How to Analyze a Fix-and-Flip Deal in 15 Minutes

In a competitive market, the ability to quickly analyze a potential deal separates successful investors from those who miss opportunities. Here's a systematic 15-minute analysis framework.

Minutes 1–3: Property overview. Pull the property details — square footage, bed/bath count, lot size, year built, and current condition. Check the tax assessed value and last sale date/price. Look at the listing photos or drive by if nearby.

Minutes 3–7: ARV estimation. Search for 3–5 comparable sales within 0.5 miles that closed in the last 90 days. Focus on similar size (within 200 SF), similar age, and similar post-renovation condition. Average the adjusted prices to estimate ARV. For speed, use price-per-square-foot as a quick sanity check.

Minutes 7–10: Repair estimate. Based on photos and property details, estimate the renovation scope. Use your historical cost database or quick per-square-foot multipliers: light cosmetic ($15–$25/SF), moderate renovation ($30–$50/SF), heavy renovation ($50–$80/SF), full gut ($80–$120/SF). Adjust for known big-ticket items (roof, HVAC, foundation).

Minutes 10–13: Deal math. Apply the 70% rule: Maximum Purchase Price = (ARV × 0.70) − Repair Costs. Compare to the asking price. Calculate expected profit: ARV minus purchase price, minus repairs, minus holding costs (use $2,500–$4,000/month as a quick estimate), minus transaction costs (8–10% of ARV for commissions, closing costs, and transfer taxes).

Minutes 13–15: Go/no-go decision. Does the deal produce at least $25,000 in profit (or your minimum threshold)? Is the ARV supported by strong comps? Is the renovation within your capability? If yes to all three, make an offer. If any answer is no, pass and move on.

Vortonic's platform compresses this entire process into seconds with AI-powered analysis, giving you a decisive edge in competitive situations.