When we first walked through 180 Laurel Hill, “treasure” was not the word that came to mind. But that’s exactly the point of this series — showing the real, unfiltered process of turning a neglected Vermont property into a home worth living in.
Over ten video installments, we documented every stage of this flip: the discovery, the ugly truth behind the walls, the decisions that kept us up at night, and finally, listing day. This post pulls the whole story together in one place, with the videos linked at each stage, so you can follow the journey from start to finish — or jump straight to the part that interests you most.
Why We Started This Series
Most people only see a flip’s before-and-after photos. We wanted to show the messy middle — the budget surprises, the contractors giving it their all, and the moments where a project could go sideways. If you’re a Vermont investor, a homeowner curious about the flipping process, or just someone who likes a good renovation story, this series is for you.
Why We Flip
This isn’t just about the check at the end. We flip properties like 180 Laurel Hill to generate capital we put directly back into our rental portfolio — fixing up multifamily properties that were left to deteriorate by absentee owners and slumlords before we ever got involved. That’s where the real work is, and it’s not quick or glamorous either.
Honestly, for years, this has felt like working for close to nothing. Profit from flips like this one doesn’t sit in a bank account — it goes straight into rehabbing units, replacing systems, and making Vermont rental housing safe and livable again. We’re building a business, not chasing a single payday, and that means the return on a flip isn’t really the finish line. It’s fuel for the next project.
The Story, From Discovery to Listing Day
Across ten parts, we walked through the full arc of this project: finding the property, the gut-check first walkthrough, running the numbers, demo day surprises, the unglamorous systems work, design decisions, the final push, the reveal, and finally listing day.
Rather than break it all down here, we’d rather you see it for yourself as it actually unfolded.
Common Misconceptions About Flipping (And What We’re Doing Differently)
Flipping has a reputation problem. Between reality TV and Instagram before-and-afters, most people only see the polished, profitable ending — never the reality in between. Here’s what we think gets misunderstood most, and how we’re trying to tell a more honest story.
Misconception: Flippers cut corners to maximize profit. The word “flip” carries a stigma — the idea that it’s about slapping on cheap finishes and moving fast to squeeze out a margin. That’s not how we operate. Every project we take on is a finished product we want to be proud of, not just a transaction to close out. That means real materials, real craftsmanship, and decisions made for the long-term owner, not just the sale price. If we wouldn’t live in it ourselves, we don’t consider it done.
Misconception: Flips are fast and easy money. Reality shows compress months of work into a 22-minute episode. In practice, a flip like 180 Laurel Hill involves budget overruns, permitting timelines, contractor scheduling, and decisions that can’t be undone once made. And that’s just the renovation. What most people don’t see is everything that happens before demo day even starts: years of marketing touches and follow-ups with this seller before they were ready to sell, then roughly six months under contract before we even closed on the property. By the time Part 1 of this series picks up, we’d already put in a ton of work just to get here. We show the full timeline (including the slow, boring parts) because that’s what actually building something takes.
Misconception: Flippers are outsiders extracting value from a neighborhood. This is a real concern, especially in tight Vermont housing markets. Our answer is to be transparent about who we are and why we do this: we’re local, we’re investing back into Vermont’s housing stock, and we document the process publicly instead of disappearing behind a “sold” sign.
Misconception: A flip means gutting a property’s character for maximum resale. We try to do the opposite — preserve what makes a Vermont home feel like a Vermont home, while making it safe, functional, and move-in ready for the next owner. Design decisions in this series reflect that balance, not a generic flip playbook.
What’s Next
180 Laurel Hill hasn’t sold yet — and we think that’s worth sharing too. Too many flip stories end at the “for sale” sign, as if that’s the finish line. The real test is what happens next: days on market, offers, negotiations, and closing. We’ll follow up with a Part 11 once we’re under contract, and a final wrap-up once it closes, numbers included.
Thinking About Your Own Flip?
If you’re a Vermont property owner sitting on a project like this one, or an investor curious about what a flip like this actually takes — budget, timeline, and all — we’d love to talk. Reach out to Lean Real Estate, or come find us at the next Vermont Real Estate Meetup.
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