Author Archives: lifewithlilred

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About lifewithlilred

Just your average gal blogging an average blog!
Aug18

*Updated* All About Me

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*Updated* All About Me

Hi! Every day is one step closer to achieving my 1,000 post streak of daily writing and I am so beyond excited! lifewithlilred will also be fast approaching its seven year blogiversary this September, as well, and I thank all of my friends and readers for joining me on this crazy ride. ❤

It has been a while since I have done an All About Me post and I figure there is no better time than the present to do an updated version, especially with all of these big milestones coming up! Some of these fun facts might be old news to my long term readers but that’s okay. 🙂 Let’s get to it:

1 – I got married this summer! Johnny and I tied the knot on June fourth and it was the best day ever. So many people have asked us if being married feels any different and we both always answer with no. Our two year anniversary is on September first and the honeymoon phase has never ended. The only main difference is peppering in “my husband” or “my wife” in conversations, which we are both incredibly fond of. 😀

2 – I work with people with special needs and have been in the field for over seven years. I recently changed up my work schedule and it has given me the opportunity to learn lots of new things, which I am so thankful for. This past month has actually been really busy because I am working on doing my training to become certified in providing job coaching services. I can’t wait to start this new chapter!

3 – My favorite way to spoil myself is with all of the pampering! In the words of Madonna, I am definitely a Material Girl and I live for shopping trips to TJMaxx, going to the nail and hair salon, testing out skin care and bath and body care, and getting new tattoos. I have over fifty tattoos in total and I have a very high pain tolerance so a day at the tattoo parlor qualifies as pampering for me, lol.

4 – I would never consider myself a “couch potato” but I love my evening and Lazy Sunday TV time with Johnny. We have a lot of favorite shows which includes Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, Impractical Jokers, Law & Order, and The Last Kingdom. I am also a huge anime fan thanks to the recommendations from my brother and am currently watching Black Clover. I also love Demon Slayer, The Promised Neverland, Parasyte, and Castlevania.

5 – Since I changed things up at work, my mental health has improved twentyfold and I have really been enjoying cooking again. I have been having so much fun cooking dinner several times a week and love trying out new recipes so if anyone has any favorite vegetarian dishes, send them my way!

6 – Other than cooking, my favorite hobbies include: Reading, learning new languages, playing video games, and figure skating. I was a competitive figure skater back in the day and had just started getting back into it before the pandemic. I even bought new skates! I miss my weekly skate sessions dearly and plan on returning to the rink once I finish up the training for my new job.

7 – Although I love going out and about with Johnny and seeing his band play, I love our weekend at home date nights the best. If we don’t have anything going on, we will usually spend either Friday or Saturday night staying up late, playing video or board games, and listening to music. We each take turns playing our favorite songs and it’s so much fun to sing along and dance with him. In the future, we would like to do some ballroom dance classes and I can’t wait!

8 – My guilty pleasure would definitely be reality TV. I live for America’s Next Top Model, Dancing With The Stars, and literally anything on TLC. My 600 Lb. Life will always and forever be my favorite and Doctor Now is my best friend in my head. ❤

9 – I have had the same slide up keyboard phone for years and have prided myself on never having a smartphone. Unfortunately, my Old Faithful has been on the fritz in terms of getting reception so an upgrade to a smartphone is becoming inevitable. I can’t say that I’m thrilled about it but I am excited to have a good camera for blog pictures!

10 – I used to be a really big coffee drinker but after an oral surgery gone wrong, I lost my taste for it. Now, my mornings would not be complete without a can (or two) of Diet Coke. In fact, I’m drinking it right now. 😀

So there you have it, ten Lil Red fun facts! Once again, many thanks to each and every one of you who continue to get to know me better every day. ❤

What are some fun facts about you? What are your favorite things? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug17

Taking Care Of You, Too

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Taking Care Of You, Too

Between work, cooking, maintaining your household, and social engagements, making time for you can feel impossible. This can lead to burnout, break downs, and even more stress! When you are starting to feel the side effects of a constantly on the go lifestyle, it’s important to take a step back rather than push yourself harder. Today, we are going to look at a few simple things that can be done to make sure you are taking care of you, too. Let’s get to it:

Beauty Sleep:

A restful night of sleep is so crucial in so many ways. Not only does getting your full eight hours give your body time to rest and heal, but you will feel so much more active and alert every morning. It’s nice to start your day with some pep in your step rather than dragging your feet just to get out of bed. What is preventing you from getting a good night’s sleep and what can you do to improve it? Perhaps, your bedroom needs to be a more soothing place to lay your head after a long day, which can be achieved with these ideas.

