Every experienced flipper has a story (stories) they will tell with a laugh or a scream about The Big Problem they never, ever wanted to be involved with – but they were, and up to their eyeballs. Water. Mold. Structural problems. Disintegrating mortar. Critters.Several big problems all at once. Been there, done that, own several t-shirts … I survived and am still flipping.

You need to know that there is a solution for every problem.You are not the first, others have suffered this journey before you and answers have been found. This is why you have a generous cost-overrun cushion figured into your profit margin – or you should if you want to keep flipping.

Panicking doesn’t help – professional services do. Despair and wailing are useless time-wasters just when The Big Issue makes time of the essence. Phoning around for referrals is educational and should unearth the best problem-solver reasonably quickly. You can often have the mold experts or animal control at work while the planned work goes on in other areas, minimizing lost time or even avoiding it altogether.

The Big Issues are also those that open the doors of opportunity for flippers who thoroughly know what they are doing. Ordinary homeowners know The Big Issues are over their heads and a trap they can’t afford – that’s why the price is a flip opportunity! These are the flippers’ pot of gold IF and only if you are a GREAT problem solver who knows what you are doing.

But don’t go into a project with known serious issues without knowing – thoroughly – how to handle them,as well as being prepared for the extreme bad end of what they could cost. You can hire a fix for almost anything, but if you can’t handle the worst financially, this property probably isn’t the problem you should try to solve.

• Plumbing – moving bathrooms or kitchens; replacing pipes; etc.
• Structural – moving or removing walls; repairing frame; anything that involves looking behind the drywall
• Basements – leaks and cracks both seen and unseen, as well as finishing
• Roof – correcting roof issues or replacing roof can turn up rot, critters, who knows what
• Foundation – in addition your project house, know the history of the area regarding foundation issues
• Moving a fireplace or chimney – another “no knowing what you’ll find” area

Don’t plan on fixing major problems with your own hammer and power drill, rather the savvy flipper knows how to plug in the experts. You’ll go up the learning curve and emerge smarter and better just like other successful flippers.

Flippers make money because they solve problems ordinary mortals can’t face.Because others have failed with the problems in this property, you now have the opportunity to improve it to be someone’s beautiful next home, and make a bundle doing it!

How many expert problem-fixers do you have on speed dial?

I share my experience and advice FREE with new (and old) investors in my blog!  Visit and register for updates at  http://www.streetwisepropertyinvesting.com/blog/.