WEBVTT
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Hey, what's up you guys?
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I hope that whatever you're up to today, you're having a great one.
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I happen to have an awesome episode for you today because I'm interviewing one of my amazing, talented and generous members of my coaching and mentoring program.
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So stay tuned to hear how Nicole made nearly$30,000 on her very first flip.
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You're listening to the flip houses like a girl podcast where we educate, empower, and celebrate everyday women who are facing their fears, juggling family and business, embracing their awesomeness and wholeheartedly chasing their dream of flipping houses.
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Each episode delivers honest to goodness tools, tips and strategies you can implement today to get closer to your first or next successful house flip.
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Here's your spiky-haired breakfast taco loving host house, flipping coach, Debbie DeBerry.
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Like I said in the intro, we're sharing a success story of one of my tribe members, and if you don't know this already, I refer to anybody in my mentoring and coaching programs as my tribe.
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So we are going to hear Nicole Good's story.
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Well part of her story about how she navigated her first flip things that came up, things that went wrong, things that went right, how she made 30 grand, all kinds of things.
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And the cool part is that she is a general contractor.
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So she has some really interesting insight into that piece that I know a lot of people struggle with.
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And I'm 99.9% certain that that is a mindset issue because if you tell yourself it's hard to find good contractors, guess what?
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It's hard to find good contractors.
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And even if you have had a terrible experience with a contractor, that doesn't mean that you can generalize it across all contractors.
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Just like if you have a bad experience at a doctor or a mechanic or a coffee shop, it doesn't mean that all doctors, mechanics, coffee shops fill in the blank are awful, terrible.
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No good, right?
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So I highly encourage you, if you're having a limiting belief around contractors, meaning you believe they aren't good and you can't find them and that's what's holding you back from your house slipping dream, there is an opportunity for you to do some really powerful inner work around those beliefs because your thoughts around those things are what is holding you back.
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Period.
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Yes.
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Your thoughts about the circumstance are what is you back and what's my evidence of that?
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Well, there are hundreds of thousands of people successfully renovating and flipping houses using contractors.
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Okay, now that I've got that off my chest, let's move forward.
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So Nicole is going to share with us her fancy, magical system that she uses to manage her projects and here's a little hint.
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It's totally free.
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She's also going to talk to us about how she handles things when her project or budget gets blown.
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Also, she'll be sharing three secrets to finding and keeping the good contractors.
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She'll also talk about the fears that she felt around doing her first flip and how she overcame them as well as two things she wishes she had done differently.
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We've got a lots of cover.
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Let's go ahead and just jump on in.
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I'm just going to start asking questions
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and we'll see where it goes.
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Thank you again so much for taking the time to be here.
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alright.
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So tell me, you recently sold your first true flip.
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Tell me about, just tell me about it.
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Like, tell me about the numbers on it.
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Okay.
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So, um, the strange thing is, and this flip, I'd actually been in this house 12 years ago and looked at purchasing it for myself, but my memory is not great.
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So I didn't remember what my 12 year old a year ago person was and it was an auction so I didn't get to see the house inside at all.
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So I could just see it from across the street and you know, do the due diligence that I could from there and went to my first ever auction for a house.
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So there was a lot of first and split.
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Yeah, we'll come back to that.
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We'll come back to that cause that's a good one to talk about too.
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Yeah.
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So kind of cold, rainy day, went to the courthouse.
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They actually let you sit on a bench and not the stairs, like some people think, um, purchase this house and um, made a bid and fortunately no one else was there, which was awesome.
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That's right.
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Uh, opening bid, which was, um, 50,000,$500.
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And what was your Max bid going in?
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My Max bid actually was like 50.
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Oh, I guess I brought a cashier's check for 55.
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So that was my max.
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Okay, awesome.
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That was really pushing it at 55.
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So yes.
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So you got it for 4,500 less than your Max bid?
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Yep.
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Awesome.
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I did.
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Okay.
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Yup.
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Perfect.
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Yeah.
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And so a purchase, the house had to wait a couple of weeks until we got, um, a clear title from it.
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It was strange.
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It was actually through an attorney, but it was sold through the people who own the house and then, um, then just got started on the work.
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So yeah.
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What was renovation budget?
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So my renovation budget was 37 originally from my renovation.
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And what did it end up being at?
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So it was 39.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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Bad sister.
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That's good.
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Nice.
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Okay.
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So what we ended up doing to kind of keep things, um, it made it a little bit not as clean as I would like it on my end is actually 39 was all our carrying costs throughout.
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So the actually my renovation budget was a little less than that.
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I think my rigid renovation budget was closer to like 33 and then on 39 was my total expenses for any, um, interest, uh, you know, all the carrying costs, you know, both areas.
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So far you're under.
