Investing in Flipped or Rehabbed Houses

Flipped house ;)

Flipped and Rehabbed Houses: What to Look for Before You Buy

People often ask me about my thoughts on flipped or rehabbed houses, and my answer is that it depends. This leads to several important questions:

• Have any structural changes been made to the house? If so, were these modifications engineered and permitted?

• Were any structural elements reinforced, and if so, was this reinforcement engineered and permitted?

• Was the foundation in good condition, and were the foundation walls dry before refinishing the basement?

To all my valued clients, rehabbing a house can be likened to a football game. You’ll encounter both talented, experienced players and rookies.

I’ve had the privilege of working with both types of clients. I’ve learned valuable lessons from experienced clients and have provided guidance, calculations, and necessary drawings to assist rookies in obtaining the required structural permits for their projects.

While I’ve seen many perfectly rehabbed houses, I’ve also come across flipped houses with structural issues. I once had a client contact me regarding significant sags in the floor, wall cracks, and doors that didn’t close properly. After a site visit, it became evident that the wall below the affected area might not have been replaced with a properly sized beam. This suspicion was confirmed when the client removed the drywall, revealing an incorrectly sized beam for the span between supports, along with a splice in the beam between supports.

Allow me to offer some advice:

For investors, I highly recommend collaborating with a qualified structural engineer when making structural modifications. The cost of engineering services is relatively minor when compared to the overall project cost, especially when you consider the potential risks of undiscovered issues down the road.

For prospective homebuyers, it’s essential to ask questions about the work done on the house, request before-and-after photos, and inquire about any structural modifications and permits obtained.

Feel free to reach out to us today for further assistance at 724-949-0004, or visit our website at www.pittdes.com.

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.

WHY YOU SHOULD CALL US NOW

Why Home Buyers/Sellers/Realtors should Call us:

We aim to accommodate your schedule promptly, often within 24 hours or one day. I personally make an effort to answer all calls, or if missed, return them promptly. Our goal is to thoroughly understand your needs and guide you to the next steps, whether that involves scheduling an on-site evaluation or providing recommendations for your situation.

We pride ourselves on being highly responsive to your inquiries, whether through phone calls, text messages, or emails.

When you choose us, a licensed and registered professional engineer will visit your property. During this visit, we will carefully assess and discuss your concerns. If desired, we can provide recommendations both verbally and in a formal report format. Our approach involves offering concise, professional opinions based on visual evidence, supported by code references where applicable, and informed engineering judgments. Our aim is to empower you with the information needed to make well-informed decisions.

We recognize that buying or selling a property can be a stressful process. Therefore, we are more than happy to address all your concerns during our visit to the property. We take pride in educating our customers about how their structure is designed to transfer loads from the roof down to the foundation. Additionally, when feasible, we point out areas where minor improvements or maintenance can potentially save you from future expenses, drawing from our wealth of experience.

As a locally owned and operated small business situated in the heart of Pittsburgh, we bring extensive experience in Structural Engineering since 2005. Our founder holds both a Bachelor's and Master's of Science in Civil/Structural Engineering.

Our services encompass a wide range of offerings, including structural repair drawings for your rehabilitation projects, evaluation and removal of load-bearing walls with stamped drawings upon request, foundation reinforcements, comprehensive evaluations, and more. Additionally, we provide site plans and permit drawings to fulfill your local zoning needs and permitting requirements.

We serve the entire state of Pennsylvania, and our rates are flexible to accommodate travel time. Feel free to reach out to us to inquire if we can expedite our visit to your property compared to your local engineering firm.

For further information or to get in touch:

Email: info@pittdes.com Phone: 724-949-0004

Written by Firas Abdelahad, P.E.

Firas Abdelahad has been a practicing structural engineer since 2005, collaborating with a diverse range of professionals, including consultants, architects, investors, homeowners, contractors, and subcontractors. Together, they tackle the various challenges that can arise during the design and construction phases of projects.

The information and statements in this document are for information purposes only and do not comprise the professional advice of the author or create a professional relationship between reader and author.