DESIGN POINT
Exterior after
RENOVATION ROCKSTAR
Front porch after
Front door, interior, after
ASmall House Gets a Big Makeover 850 SQUARE FEET NEVER LOOKED SO SPACIOUS AND MODERN.
Front door after
by Carole VanSickle Ellis | Featured investor: Kyle Blake of Kyle Blake Homes
fun places make it a per- fect place to live, which is why I decided to keep it as a rental property,” he added. The property is just a few blocks from dining and entertainment options as well as within walking distance to the University of Kansas Medical Center (KU Med). Although Blake did not add windows to the property, his upgrades to the interior make the entire home seem brighter and airier. He removed large, built-in shelves and cupboards immediately inside the front door (right), installed brand-new hardwoods, and brought the bright white of the exterior indoors with shiplap walls. The result is a modern take on a classic style that offers “tons of natu- ral light,” he noted. Front porch and door before
hen Kyle Blake, owner at Kyle Blake Homes and a Berk- shire Hathaway agent, first saw the little green house in the West Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri, it was love at first sight. Not everyone could have seen past the exterior, which boasted peeling green paint, a worn porch, and a seriously out- dated kitchen, but Blake immediately saw so much more. “The second I saw it, I loved the curb appeal and the cute, charming farmhouse potential,” Blake recalled. “I could envision changing to exterior white paint, adding black shutters, and put- ting on a brand-new front porch. Modern farmhouse has always been my favorite style because it seems timeless and classic.” Blake noted that the HGTV Show “Fixer Upper” hasn’t hurt the farmhouse style’s appeal, either. “I always loved it though, well before they were on the air!” he laughed. Blake knew he would have to completely replace the porch, which held plenty of potential for outdoor-living lovers. “It is a quaint house, only about 800 square feet, so I had to play into W
INVESTOR'S NOTES:
Location: West Plaza area of Kansas City, Missouri Purchase Price: $ 80,000 Rehab & Carrying Costs: $ 35,000 Market Value: est. $ 175,000 Strategy: Cash-out refi with a 30-year note, added to his rental portfolio the cute factor and add as much charm as possible,” he said. In his rental listing, he describes the front porch (upper right, p. 15) as “perfect for sipping your morning coffee.” “The house is in a fantastic area with values going up tre- mendously the last few years. Great walkability to all kinds of
Front door, interior, before
14 | think realty magazine :: december 2018
thinkrealty . com | 15
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