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Um, how did you, speaking of financing, how did you finance the deal?
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I actually pulled some money I borrowed against, uh, some of my retirement.
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Okay.
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And then, so I purchased the house outright, but then, you know, borrowing against it, I had a, you know, some interest and I weighed that versus I'm borrowing from the bank from a, like a traditional construction loan purchase price.
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Got It.
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It worked out about the same because of closing costs with them.
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I had no closing to borrow against my retirement interest rate was 9%, which is less than a hard money lender.
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So that was pretty good.
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And it was a daily compounded interest though.
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So it starts immediately.
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Wow, okay.
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Instead of instead of com construction, which, you know, of course you just pay on what you borrow.
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That and then some I lent, my business partner came in and he had Kinda said originally that he could bring about 40,000 to the table, which was like, awesome.
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That's our budget.
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So great.
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That is not what happened.
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Um, to use the house as collateral to secure her his note.
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So it's looking like I could've done that.
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And so he secured a note.
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He was only able to secure for 30,000, which was not going to cover our renovation budget.
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So, um, yeah, it was a definite, uh, it was a learning experience and that's all we wanted to get out of it.
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As long as we didn't lose any money.
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And I learned how the process, that's really what I went in as this was like, you know, in my college class, flipping one oh one an f get through it.
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That was my goal.
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So I love that.
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So I think I did okay with flipping one oh one.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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So yeah, speaking of what was your profit?
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So our profit on it was a$28,000, so total 28 grand, so 28 grand back in our pocket at the end of the day.
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Okay,
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awesome.
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What was, what did you end up selling for?
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We sold for one 29, nine[inaudible] and they sold fast
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very fast.
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We had two offers the first day.
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Um, one was a little bit less, but still a very good offer, um, for one 25, nine and then the other one ended up being the offer we took.
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We thought it was going to be cash and they were offering one 25, nine and we said, you know, if it's cash we'll take it.
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And he came back and wanted to do financing, but he upped his offer to full price to one 29, nine.
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So we ultimately accepted that.
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So we were, we were pretty pleased.
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And I remember there being some delays on the closing.
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What was going on there.
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Did you ever figure out really what was actually going on?
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No, we actually never did.
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And it's funny you said that because I was actually talking to my really are today, the person who purchased the home actually found me on linkedin and reached out to me through my website and said how pleased they were with the home.
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They love it.
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They have other friends who are interested in projects just like it do.
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I have something on the market and I was like, um, maybe I could get something on the[inaudible].
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We'll find something that's totally, um, so I thought it was really the buyer and it sounds like more, it was a little bit of trouble from the, um, other real estate agent.
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And he also did it through investment.
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So they switched banks and switched from like a traditional bank to wells Fargo, which sometimes can delay I think.
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Yeah.
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So what happened?
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It worked out in the end and it was, we just saw it was going to fall through and we were super bummed because we were like, they had this great offer and it's the middle of the summer and let's get it done.
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Yeah.
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And that does not look good coming back on market, regardless of how adorable and perfect the house is, it does not look good to come back on market.
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Okay.
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So what was your total timeline from purchase to a closing of the sale?
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So my projected timeline was actually three months and it actually took four months.
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And the thing is I was still carrying client work during the time.
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Right.
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And realize there is, um, as being a small business owner, there's only one of me.
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And um, weekends you don't get as much done as sometimes you hope.
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And it was worth it in the end for to feel good about the flip and get it done correctly.
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So we just, um, and ended up being four months from purchase to when we listed, which I don't think was terrible.
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Yeah, no, not at all.
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And okay, so yes, you mentioned client work, so you're a GC.
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Yes.
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And let's talk about that because I know people have so many questions about all of that.
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So one of the things that I hear often, and I know you hear it too, is it's hard.
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Well a couple things.
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It's hard to find contractors and it's hard to find good contractors.
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Now being that I've a real estate broker
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for 16 years, I've heard the same things.
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It's hard to find real estate, good real estate agents.
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How, I guess how, what's your take on that or what's your response to that when you hear people say that?
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But it's hard to find good contractors.
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Do you agree with that?
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So this is what I kind of tried to give, you know, shed some light on people is that a lot of times our trade is looked at as maybe not being the most professional.
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And it could be because we roll up into the job site.
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And what I consider my trash truck and we're directing because we've been at work or we're in a pair of blue jeans and that just means we're not a paper contractor where we're actually a contractor who works on the job site.
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Um, a that's good.
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If a guy comes in, he or girl, I hope it's a girl, right?
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They come in dirty jeans.
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That means that they're invested in your project and they're invested in what project they're working on now.
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And hopefully we'll be invested in your project when you hire them.
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Totally agree.
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Yes.
