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SCOUTRE guide · 2 min read · September 12, 2026

How to Estimate Rehab Costs for House Flipping

Estimating rehab costs is a critical step in house flipping that can make or break your investment. With SCOUTRE, you can streamline this process by integrating the after-repair value (ARV) and repair costs into a single deal analysis.

Setting the After-Repair Value (ARV)

The first step in estimating rehab costs is determining the ARV. In SCOUTRE, this is achieved by reviewing nearby sold comparable sales, which you can include, exclude, or adjust to fit your property. This ensures that your ARV is based on accurate and relevant data.

Entering Line-Item Repair Costs

Once the ARV is set, the next step is to itemize repair costs. SCOUTRE allows you to enter these costs by category, such as roof, HVAC, kitchen, and bathrooms. For example, a roof replacement might be estimated at $25,000. Each line item should be adjusted with your own numbers, as suggested costs are a starting point and not a contractor bid.

Practical Workflow in SCOUTRE

SCOUTRE's deal analysis includes six steps: ARV, Repairs, Motivation, Strategy, Offer, and Deal Summary. This comprehensive approach not only helps you estimate rehab costs but also guides you through setting a maximum allowable offer (MAO) and making informed decisions.

  • Repairs: Scope repairs from Light through Full Gut, estimated by square foot or line-item by category.
  • Offer: Outputs include true MAO, opening offer, and a deal verdict.

SCOUTRE is designed for real estate investors, wholesalers, and house flippers who need accurate, on-the-go analysis. For more detailed guidance, visit the SCOUTRE house flippers guide.

Adjusting and Finalizing Your Offer

After entering your repair costs, SCOUTRE helps you adjust and finalize your offer. The platform provides a deal summary that includes motivation, strategy, and a verdict, ensuring you have all the information needed to make a sound investment decision.

Remember, while SCOUTRE provides suggested costs and estimates, it's crucial to verify these numbers with local contractors and adjust them based on your specific project needs.

For a hands-on experience, start with SCOUTRE's 3-day free trial and see how it can transform your house flipping process.

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Alongside field capture and address lookup, search supported property and ownership criteria. Preview matches, research new records and bring selected results into CRM.

See how Discovery works →

Free match counts · $0.15 per new researched record · Five-record minimum. Each result bundles property details, available mortgage and equity information, plus available owner phones and emails. SCOUTRE pulls Discovery results from a live dataset after purchase—not a recycled list. Most fields update daily as new feeds arrive; MLS updates intraday, while ownership changes depend on county deed publication and can take days to weeks. Single-address research is included within plan limits.