Published on: 07 September 2017
Last Updated on: 09 August 2019
If you have ever spent any time at the building permit office, then you probably understand how big of a headache it can be. Even if you are just wanting to make a small home update, you probably found yourself questioning, why do I need a permit for that? Why is it so expensive?
The permits themselves are very expensive and that doesn’t take into consideration the repair cost on top of that. If you have thought about starting major home renovations without having the proper permits, then you should certainly reconsider. If you are starting these home renovations because you are looking to sell your house, then I would recommend selling your home to a cash home buyer instead and saving thousands of dollars and eliminating headaches altogether.
If you attempt to sell your property and you have completed repairs without a permit then there could be a lasting impact if a home inspector finds out. If that does become the case and an inspector sees that you have completed non-permitted repairs, then its as if you purchased a home without a salvaged title. Sure you have a home, but because you didn’t get the permit, you did more damage than good and could be forced to sell for much lower than market value as this is a huge red flag for buyers.
There could also be huge fines associated with unpermitted work. These fines are always much higher than the cost of the actual permit, thus incentivizing people to get permits. Even if you think you won’t get caught, the drawbacks and fines just aren’t worth the risk. In fact, if you are in the middle of the construction and an inspector requests to see your permit, you must be able to provide it on hand or they will order you to completely stop construction. At this point, you risk having an open house or the city demanding that all unauthorized work be demolished. If it has come to this point that the cost of the permit is just too much, consider selling your home for cash to a reputable home buying company.
The last positive of selling your home for cash is that you will have more available funds to complete your next project and you won’t have the fear of doing the work without permits. By completing a cash deal, you can use a large portion of that cash for a down payment on a new home, and still, have money left over to complete and add ons or new construction projects.
Starting any type of construction without the proper permits can seem like a sneaky, cost-saving opportunity. The idea of increasing your home value is appealing to everyone, but you have to do it the right way. If you don’t want to pay the permits, consider reaching out to a home buying company that will buy your house as-is. Never, under any circumstance let someone tell you that it is ok to build/remodel your home without the proper permits unless of course, they are willing to pay the fines and backlash that may come afterward.
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Moving is a very expensive decision — whether you DIY with a rented truck or hire the professionals. You probably budgeted for the truck or moving company before you started packing. But these are just some of the most obvious expenses involved in the typical move.
Unless you’re a seasoned professional or frequent mover, you may not realize plenty of other expenses are in your future. Things like child sitting, elevator charges, and parking tickets can up your costs significantly.
You can usually rely on a line of credit when you’re faced with unexpected expenses. But when you have already put down $2,000 on a moving company, you may not have a lot of room left on this account.
Part of managing your line of credit responsibly is learning to anticipate supposedly unexpected expenses before they happen.
This article is critical reading for anyone who wants to limit how often they use their line of credit during a move. Planning early means you can start saving for these expenses in advance.
1. Child Sitting
If you have children, you might have to think about getting a babysitter for your child. To save money, you can ask friends or family willing to look after your kids.
Either way, removing your kids from the equation is easier for you and your movers. That way, you don’t have to worry about them being underfoot when you move heavy furniture.
2. Pet Boarding
The same rules apply to your furry children. Keeping your dogs and cats away from the action protects everyone involved.
3. Takeout
With your kitchen packed up, you will be relying on takeout and readymade meals far more often. You can save money by preparing frozen meals in advance, moving them quickly from one freezer to the other. Keep shelf-stable snacks handy, too.
4. Parking Tickets
If your moving company parks illegally on the sidewalk or in a no-parking zone, you (not the company) will have to pay the ticket. Avoid this by seeking out a parking permit for your new neighborhood.
5. Security Deposit
That hole your friends caused when they moved your antique armoire? If you can’t patch it up before you move, you might lose out on the security deposit you put down when you first moved in. DIY repairs might help you avoid losing your deposit, but even DIY work costs money.
6. Elevator Fees
If you live in a condo, you will have to book the freight elevator to move your things. Depending on the condo company, they may apply a charge for this elevator. This fee is usually non-refundable and must be paid when you book the elevator.
To make matters worse, most moving companies also charge elevator fees if you live on an upper floor. They may also charge stair fees if you live on the top floor of a walk-up.
7. Utility Setup
Once you arrive at your new place, you have to set up utilities to heat and power your home. Some utility companies may require you to put down a security deposit before they start the service. They usually ask if you have poor credit or are a brand-new customer.
These deposits can be costly, charging as much as twice your average monthly use.
