the house, she knows that something needs to be done to the freeway wall in the backyard. The wall is an eyesore and a reminder that cars will be zipping past on the road at all hours.
Turner comes up with a plan to cover much of the wall with fake ivy, which she says will camouflage the feature while also bringing warmth.
After: Faux ivy makes this wall a warm feature.
(HGTV)
When the house is done, a real estate agent comes to tour the property. Upon seeing the yard, he’s impressed.
“This faux ivy that you guys put up is incredible. It looks natural,” he says. “It makes a huge difference.”
While this ivy might not make the freeway disappear, it does improve the look of the wall. It’s a big win for the yard and the house.
Does Page Turner fix this flip?
Jose and Sam bought this house for $625,000, and after four weeks and $80,000 in renovations, the house is transformed. They list the house for $850,000 and after just two weeks on the market, these flippers get a full-price offer.
This amounts to a profit of $145,000, which is shared by Jose, Sam, and (to a smaller extent) Turner. That’s not bad for a house by the freeway, and it’s proof that even the biggest problems don’t have to derail a deal.
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This article was originally published by a www.realtor.com . Read the Original article here. .