DIY Builds
Photo by Yan Krukov Pexels Logo Photo: Yan Krukov

How much money can you make flipping items?

There are a lot of factors involved which include the time they invest, the items they find to buy, and the time they put into posting and selling those items. It's realistic for someone to make anywhere from $500-$2,500 per month in their first year of flipping items for profit.

Can you be fined for building without planning permission?
Can you be fined for building without planning permission?

Not according to planning law. Other than in the case of unauthorised display of advertisements or works to listed buildings, carrying out building...

Read More »
Will a space heater heat a shed?
Will a space heater heat a shed?

Electric space heaters are powerful and efficient and will have your shed warm, even hot, in no time. Battery-powered electric heaters do not...

Read More »

In 2015, my friend Melissa made over $42,000 flipping items while working 5-15 hours per week. The following year, Melissa and her husband made over $133,000 flipping items while working 20-30 hours a week.

They’ve sold items such as:

magnetic machine bought for $5 and sold for $735

patio set bought for $100 and sold for $2200

bought a stroller for $15 and sold for $300

If you’re ready to dive into a new side hustle like flipping or want to learn more, keep on reading. Before we get started, make sure to sign up for my free resource library and get access to exclusive printables all about saving money and building wealth, meal planning, and more.

What is a flipper?

A flipper is someone who finds things that nobody else sees value in and sells it for a profit.

The most common kind of flipper is someone who flips houses.

We don’t deal with houses, but several other kinds of items. We find used items at flea markets, yard sales, auctions, and thrift stores and resell them on eBay for a profit. I married into this business ten years ago, and my husband Robbie has been doing this for over 20 years now.

How much have you made flipping?

Honestly, we didn’t keep track of our income for several years. Flipping items was always our ‘extra money.’ It was money that we used for savings, vacations, gifts, and anything else that wasn’t a usual part of our monthly budget. It always seemed to save us when something big happened that we needed extra money for. When we started our blog just over two years ago, we started keeping better track of our income. In 2015 we made $42,000 with our part-time flipping business, and in 2016, we made $133,000 in our first year going full-time flipping! Learn how flipping can be your ticket to lifestyle freedom and financial security in this free workshop here.

How does a log cabin stay warm?
How does a log cabin stay warm?

In wood frame or “stick-built” homes, the insulation (generally in the form of fiberglass batting) is installed between the vertical studs that...

Read More »
Does adding more cement make concrete stronger?
Does adding more cement make concrete stronger?

You can add more Portland cement to bagged concrete to make it stronger. You can also add hydrated lime. To make the strongest concrete, the sand...

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »

What can someone expect to make their first year of flipping?

It’s hard to give specific numbers to someone when they are just starting. There are a lot of factors involved which include the time they invest, the items they find to buy, and the time they put into posting and selling those items. It’s realistic for someone to make anywhere from $500-$2,500 per month in their first year of flipping items for profit. We just recently did an interview with one of our Flipper University students who has been flipping things for over a year, but just decided to get a little more serious about it. He jumped into our coaching course four months ago and now in his biggest month, he has hit over $1,000 in profit! One thing we love about this business is that someone can start with little to invest. If a person takes $50-$100 to find some items, they should be able to make $200-$500 on that. We don’t buy anything we can at least make a $100 profit on now.

What item was the most profitable?

We’ve had several very profitable items, which included a prosthetic leg we bought for $30 and sold for $1,000 (within a day), a magnetic machine we paid $5 for and sold for $735, and a teak patio set that we bought for $100 and sold for $2,200. But our most profitable lip to date was a security tower that we bought last year for $6,000 (a higher investment that our normal investments), and sold for $25,000! It only took us just over a month to sell, and the ROI on this flip was incredible. We bought it at an auction and sold it on eBay (where we sell most of our items).

Below are a few items they’ve sold for profit.

What should I wrap my shed in?
What should I wrap my shed in?

House wrap is a layer of insulation that creates a barrier of protection from weather and temperature outside of the shed. In places with high...

Read More »
Is concrete cheaper than wood 2022?
Is concrete cheaper than wood 2022?

Because material costs for polished concrete floors are six to eight times lower than that of high-quality hardwood floors, polished concrete is...

Read More »
Can I build my own shed?
Can I build my own shed?

Yes, with the right plans you can build your dream shed.

Learn More »

How can someone start working in this type of business?

There are several ways someone could get started in the flipping business.

Where do flippers list their items?

There are many places that flippers can list their items. There is Craigslist, eBay, Offer Up, Facebook Marketplace, and Let Go as the main places to list items.

Side note: Here’s what a reader sent me about Flea Market Flipper! How awesome is this?

What would you tell someone new to flipping?

The biggest thing to someone new is to stay consistent with it.

Someone doesn’t need a lot of extra hours in a week to do this as a side gig, but they do need to be consistent with the time they have. Most people who get into this enjoy the hunt for deals – like going to the flea market, browsing yard sales and checking out apps like Offer Up, so that part isn’t difficult. You can turn your passion for visiting thrift stores, yard sales, and flea markets into a profitable reselling business. Learn how flipping can be your ticket to lifestyle freedom and financial security in this free workshop here. Don’t forget to sign up for the free resource library and get exclusive access to free printables & planners related to saving and making money, meal planning, and more!

Would you be interested in a job like this?

Free Printable Resource Library Join 10,000 others to get access to 20+ free printables related to achieving financial freedom, starting a side hustle, and other fun goodies! Success! Now check your email to confirm your subscription.

How many anchors do I need for a shed?
How many anchors do I need for a shed?

Normally for small sheds it's not necessary to have any more then four anchors. One in each corner. For support along the rest of the floor skids...

Read More »
Why was SketchUp sold?
Why was SketchUp sold?

Sketchup was replaced As you can see, Sketchup became obsolete for Google. They have developed a technology that can create 3D models almost...

Read More »
How do I keep my gravel from moving?
How do I keep my gravel from moving?

Tamp and Pack One easy, DIY way to help prevent the spread of gravel is to tamp and pack it a bit. This simply means using a hoe or other tool to...

Read More »
Are shed plans easy to follow?
Are shed plans easy to follow?

These are! They guide you every step of the way to complete your dream shed.

Learn More »
Will vinegar stop wood rot?
Will vinegar stop wood rot?

White vinegar will stop wood rot because it is a fungicide, which has antimicrobial properties. As wood rot is caused by fungi that require an...

Read More »