It goes without saying, but it’s extremely important: FIXER PROPERTIES SHOULD AL­WAYS BE CLEANED UP OUTSIDE FIRST! This effort includes removal of all the trash and broken items, like falling down fences and junky sheds. Overgrown bushes, trees and shrubs must be neatly trimmed. Lawns can be raked, re-seeded and groomed. Even weeds can be turned into attractive green yards with regular watering, re-seeding and routine mow­ing.

Here’s what’s really important here! These outside improvements I’m suggesting are not using very much of your fix-up budget, You can really leverage your fix-up plan with plain old “Grunt Work”. That’s my term for non-­skilled labor. But, believe me; it counts just as much as the higher skilled stuff when it comes to making a bottom-line profit.

Avoid the Two Deadly Sins

Whatever else you do DON’T PLAY HOUSE WITH YOUR FIX-UP PLANS and DON’T SPEND OVER 10 PERCENT OFYOUR ORIGINAL COST ESTIMATE.

Both of these DON’TS are not the easiest advice to follow! I don’t expect you to get ‘em both right on your first attempt. That’s exactly what I did and I don’t know of any shortcuts to help you! It simply takes practice!