Schedule Appointments:

While scheduling appointments for various things like the eye doctor, dentist, and general practitioners isn’t the most fun thing, it will help keep you feeling your best and that’s what is important. A professional dental lab in your area is a great place to start and don’t forget to tend to your mental health, too. An appointment with a counselor or therapist can be especially beneficial if you have been feeling overwhelmed, overworked, and over stressed as of late.

What Does Self Care Mean To You?

Self care won’t look the same for everyone and that’s okay! I, personally, love doing a face mask after a long day at work to unwind but that might not work for you. So what does self care mean to you? Is it going to the gym? Going on a long hike? Buying yourself some beautiful flowers for your kitchen table? Once you narrow down what makes you destress, you will know what options are best to turn to when you are feeling some type of way.

Positivity, Please:

Thinking positive thoughts is so important even if you aren’t feeling very positive. Do you have a mantra that you like to repeat to yourself? What about some positive affirmations on sticky notes to look at throughout the day? What’s that old saying – fake it till you make it? Sometimes you just have to give yourself the mental push for good vibes and, eventually, your positive outlook will become second nature.

Doing for others is an amazing thing but don’t forget to do for yourself, too! ❤

Aug17

Budget Friendly Shopping For Your Home

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Budget Friendly Shopping For Your Home

Shopping for furniture, accessories, and appliances for your home or apartment can be so costly that it almost seems easier to leave things as is rather than updating or upgrading. Believe you me, I get it! However, I also know how effective budget shopping can be because I furnished my entire apartment on secondhand items. Today, we are going to explore a few different budget friendly options for your next home makeover:

Secondhand Stores:

The most effective eco and budget friendly option for making upgrades in your home is, hands down, second hand shopping. Buying secondhand is amazing because you are repurposing old things and preventing them from being dumped into a landfill. Your local Goodwill could be a treasure trove of unique furniture and accessories that you didn’t know you needed. This is also an ideal option for people who don’t want their homes to look like everyone else’s because of all of the cool accessories and knick knacks you can find. My art wall in my apartment is completely made from old pieces of art that I bought at the Goodwill.

Facebook Marketplace:

Another great option, similar to secondhand stores, is the Buy, Sell, Trade marketplaces on Facebook. This could be perfect if you are looking for used appliances for sale, furniture, or other odds and ends. The beauty of the Facebook Marketplace is that once you find the replacement for something in your house, you can list the no longer needed item and make some extra cash too. 😀

Always remember if you are purchasing from someone selling on a marketplace type website that your safety is paramount. It is best practice to meet up in a public location like the parking lot of a busy grocery store or coffee shop. You can never be too careful.

Apps:

The OfferUp app is a virtual garage sale where you can both post items for sale and make purchases. I haven’t used this app in a while but I have had a lot of luck in the past selling things on it. I have seen everything on OfferUp from cars, appliances, outdoor equipment, and clothing. The nice part about this app is that it categorizes all of the items on there which will really help narrow down your searches for something specific. You definitely don’t get this luxury at a local thrift store.

Yard Sales:

Summer is the best season for people to host yard sales due to the promise of good weather so now is a great time to do some browsing in your local neighborhoods. It might be a mixed bag but it is another option to save some money while making purchases for your home. You all know the old saying of one man’s trash!

Making updates to your home doesn’t have to break your bank. Get started with the ideas above and see how much you can save today!

Aug17

A Force Of Habit

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A Force Of Habit

Hello! In case you haven’t realized by now, I am the type of gal who loves organizing, planning, check lists, and schedules. I thrive on structure. Meanwhile, Johnny is definitely more spontaneous so the combination balances out nicely! I run two businesses, which means that my days need to run like a fine tuned machine so that I can get everything done with time to relax in the evening.

