This Cincinnati woman’s dream home immediately became a ‘$20,000 problem.’ How to avoid home-flip nightmares

When Kellen Mullen toured what was advertised as a move-in-ready flip, she was sold on the glossy new kitchen, sparkling bathrooms and fresh paint.

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Don’t miss A cascade of failures Why house flips can be risky What to read next

“It had a new kitchen; it had new bathrooms; it was freshly painted,” Mullen told WCPO.

But within days of moving in, her dream home began to unravel.

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A cascade of failures

First, a brand-new vent cover collapsed onto the toilet mid-use. Then, when she turned on the stove’s exhaust fan, the kitchen side of the house lost power due to faulty wiring.

A few days later, the kitchen sink backed up while she washed the dishes. A plumber spent 10 hours on site only to uncover tree roots clogging the main sewer line.

By the time Mullen finally cleared the drains, she was out nearly $20,000 in emergency repairs.

Mullen reached out to both her realtor and the flipping company’s agent, only to be told they were unaware of any issues and not legally obligated to cover post-sale fixes.

Her realtor advised that legal counsel may be her only recourse. Once sale documents are signed, the sellers are not liable for any undisclosed defects.

“We’re stuck with a $20,000 problem, and somebody knew,” Mullen said. “Somebody knew there was a problem and didn’t tell the next person, and we got stuck with it.”

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Why house flips can be risky

House flippers aim to maximize their profits by minimizing both the time and cost of renovations.

They’re not homeowners, rarely live in the renovated property and often cut corners on critical systems — such as wiring, plumbing, and structural components — to shore up cosmetic appeal.

As one home inspector blogger put it, “Most of the time, flippers buy these homes in poor condition with the plans of putting lipstick on a pig. They make it look great on the surface but not so great underneath.”

Experts agree that a thorough, independent inspection is the most effective safeguard against potential issues.

“Throughout the transaction, it’s all about trying to reduce costs,” said Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors (InterNACHI). “And I think when you’re going to get to a home inspection where you’re spending only hundreds of dollars to look at something that costs hundreds of thousands of dollars, it’s time to stop thinking like that.”

Consumer Reports recommends choosing a licensed, certified inspector who offers specialty add-ons, such as mold testing, sewer-line camera scopes and radon measurements — even if not mandated locally.

Here are more tips to make sure you get the right property:

Get an inspector outside your area: Hire an inspector outside of your local area to avoid a conflict of interest between the inspector and your realtor.
Demand a master inspection report: Ask for detailed findings and repair estimates to use in negotiations — or as a basis to walk away.
Attend the inspection yourself: A quality inspector will point out telltale signs, such as poor drainage on the property, roof issues and plumbing problems, which are red flags.
Research the home’s history: Pull tax and deed records to see if the property was held long-term or flipped rapidly. Multiple quick turnovers can be a red flag.

While a flip can deliver a turnkey property, Mullen’s experience underscores that buyers must look past the lipstick.

By investing in a truly independent, comprehensive inspection and verifying work histories, you safeguard both your budget and peace of mind. You don’t end up paying twice for someone else’s shortcuts.