Flipper homes that need systems work

[profhoff]

Piggs: What’s your opinion of flipper homes that have actually been pretty nicely gussied up – we’re talking major floor plan updates, nice landscaping, quality upgrades, BUT, the systems have been left untouched. For example, homes built in the late 70s/early 80s, but the roof is original, the plumbing is original and the electrical is original.

Most flips I’ve seen tend to be pretty poor – Home Depot quality fixtures and upgrades, some floor plan modifications to open up the house but with glaring dumbness, and generally, lipstick on the pig. Nevertheless, these sell.

What’s interesting is the flips that are really well done – high quality materials, great floor plan renovations, pretty much everything a modern buyer would want, BUT BUT BUT, they didn’t invest in anything you can’t see.

Are these a risk?

[spdrun]

If the electrical and plumbing are copper, why change it? Only change it if it’s aluminum and PEX.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=spdrun]If the electrical and plumbing are copper, why change it? Only change it if it’s aluminum and PEX.[/quote]

I agree.

New pex is very good. Better than copper. I like pex with a central manifold.

[gzz]

My house was renovated internally in 2004 by a prior owner. 100% new electrical, 100% new overhead lights and wall outlets, and new copper pipes. They are exposed in the ceiling of the walk out lower level, and in 2014 I paid to have them cleaned and polished and they look really nice. I also painted the iron gas pipes and vents with metallic copper paint. It isn’t shiny like new copper, but as the patina set in on the real copper now they match unless you look very carefully.

My major complaint about the renovation is that my kitchen was done mid grade without adding a dishwasher. So I am stuck with an OK kitchen that is only 12 years old, too new to replace without being wasteful.

Overall, however, the renovation was done right including the elements that are not obvious.

[gzz]

I don’t see why a 70s or 80s home would need an electrical upgrade. Appliances from the fridge to the TV use a lot less juice, and LEDs save about 90%. I would expect them to be overbuilt for modern needs and I am not aware of serious problems with wiring on even much older houses from the 50s and 60s.

[FlyerInHi]

[quote=gzz]I don’t see why a 70s or 80s home would need an electrical upgrade. Appliances from the fridge to the TV use a lot less juice, and LEDs save about 90%. I would expect them to be overbuilt for modern needs and I am not aware of serious problems with wiring on even much older houses from the 50s and 60s.[/quote]

Yeah, you’re so right about household appliances using much less electricity. Computers too. Few people use desktop power hogs anymore.

An electric car charging station would be good. But that’s easy enough since the panel is usually in or outside the garage.

How do you live without a dishwasher? I recently remodeled a vacation studio where I got rid of the stove for a dishwasher. Only 1 induction cooking plate.

[spdrun]

Plenty of people use desktops, but desktops don’t actually use that much power. 50/100W average, and LCD screens use less than old CRTs.

Your average 15A outlet can handle over 10 of them no sweat.

If I ever move to SD, I’d buy a house in an older non-posh non-HOA area so I can have a good, old-fashioned clothes line. Perfect climate for air drying clothes, and it’s a lot more efficient than a power dryer.

[FlyerInHi]

spdrun, Southpark is perfect for you though it’s gentrifying. You can find an old house to work on.

[cvmom]

[quote=spdrun]If I ever move to SD, I’d buy a house in an older non-posh non-HOA area so I can have a good, old-fashioned clothes line. Perfect climate for air drying clothes, and it’s a lot more efficient than a power dryer.[/quote]

We do 90% of clothes-drying outside, and we live in Carmel Valley. As long as you don’t dry your clothes in the front yard, our experience is that they pretty much leave you alone.

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