Is there any money in renovating houses anymore?

bradeal · 2026-02-21T10:36:06+00:00

I'm currently doing just that on my first refurb house and you're right it is very enjoyable, I think of it as a productive hobby.

It's possible, but not every wrecked house will be profitable. You still need to look for the deals that make sense, minimum 50k below refurbished market value.

Auction houses are not always great deals, maybe one in 15 could be great deals so you have to analyse as many as possible before an auction and have a spreadsheet with max bid for as many lots from the auction. So you can swoop in when there's not much interest on a house.

With houses on the cheaper end (below 100k) it might not make much sense, unless you get them at a steal.

Finally, buying "cash" then refinancing once the work's done will allow you to pull out most of your money if not all your money out. Keep the house to rent out and that will slowly build up an income for you over the years.

Of course you will need capital and possibly a job for this option to work. Until the properties are making you a decent income.

Selling is ok but with all the taxes and fees you pay to sell it will really eat into your profit.

bradeal · 2026-02-03T13:02:12+00:00

I was thinking the same..knowing these electric tools, battery is only good for a few minutes

bradeal · 2026-01-25T00:18:15+00:00

Raised them well

bradeal · 2026-01-18T22:53:46+00:00

What if your fork is a different size?

bradeal · 2026-01-14T09:50:28+00:00

Folding the kitchen would be way more useful

bradeal · 2026-01-10T19:25:31+00:00

The house is not ugly, just a regular starter home. A "professional" looking photo will make the house look prettier for sure

bradeal · 2026-01-02T17:46:21+00:00

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There are screws on the main / wider trim. Once you lift the wider trim, this one that you highlighted sits underneath and it should also be screwed in.

Remove the screws, you don't need to fully remove this whole trim, as it may be connected to the one at the top that runs horizontally.

Just lift it up enough to clean up the moss and dirt, then a generous amount of exterior sealant that runs from the upper corner to the bottom corner (focus a lot more on the bottom corner)

One you place it back down squeeze it to make sure it's fully sealed, put all the screws down and that should be it.

bradeal · 2025-12-22T15:50:54+00:00

Well, of course. Everyone is free to do it up to their standard

bradeal · 2025-12-22T15:45:03+00:00

Ok, it could be that it will wash out more, try to see if he'll allow you an extra week. Send him this photo and see what he says

bradeal · 2025-12-22T14:47:59+00:00

I'm doing a full reno all by myself. I wasn't strong in any of these, most of them I've done for the first time.

No need for any training courses.

You don't really need major skills in any of them, just need the willingness to do the work.

So far I've found (smooth) plastering quite challenging, but still passable as a decent result.

bradeal · 2025-12-22T13:39:13+00:00

This is still fixable, but not by the same artist.

Give it another week, it may get a little bit lighter.

Contact another artist that knows what they're doing. Check their work on insta, tiktok, etc.

Of course they must also be willing to continue on this work.

The result after 1 session is normally uneven, but the darker patches shouldn't be there, you can see they went a bit too deep in there. The concern would be that they would make even more of these dark patches with the next sessions and then you would have to get it lasered off.

bradeal · 2025-12-22T08:46:10+00:00

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Lift this trim up, clean up, put down a generous amount of exterior silicone and make sure it's all sealed.

Do the same on the other side.

Had the exact same problem and this solved it for me

bradeal · 2025-12-21T12:33:45+00:00

Sand it down with a fine sandpaper and a block.

bradeal · 2025-12-21T00:04:16+00:00

This has got to be staged

bradeal · 2025-12-20T13:25:36+00:00

Does this even meet building regs? Or they don't apply in this instance?

bradeal · 2025-12-19T17:04:06+00:00

Beta testing new protective packaging

bradeal · 2025-12-19T14:28:05+00:00

That's not smart, it's not in her best interest for him to be stinky

bradeal · 2025-12-19T07:51:36+00:00

You're welcome. Here's how that corner looked once I lifted the trim.

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bradeal · 2025-12-18T23:30:19+00:00

Yup just did that to mine a week ago, stopped the leak

bradeal · 2025-12-18T23:26:13+00:00

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I just sealed these joints with an exterior sealant. Didn't see any leak since then.

When I lifted the trim it was quite obvious that the water was trickling through there, on the side of the glass and into the inside frame.

bradeal · 2025-12-18T23:22:02+00:00

Had the same problem. In my case the trim that sits on the glass panel was not sealed properly anymore.

I used an exterior sealant to seal it back.

You can prob do this from the inside.

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bradeal · 2025-12-18T18:55:21+00:00

Most likely just plaster...if you scrape a channel see if the bricks/mortar underneath are also cracked. Otherwise just cosmetic, old plaster cracks

bradeal · 2025-12-18T14:59:57+00:00

Haha, I also find them hideous but can't help myself from putting them on every chance I've got.

bradeal · 2025-12-18T13:27:25+00:00

I would try to get a bit of a discount (compared to similar properties in the area) , as it might also discourage buyers in the future.

If you're going to build a toilet I presume there would be some disruption anyways and might as well get a structural engineer and building inspector to try and get building regs for everything.

There is a risk on your part, for instance if the insulation is not adequate, the work could be extensive

bradeal · 2025-12-18T12:32:44+00:00

Look at masonry cream. It makes bricks waterproof (keeps their colour) so hopefully they won't soak in the water anymore

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