Four Questions That Will Transform Your House Flipping Projects

"Done means there is nothing left to do." These powerful words from Ed's mentor, Brad Barton, form the foundation of successful contractor relationships in house flipping. For anyone who's ever sat in their car scrolling through potential properties but felt paralyzed by not knowing where to start, this episode delivers the missing piece of the puzzle.

Most house flippers struggle with contractor communication – either becoming overbearing micromanagers or distant property owners who hope for the best. Both approaches lead to frustration, delays, and budget overruns. But there's a better way. Through years of real-world experience, I've developed a simple yet powerful four-question framework that transforms how you interact with your renovation team.

The framework focuses on weekly check-ins structured around four key questions: What's been completed since we last spoke? What challenges have you encountered? What are the next steps planned and what's the updated timeline? Is there anything you or the crew needs from me right now? This intentional approach eliminates confusion while respecting everyone's time and expertise. Rather than texting your general contractor five times daily or being completely hands-off, you'll create a communication culture that promotes accountability without hovering.

Beyond the questions themselves, we dive into practical implementation strategies – from documentation methods that cut confusion in half to common mistakes that undermine even the best communication plans. You'll learn exactly how to set expectations from day one, making it clear that you expect clarity without constant supervision. The result? Projects that stay on track without requiring your constant attention.

Ready to flip smarter, not harder? This episode provides the exact blueprint you need to make your next renovation run smoothly. Follow Demo to Dollars for more no-fluff, actionable strategies that will move you closer to your first or next successful flip. Remember, I'm on a mission to help one million investors start their flipping careers – are you next?

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Chapters

• 0:00 Intro to Flipping Blueprint
• 0:48 Four Weekly Questions Framework
• 1:40 Communication Frequency and Documentation
• 2:50 Mistakes to Avoid and Pro Tips
• 4:56 Episode Wrap-Up and Call to Action

Transcript

Ed Mathews: 0:00

When we talk about the concept of done, I love quoting my old boss and mentor, brad Barton, where he used to tell me done means there is nothing left to do. You're looking for facts, not feelings. 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 today. Welcome back to Demo, to Dollars, your no-BS flipping playbook, one show at a time. I'm your host, Ed Mathews, and today we're tackling a critical piece of the flipping puzzle how to communicate with your contractors without babysitting. Let's face it, no one wants to be that guy or gal who's texting their GC five times a day, micromanaging every single nail that gets pounded into wood, but at the same time, you can't afford to go dark and just hope the project gets done on time and on budget. The trick is intentional communication without hovering. So here's the playbook Four weekly questions. That's all I ask. I use a simple but powerful structure when checking in with my contractors, whether it's over the phone, via text or in a short site visit. These four questions eliminate confusion, set expectations and keep your flip moving forward. Okay, so let's get into the questions. Question one is what's been completed since last we spoke? This gives you a pulse of exactly where you are in terms of progress. It forces your contractor to quantify results, not vague updates like we're working on it. Did the demo get finished? Was drywall installed? Did the tile actually show up? And when we talk about the concept of done, I love quoting my old boss and mentor, brad Barton, where he used to tell me done means there is nothing left to do. You're looking for facts, not feelings. This one question alone tells you how fast or slow the job is moving. Question two what challenges have you encountered? Are there any roadblocks you need my help with?

Ed Mathews: 2:23

No flip goes perfectly, ever. There is always a curveball. You want your contractor to be honest here, not defensive. Maybe the electrician no-showed, maybe a permit's delayed, maybe your tile choice is backordered. If you don't ask, they may not tell you until it's already affected the schedule when they bring up issues early. You can step in, you can pivot or you can help solve the problems before they cost you time and real money. Third question what are the next steps planned and what's the updated timeline? This question resets expectations and keeps the contractor focused on execution. Don't assume the schedule is still the same as it was two weeks ago. This is where they'll outline what's happening tomorrow, next week and beyond, and if you've got multiple subs, you can use this answer to coordinate who's on deck.

Ed Mathews: 3:14

And finally, the fourth question is there anything you or the crew needs from me right now? This is your opportunity to be a helpful partner, not a hovering client. It invites open communication. Maybe they need a final cabinet selection, maybe they ran out of caulk. Maybe they just need you to confirm a change order. Asking this regularly builds trust and eliminates those hey, we're stuck waiting on you texts down the line.

Ed Mathews: 3:39

So how often should you communicate? For most flips, a once a week structured check-in is enough. If the scope is under control. For larger rehabs or more complex phases like framing, mep work or inspections, you might want to increase frequency to two or three times a week. But keep it brief and don't rely on memory. Use a shared Google Doc, whatsapp thread or a simple whiteboard on the job site Log what's been done, what's next and who's responsible. That alone can cut confusion in half.

Ed Mathews: 4:10

Here are some mistakes to avoid. Don't text them at midnight. Respect business hours and their free time. Don't micromanage their methods. Focus on outcomes, not how they hold a hammer. Don't skip questions just because things look fine. Surface-level progress can hide deeper issues.

Ed Mathews: 4:29

And my favorite pro tip build a communication culture early. The best time to set expectations around communication is before the first hammer flies. At the kickoff meeting, I tell every contractor I don't micromanage, but I do expect clarity. I'll ask you four questions once a week. If we both stick to that, you'll never hear from me outside of that check-in. Simple, respectful and it works Well.

Ed Mathews: 4:54

That's it for today's episode of Demo to Dollars. Remember you don't have to babysit your contractors to keep your flip on track. You just need a system. Stick with the four question framework and you 'll flip smarter, not harder. If this helped you, do me a favor, leave a review, share it with your crew and follow along for more Flipping Fire next week. Until then, keep in mind I'm on a mission to help 1 million investors start their flipping careers. Are you next Catch you next time? Investors start their flipping careers, are you next Catch you next time? 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.