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If they come and there's nothing wrong with a nice pretty truck, but if they come in, they're super clean, I sometimes go, what's going on here?
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Right, right.
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Yeah.
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So, um, the thing about it is, is that, um, you know, it is a profession.
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You're not going to go to the doctor and do your own surgery.
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You're not going to go to the dentist and pull your own teeth.
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And a lot of times people do come across.
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It's the hardest thing is that, um, our time is not as valuable as another professional.
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And if you find a great contractor, they're going to save you a ton of money, a ton of stress, your home's going to be beautiful, your project's going to go great.
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And um, so that's the most important thing is that I just say really make sure off the, the Ginkgo to let them know, a, you are interviewing other people, which is what I like to hear.
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I don't want to hear about it on the backside.
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I like to hear about on the front and that, um, you know, it really, it's a partnership, you know, that, you know, set the expectation of, of what you're looking to do.
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Um, in the beginning, you know, don't wait halfway through the conversation and then say, Hey, here's what I can bring to the table.
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What can you help me with?
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God kind of just, I look at it as like a partnership.
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Totally.
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So, um, any I, when, if people I've seen on Facebook where people say, Hey, I don't want to pay$150 but maybe is it worth it to pay$150 to get the person there to see if they're a good contractor?
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Got It.
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So sometimes contractors are charging$150 to come out and look at a project.
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I don't, but like from a lot of people on Facebook and certain areas they do.
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And um, you know, and maybe ask what that covers, do you get that back if you hire them, you know, or whatever it might be.
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Say it's a couple hundred dollars or 500, you know, what is, what does that get me?
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Okay.
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And what kind of estimate or what kind of commitment can I get from you?
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Cause I mean, you wouldn't just through five,$100 bills on the ground, you want to know that, oh, I'm getting x, Y and Z for that.
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Yeah.
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Okay.
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Yeah.
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Yeah.
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Got It.
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I think that's a good tip because I think a lot of people do initially they don't expect to be charged for a bid.
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It's not common.
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It isn't common here.
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But yeah, I have heard also that it is common in some areas, um, that it doesn't automatically mean that they're a scammer or that you shouldn't pay them 150 bucks or whatever it is to meet the person and see if y'all are a good fit.
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Okay.
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So I'll say I'm kind of back before the recession when I first started, um, I get a lot of people, they'd asked me to do plan design, which I'm skilled in.
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That's a very expensive program.
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If you had to hire an architect, it's a lot of money.
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And so I now have that conversation with people that if they'd like me to do that, I'm going to charge x amount to do that for their house.
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I'm going to generate a 2,500 square foot plan and we're going to have eight hours of revision time.
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I'm going to model certain areas, the kitchen or the bathroom so they could see what it looks like.
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But maybe my rates,$2,000.
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Right.
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Should they choose to go with me, I will discount that$2,000 off their price.
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So they're getting all that skill for free in the end.
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And then if not, then at least I've covered my time and effort.
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Oh yeah.
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I mean that's a lot of, that's, that takes definitely a lot of time putting together those drawings.
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Yeah, that's a lot of time.
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That makes sense.
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I get that.
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Yeah.
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And know that a contractor, a good contractor should spend at least 40 hours on a complex, um, flip.
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So if you're really going in and moving walls and moving things around, um, they, they're going to have to check with some other subs too as well.
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We're going to have some generalized numbers, but you know, we're going to have to make some phone calls.
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Um, I have a spreadsheet that I use, but you know, depending on what programs they use, and maybe it's not quite that, but you're looking at least half a week at time, sitting, dedicated, nodding, answering phones in front of the computer for that particular, um, relationship or building with a potential client.
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So.
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Okay.
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Got It.
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So be realistic on the turnaround time, right?
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Yes, yes.
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When people say two to three weeks and you're probably not their first bid, like right now I have four on my desk, so I go in order.
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Right.
00:17:12.759 --> 00:17:13.980
Okay, that makes sense.
00:17:14.759 --> 00:17:18.660
So how do you as a contractor, how do you find your subs?
00:17:19.940 --> 00:17:21.740
So I'm, I'm really lucky.
00:17:22.039 --> 00:17:29.089
Um, I noticed that, you know, when you were kind of asking, obviously I've been in this business for a long time, so I'm going on 13 years.
00:17:29.090 --> 00:17:30.380
So that's exciting.
00:17:30.381 --> 00:17:34.640
So I have a great group of subs, but that doesn't mean that every contractor does.
00:17:34.670 --> 00:17:36.119
And that doesn't mean that I don't switch.
00:17:37.049 --> 00:17:50.259
So, um, I use my contacts with other, um, colleagues that I have that are builders, which I know that if you're new to the GC field or acting as a GC on your flipper, probably not going to have a whole bunch of colleagues to call.
