A Basic Renovation that is not so BASIC!

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I happened to be in the neighborhood doing what I call a home visit. I like to see how tenants live before I let them rent from us. I noticed on my way to visit this applicant that 11947 Greiner was around the corner so I popped in on Jeff, our crew leader.

Jeff has been with us for around 20 years. He started working for my husband when we owned Burns Floor Covering. Jeff is VERY SMART. He has uncommonly good common sense. When we started renovating houses in Detroit, he was very happy to make the career change with my husband, Pat.

Pat and Jeff are pretty much self-taught on renovating houses. They have renovated around 200 houses in Detroit. Jeff is to a point where Pat gives him full free reign. They have always been in sync with each other. It was fun watching them do floors together. They barely speak but seem to know what the other is about to do and hand over tools at the right time like a ballet.

We bought this house for a fair price from a wholesaler. The intention is to sell it for a profit. When I filmed this, Jeff was bugging me that he kept saying it was so “simple.” It makes it seem as though we’re getting over on the buyer. But Pat just laughed and he said, “It may be simple to Jeff, but it’s not to other people.”

We get called to check out houses that other people renovate. Yesterday Pat saw a house that was renovated so the seller could list it on the open market. The renovation was done so badly though, it was outright embarrassing to even look at. The main items were done. There is a new roof, extremely overpriced new windows, and a new furnace. It’s been painted. But the finishing pieces that Jeff would know to do were not done. And those things are so simple!

  • Cleaning! The countertop was gunky.

  • The paint spatter plate covers weren’t replaced with new ones.

  • The hardwood floor looked to be done by a total novice.

  • The basement stairs weren’t carpeted.

  • The old cheap hot water heater that’s about to die was left in the house.

  • The kitchen floor wasn’t luxury vinyl plank, it was a cheap vinyl.

  • The carpet was chintzy and installed incorrectly.

  • The shower had a regular window in it instead of glass block.

  • The showerhead was so cheap, one good spray and it would spray right off.

  • The kitchen faucets was plastic.

  • The basement floor and walls were the same dark gray.

  • The paint job was sloppy.

So when Jeff says “so easy” all through my video, Pat shakes his head and thinks Jeff has no idea just how excellent he is and how much attention to detail he has. It’s the part that makes the difference. It’s why our houses are some of the best in Detroit, if I don’t say so myself!