Empyrean's House Flipper launched on 17 May 2018, published by Frozen District and PlayWay, and this is the original rather than the 2023 sequel. It is a first person renovation sim driven by an email inbox: clients write in, you mop, paint, knock down walls and fit radiators, and the money funds buying wrecked properties from the laptop to fix and auction off. House Flipper 2 arrived in December 2023 on a completely new code base and added the town of Pinnacove, an Assembly building mode and a true sandbox, none of which exist in this game. The 2018 original scored 68 on Metacritic for PC and still became a Steam bestseller.
Picking the right build determines how your experience plays out. These builds are ranked by overall effectiveness, factoring in damage, survivability, gear requirements, and how well they scale into endgame. New to the game? Start with our beginner's guide first.
Quick Rankings
| Build | Tier | Playstyle | Core Gear |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Painting | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Demolition | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Building | A | Balanced | Best available |
| Handyman | A | Balanced | Best available |
For detailed meta rankings, see our House Flipper tier list.
A-Tier: Cleaning
Cleaning is a top-performing option in House Flipper.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Mop | The first tool the game gives you, unlocked by Sara Lewis's opening job about the stolen radiator. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Email jobs from the laptop | Work arrives as emails on your in game laptop, each one from a named client with a short backstory and a list of demands. |
How to Play Cleaning
Cleaning focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Mop does the damage and Email jobs from the laptop keeps it running, which is why this sits at the top of the list. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Highest overall performance
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Popular pick, resources may be contested
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Painting
Painting is a strong option in House Flipper.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Vacuum Cleaner | The second cleaning tool, introduced through jobs like Cleaning the Garage. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Six perk trees fed by tool use | Perk points come from doing the work, not from levelling a character. |
How to Play Painting
Painting focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Pair Vacuum Cleaner with Six perk trees fed by tool use and the build stops depending on a good start, so it holds up across most content. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Most versatile option
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Lower peak damage than S-tier
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Demolition
Demolition is a strong option in House Flipper.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Paint Roller | Unlocked alongside the scanner by Amanda Smith's Amaranth Walls job. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Buying and reselling properties | Once you have cash, the laptop lets you buy derelict houses outright. |
How to Play Demolition
Demolition focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Buying and reselling properties covers the gap Paint Roller leaves open, so the build stays usable even when a fight goes badly. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Best survivability
- Straightforward gearing path
- Works in all content types
Cons:
- Slower clear speeds
- Needs specific gear to reach full potential
A-Tier: Building
Building is a specialized option in House Flipper.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Sledgehammer | Comes with Thomas Johnson's Additional Walls job together with the wall building tools. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | Tool unlocks gated behind jobs | Tools are not bought, they are earned by finishing specific jobs, and a job has to be completed to at least 70 percent for the unlock to stick and show up on your tool wheel. |
How to Play Building
Building focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: This one leans on Tool unlocks gated behind jobs rather than raw numbers, and Sledgehammer is what makes that trade pay off. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Strong in group/team content
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- Weaker solo performance
- Requires deep game knowledge
A-Tier: Handyman
Handyman is a specialized option in House Flipper.
Core Setup
| Slot | Choice | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Primary Equipment | Tiling and Paneling Tool | The final tool slot, unlocked by Eric Camel's Necessary Extra Bathroom job. |
| Core Gear | Best available for your level | Maximizes build potential |
| Stat Priority | Balanced offensive and defensive stats | Optimal scaling |
| Key Mechanic | The tablet catalogue and item scanner | The tablet is the in game shop for furniture, paint, tiles, doors and windows, and it is where most of a flip's budget disappears. |
How to Play Handyman
Handyman focuses on a balanced approach to content.
Why this build works: Tiling and Paneling Tool and The tablet catalogue and item scanner pull in the same direction here, which separates this from the safer picks above. See our weapons guide for detailed equipment breakdowns.
Pros:
- Unique, rewarding playstyle
- Straightforward gearing path
- Excels in its niche
Cons:
- High skill floor, punishing when misplayed
- Requires deep game knowledge
Build Progression Path
- Start with Painting: the most forgiving option for learning the game
- Transition to Cleaning once you understand core mechanics and have access to Mop
- Keep a Demolition setup for content that keeps killing you
- Try Handyman for a fresh experience once you've mastered the basics
Follow our walkthrough for the optimal progression path through each area.
Gearing Tips
- Invest in your primary equipment first, since it gives the biggest power spike. See our weapons guide for rankings.
- A job has to be completed to at least 70 percent for its tool unlock to become permanent and appear on your tool wheel. Walking away from a job at 60 percent costs you the tool as well as the payment.
- The four tool unlock jobs are worth doing in order: Sara Lewis's stolen radiator job for the mop, Amanda Smith's Amaranth Walls for the paint roller and scanner, Thomas Johnson's Additional Walls for the sledgehammer and wall building, and Eric Camel's Necessary Extra Bathroom for tiling and paneling.
- Don't spread upgrade resources across multiple builds until endgame
More House Flipper Guides
- House Flipper House Flipper Overview
- House Flipper Tier List
- House Flipper Walkthrough
- House Flipper Beginner's Guide
- House Flipper Tips & Tricks
- House Flipper Weapons Guide
- House Flipper Combat Guide
- House Flipper Boss Guide
- House Flipper Maps & Locations
- House Flipper Crafting Guide
- House Flipper Classes & Characters
Similar Games
If you enjoy House Flipper, check out these related guides:
- Stardew Valley Builds: simulation game with similar mechanics
- Satisfactory Builds: simulation game with similar mechanics
- The Sims 4 Builds: simulation game with similar mechanics