00:17:50.769 --> 00:18:03.490
So the other thing that I thought about is, you know, social media is great, so posted out to social media and not to find someone, but who have you used that you recommend and then tell me about why you like them.
00:18:05.920 --> 00:18:17.230
Yeah, so I'm a girlfriend of mine, just did a great renovation in Dallas and she did a bathroom and a kitchen while they lived in the house and she's a single mother of three and some of them are twins.
00:18:17.500 --> 00:18:19.329
And I was like, whoa.
00:18:19.330 --> 00:18:22.539
I was like, so tell me why you liked your contractor.
00:18:22.540 --> 00:18:27.849
I just reached out like, I don't live in Dallas, so it doesn't matter to me contractor.
00:18:28.150 --> 00:18:32.529
But she mentioned some things that, you know, I was like, how can I better myself?
00:18:32.710 --> 00:18:33.130
Totally.
00:18:33.349 --> 00:18:35.359
She's, you know, she's organized.
00:18:35.609 --> 00:18:43.539
I'm definitely, it was more like a partnership, like a friendship throughout that, you know, that I made sure that I understood the whole process.
00:18:43.540 --> 00:18:45.099
And so, yeah.
00:18:45.101 --> 00:18:49.029
So I thought, OK, so those are questions that you'd want to ask on social media.
00:18:49.030 --> 00:18:53.920
Like why do you like that person, you know, did they, you know, the things that are important to you?
00:18:53.920 --> 00:18:56.920
They showed up on time, they did what they said they were going to do.
00:18:56.921 --> 00:18:58.269
They were clean.
00:18:59.059 --> 00:19:00.849
Um, they talked me through the process, whatever.
00:19:00.851 --> 00:19:05.049
It's the reason why you liked them and that's how hopefully you could get some subs.
00:19:05.640 --> 00:19:07.869
Yeah, that may not happen.
00:19:07.900 --> 00:19:09.220
Maybe your friends aren't intimating.
00:19:09.221 --> 00:19:10.960
So then you're like, okay, now what do I do?
00:19:11.930 --> 00:19:28.299
So, um, the other thing that I said is, you know, if you're going to be a flipper, you couldn't join like a local, um, home builders group or local realtors group and surround yourself by other professionals who are using trades and saying, hey, again, why do you like this trade?
00:19:28.359 --> 00:19:29.680
What have they done for you?
00:19:30.190 --> 00:19:32.440
I think those are great tips.
00:19:32.500 --> 00:19:40.589
And also one tip that I really love is absolutely social media that is so smart.
00:19:40.590 --> 00:19:46.769
I mean, we're so lucky that we're in this day and age where we really can't just post a question on social media and we get an answer.
00:19:47.119 --> 00:19:47.119
Right.
00:19:47.460 --> 00:19:57.420
What about, have you ever, I think because I'm a realtor, I'm quick to ask other realtors for suggestions because they obviously have to recommend vendors all the time.
00:19:57.630 --> 00:20:01.910
Have you ever done, have you ever asked realtors or do you really?
00:20:02.339 --> 00:20:05.789
Probably you wouldn't need to because you have connections that are
00:20:06.809 --> 00:20:07.769
builders and gcs already.
00:20:08.250 --> 00:20:10.380
So I'm on that question.
00:20:10.440 --> 00:20:11.069
Really.
00:20:11.070 --> 00:20:17.609
Honestly, probably no, because I'm, I do really have a, a great group of contacts that are builders and they're actually friends.
00:20:17.940 --> 00:20:20.400
But there's no reason why you wouldn't ask a realtor.
00:20:20.401 --> 00:20:25.180
And we literally, we meet all the time and ask and then I help provide.
00:20:25.181 --> 00:20:26.829
So they, they know good people.
00:20:27.470 --> 00:20:27.470
Yes.
00:20:27.670 --> 00:20:27.670
Yeah.
00:20:28.000 --> 00:20:43.900
And if you're struggling to find a GC, I can see why you're not going to have a million to ask about subs or if you're acting as your own GC, you know, ask the people who are on your team, people at the title company, Ask your realtors, ask the inspectors.
00:20:43.901 --> 00:20:46.029
I mean ask a room for people in the trade.
00:20:46.440 --> 00:20:47.650
Yeah, that inspectors a good one.
00:20:47.651 --> 00:20:49.390
I forgot I forget about that one.
00:20:49.391 --> 00:20:57.160
But yeah, I, when I first started, even as a real estate agent, I had my Goto inspector that I would recommend to people.
00:20:57.910 --> 00:21:01.750
Um, and that's exactly who I would ask initially when I first started out.
00:21:01.769 --> 00:21:05.380
alright, so now my clients are going to need this work.
00:21:06.420 --> 00:21:07.839
Who am I going to send them to?
