by chriscrimmins on February 8, 2010
in How-To
I just wanted to thank you for visiting my site. My goal is to educate and re-educate the public and other building professionals about new ways of approaching construction. I would love to hear what you have to say about my posts either with comments or with new information. Hope to see you soon!
I might have titled this post “The aftermath of a house flip” or “The true cost of a flip.” A house flip, for those who don’t watch HGTV or the like, is when a residence having a low value due to disfigurement, distress, or neglect has work performed that enables the home to have a greater value. These rejuvenations can be a great thing, in the hands of a knowledgeable team of people. All to often greed and ignorance outweigh the true needs of the home.
The problem starts with the value of these lipsticked homes being elevated due to their appearance, and ends with a purchaser unknowingly walking into an over leveraged home where the critical care and needs have been completely overlooked.
Nine times out of ten house flipping is not done for the benefit of the future owner, they are undertaken simply as a money maker. Even though this can generate money, it doesn’t generate a future. Some homes are given a fatal wound from flipping which won’t be fully realized until 10-20 years down the road. With the cash pulled out of the homes by selling high, no equity remains to do what it takes to give the home longevity. Another unfortunate casualty are improvements placed in faulty areas which will need to be torn down at a later date for structural weaknesses, water intrusion, or other failed systems.
Key components often ignored!
Structural: Whether it be cutting out key structural components, not fixing ailing framing sections, or covering over rot, the structure of the home is its bones. Properly built and protected from the elements, this skeleton can perform for centuries. Ignore it being a key and there can be serious complications.
Wiring: This can be serious depending on how uneducated the workman were. Fires, electrocution, etc.
HVAC: Depending on how old the home is, many shortcuts may have been taken along its history. Defining what needs to happen to bring the home up to speed takes some experience. Running some ductwork through a closet to the upstairs is not the kind of experience we are looking for.
Plumbing: This may not be deadly, but it can cost serious damage. Flooding, fixtures not draining, etc.
Insulation: This cost can easily be seen and felt both on the skin, and in the wallet.
Flooring: Toe stubbing transitions and tile popping up are all examples of improperly installed flooring.
Architectural elements lost: From small details, to the overarching style, architectural elements play a large role in giving a home its feel. Covering over the home with vinyl and aluminum are some of the main culprits along with non-conforming additions that detract from the original aesthetic or design style.
Paint: Prep Should be 1/2 to 2/3 of the time it takes to paint a surface. Usually flippers don’t take the necessary time to give a quality finish!
So, if you have a passion for renovating houses, take the time to learn about them. Read construction books, manuals, periodicals. For those professionals out there that take on flips, treat them like renovations. Its not just emptied wallets that are of concern, there is history to be lost.
My charge is for those that can, lend information and knowledge to those that desire. On my end, please feel free to contact me with any questions. I would love to point you in the right direction!
by Chris Crimmins on January 29, 2010
in Philosophy
If you had to build with your knowledge with the materials you would find locally, what would that look like? Oh yea, you also have no cash.
I recently had the pleasure to visit a few countries in the Western Carribean. Instead of staying close to the tourist routes, my wife and I tried our best for the brief time we were there to see what the locals would see, to experience their world. I couldn’t help but take pictures of their homes. By far, the homes in Guatemala were the barest, and simplest. Some built with no more than what you could find in the forests and trash dumps.
The home pictured above was one of the nicer homes, more put together than the rest. I am sure this home builder had some experience building. Bumbling around the local streets, I passed many abodes, few with any architectural elements incorporated save for walls, and a shed or gable roof. Many cooked beside the road, over stick fires, with palm fronds to shade their head. Babies were washed in 5 gallon buckets, transportation was tied to a fence post refueling on the grass at their feet. Their was something simple about all of this. Something organic. Yet I still was an onlooker, never really able to be in their shoes.
I observed as much as I could, and left Guatemala with two main thoughts:
1. The need for education. From cleanliness and health safety, to organization. The world benefits with being shown how. In building houses, some quick information can go a long way. The modern world seems to forget the education of the past. Each generation relies on their own experience to build. This usually results in a few sticks holding up a square of tin, or rubber. Crowded in cities, people seem to be waiting for deliverance. How are such great building practices of our past buried and never passed on. I’m not sure, but its time to re-educate. All should be able to use resources around them to survive. Our industrial world has quite a bit of byproduct. If only we could harness that, and come up with a way to teach and house the have nots of the world. In the back of my mind, their lies a thought on how to build a home the least expensive way possible, where it would fight the elements, and give someone a place to call home. Many people in the world are calling old shipping containers home. At 8′ X either 20′ or 40′, they are an economical shelter. Here in Nashville, you can purchase one for less than $2000. Cities are being built from these that even I would love to live in.
2. What we feel we can’t live without, we probably can! I know Americans that will pay their cable bill before their water bill. There has been a push for larger homes over the past few decades from lenders and developers, to codes officials. Do you know that there are laws that govern how small your house can be. Many cities and neighborhoods have further size restrictions. I am seeing a swing in the other direction though as evidenced in one of my favorite sites dedicated to the small house. I love to remodel small homes, reworking them so that they flow and live better. Tight homes that are more energy efficient and more comfortable for their inhabitants. Personally, I have an 1800 square ft home. We live in 1200 sq ft of it rarely going upstairs. I believe we could live in a smaller home, but we try and put what we love to good use. We entertain, and actually house couch surfers quite a bit. Its essential to try and share what we have with those around us. I look at the picture above, and wonder if I could live there. Would the Thoreau in me come out enough to find joy there? Who am I kidding, I would want to remodel it!
We humans are intertwined. Giving to those around us, living life with those close to us is vital to a thriving community. If we start with our neighbors, and extend that further, it won’t matter what you live in, you will feel fulfilled.
Questions?
What kind of repeatable home can you dream of, invent that could change the way others live?
What resource can we make available to aid the health and home of those around us, around us as living on the earth?
by chriscrimmins on January 28, 2010
in Philosophy
Every time we finish a project I think to myself “what is the last image the company will be remembered for?”
For most construction companies, the last thing the client remembers is how thankful they are to have that project completed. Usually over time and over budget the positive feelings have long passed.
Since one of the cornerstones of our company is to be on time and on budget, we typically receive great feedback and references at the end of projects. However, many of the subcontractors never receive this praise from the client, nor do they see a finished project. Also their is the need to celebrate the return or turnover of the home to the client. To remedy these issues we, when possible, throw an open house party. The goals of the party are:
1. Create a positive last image of our company in the mind of the clients
2. Allow friends and family of the client to come by and see the work we’ve accomplished first hand.
3. Invite the subcontractors to see the finished product and be thanked for their hard work.
4. Celebrate our team including project managers and subs.
5. Create a network with other potential clients
Every party we have thrown meets all of these goals and more. We have drinks, listen to music, have a photo slide show of before pictures, a portfolio of our other complete work, and most importantly get to show off a great finished product. Sure it costs a bit of money, but the value is well worth it. So go for it, give the gift of a celebration to not only those that work with you, but to those that chose to have your company in their lives!
I might have titled this post “The aftermath of a house flip” or “The true cost of a flip.” A house flip, for those who don’t watch HGTV or the like, is when a residence having a low value due to disfigurement, distress, or neglect has work performed that enables the home to have a greater value. These rejuvenations can be a great thing, in the hands of a knowledgeable team of people. All to often greed and ignorance outweigh the true needs of the home.
