One pro of flipping houses is the opportunity to exercise your design skills in a home you don’t have to live in forever! You are essentially your own client! True interior design takes a certain amount of talent, but when you are designing for the masses all you have to do is keep up with current trends.Honestly, making design selections is something I enjoy, but did not come super easy at first. Like anything, it took practice to make perfect.
Over the past few years of trial and error, I’ve weeded through unfortunate paint selections, too-small light fixtures and door hardware that simply didn’t hold up to tenant abuse.In an effort to help my people: fellow house flippers, renovators and homeowners, I thought I’d share our current “standard” house flip selections and create a sort of base-line guide for you to work off of. I’m taking these straight from my standard spec sheet – a tool I developed to create material orders and communicate with our team. Can you believe most of these spec’d items can be purchased on Amazon!? Here we go…
This post contains some affiliate links.
Our Standard House Flip MaterialS LIST
Interior Paint
Paint is for sure a favorite subject. I have a blog post about all the paint colors we’ve used on all the houses we’ve touched, but I should probably update it. For now, our standard is Tempered Grey by Valspar. In my opinion, it is the perfect warm grey that will compliment existing wood cabinets and also be on trend in a more grey-leaning palette.
Lighting
Lighting is the ONE thing I really struggle to streamline – because changing it up makes the biggest difference. BUT in an effort to improve – I had to decide and make standards.
Dining Light
One of the few items on my list that you can’t find on Amazon is this World Market farmhouse chandelier. It is oh-so-good and perfectly priced. There are some similar, but none like this one. I would recommend this fixture to anyone who likes a farmhouse style (and I really wish they would make me an affiliate – ehhh hemm)
Exterior Light
Lantern style lights tend to be the direction I go outside for our standard flips and this one fits the bill for cost and style.
Fan
Sometimes we cap the fanbox and opt to install 4 cans in the living room instead, but when we go the fan route, this is the one.
It is matte black, simple with clean lines and definitely leans more modern, but its price point is ay-okay with me. Can be purchased at Home Depot.
Bathroom Vanity Light
This bathroom vanity light is a good one. It comes in a 2 light or 4 light option as well. The price is creeping a bit, but I love its clear glass globe and simple style.
HOUSE FLIP MATERIALS LIST: Plumbing Fixtures
If you are going to go cheap on something, don’t do it on a product that holds water under pressure that when fails will leak behind your walls or in your cabinets.
Kitchen Sink Faucet
Our most consistently purchased faucet for the kitchen sink can be found on Amazon. It is the Vapsint brand and we like it in stainless steel, because that way it matches the appliances. Yes, this is the one exception to my stipulation about plumbing fixtures, but it happens to have great reviews AND a killer price – plus, we’ve had good luck with them.
If I’m being honest, though, when we have a mid 300k house ARV and up, I’m putting this baby in there. Kraus is my all-time favorite faucet brand. (They also make sinks FYI)
Shower Valve
Sourced through Home Depot, the Moen Alder Valve in Chrome is our go-to. It’s a solid brand – one you can rely on. You will notice the trim kit is sold WITH the valve and very affordable. It’s nothin’ fancy, but also not ugly, so there ya go.
Bathroom Sink Faucets
Basically, as long as the faucet has a high arch, simplistic lines, and is a Delta or Moen brand in Chrome, I’ll probably go for the lowest price. We use this Delta one often and love it!
HOUSE FLIP MATERIALS LIST: Hardware – Matte Black is Where it’s at
That includes everything down to your hinges and door bumps.
Matte Black Door Hardware
In the past, we chose this simple Plymouth style, but ended up using the Bowery style Door Knob and can’t get enough. I love that it’s a knob that has some definition and modern lines without fully committing to modern. Classy.
I suggest buying interior door hardware on Amazon and exterior hardware on Build.com, where they have an option called “Keyed Alike”. This will save you a big headache. Learn from my experience.
Cabinet Knobs
These simple black knobs are a definite go to. I tend to like to mix knobs and pulls in kitchens and bathrooms, but you can easily save a little money and put knobs everywhere. I do …
Matte Black Pulls
I prefer the 5” pulls over 4”. The scale sits better with me, but you do you! It’s sold in a set, making it super cost effective, the quality is impressive and the install goes smoothly.
Matte Black Bath Hardware
- 1 – Towel Bar
- 2 – TP Holder
- 3 – Towel Ring
Modern Mirrors
Mirrors are a bear. They can be so expensive and hard to find consistent pricing on. My favorite are these thin metal framed ones – also found on Amazon!
Now, On To Flooring
For houses with existing hardwoods in good condition, we patch, sand and stain in Special Walnut. However, when the floors need replacing, about 80% of the time, depending on the price point of the home we’ll go with LVT & Carpet.
LVP
Our LVT of choice is from a manufacturer called Cali Bamboo – they make an amazing product, better than any I’ve seen and I recommend their company all-day-long if nothing else for their customer service. Unfortunately, I can not provide a link for this exact product, but no worries – I’m working in it.
Carpet – Dreamweaver in Diamond Pattern. Color: Ivory.
But what about tile?
Our basic tile specs include: Daltile Restore White Subway, this white penny tile in niches, and instead of bullnose we use schluter.
…and I can’t finish out this house flip materials list without sharing my favorite floor tile – this flattened hexagon. It’s so good.
That’s a wrap!
Well, that’s just about it… But wait, how would you like a copy of my Template Spec Sheet? It could be just the baseline you need to customize your own!
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All the best,
Katie
