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The Flip

  I FLIPPED A HOUSE! I actually did it! 
  As a kid, probably from the time I was 12, when people asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up, I'd say an Interior Designer. I don't think I totally understood what that meant, but I knew that I wanted to make houses pretty. As I got into high school I realized that there was not much of a market for that here in Utah so I became a cosmetologist (designing people is kind of the same, right?) The first time I heard of flipping houses I knew that it was something I would love, I have been watching those shows on HGTV for years wishing that someday I could do it but never thought it was possible, with my husband working 2 jobs and me having babies and raising kids it just didn't seem doable. Then I got the itch. Russ was home more and we were finally in a position that might allow for this undertaking, I told Russ my idea and he went along... that is until he realized I was serious, the whole idea of risking that much money on something that wasn't certain scared him and I both but I talked him into it. Dan wanted to jump on board so we started looking for the right house. To make a long story short, the stars aligned, we found the house, jumped on it, and dove right into a major renovation. 
  Russ and I financed the house while Dan financed the renovation. It was an old   900sf cottage style home in Rose Park, built in 1947. The basement was unfinished and the whole house needed a major face lift, to say that it was ugly would be the understatement of the century. The entire house reeked of cigarette smoke, was covered in paneling & disease infested carpet that I was afraid to let my children sit on, and had a kitchen that would nauseate even the strongest of stomachs. We gutted the entire thing! 
  We contracted out most of the work but I still spent many long days there, as did Russ and Dan. I even painted the entire house myself (which BTW I'll never do again). It was exhausting but so fun to see it come together. I was so excited once we had finally finished all of the behind the walls stuff and could finally see it becoming beautiful. I loved the design aspect of the project and had a blast shopping and picking out all of our finishes. It turned out gorgeous!
  We listed it on a Friday night and had a full price offer by Sunday afternoon, we were shocked and totally thrilled! Although it's not quite the $50,000 pay day you see on TV, we couldn't have been happier with the outcome and are one step closer to our own dream home!
  We discussed doing it again but decided that for now, my job is to be a mom, maybe we'll reconsider in a few years. In the end I'm so glad I did this, even though it was scary, it's definitely a check on the bucket list!
 Here are some before and afters!











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