Join us on an exclusive walkthrough of a 7,000+ sq ft luxury flip in the Highland Lakes area of Birmingham, Alabama, with real estate investor Chase Smith - one of the most active house flippers in the Southeast. This $1.4 million mansion is Chase's biggest flip to date, and in this video, he breaks down every step of the high-end renovation process.
We'll tour the massive home and talk: ✅ Budgeting for luxury home flips ✅ $250K–$300K rehab budget breakdown ✅ Big-ticket renovation costs ($12K front door, $25K appliance package) ✅ Why they're using porcelain countertops over marble or quartz ✅ Custom cabinetry and designer finishes ✅ Stack stone exterior upgrades ✅ Replacing dated features like tray ceilings and wrought iron handrails ✅ Tips for flipping hoarder homes ✅ Elevator-ready framing and resale value strategy ✅ Using designers to make data-driven design decisions ✅ The real cost to paint and refinish a home this size
This is the ultimate behind-the-scenes look at flipping a million-dollar home, from demo to design. Whether you're into real estate investing, house flipping, luxury rehabs, or just love before-and-after renovations, this video is packed with insights you won't want to miss.
Chapter Breakdown: 00:00 – Intro at Highland Lakes with Chase Smith Meet Chase Smith and get a preview of this $1.4M luxury flip. 01:19 – Exterior Plans & Garage Overview Plans to update the facade, remove shutters, and details on 4-car garage layout. 02:03 – High-End Flips = High Ticket Items Why luxury flips cost more — from chandeliers to the $12K front door. 02:35 – $25K Appliances & $250K+ Rehab Budget Projected rehab budget and comparison to typical flips. 03:12 – Master Suite Layout & Hidden Tech Tour begins with the massive master suite and outdated wired tech. 04:48 – Custom Vanities & Porcelain Countertops Why they're skipping marble and going with durable, premium porcelain. 07:33 – Buying a Hoarder House in Distress Chase explains how they acquired the home and helped the seller avoid foreclosure. 09:08 – Rebuilding the Kitchen Kitchen plans include twin islands and Zline appliances. 10:58 – Pre-Framed Elevator Shaft or Pantry? Elevator-ready framing and why they’re not installing it now. 12:13 – Main Level: Laundry, Half Bath, and Layout Convenient layout with garage access and updated flow. 12:55 – Real Wood Floors: Keep & Refinish Plans to sand and restain original high-quality hardwoods. 14:26 – Upstairs Bedrooms Start – Still Huge! Tour of the upstairs begins — even the smallest room is large. 16:09 – Painting a 7,000 sq ft House Chase breaks down the cost and effort of painting a house this size. 25:33 – Timeline & Crew Allocation Chase shares how long the renovation will take and how he allocates crews across his 50+ ongoing projects. 27:57 – Purchase Price & Renovation Budget Chase reveals he bought the home for $485K and aims to stay under $300K in rehab costs. 30:55 – Financing: Private Money & Line of Credit Breakdown of how Chase finances large flips using bank credit lines and private money. 32:01 – Agent Relationships & Win-Win Deals How agents who bring him deals also get to list the finished product—and how he avoids “double dipping.” 33:34 – Backyard Tour & Outdoor Plans Walkthrough of the back of the property, retaining wall concerns, and plans to add a hot tub and fire pit. 37:05 – Roof, HVAC, and Budget Benefits Roof and HVAC already in place help stay on budget; Chase explains how he assesses and saves on systems. 39:11 – Landscaping Timing & Neighbor Respect Why they leave trees and curb appeal work for last—to minimize neighbor disruption during renovations. 39:45 – Final Thoughts: Big House, Big Opportunity Reflections on the scale of the project and how Chase would flip a house like this every day—if he got it at this price.
🔑 KEY TOPICS: house flipping | flipping luxury homes | real estate investing | Alabama real estate | Birmingham house flip | million dollar renovation | how to flip houses | investing in real estate | before and after renovation | custom home remodel | flipping hoarder homes | investor walkthrough | luxury real estate tour | renovation budget | flipping tips | interior design for investors | stack stone exterior | porcelain countertops | Zline appliances | mansion makeover | Chase Smith investor
📍 Location: Highland Lakes, Birmingham, AL 🎥 Hosted by: Brian Trippe Real Estate 👷 Featuring: Chase Smith – Real Estate Investor, High Volume Flipper
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