Fix It and Flip It. How to Make Money Rehabbing Real Estate for Profit

Editorial Review

Buying, improving, and reselling single-family homes for profit

Countless investors and do-it-yourselfers are eager to profit from buying, improving, and reselling homes. In Fix It and Flip It, two of America's leading home improvement authorities provide expert advice on how to maximize profit and minimize turnaround time on any remodeling-and-resale project.

Featuring unique, step-by-step project time lines for three types of investment properties, this comprehensive "fixer-upper" guide covers everything from the day-to-day workload to tips on tax issues, financing, and more.

Katie and Gene Hamilton present guidelines for choosing an investment property, leveraging investment dollars, and finding investment money. Readers will find clear explanations of the rehabbing-for-profitprocess and learn how to schedule work for:

The 60-Day Fast Fix-Up--for quick resale or easy rental
The Makeover Conversion--A 180-Day Wonder that expands living space and resale value
The Live In, Fix Up, and Sell Later House--occupied by the investor for one year or more, which features architectural restoration and modernization

Cached date: AWS Called=true

Customer Reviews

A 30,000 foot overview of the subject

2005-01-03
This book provides a basic overview of the process for those contemplating real estate investing. Don't expect to find in-depth guidance, but rather simple one or two paragraphs on each of the topics. I literally read the book cover to cover in one day. In my opinion the writers spend too much time describing obvious processes for cleaning a house, etc and not enough time on finance alternatives, risk assessment, etc...

A large portion of the book describes the process of buying, occupying and rehabing a house and then selling it. Therefore, those interested in a higher turnover rate of properties, and those seeking higher rates of return, might be better served by looking elsewhere.

The last few chapters describe a day by day timeline of rehabing properties purchased or occupied under several different scenarios. This section does a great job cutting through the "glamour" of being a real estate investor, and highlights the unappealing aspects of the basic drudgery involved in rehabing a property.

Book is for consumate DIY

2004-07-28
There are arm full of books in the market place that are better than this book, and yes some that are worse. I'm surprised that the authors have a radio show. Just goes to show you if you're persistent, you can obtain anything in life. There are many authors who would make better radio show hosts, but the activities that they participate in are probably more renumerative.

The book would appeal most to those who for lacks of funds or mindset wish to do all the rehab work themselves and will only acquire a house once every year or two. There are much better ways to make money as a real estate investor of homes and make your time more productive. To that end the book provides some useful guidance on contracting with a contractor, if you elect to go that route, and tips for cleaning up a house. Is the book worth it's price? Depends on your mindset and how much you value the money to buy the book. My suggestion would be to read a library's book first, and then decide if you want to buy it.

A little dull, a little obvious

2006-08-31
I've read another book on flipping (Find It, Fix It, Flip It!: Make Millions in Real Estate--One House at a Time by Michael Corbett), and though that book was slightly gimmicky, at least it was entertaining.

This book is slightly dull, and a lot of the suggestions are sort of obvious. I have not gotten completely through the book- so maybe there is some saving grace in there- however I'm having a hard time picking it up. So far I recommend my previous read more.

A fount of information.

2006-03-20
The information was def. worthwhile.... it provided some very needed tips. I recommend this book to anyone who is thinking of flipping houses.. but dont stop with this one.. no one source of information is the know all of everything.. look everywhere.. books, seminars, internet..

not good too general

2006-01-16
way too general, and not updated enough for those who are not risk averse gen-xers

This helped us out a lot!

2005-06-03
My husband (a carpenter) and I were looking to get into buying houses that needed work, rehabbing them, and re-selling them to make a profit. We checked out am armful of books from the public library -- most of them were mainly on buying property to rehab and rent out. This book was just what we were looking for!

It is very helpful on finding the right property, evaluating the property (we used the "property profile sheet" for all the houses we were seriously intererested in); and making and executing a fix-up plan. We got an accepted offer on our first house yesterday, and I am back on Amazon today to buy the book -- I can't renew it anymore from our library!!!

P.S. I'm updating my review after we sold the house -- we bought the house for $68,000 and sold it for $109,000. When you subtract fix-up and closing costs, our net profit was $20,000. Not bad for eight weeks of work! This book helped a lot!

Too general and basic

2005-02-02
This book is too general and basic for my needs. I don't think I'm that smart, but I didn't need to buy the book to get most of this info. I knew it already. Guess I expected a lot more.