Is there an ethical problem with flipping houses?
alan p asked:
A architect/builder friend of mine has an issue with my plan to flip a house. He can’t really explain because he doesn’t have much of a vocabulary or mind for philosophical debate. But I want to give him the benefit of the doubt by calling on any would be philosophers out there to give him a hand with his opinion? Other than the fact that it’s pretty capitalistic, is there something philosophically wrong with flipping?
A architect/builder friend of mine has an issue with my plan to flip a house. He can’t really explain because he doesn’t have much of a vocabulary or mind for philosophical debate. But I want to give him the benefit of the doubt by calling on any would be philosophers out there to give him a hand with his opinion? Other than the fact that it’s pretty capitalistic, is there something philosophically wrong with flipping?
6 Responses to “Is there an ethical problem with flipping houses?”
July 14th, 2008 at 12:53 am
No there is not, as long as you are being completely honest about the condition of the house. There’s nothing wrong with making money, even if you make it quickly. Money is not the root of all evil. Money is simply a form of energy necessary to living life in the physical world. People who fear money or making money or think it’s “evil” or wrong, usually don’t have any!
July 16th, 2008 at 12:47 pm
no, but cow tipping is certainly immoral.
July 18th, 2008 at 5:42 am
no, i would imagine he thinks that you are somehow taking advantage of the buyer,,, but the truth is, if the buyer wanted to buy the house, in its “as is” condition, they could of,,,,,,, most people do not want major repairs to do,,,,,, and if the house had been in prime condition to start with, it would sell for what you are selling it for,,,,,,,,,, so you are simply doing the rehabilitation work that most dont know how/have resources , to do
ps: if he has issues with you, have him go over with you a brand new home cost, the actual cost of the material and labor, then what the home sells for! any builder probably makes as much if not more money per home then you do
July 19th, 2008 at 10:16 pm
I have considered it carefully
If everybody involved gets a share in the final profits and is well paid, and given plenty of break time with beer if they like it, then its very ethical.
July 22nd, 2008 at 1:22 pm
There’s nothing wrong with it the way I see it. You buy a house, fix it up and make it nice - which requires (typically) hiring people who need to work and ALWAYS need to buy materials which helps the economy and makes it stronger, the buyer gets a nice home that you’ve improved, you make a profit…it’s a win, win, win, win situation.
July 23rd, 2008 at 9:02 am
i do not know why an architect/builder would have a problem with it…..building new structures and tearing down old accounts for up to 25% or more of our landfill pollution…..why not buy and sell what already exists?…..Although, i am not an architect or a builder…..sooooo, my moral or ethical problem with it is……Who owns the land?…..do we have a right to own land?…..the banks you are working through lend money to the gov’t to make bombs…..i will never own land, it may hinder me, but my values won’t allow for it…..alot of things i do hinders my living in a society based on merican values….but, that is my opinion…..by you owning land, it makes my life harder….we do not have a right.
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