10 Ways Anyone Can Spot a Bad Flip

"Flipping" houses is an American obsession. And in a housing market like Pittsburgh's, with increasing home values and older housing stock, buying and renovating older or distressed properties can be an excellent way to create value for investors, homebuyers, and the local economy. But if it's going to be done, it has to be done with care - - not with cheap, cosmetic improvements in a home that requires more systematic underlying work. 

We see dozens of houses a week, and nothing irks us quite like terrible flips.  They are a waste of resources, diminish neighbors' property values, and mislead buyers who don't know what they are getting into. 

Sadly, superficial flips are all over Pittsburgh, and it's imperative that you know what to look for.  Our job as realtors is to advise our clients about properties that meet their goals, and that are likely to be safe, secure, and a worthwhile investment. 

Hopefully this list helps you spot a bad flip before you're in too deep...

10 Ways to Spot a Bad Flip

1. FAST & FURIOUS: Verify the last purchase date on the seller’s disclosure and the age of the house.  You will see both how long the current seller has owned the house and the house’s approximate age near the top of page 1 of every Seller’s Property Disclosure Statement.  The older the house and the quicker the flip, the more likely you are looking at a rush job. 

2. FRUITOPIA: Too much fake fruit. I had a lot of  fun with this one on Instagram.  Yes, fake fruit has been a part of home staging for a long time, and it could certainly be worse.  But too many plastic lemons is often a sign that flippers are going after that “aspirational appeal” without the unsexy but important work to back it up. 

3. THROWING YOU FOR A LOOP:  This is similar to the fruit item, but worth keeping your eyes peeled. Like the fruit pun?  Don’t get me wrong. We love throw blankets - and Emily is really quite talented in the art.  But bad flips seem to be obsessed with them, and can be a telltale sign of someone trying to catfish you with Zillow-friendly pictures while they phoned it in on the big stuff.

4. CAULK LINES THAT LOOK WORSE THAN A TODDLER MASTERPIECE:  You’re in for a wild ride if you walk into a flip with caulk lines that are so messy they look like a preschooler's finger-painting.  When it looks like a toddler went to town with the caulk gun, it's a sign that the renovation might be as chaotic as a kindergarten art class. Save yourself from a property with the aesthetic charm of a toddler's masterpiece—aim for a flip that's more Monet than "Mom, look what I made!"

5. KITCHEN NIGHTMARES, AKA DUDE, WHERE’S MY FRIDGE:  Ever notice how the kitchens in flips look like someone entered a Tetris Championship while stoned (I’m cool–you cool?) and came in last? If the fridge is doing its best brooding teenager impression, creepily hanging out all by its lonesome, it's a sign the flipper missed the memo on functionality. A good kitchen dance involves the stove, sink, and fridge in a well-coordinated triangle - ideally in the same room!

6. PAINTED KITCHEN CABINETS: Ah, the old "slap-a-coat-of-paint-on-it" trick, the telltale sign of a thrifty flipper trying to pass off outdated cabinets as avant-garde. It's like putting lipstick on a grumpy cat. Sure, it might look different, but that cat will still try to smother you in your sleep. Opting for a paint job over cabinet replacement is the real estate equivalent of a budget haircut that leaves you questioning your life choices.

7. WINDOWS ARE THE EYES TO SOUL (OF THE HOME): Isn’t that how that saying goes? Well, flippers seem to be giving their houses cataracts. Choosing not to replace windows in a flipped house is comparable to expecting a dream body with a regimen that consists solely of air guitar and invisible hula hoops. It's as if the flipper shouted, "Who needs clear views and energy efficiency when you can have vintage condensation patterns?" If your new crib's windows look like they've weathered more storms than a seasoned pirate, you might be living in a house that's winking at you—the real estate equivalent of a cheeky, gotcha sucker!

8. PHOTOSHOP MUCH? OK, you can’t actually alter the condition of a house in photos. The listing agent will probably get in trouble with their MLS. But if you immediately feel like the pictures were misleading, you might be onto something.  We’ve both done our share of online dating, and know that feeling when you show up and something is just, well let’s say, off…. 

9. RAISE THE ROOF: if they flipped the house and didn’t work on the roof this is a red flag. Period. 

10. FRESH PAINT, OLD FURNACE? “Mechanicals” are the most important systems in your home. A shiny exterior is fantastic, but if your furnace is older than disco, you might be in for a heating system that's more retro than reliable. It's the real estate equivalent of putting a designer dress on a 20-year-old mannequin—it might look good, but it's not doing much when the real action starts. Before you get too excited about the fresh paint and fake fruit, make sure the furnace is ready to bring the heat. 

Guess what -- no matter what? GET A GOOD HOME INSPECTION!