Tips from the Property Flippers January 2025 Edition
SSJ Cincy Properties
Brian and Courtney Huwel, the husband & wife team of SSJ Cincy Properties recently renovated a home in Cincinnati's most prestigious neighborhood of Indian Hill. The result was a truly stunning transformation from a 1960's time warp to a sophisticated modern estate that resides on 1.9 acres.
These are two entrepreneurs that aren't afraid to jump into challenging projects from new business adventures to juggling living through renovations with small kids. Courtney describes how their renovation journey started by seizing an opportunity. "When Brian started his insurance business in 2014, we knew we had to make some changes to our financial plan. We had 3 young children and Courtney worked part time at an insurance company. An opportunity arose in which a house in our school district came on the market. Although the house had good bones, it needed to be updated. Brian saw an opportunity to sell the house we were currently living in and buy the outdated one, in order to make a profit. We then got our hands dirty and fixed up the new house, while living in it of course. We repeated this process several times, as well as did 2 true “flips”. Although the kids didn’t love the fact that we lived through lots of renovations, we quickly figured out that this was a great way to make money. And we learned a lot about renovating along the way!"
SSJ Cincy Properties partnered with Spring Valley to complete the renovation at 9121 Hoffman Farm, Indian Hill, OH 45242.
Purchased for $740,000 this professional renovation resulted in a December 2025 resale of $1,212,000.
Tips from the Flipper
Those insights learned along the way are valuable and worth sharing.
1.Be patient and keep your eyes on the prize. It’s easy to get caught up in the details of the daily purchases and expenses.
2. Prior to purchasing, get a good estimate of the entire project (from a professional) and then add $10k-$20k to that figure for unexpected problems. If this calculation still allows a profit to be made, it’s likely a good deal!
3. Be willing to shop sales, especially those around holidays, and those that offer rebates. This might mean keeping appliances, for example, in storage in the garage until you’re ready for them! But it’s worth saving hundreds of dollars.
4. Shop Facebook Marketplace, as well as local “moms” pages; many people are willing to sell great items at a deep discount. There’s so much to be found!!
The Financer
Ah, the thrill of the bargain hunt! As Courtney mentioned, there are so many savings to be had by timing purchases correctly. There WILL be a major "shopping holiday" while you are completing your flip... President's Day, Memorial Day, Labor Day, Black Friday...to name a few. Think about timing your big purchases (appliances, flooring, mechanicals) around these events. If you don't have the space to accommodate storing the materials, check with retailers as some of them will allow you to schedule the delivery/ install a month+ out from ordering.
Another valuable suggestion from our flipper is to search for items on local social media platforms. I've had success discovering brand-new items from newly constructed homes where the builder's supplied item didn't match the new owner's decor, prompting them to sell at a significant discount to move it. I love how Courtney incorporated these sources into a million-dollar flip. The personalized items available through these channels, such as lighting, wallpaper remnants, doors, and antiques, add unique character to your restoration, which is an attractive value ad for potential buyers. Deals are out there on both the practical and the aesthetic sides.
Spring Valley Bank is your local community bank offering our investors SOLUTIONS in 2025:
Quick decisions with in-house underwriting
Certainty to close on eligible loans
Availability of real estate & banking experts to listen & stay connected
Flexible financing options for flips, refis & income producing properties
Dependability of an established banking institution
Special thanks to:
Listing Agent: Luke Luther Coldwell Banker
General Contractor: Brian Graham with Urban Developers LLC
Stager: Nest Home Staging
A monthly series showcasing tips from professional property flippers partnering with Spring Valley.