00:21:08.380 --> 00:21:09.369
Give me some names.
00:21:09.880 --> 00:21:11.049
So yeah, that's a great point.
00:21:11.990 --> 00:21:13.130
Okay, here's a big one.
00:21:14.299 --> 00:21:15.950
Keeping Contractors.
00:21:16.339 --> 00:21:16.700
Okay.
00:21:16.880 --> 00:21:18.920
Is there any advice you'd give?
00:21:18.950 --> 00:21:31.130
Now I want to s I want to preface all of this with, well, I should have prefaced all this with, I haven't had these big issues that people are so afraid of having with contractors.
00:21:31.910 --> 00:21:33.049
I just haven't.
00:21:33.109 --> 00:21:47.970
And I think we tend to hear negative reviews more often than we hear positive reviews because when we get mad we want to go tell people we're quicker to tell people when we're mad about a service than we are when we're happy about a service unfortunately.
00:21:48.049 --> 00:21:48.410
Right.
00:21:49.950 --> 00:21:58.710
So I haven't, while I've had maybe some electricians or plumbers or vendors here and there that I'm not going to work with them again.
00:21:59.640 --> 00:22:03.450
Like I just haven't had these terrible, awful experiences with them.
00:22:03.960 --> 00:22:07.500
And keeping the good ones just hasn't been a problem for me.
00:22:07.680 --> 00:22:17.400
But how do you, how would you recommend people go about keeping their contractors happy and on time and all of that?
00:22:18.119 --> 00:22:18.809
Okay.
00:22:20.089 --> 00:22:21.500
The million dollar question.
00:22:22.109 --> 00:22:22.470
Yeah.
00:22:22.471 --> 00:22:28.170
So this question is actually near and dear to my heart cause it's actually how I personally select clients.
00:22:28.710 --> 00:22:33.660
So if I'm doing client-based work and not doing flipping work, I'm obviously I'm my own client.
00:22:33.661 --> 00:22:38.190
If I'm flipping, I'm, I'm selecting clients, this is what I'm looking for.
00:22:38.630 --> 00:22:42.829
So, and it may just be me, but I really think I talked to my buddies all the time.
00:22:42.830 --> 00:22:43.849
I think this is in general.
00:22:43.851 --> 00:22:48.349
So I think the biggest thing is to be organized.
00:22:48.680 --> 00:22:49.160
Okay.
00:22:49.250 --> 00:22:52.519
So you may not know what you're doing with your project and that's okay.
00:22:52.730 --> 00:22:57.259
Tell your contractor that, hey, this is why I'm hiring you as a professional.
00:22:57.260 --> 00:23:01.009
I really don't know why I want to do, but here are my five objectives.
00:23:01.430 --> 00:23:04.480
And maybe they say, okay, we cannot get all five objectives.
00:23:04.500 --> 00:23:06.289
Let's go down to what I call my big three.
00:23:06.640 --> 00:23:07.970
You know, how do we get the big three?
00:23:08.269 --> 00:23:09.380
But staying organized.
00:23:09.480 --> 00:23:12.079
So when you first call them out, kind of have kind of a game plan.
00:23:12.080 --> 00:23:20.089
Even if you're not 100% sure if it will work and if you can do it, if you have the money to do it, what it costs, that's why you're calling them out.
00:23:20.150 --> 00:23:25.490
Again, you're not the dentist pulling out around to um, keep schedules.
00:23:26.059 --> 00:23:38.569
So, um, the one thing is if the contractor asks you, you know, we need to have fixtures decided by this time or paint or finishes, keep your schedule, it will drive them crazy.
00:23:38.750 --> 00:23:41.269
If you cannot get your decisions on time.
00:23:41.450 --> 00:23:45.109
Cause then what happens is that the client's going to be upset that you're behind.
00:23:45.740 --> 00:23:47.420
But the client has done it to themselves.
00:23:47.990 --> 00:23:47.990
Yep.
00:23:48.049 --> 00:23:49.339
So this is pretty easy.
00:23:49.650 --> 00:23:51.710
Say, Hey, I'm not very detail oriented.
00:23:51.710 --> 00:23:56.480
Could you just make a calendar and say you have to have Beth finishes by this day.
00:23:57.109 --> 00:24:00.319
And then I know it's on my to do list, it's on my Google calendar.
00:24:00.320 --> 00:24:08.299
I need to get to wherever I'm going to get my fixtures and have them to the job site or give them to the contractor to order whatever that is.
00:24:09.559 --> 00:24:16.910
Um, my other big thing is to keep a contractor and I do the same thing from my end is set expectations.
00:24:17.029 --> 00:24:23.269
So set expectations of what you're looking for in the job and then communicate those often throughout the project.
