Nessie the Flip House: Week 1

Karen Goodman

August 4, 2017

I hope you enjoy these weekly updates as I navigate through the business of flipping houses one house at a time!! Check in each Friday to see weekly update of how this house progresses! To catch up on the progress on Nessie, check out her previous posts here. If you’re new here (Hello!!!), or just enjoy walking down memory lane, you can see my 6 previous flip houses here. Thanks for coming along for the ride!!

Ah, week 1. The week where I start getting quotes and face the reality of where my budget meets my dreams for the house. Don't get me wrong- still going to be epic, I just need to focus my epic into certain areas. For a designer, it's always a little torturous to spend the bulk of the money on things like septic systems and electrical. Speaking of septic, that's one way to get some landscaping done!

Getting a new septic system installed is a very literal way to watch money go down the drain. Luckily for us, the sellers had done the 'dirty work' and had a new septic system engineered and approved by the town. All we had to do is make a few calls and write a check.

Surprisingly, this will be done in less than a week and then the dumpster and porto-pot will be delivered. Probably more surprising, however is that we actually haven't started smashing anything inside! Only planning has begun. This house is getting the most layout 'tweaking' of any of the flips with walls getting demo'd, built, and moved. My challenge is always to try and make the house make sense- and this one is definitely a challenge. The original living space of the house was only about 25' x 20' with additions onto it. Finding a way to incorporate both kitchen and dining in a logical way was this house's biggest head scratcher. After trying about 10 different options, I think I landed on the ideal kitchen layout for the space- one that eliminates the long galley feel of the space and adds a banquette dining area

So I have a layout that I think will work, now I need to decide on what style this house wants to be. Even though the house was technically built in 1920, I'm totally feeling the vibe of the renovations that were done in the 60s. I'm leaning toward making the style of the interior very min-century inspired with a modern twist. Such a different house than Shorty, which was also built right around 1920. That's the fun I have with flipping- each house has it's own personality.... it's my job to make it visible to everyone else.

Next week, I'm hopeful that the interior smashing will begin and I'll start pulling together design plans for each space. I can't wait to show you what I come up with!

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Karen Goodman

July 28, 2017

Flipping, nessie the fliphouse

Meet Nessie!

Karen Goodman

July 28, 2017

Flipping, nessie the fliphouse

Meet Nessie! That's right, "Nessie" won the popular vote. If you're already confused/new here... we're the flipping weirdos who name each house. Clark, Frankie, Grover, Millie, Dori, Shorty, and now Nessie. Most of the time, the name has to do with the street it's on. This one got her name from the fact that it's by a pond and on Lakeview Rd. Not exactly Lock Ness, but still a catchy name ;).

Nessie can use some love and a healthy injection of character, but she's got great bones and an even better location! I really REALLY *REALLY* want to add a front porch, but it's looking like that would require going in front of the zoning board and may take months for approval. I'm going to look into it more and cross my fingers and toes that I can make it happen within our timeframe (and budget).

First thing will be a septic system. Luckily for us, the sellers already did the legwork on this one, so we're hoping this will actually get started next week. After the yard gets dug up for that there will be some serious landscape grooming/updating.

On the inside, I'm in love with the giant, solid front door, but the entry leaves some to be desired.

The living room has an awkward lower front portion which was originally the bungalow front porch. We plan to raise up part of that floor, eliminate one column, and open this room up to the kitchen. (Wide angle shots from the real estate listing... the room's not quite as big)

I, of course, need to work my magic on the kitchen:

And a little more magic in the bathroom, including adding a window:

The bedrooms are going to need some reconfiguring- adding a closet in one, adding a window in another, and borrowing some space from a closet in the 3rd.