Best of 2024 Pro Tips from the Property Flippers & 2025 Design Trends

Pro Tips from the Property Flippers December 2024 Edition

Year in Review

2024 Highlights from our Featured Cincinnati Real Estate Experts:

Our local industry professional showed a continued commitment to sharing their expertise with the community in 2024. From sheriff sale experiences to restoring old homes and everything in between. Here are a few 2024 highlights from our:

I try to keep in mind the potential buyer for my homes and keep the updates with them in mind. For example, in this home my potential buyers would be a family with young children, so we knew we needed to have a nice bathtub for the kids, and we wanted to try to get the laundry upstairs next to the bedrooms.

-The Holtz (Featured Property: purchase $325K sold $500K, Historic Home Restoration)

Maintain your integrity. Put out a product that you are proud of, a home that you would be willing to move your family into. I love the feeling of walking away from a sale knowing that I’ve done the best job possible for the buyers. I also believe strongly that you get back what you put out into the world so in this case, everyone wins.

-CinCity Properties (Featured Property: purchase $265K sold $389K)

For divine instruction Chris turns to The Gospel of Luke 14:28-30, "Is there anyone here who, planning to build a new house, doesn’t first sit down and figure the cost so you’ll know if you can complete it? If you only get the foundation laid and then run out of money, you’re going to look pretty foolish. Everyone passing by will poke fun at you: He started something he couldn’t finish."

-Armor Properties, LLC (Featured Property: purchase $115K sold $290K)

Get contracts signed. Make sure that you provide contracts detailing the work that you want performed and agreed upon pay scales and timelines. This will help to keep everyone on point with expectations.

-Hazelwood Homes LLC (Featured Property: purchase $147K sold $270K)

You learn as you go and you don't have to stay in one lane. You may find you like flips better than rentals. Or you like long-term rentals better than short-term rentals. Or you may just like to wholesale properties and stay out of renovating all-together. There is so much diversity in real estate you can try things out and see what works best for you.

-HDE Holdings (Featured Property: purchase $96K sold $320,250, Sheriff Sale Purchase)

I try and use multiple exit strategies on all properties. While I budget for whatever rehab is needed, I usually clean out each property and put it on Zillow for 7-10 days “as-is”. If I get an offer that fits my model, I'll sell and move on the next project. If not, I start the rehab.

-Tri-State Innovative Property Solutions (Featured Property: purchase $124K sold $230K, High Volume Flips)

Don't overdo the house- From a design perspective, with few exceptions, the goal is to create a high-quality product that resonates with a wide audience. The aim is to offer a blank slate that customers can transform into a home. Since people have various design tastes and needs, maintaining a timeless and "agreeable" color palette is key. Agreeable Gray paint, white subway tile, and soft color finishes possess the versatility to complement a wide range of design giving the buyer more freedom to decorate to their own tastes. Occasionally, real estate agents touring my properties suggest the need to follow trends to enhance value, yet I haven't observed this in practice. It is the feedback from buyers that has guided me to maintain the simple formula I use. From a budgeting perspective, it is imperative to understand what needs to be replaced and what can be maintained. Many of the older features are high quality and maintain the original character of the home. You can also enhance elements with paint, crown molding, tile and hardware.

-Lane Construction (Featured Property: purchase $375K sold $595K)

Bonafide Academy has quickly become a hub for aspiring real estate investors. Founded by myself and my wife, we created the Academy with one goal in mind—to give back to our community by teaching everything we know about real estate investing. As licensed Realtors we also have experience & knowledge of the Cincinnati Market to propel our student's real estate success. In just a few short months, over 25 committed cohorts have joined us, securing five investment properties through the strategies we’ve taught.

-The McCasters & Bonafide Academy (Featured Property: purchase $212K sold $315K)