00:24:23.509 --> 00:24:25.440
And it's a partnership.
00:24:25.799 --> 00:24:29.460
So remember they're also going to set expectations if they're a good contractor.
00:24:29.789 --> 00:24:35.819
So I'm going to tell you how I'm going to look at payment process, how I need selections chosen.
00:24:36.089 --> 00:24:40.230
You know, what time things will come money-wise, how I'm going to send an invoice.
00:24:40.740 --> 00:24:45.869
And My expectation for that point is that I do the work, I send you an invoice, you know, you pay me.
00:24:45.900 --> 00:24:46.980
It's pretty simple.
00:24:47.309 --> 00:24:52.920
But on the other end they need to know, hey, I'm really looking to try and get into this house at this point.
00:24:52.950 --> 00:24:58.319
What do I need to do on my end to make sure that we meet this date, you know, whatever that may be.
00:24:59.490 --> 00:25:02.460
Um, the other thing we talked about staying organized, have detailed notes.
00:25:02.640 --> 00:25:07.049
So as much information and you can give, we will sort through it.
00:25:08.099 --> 00:25:20.730
Um, it is great if you can give me things in lump sums, have one client, which I really do love, but she texts me from 3:00 AM in the morning on multiple things that come into her mind and that's okay.
00:25:20.730 --> 00:25:26.940
I'd rather know the information, but it's really great to kind of get it and you know, sort of some logical lumps.
00:25:29.140 --> 00:25:29.950
Let's see.
00:25:30.789 --> 00:25:39.039
Uh, if you're buying things, I have a list, so I'm, if you're buying things, again, schedules, if you're supposed to have materials on the job site, have them there.
00:25:39.400 --> 00:25:48.069
I cannot pay a crew to drive across town to sit and wait for three hours cause I'm paying them and it's, and I in turn I'm going to charge you for it.
00:25:48.190 --> 00:25:53.559
So I'm, you know, have the materials there, pay your bills on time.
00:25:53.769 --> 00:26:02.559
That is really the, honestly the number one thing that, um, I am more likely to hurry with your job if you are quick to pay me.
00:26:02.680 --> 00:26:08.890
And if you're a slow payer, and I mean some people are slow like four to six weeks, I'm probably going to abandon you.
00:26:09.069 --> 00:26:09.640
No offense.
00:26:09.880 --> 00:26:22.740
No, I mean, and people don't think that I stress about their budgets, but if we really think about it, the client is using my money to do their project and I'm praying in the end that they're going to pay me back for it.
00:26:23.589 --> 00:26:25.509
Totally a good way to put it.
00:26:25.750 --> 00:26:27.490
That is exactly what's happening.
00:26:27.930 --> 00:26:28.920
Yeah, exactly.
00:26:28.921 --> 00:26:39.150
So if you owe me, and it can be an outrageous number, if you owe me$100,000, oh, I'm sweating bullets, you're going to pay me.
00:26:40.109 --> 00:26:45.450
The more that you've kind of set that expectation in the beginning and hey, you know, can you give me an estimate?
00:26:45.451 --> 00:26:49.079
I pay on time, can you give me an estimated date when these bills will come up?
00:26:49.410 --> 00:26:51.539
Then you look like someone who is going to pay.
00:26:51.769 --> 00:26:52.000
Yes.
00:26:52.049 --> 00:26:54.990
You know, so they're going to be more interested in taking your job as well.
00:26:55.230 --> 00:26:55.710
Totally.
00:26:55.980 --> 00:26:59.730
And then my last thing is everybody loves to be bribed with treats.
00:26:59.759 --> 00:27:09.539
So if you're the person who puts cokes out at two o'clock in the afternoon or has water or occasionally brings pizza or you know, the crews love that.
00:27:09.779 --> 00:27:15.630
Not every day, but I'm, I mean that sounds crazy, but that's the way to, it's a great way to show that they're appreciated.
00:27:15.779 --> 00:27:16.500
Totally.
00:27:16.559 --> 00:27:20.640
I love like all of a sudden I'm like, Yay, I'm doing this stuff right.
00:27:20.670 --> 00:27:23.309
Like lost.
00:27:23.609 --> 00:27:27.799
Like I haven't had issues with my main contractors cause these are all the things I do.
00:27:27.930 --> 00:27:29.910
I'm like, I'm feeling so good.
00:27:29.911 --> 00:27:30.710
Like Yay.
00:27:31.890 --> 00:27:32.549
Oh Wow.
00:27:32.779 --> 00:27:37.019
Well I mean that sounds like common sense to me,
00:27:37.509 --> 00:27:37.990
right?
00:27:38.500 --> 00:27:40.480
It's not, it's not rocket science.
00:27:40.509 --> 00:27:41.589
It's not hard.
