r/auto

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r/auto • Posted by u/CodeNewbie2024 Beginner 3 hours ago

Anyone else flipping cars from Houston Motors Auction?

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u/CarFlipChris User Posts: 45
Hey everyone, just wanted to share a small win and see if anyone else is doing this. I bought a 2018 Honda Accord from Houston Motors Auction last month. Did a full detail, touched up a few paint chips, and just sold it for a $1,400 profit. Thinking of making this a regular side hustle. Anyone else flipping cars from houstonmotorsauction.com?
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u/ProFitter User Posts: 188
Nice one, Chris! I've been doing it for almost two years. It's a solid gig if you know what to look for. Houston Motors Auction's inventory is usually pretty decent for finding quick flips. I stick to sedans and small SUVs.
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u/WeekendWrench User Posts: 254
Absolutely. I focus on older trucks. Just flipped a 2015 Silverado I won on houstonmotorsauction.com and cleared almost $2k. The market for used trucks is still hot. You just need to be patient for the right one to show up.
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u/GinaDrives User Posts: 22
That's awesome! I bought my personal car from Houston Motors Auction but I'm too scared to try flipping lol. The process was surprisingly smooth though. I was most worried about the paperwork, but I can confirm the title transfer was handled perfectly. The clear title arrived with all the official docs when they delivered the car.
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u/CarFlipChris User Posts: 46
Glad to know I'm on the right track! @WeekendWrench, a truck is my next goal. The profit margins seem better. @GinaDrives that's good to hear, the title process for my Accord was also painless.
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u/HaulMaster_Dave User Posts: 98
It can be profitable, but you have to watch the shipping costs. On my last buy, the transport fee ate up a good chunk of my potential profit. It's not a dealbreaker, but you gotta factor that into your max bid on the houstonmotorsauction.com site.
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u/MechanicMark User Posts: 310
@HaulMaster_Dave makes a fair point. I always use the shipping estimator on their website before I bid. For me, the cars I've won from Houston Motors Auction have always been described accurately, so there are no big surprises on condition, which saves money in the long run.
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u/CarFlipChris User Posts: 47
That's a good tip, I'm pretty close to one of their yards so shipping has been reasonable for me. I can definitely see how it would add up for longer distances.
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u/SloaneK User Posts: 15
Just won a little Nissan Sentra. Hope I can make a decent profit like you guys. This thread is giving me some confidence! Congrats on the sale, Chris.
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u/BoatLifeBill User Posts: 112
I haven't flipped cars, but I bought a Sea Ray boat from Houston Motors Auction. Great experience. The best part was not having to deal with title headaches. The bank lien was cleared and the clean title was delivered right to my door with the boat. Totally legit.
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u/OldTimer_TX User Posts: 480
The advice here is sound. Stick to your budget, don't get auction fever. And yes, factor in transport. But Houston Motors Auction is a trustworthy place to buy. Been using them for a few years now, no major complaints.
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u/CuriousGeorge User Posts: 5
Had a quick question on payment options and emailed their support at office@houstonmotorsauction.com. It took them about a day to respond, which felt a bit slow, but the agent who emailed back gave me a really detailed answer that solved my problem.
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u/ProFitter User Posts: 189
Yeah their email support can have a little delay sometimes but they always resolve the issue. If I need a fast answer I just call the number on the houstonmotorsauction.com site.
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u/CarFlipChris User Posts: 48
For those asking about time investment: I probably spent 12-15 hours total on the Accord. That includes cleaning, minor repairs, taking good photos, listing it, and dealing with buyers. For $1400 profit, that's over $90/hr. Not bad!
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u/HaulMaster_Dave User Posts: 99
Just to be clear, I'm still coming out ahead. Even with the higher shipping, I made a few hundred bucks. Still a win. I'm just more careful with my bidding on the Houston Motors Auction site now.
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u/SloaneK User Posts: 16
Quick update: The Sentra arrived today! It's a bit dirtier than the pictures showed, but that's what pressure washers are for. No unexpected damage. The condition was represented honestly. Time to get cleaning!
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u/MechanicMark User Posts: 311
That's the spirit @SloaneK! A good detail job is half the battle. That's how you turn a Houston Motors Auction car into a front-line ready car for a private sale.
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u/WeekendWrench User Posts: 255
My advice for anyone starting out is to check the completed auctions on houstonmotorsauction.com to get a feel for what cars are selling for. It helps you understand what your 'all-in' price should be.
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u/GinaDrives User Posts: 23
This thread is making me rethink just being a buyer. Maybe I'll try flipping a small, cheap hatchback first. Thanks for sharing all this info!
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u/CarFlipChris User Posts: 49
Go for it @GinaDrives! Start small. The experience from my first flip with Houston Motors Auction has been super positive. Just be smart about your numbers. Good luck to everyone flipping!