House flipper atrocities (1 Viewer)

[Safiel]

I run a custom home building business.

I rarely engage in house flipping, usually as a necessary aside to acquiring property.

When I do, I leave the house in the same architectural style (interior and exterior) I found it in.

Sadly, that is not the case with others.

https://www.zillow.com/homedetails/4981-Spring-Hill-Rd-Wyalusing-PA-18853/126379723_zpid/

I knew prior owners of this property and had been in the house on several occasions. The house was built in 1925 and as with many such old houses, had a relaxed colonial/federal feel.


The outside



You can pretty much sum up the inside with this photo. Turned into another cookie cutter standard American suburb atrocity, though we are a hundred miles from the nearest suburb.

After seeing this, was tempted to travel to Pennsylvania just to punch the flipper in the face.

My uncle who lived with a few miles of that house died in 2017. I personally saw to the renovations and updating of his 1815 brickhouse to ensure it was kept as is. Down to measuring and photographing the interior prior to dismantling sections for needed replacement of electrical and plumbing.

I simply cannot comprehend the absolute cluelessness needed to inflict this on a historic house.

And this appears to be a common occurrence. I have seen it in a number of for sale houses. Almost as if these flippers are one trick ponies who simply cannot think outside their minimalist/contemporary box.

This sort of cookie cutter "style" belongs in the cookie cutter standard American suburb.

 

[dseag2]

Admittedly, I live in the suburbs. But each house in our little enclave of homes was built spec by different builders so there is no "cookie cutter" look to our neighborhood. My next door neighbor had a beautiful home that was once a nice light-colored brick and stone combo with a great interior and darker hardwood floors. It had a Mediterranean look to it.

A couple of years ago she decided to completely remodel it so both the brick and stone are now painted white and the interior has the cliche light hardwood floors. Of course, the outside trim and garage door are charcoal. There are several in our neighborhood that have done the same and I think their houses will look more dated in a few years than if they'd kept the original brick and stone.

We watch lots of HGTV remodeling shows and the results are often disappointing. Good for you for keeping the original charm of the houses you remodel!