While it takes an average of sixty-six days for a person to form a new habit, it probably takes me a week or less because I take a lot of pleasure in penciling things into my schedule. There is also nothing better than a super long streak of doing something daily! There are a handful of habits that I have formed that I truly don’t think I could live without now. In fact, it pains me to think of not doing the following every day:

Skin Care Routine:

My days start and end with a skin care routine that I have customized to best fit my skin type. With the stresses that sometimes come with being self employed, self care is extremely important to me. Sometimes, this takes form in trying out a new face mask but it mostly means using products on my face and body that make me feel good. This includes using a delicious smelling body wash from Bath & Body Works, a refreshing gel moisturizer, Vitamin C serum, and body lotion every day.

Writing:

Once I have completed my morning hygiene routine, it is time to write! My fast approaching 1,000 post streak of daily writing would probably not be possible if I didn’t get up extra early every day to complete this task before I need to leave for work. While I always enjoy adding new things to my schedule, I like checking them off of my mental to do list even more! I feel amazing every time I finish a new blog post and my countdown gets one day closer to 1,000.

Practice Learning Languages:

Other than reading, learning new languages is one of my favorite hobbies. I am currently on a three hundred day streak on Duolingo for practicing French, Italian, Spanish, German, and Czech every day. Whenever I get asked what I would want my super power to be if I had one, I always reply with being fluent in every language in the world. Unfortunately, I am not going to get bit by a super learned spider for this to happen automatically so I try to do it myself. It makes me proud to learn new words and phrases every day and I have made an insane amount of progress from practicing these five different languages daily.

Push Ups:

When Johnny and I first started dating almost two years ago, we were hit head on by a car. It was so scary and I actually ended up being hospitalized for injuries to my cervical spine. I was left with a lot of nerve damage in my upper body from the accident, which resulted in my arms and torso becoming weaker than it already was!

To help ease the nerve pain that I was experiencing at the end of every day, I began to do push ups to tone and strengthen my upper body several months ago. I started out with only doing twenty-five, which was really hard. However, I graduated to now doing fifty! If I’m feeling saucy, I sometimes do fifty more. These daily mini workouts have made a noticeable improvement in the upper body pain that I have to deal with and I am excited to continue increasing how many push ups I do. 🙂

All of the above have become a true force of habit for me and my day would not feel complete without doing them. Here’s to continuing to check all of them off my mental to do list every day!

What is something your day wouldn’t be complete without? How long does it take for something to become a habit for you? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug16

Revamp Your Bedroom With These Tips

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Revamp Your Bedroom With These Tips

What does your perfect bedroom include? A nice big bed? Soothing lighting? How about a plush carpet or rug? Today, we are going to explore some easy changes that you can make to revamp your bedroom to turn it into the ultimate place to relax after a long day. Let’s get to it:

Sweet Dreams:

The most important part of the bedroom is, of course, the bed! Start off by finding a good mattress for sale. This might mean getting a newer model of the mattress size you already have or treating yourself to a California King sized bed! Just like any good outfit, it is not complete without accessories so don’t forget the soft bedding, decorative pillows, and a nice comfy quilt or comforter. In fact, once you have a color theme sorted for your bedding, it will be simple to decorate the room accordingly from there.

Of course, you will need a bedside table to house your phone and books as well as a good lamp to read under. Lamps are no longer just an item of function and have turned into stylish pieces to shake up your room. You could opt for a groovy lampshade with beaded tassels or something bright and colorful like these gorgeous Mosaic Lamps Canada. Mosaic lamps add elegant flare in dazzling colors and is a great option to adorn your bedside table with.

Paint, Please:

Never underestimate the power of some fresh paint on the walls. The purpose of the bedroom is to help you relax and get a restful night’s sleep. This means that you are better off with softer, muted colors on your bedroom walls. A pale blue accented with cream colored decor should do the trick just fine. While pops of color are fun, they are much more appropriate in rooms like the kitchen or living area.

If you’re looking for a bigger project than repainting, you could try your hand at making your own bedroom furniture if you have the skills. Find some machine tools for sale and create one of a kind masterpieces!

