In this conversational video, Chris Prefontaine and Judy discuss how real‑estate investors can handle properties that are too costly or undesirable to rehab, such as homes gutted to the studs that owners want to sell "as‑is." Chris outlines several practical pathways: (A) cultivating a referral relationship with iBuyers (e.g., "I Buy Ugly Houses") and earning a referral fee; (B) wholesaling the deal to a trusted wholesaler; (C) placing the property under a purchase‑and‑sale agreement for owner‑financing and then assigning that contract to a builder or rehabber. He emphasizes the importance of building a local network of builders, rehabbers, and iBuyers so that each party can refer business to the other. Judy expresses concern about the time and distraction involved, and Chris advises a low‑effort approach—making one or two phone calls to test the relationship and then letting the network handle the deal. The overall message is that investors should not feel compelled to flip every property; instead, they can monetize unwanted deals through referrals, wholesale assignments, or strategic partnerships, freeing up time for more aligned opportunities.
Chapters
It doesn't hurt to get a good relationship too, Judy, with a, um, in addition to the iBuyer, like another builder in your area, right? You know, and say, hey, on occasion I run into these houses that I don't want to touch, and all I need is a referral fee.
What I've been running into a little bit lately is properties that have been gutted to the studs, and it was like previously on the market, uh, for sale by owner or an expired, And they, for whatever reason, decided to like to start gutting it. And then now that they want to sell it, you know, as is that way.
Yeah.
I mean, that's, that's just toss it when they tell you that, because I don't want to like do a flip or anything like that.
Okay. So there's, it's your personality plays into it because I would have that same attitude, but just so you know, options, right? I told you guys about a month ago to get a relationship with the I Buy Ugly Houses peeps. Like, if it were me, I'd call that guy up. He's in Providence and I'd go, do you want this one? And trust that he would refer me. That's it. That's A. B, could probably wholesale that still if you know a good wholesaler. C, could you still, if you wanted to, technically put it under agreement? Sean had one of these in Vermont and I sent him to it because could you technically put under a purchase and sales agreement for owner financing and then assign that Purchase and sales to a builder. Sure. But I find that most builders that have— is this person has this house that's got an experience, or they kind of a one-off, they did this?
Um, I think they have a little bit of experience. I just feel like, um, it would be a lot. I feel like it would be a distraction for me with everything. I agree. That's why I don't do them. Okay.
Yeah. So, uh, maybe make 1 or 2 phone calls then. So in your— my opinion, you'd go the wholesale or the, uh, I buy, I Yeah. It doesn't hurt to get a good relationship too, Judy, with a— in addition to the iBuyer, like another buildup in your area.
Right.
And say, hey, on occasion I run into these houses that I don't want to touch and all I need is a referral fee.
Yeah. Okay. That makes sense because I was kind of looking at it and I was like, do I really want to spend time comping it and going to look at it and stuff when there's other things that I could be doing that are more in line?
I don't think so. Right. I'm with you. It just depends because some people in the community have that contact already or they can go make those contacts. So just play with that for the future because a builder or a rehabber or iBuyer houses can also refer you business too. So it doesn't hurt to get that relationship going.
Okay.
Yeah. So that's more of a general comment, not that one house you saw, you said.
