I bet you've seen at least one home improvement show.
The hosts walk in to a wreck of a house and in the space of one episode they transform it into something magical and sell it for way more than the market can bear.


Here's a little glimpse into the reality behind the hit reality shows.
Stay tuned to see our progress. I promise it'll take more than one episode.

The Real House Flip with @Mattifer

Matthew and I recently purchased the house above with the intention of rehabbing and flipping it. We know we've got a long road ahead, but we see great potential in this 3 bedroom, 1 bathroom home on Cleveland's West side. Let's take a peek inside, shall we?

Old Fashioned Living Room

The living room has some unique features including a gas fireplace and built-in book shelves. The arches above the windows and the wide doorway into the dining room add an old-fashioned look that is very much in demand in today's market place.

We plan to strip the wall paper and remove the carpet, but keep the original crown moulding and shelving. The brickwork around the fireplace is unique, but dated, so we've got some plans to spruce it up while keeping the spirit and function of the original.

Formal Dining Room

The dining room has so much potential, and doesn't need a lot of work to make it sparkle. We love the arched alcove above the windows and the hard wood touches featured throughout.

Unfortunately, the original flooring has taken quite a beating over the years, so it's going to be replaced along with the rest of the flooring in the home. We're going to remove and repair the crown moulding and baseboard to keep as much of the original intact as possible. Oh, and we're removing one wall to open up the space and give it the open layout that is so desirable in new construction.

Crumbling Kitchen

The kitchen is the area that needs the most help - and will bring the largest return on our investment. The cupboards are impossibly worn and dated, there is little counter space aside from this paltry unit, and the stove is so old I'd be afraid to use it. The tile back splash could use a modern touch also.

We are going to completely gut the kitchen, all the way down to the lathe and plaster underneath the drywall. The flooring has to go too, to be replaced with one continuous surface throughout the downstairs of the home. Removing a wall to open up the kitchen to the rest of the house will be a big help as well.

Basic Bedrooms

Downstairs there are 2 bedrooms, neither of which need much more than cosmetic repair and updated fixtures. This bedroom has several windows which let in lots of light, and features a decent sized closet. Once we fix the cosmetic issues we'll be ready to install new flooring in keeping with the rest of the house.

Crowded Bathroom

Bathrooms are often undervalued in a home but go a long way toward making a good impression on prospective home buyers. This one is pretty small, and the drop ceiling that's been installed doesn't make it feel any larger.

To begin, we're tearing out the drop ceiling and replacing the tub and surround. The vanity is dated and needs to go as well. You can't quite see it here, but in the corner is a built-in cabinet. By removing most of the cabinet, we can add enough space to install a large, modern vanity. The raised ceiling will make the entire room feel bigger. And to make it even sweeter, we're going to add a master bathroom upstairs.

Demolished Master Bedroom

We couldn't resist. By the time this picture was taken, we'd already torn into the ceiling and the wall, as you can see. The upstairs in this home has so much potential we simply couldn't wait to get started. To the right is space for a giant walk-in closet, and just off screen to the left we are installing a master bathroom.

In addition, once we saw the framework of the ceiling we decided to open it up all the way. The rafters you see in the middle of the image will be removed making the master suite large and airy. The wall in the upper left is getting moved back as well to really maximize the space and make it a relaxing place to be.

Thanks so much for joining us! I'd love to hear your thoughts and suggestions in the comments below. Check back soon to see how we are progressing on the Real House Flip.

Cheers!

Jennifer and Matthew

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