Don’t Bring Work To Bed:

It is so important to use your bedroom for its intended purpose, rather than extra office space. It can be hard to get into a relaxation mode at night when you are working in there during the day! Rather, use technology to your benefit in the bedroom with music set to something soothing like waves crashing on the beach or the rain falling. Lighting is essential too, and there are lots of handy tools to put projections of the night sky or a forest right on your walls.

Play With Texture:

There are so many fun textures that you can play with when it comes to your bedroom decor. Some washable area rugs beside your bed and the entryway is a great place to start. Not only will your feet be nice and toasty but you can’t beat the convenience of being able to machine wash in case of spills. You can try billowy curtains on the windows or even go totally lux with a velvet headboard! The bedroom is not the place for rougher textures like burlap or canvas, so keep things soft and plush when you are choosing your decor.

Ready, set, relax with the tips above for simple suggestions to revamp your bedroom. Turn on your calming music and have sweet dreams!

Aug16

Dating During The Pandemic

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Dating During The Pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic has made it hard to do just about anything, let alone date! This has resulted in a lot of people feeling lonely with not many viable solutions to easing the problem. Luckily, there is much that can be done both virtually and in real life to get yourself back out there in the dating world. Here we go:

Check In With Yourself:

If you have been unlucky in love or have just gotten out of a long term relationship, it’s important to check in with yourself before dating again. What went right in your past relationships? What went wrong? And what are you looking for now? These are all key things to consider if you are looking for an actual relationship and not just a fling. Be honest with yourself because, only then, can you be honest with potential partners.

Chat Virtually:

If you are participating in online dating, then chatting online is a great place to start for meeting with potential matches. You could email, instant message, text, make phone calls, try video dating, or do things old school style with snail mail! The best thing about chatting prior to meeting up is that you can better determine if you have a connection or if they could just be good friends. That way, no time is wasted on awkward first dates because a connection has already been established prior to.

Narrow Down Your Options:

There are a plethora of different dating websites and apps for specific things that you are looking for like if the person is religious, is a senior citizen, or enjoys a more laid back or high end lifestyle. If you have something really specific in mind, then this could be a great way to go because the dating pool has already been narrowed down for you. For example, if you would like for the person to be of a certain faith any deal breakers will be eliminated from the jump.

Venture Out:

If you are fully vaccinated, then why not venture out and mingle a little? Speed dating could be a fun, different option to try. Or what about a dance club where you need to find a partner to cut a rug on the dance floor with? Don’t forget that confidence is key! Strike up a conversation and put your best face forward. This doesn’t mean cheesy pick up lines or flooding someone with compliments – just be your best self and go from there!

It can be scary to enter the dating scene at any time, but it is a whole different ballgame during a pandemic. Consult the tips above and you should be just fine. Best of luck!

Aug16

My Favorite Easy Dinners

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My Favorite Easy Dinners

Hi! I have so enjoyed cooking lots of delicious homemade meals this past month and I am proud of the mental health one eighty that was accomplished by my new job. It has turned cooking back into something that I love to do rather than a chore and I can’t wait for a lifetime of meals with my husband. ❤

It has been a while since I have gone grocery shopping because I will buy a lot at one time which eliminates the need for time consuming, weekly trips to the store. When this happens, Johnny and I default to “easy” dinners to use up the rest of what we have in the freezer and pantry. While a home cooked meal is amazing, a big pot of spaghetti or an oven pizza just hits different! Here are some of my favorite easy peasy dinners:

Spaghetti:

I actually just made a spaghetti and garlic bread dinner last night and it was SO good! Spaghetti has been one of my favorite foods since I was little and I love how versatile it is. I always remember my dad preparing spaghetti for dinner when my mom would return home from work back in the day and it is still one of the sweetest things to me. While Alfredo and red sauce are delicious, my perfect plate of spaghetti is angel hair covered with my favorite: Pesto! And, also, who doesn’t love hella leftovers? 😀

Grilled Cheese:

In my household, you cannot go wrong with grilled cheese and it is one of mine and Johnny’s go to weekend lunches. I hate to brag, but I make a mean grilled cheese. However, it pales in comparison to when my mom makes it with her homemade bread! Johnny doesn’t like anything but cheese on his sandwich but I really like honey or brown mustard on mine. We are also partial to mac n’ cheese grilled cheeses for the ultimate comfort food.

