WE BOUGHT A TINY FLIP HOUSE!  

Have you seen the movie, “We Bought a Zoo?,” because that’s what runs through my head when I say, “We bought a house!” 

Let me be totally transparent with you. We have been looking, and waiting and searching for a house to flip ever since we moved to our new house two years ago. In fact, we actually put an offer in on a house in July that wasn’t accepted. And even more, we have looked at multiple houses and even a few businesses!! We waited. And waited…. And yep, you guessed it! Waited. 

Two weeks ago I got a call from a friend who also happens to be a local realtor. She was with a client who wanted to list his house but she informed him that he and I needed to connect because she felt that if we met, listing would be unnecessary. She couldn’t have been more correct. Our waiting game had paid off. I met the buyer, we chatted and within a few hours I was on the phone with my good friend (and now my “official” business partner, Ashlie). She and her husband had been on board with us in partnering up for our first flip and it landed ever so sweetly in our laps. Okay, after months of waiting, but you get the idea. 

Within less than a week we officially CLOSED on our first ever flip house (who needs a name)!

Don’t be afraid. I know you are. But don’t be!

This tiny flip house (she has yet to have an official name), might look scary and overwhelming and like a lot of work. Thats because she is. However, beneath the bugs and mold and deterioration, there is SO MUCH POTENTIAL. You just have to *ahem* use your imagination. 

Let me give you the grand tour of our tiny flip house (who will get a name soon, I am sure…). First things first: the property and acreage! 

The property is a bit weird. The land was first purchased by  a family who bought the 2.5 acres and built not one but FOUR tiny home-like cabins on it. I get the idea and actually would love to have something like that for MY family but the caveat is that nobody technically owns the 2.5 acres. You own what your house sits on and the rest is considered a park. I told you – kind of weird. However, two of the houses are basically vacant. It would be a dream to own all four but that would be another can of worms I don’t necessarily want to open up. Plus right now we have the sweetest neighbor up there! 

All that said, it is in the most ideal spot of the four with an unobscured view of the mountains behind. 

Let’s head inside because after all, that is my specialty. 

This is the bathroom. When I say tiny I mean TINY. That “shower” (used as a loose term) is is big enough to turn around in. But hey, what else do you need?! I have big plans that I can’t wait to share all about. I am thinking full tile shower in a fun style/pattern and some bold paint on the walls. I debated wallpaper but alas, wallpaper + a bathroom is generally not the best idea. The biggest eyesore and challenge I think will be the black drain pipe – see that thing with the faux garland? Yeah, that is a sewer vent pipe and is just about the last thing you want the eye to see.

The loft! Also known as the flip house primary bedroom. It is small to say the least (I mean, do I have to say that with the knowledge that this flip house should be called a tiny house?), but the potential is massive. This room is the first one I made a mood board for that I think will set the tone for the rest of the house. A little traditional and eclectic, similar to the boys room aesthetic.I I am really excited because I have a dream partnership lined up with Home Depot for it already!

The ladder is an issue for safety and for general aesthetic as well, so we plan to replace it with these spiral stairs.

I can’t be the only one who dreamed of spiral stairs since childhood, right? I am also a sucker for eclectic art and truth be told, I hope to be able to source it all through Etsy or thrift it myself. I really want the character of this home to stand out. Now, it can’t be too much because again (and I have to keep reminding myself this as well), its a house that will need to appeal to a buyer! Did I mention that we will be selling it furnished?! You know I will be flipping endless pieces of furniture for the space. I can hardly wait. But I think I have said that about one hundred and twelve times, forgive me.

I definitely need to snap some better photos of the kitchen. Can you see that window in the top right corner above the sink? That window is actually looking INSIDE up into the loft. Unfortunately it is really broken and cuts into the roof line, so it will have to go. Pretty much everything you see in the kitchen and dining area of the flip house will be gonzo. Yes, even the carpet in the kitchen.

There is a wood burning stove (you can’t see it because I am a bone head and didn’t snap a photo) on the side of the kitchen that will be going bye bye. It takes up A LOT of space and for anyone below the age of 10 could be scary. Stoves like that get SO hot and its a hazard we don’t want potential buyers or tenants to have to worry about. It was also cracked and leaking, so there is that to take into account as well.

Yet another tiny space! This living room is tricky. I have been struggling with the layout. Where you see the tv now, you can slightly see the wood burning stove in the background. Once that is gone I want to extend the wall the tv is on allowing for a mantle and fireplace of some sort. That sliding glass door has to go and not just because I hate it. Also because it is broken, the slides don’t work and its leaking like a cracked cauldron.

I want to get a modular couch of some sort and possibly a chair. The hope is that I can make it more of a “sectioned” space with a rug and chairs outlining it, giving more of a completed room feel. Maybe I am just making this all up as I go. Is it working?!

Unfortunately because the door was so stuck, I have yet to get good photos of the porch but I will add them and update this post once I have them!

The initial plan for the exterior was to paint it all. The roof for sure needs replacing and will need new OSB in some spots where there were leaks. Can you believe the whole place after being vacant for 7+ years only had ONE leaky spot from the roof?!

After looking at the exterior after buying it, we deemed it necessary to add siding instead. It will definitely add value to the house as well as longevity. The winters up here are not to be messed with, so I am shocked the wood exterior has held up as well as it has!

So, there you have it. Did I mention she needs a name? And on that note, I need a nap as well as copious amounts of caffeine. We’ve got less than 8 weeks before the snow hits and we want to be DONE with this beauty by then. Are we insane? Most likely. Will it be worth it? Absolutely.

What do you think? AND PLEASE help me pick a name.

PS. I may have already started the demo…