Home flipping is the day trading of the real estate markets. Practitioners buy up cheap and often somewhat dilapidated houses and turn them around for a profit after making whatever small fixes they can to make them more attractive to buyers. It is an exciting market, but also a dangerous one to the newbie who doesn't know what to look for. Take heed of the following:

Neighborhood Issues

Before you even begin looking in the house itself, you need to consider the neighborhood around it. A deteriorating block with several run-down houses is probably not an attractive place for the buyers you are going to need to attract. Similarly, unkempt lawns are a warning sign that the neighborhood has problems that may drive off customers. Also, keep in mind access to town. An isolated neighborhood may have several low-cost homes, but won't be as attractive to a young family as a shiny new development with a school and shopping center within an easy drive.

Water Damage

Water damage is among the most expensive problems that a home can have. A house with water damage could have issues that range from unsightly warping to serious weakness in its foundations. Moreover, water damage is not the kind of problem that you can ignore, as it tends to worsen over time. Water damage could be the result of an isolated incident, but it could also indicate an issue with the larger structure that is allowing water to seep in and ruin the home. If you see any visible signs of water damage, take a look around and try to determine if it is a pervasive issue or not, and err on the side of caution.

Window Problems

Old unsightly windows which are in disrepair, are not only off-putting to prospective buyers but may also lead to water intrusion and rot. A buyer may conclude that if you have not even bothered to repair the windows, then there may be a multitude of hidden horrors that they will have to attend to if they buy your flip! Renewal by Andersen window replacement is a fast and easy way to give your flip the ‘it factor’ and curb appeal that you need in order to seal the deal quickly and minimize your carrying costs

Electrical Problems

If a house's electrical system starts to act up or fails entirely, its value will quickly plummet. After all, people need electricity in their households to power the engines of modern life. With glitch power or none whatsoever, things like computing, lighting, and cleaning become impossible or far more difficult. And it can also be a sign of vermin infestation, which no one likes. When evaluating your potential purchase, be sure to try all the switches; if any of them give you a shock, there may be an underlying cause.

Other Structural Issues

While other structural issues might not be quite as expensive as the big ones listed above, they can add up and cause a big problem if you are not careful. Issues could include things like uneven floors, damaged stairs, crooked front porches, and sagging roofs. Any one of these is a hefty repair bill unless you can do the work yourself. And even if you are handy enough to repair a house on your own, the material and time costs might well flip the house from profitable to unprofitable. Think hard before buying a house with a major problem.

Finding the right home to flip is half the battle. Spend your time and do your due diligence and you'll find yourself with a fine short-term investment.