What Repairs To Do Initially When Rehabbing Investment Properties

By Gavin J. King

Getting started always seems to be the most difficult phase of any process. Once off the ground however, the progress should be rapid and well planned. This is not an uncommon problem among people who rehabilitate homes. Many times the most glaring issue that is wrong with a home is not easily discovered. Finding a good place to start will help you keep your rehab project proceeding in the right direction. Just to help you get started on developing your own rehab manifest, here is a short list of places you may consider starting from.

Establishing a well planned series of repairs, with acceptable time goals will help you out. Always use a realistic deadline for specific items and projects to be completed. Will the repairs and improvement be completed in three weeks? A week? Once this time-line is understood, make an effort to finish the project before or on the deadline.

Now you can start the demo. During this phase you will be removing any undesirable components of the home. This includes any parts of the home that may slow your rehabbing process even a little. It can range from cabinets to appliances. You can consider changing out old windows for modern vinyl models. You can always donate them to the needy or to material stores that specialize in re-using those materials. Then you can apply those funds to your budget. If the old paint needs to be scraped, then it will go as well.

Now, on to the bigger types of issues. Remember, rehabbing houses means you are operating with a tight budget. Keeping a list that tracks your most important repairs and accounts for them first will help you stay on budget. Always remember to pull building permits while fixing anything structural. After that you focus on the obvious cosmetic repairs. Anything to do with any substance or material that directly support the roof is considered a structural repair.

The HVAC (heating, ventilating, and air conditioning) will be carried out next. Followed by any necessary electrical and plumbing changes you plan on implementing. Cosmetic repairs or beautifying improvements will follow. Cosmetic changes may include updating light fixtures, new mop boards and any repainting that needs to be done. - 31366

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