Oven Pizza:

I don’t care what anyone says, oven pizza is the bomb lol. Johnny and I are obsessed with the Digiorno croissant and stuffed crust pizzas and I always have to get at least one of each when I go shopping. Sometimes I’ll doctor my portion of the pizza up with chopped veggies but they are so good as is. And, of course, you can’t forget the ranch dressing to dip it in! 🙂

Air Fried Commodities:

Although our air fryer is on the fritz, Johnny and I still love it dearly and the novelty of using it has yet to wear off. Appetizer food like mozzarella sticks, cheese curds, and French fries air fried are the absolute best and it feels like such a treat whenever we have apps as the main course. When we got our air fryer for Christmas, we went to the store so we could try air frying all of the things and I think about that every time we break it out. ❤

Quesadillas:

If you can’t tell by now, Johnny and I love cheesy food! Quesadillas are so easy to make as well as improve upon and I make them often when we are running low on dinner options. I usually will try out a different kind of salsa or two whenever I do shopping and quesadilla night is the perfect time to test them out!

The best part of my evening is having dinner while watching a show with Johnny. It also is the sweetest thing because whether I spend an hour or five minutes on a meal, he will always compliment and thank me for it. ANGEL! ❤

What is your favorite easy dinner? What are some of your favorite recipes? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug15

New Cobalt Blue & Hot Pink Nails

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New Cobalt Blue & Hot Pink Nails

Hello! I was wayyy overdue for a fill at Elysian Nails because of my uber busy work schedule and was so happy to have some pampering time this past week. While I was excited to go, I can’t say I was thrilled because my absolute favorite nail tech I’ve ever had no longer works there. I miss her and our fabulous convos immensely, however, I am very happy with the end results from a tech I have never worked with before. Check it out:

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Prior to getting my nails done, I always try and think of the color combination that I would like so that I’m not standing at the nail polish wall for ten minutes straight! For some reason, all I could think about was the commercials for the Malibu Barbie play sets with her hot pink car driving past the ocean. So, despite having turquoise nails last time around, hot pink and cobalt blue it was.

These nails just scream fun in the sun to me and I could sure use it as it has been super stormy in my neck of the woods. When I look at my nails, I am taken back to lounging in the pool and soaking up some rays even when it is thunder storming like crazy!

I sure wish that my go to gal was the one doing this fill because one of my favorite things about going to the salon is the girl talk. All of the nail techs at Elysian are crazy talented, though, so I always know that I am in good hands no matter what. ❤

What color of nail polish do you have on? Which colors remind you of summer? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug14

Get In The Writing Zone

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Get In The Writing Zone

Hi! I am quickly approaching a 1,000 post streak of writing on lifewithlilred and it is incredibly exciting! As promised, I will be sharing all of my favorite tips and tricks when it comes to writing as we continue on with the countdown to 1,000. The tips shared today and in the linked post have been essential in making such a long streak of daily writing possible and I am happy to fill all of you in on them. Let’s get started:

Stick To A Schedule:

I follow a very strict schedule when it comes to my writing and it is almost painful for me to stray from it! I wake up extra early before leaving for work to have time to write and get ready for my day. While I love being able to sleep in a little bit longer, I love being all done with my blogging so that I don’t have to do anything once I return home even more.

This is the schedule that works for me but it might not work for you and that’s okay. Figure out the best time to write for you whether it be before work, after, or even in the middle of the night and stick with it. Daily writing is so rewarding and despite almost 1,000 days straight of it, it still feels really good to check it off of my to do list!

Create A Writing Nook:

It’s important to have somewhere comfortable and distraction free to write so that you can keep your creative juices flowing. This is also why I like writing early in the morning because my husband has already left for work so it is just me and my laptop. Create a space in your home that is designated just for your writing. I, personally, thrive by having my own home office. However, if this is not possible for you, then a cozy spot on the couch, some space cleared on your kitchen table, or your favorite coffee shop will work just fine.

