Potential home buyers who are frustrated with the limited inventory can try to expand their target areas. But if you are already set on the neighborhood in which you’d like to live, what then?
Take a closer look at the fixers.
It is VERY common that buyers only want to consider the homes in top condition – but how many of those do you see? Hardly any, because sellers typically don’t spend the money on upkeep, or spruce them up, in order to sell.
If you plan to spend at least $25,000 to $50,000 on any house you buy, it’ll open up the selection tremendously, and hopefully you’ll find one where you can spend less. To help readers become more comfortable with repairing/improving homes, I’ll keep the posts coming – here’s a youtube on the cantina doors:
Jim: You need to get your own show on HGTV! It can be half home sales and half home renovation. I have learned so much by watching your videos. Thank you!
I’ve really been enjoying your fix-it series of videos, Jim. Very informative.
Until recently, my spouse has been absolutely opposed to considering a property that needs work. (“If we’re paying $____,000 for a house it had better be perfect.”) After we watched your flooring videos, I’m no longer hearing “No way” when we’re looking at listings that would need a little work. Maybe a fixer could become a viable option for us in the future. Who knows?
Keep it up and thanks!
Nice thing about a fixer is that you can make it the way you want. But you need to get that price down from the market price to compensate.
I like the Cantina doors….I wonder if it wraps around a corner. I got sticker shock though. I was thinking the door would be ~$2000, but that would only pay for 2 feet.
Hey,
I’m over 100K into my “fixer” reno, and it only goes up from there.
Beware the fixers… for a reason.
Chuck
Cool door, but sticker shock here as well. Would make for an interesting DIY project.
You’re right, Chuck, $100k wouldn’t even come close to rehabing a 2,500′ “fixer” these days. As for the patio doors, I LOVE these (check out the nanawall), but my reality is nice quality 10′ aluminum sliders come in at 1/8th the price. No question they’d help the house sell, but how much of cost of the cantina doors is likely to be returned at sale time?
@Doug…
Depends on the house. Some would be a 10x return, other would be 0.
I think those prices are high. Loewen makes a KILLER bifold door like that for about $800 per foot even 9′ high. Standard 6-8″ or 8-0″ doors would be much less than that. And Sliding Specialties makes a lift/slide that disappears into the wall for $1000 per foot for a 10′ high door. I know because we have one of each.
Sounds like real value Aztec, could’ve used you a few months ago. At the least it would’ve improved my chances & increased my comfortability with the decision. As it was, we had a tough choice to swallow needing to replace 80′ of single pane 30 yr old sliders! Next.
Aztec, I don’t understand the per foot pricing on these doors. Most doors are atleast 2-3 ft wide. Why not price it by door?