A Grin and a Rant

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We Flip Burgers, Not Houses

March 17, 2010

 

First, I don't want to label all renovators as 'house flippers' and put them out of business. In fact, I really appreciate the skilled contractor who takes a tired, dated, obsolete crapbox and turns it into quality, renovated, mechanically-sound product for resale. In fact, I fully support the home improvement industry earning a premium for jobs-well-done.

But steer me clear of the folks who flip houses for profit in the shortest possible time doing the least amount of work. They drive me wild! Why? Based on the 'finished' product, they tend to lack renovation experience, a genuine commitment to quality, or the appropriate level of taste (Snap!).

In a City with an abundance of dilapidated hundred year old housing stock in high demand locations, it's very possible to turn a sow's ear into a silk purse. However, you have to know what you're doing, possess enough integrity to care, and have the foresight to invest in a designer to approve your finishing choices. Really!

One of my top flipper picks that make me want to Flip Out is....

Recessed Lighting Overkill!

Photo: DecorPad

As a realtor parading buyers around most days, I shudder every time I open the front door of a flipper house, turn on the lights and Blam!...the entire living room ceiling lights up like some glossy automobile showroom. 

Newsflash - recessed lighting is supposed to discreetly direct beams of carefully calibrated light onto a thoughtfully-placed art collection, or other focal points like a fireplace, not blind the room like a sports stadium. Worse, the truly incompetent flipper will also install the recessed lights with too much insulation around the light fixture's housing units embedded in the ceiling, so as the lights overheat the thermal protection switch built into the fixture automatically turn off until the bulbs cool down, then pop back on. If this happens to you, you've unintentionally bought a disco with no beat. You then have my permission to set up your Ipod and lip sync Abba's 1976 hit "Money Money Money" at your awkward overlit housewarming party.

urbaneer flipper rant

Notice the spotlight effect (around the 16 and 54 second marks) you too, may have, due to your newly acquired overheating recessed lighting! 

I have more flipper rants in me, so stay tuned for the sequels. How about you? What flipper horrors make you cringe?

~ Steven

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Comments

#1. Posted by .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) on August 24, 2010
Well said!!!

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