Demo To Dollars
Demo to Dollars is your go-to podcast for real-world, how-to strategies for flipping houses, delivered in fast, focused, no-fluff episodes you can actually use.
Hosted by Ed Mathews, real estate investor and President of Clark St Academy, this show cuts through the noise to give you the exact tactics Ed and his team use in their flipping business every day.
No theories. No hype. No gatekeeping.
Just practical lessons to help you find deals, estimate rehabs, raise capital, and close flips like a pro.
Whether you’re working a full-time job, starting from scratch, or scaling your operation, each episode gives you one actionable insight to move your business forward in 5 minutes or less.
Think of it as your daily blueprint for building wealth, one flip at a time.
Demo To Dollars
Real Estate Rehab Secrets: Ask Me Anything
Don't wing it. That's the core message from Ed in this illuminating episode of Demo to Dollars. For those stuck scrolling through Zillow dreaming of their first flip but paralyzed by uncertainty, this episode delivers the blueprint you've been searching for.
Ed tackles the most pressing questions from aspiring house flippers across the country. He dispels the myth that you need a contractor's license to flip houses while emphasizing the importance of building a professional team. "You're not building a job, you're building a business," he reminds listeners, encouraging them to focus on management rather than swinging hammers themselves.
When it comes to budgeting for rehabs, he provides concrete numbers—$35-50 per square foot for cosmetic flips and $65-100+ for full gut renovations—while stressing the importance of detailed scopes of work. "If you're estimating off vibes and gut instincts, you're gonna get smoked," he warns. This no-nonsense approach continues as he shares his biggest flipping mistake (trusting a contractor without proper documentation) and offers practical advice for part-time flippers trying to balance day jobs with renovation projects.
Ed also addresses whether today's high-interest environment is suitable for house flipping. His refreshing take? High rates scare off amateurs, creating opportunity for disciplined investors who "buy right, solve real problems, and stay disciplined." Just don't fall into common traps like overdoing rehabs, manipulating comps, or betting on market appreciation.
Ready to transform your real estate dreams into profitable reality? Follow Demo to Dollars wherever you get your podcasts and on TikTok for behind-the-scenes content. As Matthews reminds us, "The profit's when you buy, not when you sell." Now get out there and start flipping!
Want to learn how to flip your first house?
CLICK HERE to learn more about our upcoming boot camp, Flipper Camp.
Learn to build a house flipping or multifamily business: Clark St Academy
don't wing it.
Speaker 1:If you're estimating off vibes and gut instincts, you're gonna get smoked. Ever sat in your car scrolling through Zillow and thought, man, if I just knew where to start I could flip one of these? Yeah, I've been there too. Most people who want to flip houses never even start, not because they're lazy, but because they don't have the blueprint. Well, that changes today. If you give me five minutes, I'll give you real-world flipping strategies that actually work. No fluff, no theories, no gatekeeping, just real how-to information for you to apply.
Speaker 1:Today You're listening to Demo to Dollars, your no-BS flipping playbook. I'm your host, ed Matthews, and today I'm doing something different. I'm your host, ed Matthews, and today I'm doing something different. Okay, this one's for the TikTok crew. I have been flooded with DMs from new investors asking great questions, so today's episode is an Ask Me Anything. Let's get into it.
Speaker 1:So the first question is from Kevin O in Norwood, massachusetts. Do I need a contractor's license to flip houses? The short answer is usually no. You don't need a contractor's license to be a house flipper, but and this is a big but you need to have licensed contractors on your team, especially for trades like plumbing, electrical and HVAC. You want pros who are insured and know how to keep you out of hot water. If you're thinking about swinging a hammer yourself to save money, let me stop you right there. That's how amateurs think. You're not building a job, you're building a business. Hire the right team, get out of their way, let them do a great job, manage the process, hold them accountable and then keep your eyes on the big picture.
Speaker 1:Second question from Colin S in Jacksonville, florida how should I budget for rehab? I get this one all the time. My go-to answer, unfortunately, is it depends. But here's a starting point. If you're doing a basic cosmetic flip think paint flooring fixtures here in Connecticut you're probably looking at $35 to $50 a square foot, depending on your finishes. For a full gut, that number climbs pretty fast. It's probably in the $65 to $75 a foot. It could even cross $100 a foot, depending on the market, materials and the condition of the house. The real key is building your scope of work first, then pricing each line item with trusted contractors as well as previous data. If you're tracking that, use a rehab calculator like the one we're rolling out at Flipper Camp next month. Don't wing it. If you're estimating off vibes and gut instincts, you're gonna get smoked.
Speaker 1:Tom P in Fayetteville, north Carolina, asks what's the biggest mistake you ever made on a flip? Well, that's an easy one. I trusted a contractor who gave me a cheap bid and some nice picks and a whole bunch of empty promises and I didn't even get everything in writing. Big mistake Cost me time, money and a wee bit of my pride. Lesson learned every single expectation, from timeline to materials to payment schedule, goes into the contract and if you're late or off budget now you have leverage. Otherwise you're just hoping that's not a strategy.
Speaker 1:Mary C in Greenwich asks can I flip houses part-time while I keep my job? Mary, absolutely, in fact you should, but only if you treat it like a business. That means systems, accountability and maybe even hiring a project manager or getting a really good partner. You can't ghost your job or your contractors. One of them's going to bite you back. So start small, one deal at a time. Learn the process. Don't scale until your systems are airtight. There's a reason most new flippers flame out they try to run before they've even crawled. All right. Next question Ted M in San Clemente, california Is now a good time to flip with rates so high?
Speaker 1:Great question. And you, my friend live in a high rent district, so this is definitely something you're probably thinking about all the time. But here's the deal High rates scare off the amateurs. That's opportunity for us. Yes, buyers are more selective. Yes, financing is tighter, but if you buy right, you solve real problems and you stay disciplined on your numbers and your schedule, you can still do very well in this market. It also helps to have private lenders because they're not reliant on what the Fed does. Just, don't overdo the rehab, don't play games with the comps to make your numbers work and, for the love of all that's holy, don't bet on appreciation.
Speaker 1:Well, that's it for today's AMA. If you like this format, let me know we might be doing part two down the road. And hey, if you want to see real behind the scenes and hey, if you want to see more of real behind the scenes stuff, follow us on TikTok at Demo to Dollars and no fluff, no Lambo shots. I actually drive a 2019 Ford Expedition with about 135,000 miles on it and I love it. Just deals, tips, lessons and my flipping playbook. Until next time. Make it clean, make it safe and remember the profit's when you buy, not when you sell. Thanks for listening to Demo to Dollars. If today's episode helped you move one step closer to your first or next deal, do me a favor follow us wherever you get your podcasts so you never miss a show. I'm grateful to be part of your journey. Now get out there and get cracking. Bye for now.
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