Keep this in mind as you create a moving budget. It’s better to struggle to save this amount than the opposite, being surprised by it when you go to hook up utilities! But if all else fails, your line of credit can pitch in.
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A house is not a home, and neither is an apartment home is where the heart is. If your heart is everywhere, then the very outdoors could be your home—but that’s not the case for most people. The point is, even if you’re just going to rent a place for a little bit, you want somewhere you can rest your heart comfortably.
Now what makes you comfortable at your core is necessarily going to differ from that which makes someone else comfortable. Everyone has their own deal makers and their own deal-breakers. Following, we’ll examine a few features of apartment home-hunting that, for the most part, are generally agreed to be relevant.
Before we get into them, keep in mind: to get a good idea of what’s available, it’s fundamentally essential that you examine multiple units. Try to look at five, minimum, before deciding. If you can see twenty units and closely examine them all, that’s ideal; but for most, five will be a good minimum spread. That said, consider the following tactics.
Techniques To Follow For Apartment Home Hunting
Set A Price Range, Consider Travel, Know Leases
How much are you willing to spend? This number can’t be static, it’s got to have a range. You can get a better apartment home for less if you’re willing to rent from landlords on the outskirts of the city where you work. However, what you pay in wear-and-tear for your vehicle and gasoline may actually end up being more expensive over the long term.
If you found an apartment right on top of where you work in Dallas, Texas, and one on the outskirts of town for half the price, it could be that the centrally-located unit saves you money. The commute in and out of the city center will be an hour, minimum; meaning two hours a day. If you work five hours a week, that’s 520 lost hours a year (assuming you work 52 weeks).
If your time is worth $10, that’s $5,200 you’re losing. If your time is worth $100 an hour, then that’s $52,000 you lose in time alone. There’s an opportunity cost to a commute, depending on how productive you are when you aren’t working. That doesn’t take into account gas or wear-and-tear, either. At .58 cents a mile, and 40 miles’ round-trip commute five days a week, that’s $6,032.
A long commute can collaterally cost you as much as $11,232 a year. That’s $936 a month. If you’ve got an apartment home right on top of where you work, and you can walk, that’s preferable to the commute even considering the increased cost. The difficulty is how long you’re locked into a lease, and how long you’ll be working where you are.
Top-Tier Units Have Collateral Advantages
It might be worthwhile to check out some of these good looking apartments in Galleria, Dallas. Sites such as that in the link provide you a broad spread of communities that have varying advantages and benefits. You want the broadest spread of potential units to choose from in order to make the best choice. Additionally, those units should be relatively qualitative.
While “home is what you make it” may have some validity, it’s a lot easier to get comfortable in new apartment home where all the appliances work and you can trust your neighbors. Certainly, you can make a home of rent-controlled units or low-income housing options, but that’s going to get iffy real quick; especially when your recovering addict neighbor knocks on your door at two in the morning to borrow rice or toilet paper or something.
General Quality Of Units
Apartments are generally rentals, so you may not need to find something that has any resale value down the line. You’re looking for a right-now solution. Renting doesn’t build equity. Buying does. If you’re buying a condo or an apartment, that’s a different story. The quality of the unit you inhabit will depend on your overall purpose in purchasing it.
Making The Best Choice
Know your price range, what kind of travel you’ll have to deal with, how much money you’ll be making every month, how long you plan on staying in the apartment, and what sort of quality you can handle. Once you know these things, look at a minimum of five units which fit such qualifications, and do some.
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House flipping is an investment strategy involving the purchase, enhancement, and profitable sale of homes. It requires funding, dedication, and an understanding of market trends, along with careful planning and budgeting.
Here, we offer a few beginner tips for flipping success.
What Are The Pros And Cons Of Flipping?
House flipping is a high-risk, high-reward endeavor, but you can minimize the risk by working with the pros at Carmody Construction and weighing the pros and cons.
Profit potential. With planning and proper implementation, house flips can bring high profits quickly.
A more robust real estate portfolio. Flipping success can expand your portfolio, giving you a better reputation among potential clients and lenders.
They are boosting the local economy. Flippers help with neighborhood economic revitalization by enhancing homes and increasing property values.
Personal fulfillment. House flipping offers opportunities for creative expression, which can be rewarding for owners and buyers.
Sharper skills. Becoming a house flipper will help you sharpen skills that can be used in other areas, including team management and negotiation.
And now, the disadvantages:
High risk. House flipping is a significant financial risk. For instance, a sudden market downturn or high renovation costs can lead to sizable financial losses.