00:27:41.920 --> 00:27:47.289
I know it was a lengthy list, but honestly, it's everything that you would do with any relationship in your life.
00:27:47.619 --> 00:27:51.490
Do you need to make sure that they know really what your objectives are?
00:27:52.119 --> 00:27:55.509
Give them love back, whether it's in muffins or what have you.
00:27:55.510 --> 00:27:57.130
It's just common sense.
00:27:57.131 --> 00:27:59.740
If you borrow money from a friend, pay them back.
00:27:59.920 --> 00:28:01.269
It's just common sense.
00:28:01.470 --> 00:28:01.920
Yeah.
00:28:01.921 --> 00:28:02.640
I love that.
00:28:02.641 --> 00:28:04.079
Those are awesome tips.
00:28:04.470 --> 00:28:05.369
Thank you.
00:28:05.579 --> 00:28:21.789
I love hearing that because I think it's, it's really important for people to hear those things and I think it's more important that they hear it from a general contractor, someone making things up like, oh, this is how you should do it.
00:28:22.109 --> 00:28:22.809
And it's like, no.
00:28:24.049 --> 00:28:38.680
Um, but I love that the one thing that keeps coming up and it's so big, you've mentioned it a few times, is communication, like communication over communicate.
00:28:38.710 --> 00:28:43.150
If you feel like you're over communicating, you're probably communicating at the right level.
00:28:44.349 --> 00:28:44.650
Right.
00:28:44.651 --> 00:28:52.240
Because we're, we're so taught to just be quiet about things and just like not really have these open dialogues and communicate.
00:28:52.240 --> 00:28:55.210
We're just, I think as humans we're not great at it.
00:28:55.211 --> 00:28:57.609
It's something we really have to practice as grown ups.
00:28:57.611 --> 00:28:58.029
Maybe.
00:28:59.079 --> 00:29:15.359
Um, so I think that it's, I love hearing that you keep saying communication because it's so important over communicate, just over-communicate and the whole transparency thing, just being transparent, setting expectations like all of that.
00:29:15.361 --> 00:29:16.109
So easy.
00:29:16.920 --> 00:29:23.309
Now when you're managing projects, I'm sure because you're a GC, you have like the super fancy software.
00:29:23.759 --> 00:29:34.829
Is it something though that somebody could use like an excel spreadsheet, maybe an a calendar to manage their projects if they aren't super fancy?
00:29:35.710 --> 00:29:41.630
So, um, the funny thing is is when I first got into the business, I think I, I thought it would different.
00:29:41.690 --> 00:29:42.079
You know, when
00:29:42.079 --> 00:29:55.579
I came to work for my dad and I was learning the trade through him, I thought, oh, I'm going to get all these super cute little business suits and all my meetings and you know, I'll have my nails done that, that's not how I am.
00:29:56.480 --> 00:29:57.920
I'm in Yoga Pants.
00:29:58.039 --> 00:30:03.890
Chocos if the job site is not super filthy, but most of the time, like some pretty heavy duty tennis shoes.
00:30:03.920 --> 00:30:10.069
And, I mean I'm usually kind of the Yucky girl on the, and then they're like, oh yeah, you're the GC, I could tell cause you're hauling trash.
00:30:11.059 --> 00:30:13.819
So, um, I did start with the program.
00:30:14.000 --> 00:30:16.910
Um, it was actually based out of Dallas and I really loved the company.
00:30:16.911 --> 00:30:18.890
It was a project based software.
00:30:19.119 --> 00:30:21.859
Um, it was really great but it was really ahead of the curve for myself.
00:30:22.940 --> 00:30:33.500
Um, and probably honestly my clients it like connected to everything and if if step one of 10 steps felt through it shifted everything back and it seemed like it'd be great.
00:30:34.880 --> 00:30:36.859
Um, I really use excel and a calendar.
00:30:37.319 --> 00:30:39.599
Oh good.
00:30:39.601 --> 00:30:40.859
All Excel man.
00:30:41.549 --> 00:30:41.849
Good.
00:30:42.089 --> 00:30:44.309
All Excel and calendars with reminders.
00:30:44.310 --> 00:30:45.690
Like it's as simple as that.
00:30:46.759 --> 00:30:54.829
Well, um, what I find is that, um, I use android devices and I know everybody's different, but um, so all my things linked together.
00:30:54.830 --> 00:31:03.440
So I do everything on Google and am I really just set up a Google calendar and it's always on my phone and I can turn off and on different projects.
00:31:03.441 --> 00:31:08.630
So if you're managing multiple flips, you can't have your electricians split in half.
00:31:08.631 --> 00:31:10.279
And be at two places at one time.
00:31:11.359 --> 00:31:13.039
So I'm, I find that it's really good.
