ARV: WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT IT AND HOW IT’S CALCULATED

ARV means After Repair Value when it comes to property evaluation. This calculation is crucial for investors looking for real estate to purchase. This helps them determine the price as the home currently sits, and what it would be after the home has gone through repairs and renovations. With this calculation in mind, it helps you understand whether or not there would be enough property value for profitability.

Understanding After Repair Value

The initial step in figuring out the property ARV would be to look at similar properties in design and value. Checking recent sales in your neighborhood or area is always a good reference when estimating ARV. There are countless ways investors perform research on the property, such as:

• Cross referencing MLS’s to review pricing for properties in the area.
• Partnering with brokers or agents that have access to an MLS.
• Leverage online resources such as realtor.com, or LoopNet and many others.

When reviewing similar properties be on the lookout for the following:

• Properties that have been sold in the last 2 to 4-month window.
• Homes of similar size and amenities.
• Places in the same neighborhood that have been sold or are currently for sale.

Repairs and Renovations For Property

Once you have done your homework on similar properties and you have an estimated value of the property, now would be time to calculate the cost of repairing the property. This would come down to the investor’s knowledge. They can a.) estimate the cost on their own or b.) work with local, experienced contractors and ask for estimates.

There are several more expenditures to property flipping than meets the eye. Most people think it’s just repairs and renovations, which is not at all the case. Additional hidden costs to the investor can be found when closing the deal, financing for the property, holding the property, and whether or not the investor is looking to flip quickly. Marketing and the entire sale is another factor in the process.

The General Rule of 70%

When it comes to flipping real estate, most investors follow the general rule of 70%, which involves leveraging the ARV and estimation for repair costs. This helps the investor understand the pricing they should ideally pay for the property.

Here’s an example: lets say the property we’re investing in is $300,000. 70% of the After-Repair Value ($300,000 x .70) is $210,0000. So, minus the estimated cost for repairs, lets average about $30,000. In short, you should not be paying any more than about $180,000 for a property of that value ($210,000 – $30,000).

In most cases, this general rule of 70% is just a base guideline; there are other factors that play into the value. Factors include the market, property conditions, and special property features. This being said, trust your intuition when it comes to the evaluation of the property, itself.