This week’s Transformation Tuesday is from Birmingham, Alabama.

All of the characteristics making this a special investment property were hidden in its original state. With a jungle-like front yard, and a creaky, crowded backyard, the exterior of this residence needed to be pared back. The same could also be said of the interior, which was suffering from color-clashing and clutter. When we saw the bonus room with a wet bar and multiple built-ins, however, we knew this house had potential! 

This week’s Transformation Tuesday is from Memphis, Tennessee.

You couldn't miss this unique two-story home! With a salmon-red exterior, stone chimney and porch columns, and a front portico, this property was a confluence of features that didn't quite match. Inside, the same crime: dated styles clashed with heavy wood features. With a little bit of TLC, however, this residence is noteworthy for all new reasons!

This week’s Transformation Tuesday is from Houston, Texas.

This large brick rancher was the epitome of buried potential. The curb appeal was lacking, due to bushy, let-go landscaping. The front and back entry ways were nearly barricaded, both by leftover debris and nature's slow toll. Inside, wood paneling, wallpaper, and water damage plagued nearly every room. Now, everything has been brightened up. From a clean exterior, to a breezy, neutral interior, this residence is resident-ready! 

This week’s Transformation Tuesday is from Tulsa, Oklahoma.

This stylish but unfinished single family property was a great investment choice. The stone character on the exterior only tells part of the story. Inside, a non-functional stone fireplace stood in the would-be kitchen, and the beams and fireplace in the grand living room assaulted the eye with muddy earth tones. It took adding a little bit of practical renovating to add the "chic" to this rustic Tulsa residence. 

Your investment property is not your home.

There, I said it.

It’s something every investor knows, but that doesn’t stop some from getting tripped up when they get a vision in their minds of what they want their investment property to be.

We have to hold ourselves back at times when we are renovating properties that real estate investors will purchase from us as investments.  It is easy to justify each dollar as a smart investment, but harder to make each dollar pay off in return.

It’s not a bad thing to want your property to be the best possible version of itself, but focusing too hard on shaping it into your vision of perfection can end up draining your time and money faster than you can think. Before you know it, it’ll take several years of renting to even begin to make up for the cost of property renovations.