Play Some Tunes:

Although I don’t listen to music very often while writing anymore, I used to do it all of the time and it definitely served its purpose. Now, I tend to play some tunes if I am struggling with writer’s block. Some people work and focus better when they have a bit of background noise. If this sounds like you, then create a playlist to write to. Once the music is on and you’re in the zone, there is no stopping you!

Practice Makes Perfect:

Daily writing can seem like a daunting task but just like anything else, practice makes perfect. Writing every day will help you grow exponentially in your craft and you will be amazed at the difference in your posts compared to last years’ or even last months’. Like any new hobby, you might feel shaky in the beginning but continuing to try writing daily will help your confidence in your skill soar as you start to get the hang of it. 🙂

As a seasoned blogger, it is exciting to me to enter the Writing Zone every day and the tips above have all played their part in getting me to that level. I hope they do the same for you! ❤

What are some of your writing tips and tricks? Do you have any questions for me? I want to hear from all of you, so leave me a comment and let’s chat! Much love. -Sarah

Aug13

House Flipping: A Lucrative Opportunity For Creative People

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House Flipping: A Lucrative Opportunity For Creative People

House flipping is a term for house renovations and resale. House-flippers are house renovators who intend to sell a house after renovating it. The house flipping process can be lengthy, but it can also be lucrative if done correctly. These house flippers will do minor repairs like Drywall Repair, plumbing upgrade, cosmetic repairs, all the way to complete house renovations, including adding additional features or even building an entirely new house.

Flipping houses is not a new concept, it has been done since colonial times. It operates on the principle of house resale value > house renovation expenses. Many house flippers will buy distressed properties with the help of a specialist in property bridging finance and the intent of quickly renovating and reselling them at a higher price. Some house flippers specialize in specific skills which can make house renovation more efficient, such as plumbing or electrical work.

To learn more info about house flipping, it is helpful to brush up on the fha flipping guidelines. After all, you want to start a major project off on the right foot! Now, let’s learn some more about what goes into flipping a house:

Tax rules:

House flipping can be a great investment, but house-flippers need to be aware of the house flipping tax rules before they invest. House-flipping is not different from house investing in that house flippers must pay taxes on their income earned by flipping houses.

House flipping is generally viewed as an attractive investment, especially for those who know construction and renovation. It generally requires a house flipper to have these skills if they are planning on doing major renovations such as adding or removing features of the home.

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House flipping can be done by both individual investors and business entities, but it is generally more profitable for individuals due to the tax treatment of house flipping income. Individuals who earn house flipping income are taxed on the expenses which are used for improvements and renovations. A house flipper can increase their profit from house flipping by taking deductions for renovation expenses on the federal tax return. If a house flipper uses their residence as a rental property or second home, they may also be able to deduct house flipping expenses on their house income tax return.

All of this tax talk can be extremely overwhelming and we recommend not only consulting with a tax specialist but an accountant too. House flipping involves a lot of money management and it is so easy to make mistakes with that. You will want to look for an accountant that specializes in construction and real estate like the team at CharCounting (or a similar business in your local area). You can never have too much help during a project like flipping houses and a trusted team can be invaluable.

Increase value:

House flippers are not the only investors who can benefit from flipping properties. Property managers and real estate agents can also gain a great deal by house flipping because it benefits property management. House renovations will often increase the value of houses, which increases property values for property managers, house flippers, and property owners. If you are looking for property management for your newly flipped homes, simply enter a search for “residential lettings doncaster” (Or your local area). The experts will be able to make this form of income as valuable as possible.

House-flipping is not for house hackers who are looking to do renovations on the cheap. House hackers can house flip, but it may be more difficult for them because they do not have the skills or construction tools necessary to complete larger renovation projects. On the other hand, house hackers will have house hacking skills which can make the renovation cheaper and more efficient. House hackers may also use flip tax deductions for improvements done on the property they are flipping.

House flipping isn’t just for HGTV. If you have the knowledge and skills, this could be a new business opportunity for you!

Featured Image By: Unsplash