By: John Stassen and Randy Mackay, The Big Flip

Flipping houses is a hot topic these days. Here are 10 tips to help you find the perfect flip from HGTV’s The Big Flip renovator’s John Stassen and Randy Mackay.

Find properties that are diamonds in the rough – homes that are rundown in comparison to those around them – as these often have a low list price.

Are the surrounding properties well maintained? This can add value and clinch a sale when your house goes back on the market.

Scrutinize previous renovations. Poor quality workmanship can mean you have paid a premium for finishes that you will have to repair or replace yourself.

Can you add bathrooms, storage or enlarge a small kitchen to meet the needs of today’s average family? If you can’t, walk away, as these features often make or break a sale.

Ensure you do a thorough home inspection before purchasing properties – this could save thousands of dollars in the long run.

Identify your potential buyers (i.e. young professionals or families) and design the house with their needs in mind.

Find a real estate agent who understands the market. There are thousands of real estate agents; get one who is experienced and understands the business of flipping houses!

Do your research and find areas that are up and coming. Neighbourhoods that are in the early stages of being gentrified often contain homes that offer large returns on their investment.

Be realistic with your budget and always leave room for hidden costs. Early budget optimism can mean cost cutting later on, which means sacrificing quality – and profits – in the final sale.

Keep your eye out for properties with good layouts that can be easily updated with new paint and trim. You may get lucky and find a home that’s a good price and only needs finishing touches, adding tens of thousands of dollars with minimal investment.

Use our spring cleaning guide below to navigate through the different parts of your home and achieve the highest level of clean. Need a guide for each room of your house? Click to view the Spring Cleaning Checklist or download and print the PDF.

Spring Cleaning Checklist

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Floors:

Whether it’s carpet, hardwood, linoleum or vinyl, all of your floors need to be thoroughly cleaned to get rid of deep down dirt and germs. You may vacuum your carpets and sweep your floors weekly, but chances are you don’t deep clean them very often. Tackle this project by doing the following:

Carpet

• Start by going over all carpets with your regular vacuum.
• Remove as much furniture from the rooms as possible. Any furniture that can’t be moved needs to have plastic placed beneath it.
• Use a carpet deep cleaner to extract deep down dirt and leave carpets fresh and clean.
• PLEASE NOTE: If any carpets do not have backing, they require professional cleaning.

Floors (sealed hard wood, vinyl, linoleum, etc):

• Sweep or vacuum the floors thoroughly.
• Remove as much furniture as possible.
• Use a steam mop to clean and sanitize the floor. (Steam mops use electricity to heat water and then release steam into cleaning pads that pick up dirt and sanitize the floor when used as directed)

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Walls and Windows:

Your walls and windows take a beating throughout the year, so it’s a good idea to give them a thorough cleaning each spring. You may not even notice many of the stains they’ve accumulated, but this regimen will get them sparkling in no time:

Walls:

• Dust from the top down, making sure to get the corners and other hard to reach places.
• Use a solvent-free degreaser to get rid of grease stains, food splatters and fingerprints (test the product in a small area to make sure it won’t damage your walls).
• Pay special attention to light switches.
• Take this opportunity to also dust down any light fixtures and ceiling fans, as well as bookshelves, pictures, and other furniture pieces located against your walls. A damp cloth works well to remove dust without spreading it around the room.

Windows:

• Wait until there is not direct sunlight to begin cleaning.
• Remove the screens and dust down both sides with a soft-bristle brush.
• Create a cleaning solution with one part white vinegar and one part hot water.
• Clean the window frames by wiping them down with a cloth that’s dampened with an all-purpose cleaner and water. Then wipe the solution away with a clean water cloth and dry the frame thoroughly.
• Clean window treatments in your washing machine if possible, or dry clean if necessary.
• Wipe down blinds with a damp cloth and fabric shades with a dry cloth.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Your Furniture:

Your furniture is in constant use all year long. Get rid of the dirt that has built up by using this effective cleaning regimen:

Couches and Chairs

• Gently beat cushions outside to remove dust and surface dirt.
• Check for stains and treat appropriately according to the care labels.
• Use a vacuum with a powerful hose to clean under seat cushions and in hard-to-reach crevices.

Beds

• Turn over your mattress to evenly distribute wear
• Machine-wash your pillows to get rid of and bacteria or odors. Make sure you give them several hours to dry before putting them back on your bed.
• Replace cool-weather bedding with lighter warm-weather items.

Spring Cleaning Tips for Cabinets, Countertops & Sinks

Cabinets, countertops and sinks are in constant use in any home or apartment. Even if you wipe them down on a regular basis, they still need an extensive cleaning a few times a year to get rid of built-up dirt and stains. Follow our steps to get these areas sparkling:

Cabinets

• Use warm water and soap on a sponge to clean off fingerprints, food stains and other unsightly markings
• If grease is present, use a solvent-free degreaser to target those spots
• Don’t forget the areas in and around handles, since those often get the most use

Countertops and Sinks

• Use warm water and soap on a sponge to wipe away dirt and stains.
• Use a glass cleaning formula to shine any metal fixtures
• Target any mildew build-up with a powerful cleaner
• Take this opportunity to de-clutter your countertops. Put away and organize as much as possible and leave only the bare necessities on the counter itself

Miscellaneous Spring Cleaning Tips:

• Remove light fixtures and wash them carefully with soap and water.
• Replace batteries in your smoke detectors and carbon monoxide detectors.
• Clean out your freezer and refrigerator, throwing away expired food and wiping down all surfaces with soap and water.
• Sweep and mop underneath your refrigerator and dust the coils (AFTER unplugging it).
• Vacuum and machine wash all doormats and area rugs.
• Replace your shower curtain liner.
• Update your first aid kit and throw away expired medicine.
• Clean shower tiles with an mildew fighting agent and purchase an after-shower spray to be used daily.
• Replace toilet scrub brushes and clean all toilets thoroughly.
• Clean out your closet. Give unused items to charity and store cold-weather clothing in the attic or basement.
• Put storage boxes in your basement on concrete blocks to prevent damage in case of flooding.