No Such Thing As A Fixer-Upper With “Little To Finish”

Realtor remarks from a recent new listing in Morgan Hill, CA:

Builders dream, fixer upper w/ very little to finish, Endless equity.

Folks, if there’s very little to finish it ain’t a fixer-upper. Give me a break! That’s the whole point of a fixer-upper—to have quite a bit to fix! But I’m biased here. I love fixer-uppers. I love the fun of restoring something back to beauty and seeing my progress unfold. I love getting sawdust all over my clothes while cutting baseboards and crown molding. I love driving by true fixer-uppers and immediately have the project plan blossom in my mind. And let’s be economical for a moment: I want a lot to truly fix because that’s how I can separate the bargains from the rest of the apples and oranges. And isn’t having a lot to fix one of the best ways to add direct value? According to the remarks, there’s “endless equity” in this property. How?! With little to finish, you’re relying on remodeling over fairly current upgrades, and that’s expensive.

Another reason this quote caught my attention is because I just spent the day helping a friend remove acoustic texture (a.k.a. popcorn, cottage cheese, worst aesthetic idea ever) from her ceiling in her recently acquired condo. By the way, she just got the keys yesterday—a great way to get active on the place, start right away! I wouldn’t call her condo a fixer-upper by any means, but I might call it something of a “fix-it-up” perhaps. It’s absolutely habitable and wouldn’t require a single thing to “fix.” But it certainly has plenty of room for fixing up and adding value, character, and charm.

So here’s what I plan to do: In the next week, I will find and take photos of 5 real-deal fixer-uppers (judgment to be based on exterior only unless I can get inside for a showing). I’ll post the photos and you’ll be the judge…and of course I’ll share my ranking as well. Side note: If I can find pics from an old fixer I saw over two years ago, I’ll post those too; that one in Cupertino was a gem!

Hmm, I wonder if the realtor meant many remodeling projects have begun in this home and now there’s just “little to finish.” I doubt it.