Tax consequences. Flipped houses are subject to capital gains taxes, and it’s essential to weigh profit potential against tax liabilities.
Time spent. Flips require dedication—finding, financing, renovating, and selling homes takes time.
Surprise repair costs. Older homes often have hidden problems, which can increase an initial investment and cut into profits.
Market volatility. Changing market trends may affect flip profitability.
Read on to learn the basic steps in a successful house flip.
Budgeting And Planning
The process starts with a plan that outlines goals, identifies risks, and estimates a budget for acquisition, enhancement, and sale. A detailed budget should consider expenses such as financing costs, property purchases, renovation, market changes, and promotions, and it will reduce the risk of unexpected losses.
Finding Financing
Flippers have various financing options, from personal savings to loans, and choices directly affect profits. While paying cash will help you avoid high interest, it’s not always possible. Cash-out refinancing, HELOCs (home equity lines of credit), and hard money lending are all viable alternatives.
Learning About The Market
When flipping houses, analysis of market trends, property prices, and housing demand will give you valuable insights. By learning about the community in which you’re planning the flip, you’ll find an appropriate property, target the right market segment, and turn a profit.
Finding And Choosing A Property
As you search for a potential flip, consider factors like location, condition, and market demand. Choose a home with a focus on its appreciation potential, renovation costs, and curb appeal. Above all, align your choices with your budget.
Making An Offer
Successful negotiation requires proposing a below-market price and backing the offer with sound reasoning. The lower the purchase price, the higher the profit. Be firm, fair, and willing to walk away when negotiating with sellers.
Renovation
Flipping a house requires renovations because most buyers want livable, ready-made homes. Before selling, make necessary upgrades and repairs to increase the property’s value. Set a timeline, maintain oversight, and consider working with contractors on the most challenging jobs.
Selling For A Profit
When selling a home, focus on the renovations you’ve done. Use home staging, competitive pricing, digital listings, and professional photography to present your flip in the best light. These tactics and working with a local real estate agent will simplify the process.
Our Thoughts
House flipping is a profitable effort when planned carefully. Despite what we see on TV, instant success is rare—and mistakes are inevitable. When flippers find the best financing, work with the right partners, and follow these tips, they’re more likely to succeed.
Starting A Career With House Flipping
We know that investing is an effective option of side hustle. Around 61% of Americans actively invest. A recent Gallup survey finds that real estate is another popular long-term investment option for Americans.
That’s why house flipping is a credible career option, too.
However, you need accurate market intel to be a successful house flipper. Moreover, the real estate market in the US could be more predictable. So, you need to make flipping decisions wisely.
A common trend in house flipping is making decisions based on the location.
Steps To A Successful House-Flipping Career
House flipping can be a lucrative career once you’re greasy with the market.
So, let’s check out the steps to set up your house-flipping career:
Research your market well and find plausible locations to start house flipping
Set the right budget
Seek small-scale investments for your first house-slipping project
Pro Tip: Don’t consider going to other cities to invest in house flipping. Firstly, that will be a costly affair. Secondly, it might turn out to be risky. Try that only when you have abundant experience.
Prefer local search
You only have the best knowledge about the real estate status quo of your residual address. So, forego plans to house flip in faraway cities.
Most beginners start by exploring properties in their residence cities for house flipping.
How Does That Benefit Your Career As A House Flipper?
That’s easy.
You know the best rates at which homes are sold in your locality. Moreover, you can predict which properties will attract the best deals.
In real estate, the quality of a property is not everything. What matters more is the peripheral community. And nobody can judge the pros and cons of your surrounding community.
Some extravagant factors in the community might appeal to prospective factors. At the same time, you might also know any eccentricities in the community.
Is your locality in the vicinity of a popular entertainment source? Does it have other amenities?
Or it's a tourism hotspot!
Focusing on such factors and finding a reason to invest in local properties is better.
Role Of Real Estate Agents In Your Career
I found a home, but you must go overboard with your budget to claim it.
Dont.
Instead, work with a real estate agent. Most agents have access to real estate MLS systems.
It is a database that lists all available real estate in your locale. It also marks the prospective future listings.
End Statement
House flipping can be a rewarding career. However, it requires tactical moves with hard work. Often, conditions may not be suitable for you.
But don’t wait for the tailwind. Work hard and find an ideal property even under adverse circumstances.
Read Also:
10 Best Ways To Find Cheap Homes To Flip
How To Secure Your Dream Home With A VA Loan
Maximizing Your Home Sale: Essential Tips And Home Inspection