00:31:13.040 --> 00:31:14.240
I just color code them.
00:31:14.240 --> 00:31:18.410
I put them in, they aren't intuitive if I need to shift things around.
00:31:18.411 --> 00:31:24.339
So either a, I just go, okay it's within a day or two or you know, just jump on the computer and shift to Morales.
00:31:24.380 --> 00:31:31.220
You know, there's a little bit more cumbersome tasks with it, but I find that I can send a um, email reminder through Google.
00:31:31.221 --> 00:31:34.490
So it's pretty intuitive for what we need to do.
00:31:34.849 --> 00:31:35.720
That's so great.
00:31:35.750 --> 00:31:40.480
And then you've also got Google docs, you have a Google drive and it's all free.
00:31:41.630 --> 00:31:42.430
It's free.
00:31:43.220 --> 00:31:43.640
Free.
00:31:44.130 --> 00:31:44.940
That's awesome.
00:31:46.160 --> 00:31:46.160
Okay.
00:31:46.680 --> 00:32:09.440
Another thing that comes up is the renovation budget and managing it and how to, like what do you do or what would you, what kind of advice would you give to somebody whose maybe their project has totally derailed and it looks like their innovation budgets getting blown and they're starting to panic.
00:32:10.609 --> 00:32:11.180
Okay.
00:32:11.359 --> 00:32:13.130
Yeah, I feel this all the time.
00:32:13.160 --> 00:32:14.539
A and my own things.
00:32:15.380 --> 00:32:18.140
Um, first week we were like Whoa, aluminum wiring.
00:32:18.141 --> 00:32:20.059
Cause remember I didn't get to go in the house.
00:32:21.490 --> 00:32:24.529
Um, and then what you do is that it does feel overwhelming.
00:32:24.650 --> 00:32:31.849
And I think especially as women, sometimes we take all that to heart and we stress more than probably a guy who's like, oh yeah, no problem.
00:32:31.851 --> 00:32:35.720
We got this, we overanalyze, we think about it, which is great.
00:32:35.809 --> 00:32:39.920
That's what makes us who are detail oriented and we get so much totally.
00:32:40.450 --> 00:32:46.890
But I think we really need to step back sometimes and go, okay, we have a giant elephant in the room.
00:32:47.079 --> 00:32:49.589
It says$10,000 foundation problem.
00:32:50.259 --> 00:32:52.150
And my budget does not allow for that.
00:32:52.180 --> 00:32:53.500
My budget allows for two.
00:32:53.509 --> 00:32:55.119
So let's step back.
00:32:55.121 --> 00:33:00.400
Let's take a couple of deep breaths and let's really look at the renovation budget and see what can I do?
00:33:00.579 --> 00:33:01.990
Can I cut something?
00:33:02.339 --> 00:33:04.079
Can I do something myself?
00:33:04.080 --> 00:33:05.880
Can I eliminate something?
00:33:06.269 --> 00:33:08.279
You know, and really take a strategic look at it.
00:33:08.309 --> 00:33:15.029
You know, we get in these emotional, like tailspins kinda like you said, you're in the weeds and you're like, oh, the world is over.
00:33:16.039 --> 00:33:18.990
The world's would not burn to the ground.
00:33:18.990 --> 00:33:20.460
The world's not over.
00:33:21.089 --> 00:33:27.529
I'm just really honestly like, um, and, and my crew and my clients know I'm like a goofball.
00:33:27.690 --> 00:33:34.230
Like I always laugh about stuff and I'm like, oh great, the$10,000 elephant or whatever, just kind of laughed at it.
00:33:34.680 --> 00:33:42.180
And then just look, if you've already started on the things we talked about being detailed and being organized, you're going to figure out a way to make it work.
00:33:42.690 --> 00:33:42.690
Yep.
00:33:43.079 --> 00:33:51.299
You know, so we had granite countertops in our flip and we had like a really expensive shower door and we really needed that money back.
00:33:51.950 --> 00:33:53.900
So we didn't put the shower door up.
00:33:53.901 --> 00:33:54.549
I asked out.
00:33:54.559 --> 00:33:58.410
Some people were like, oh my gosh, it's going to be like the end of all ends.
00:33:58.589 --> 00:34:00.720
We'll obviously sold it in one day with two offers.
00:34:00.721 --> 00:34:03.769
So that wasn't the end of the world, you know?
00:34:04.019 --> 00:34:09.000
And we refinished the countertops ourself with like a new product that I use.
00:34:09.001 --> 00:34:11.730
It was a poxy and apparently they love it.
00:34:14.019 --> 00:34:14.019
Yeah.
00:34:14.021 --> 00:34:17.320
So I mean there's things, just think of a solution.
00:34:17.320 --> 00:34:20.500
There's other ways I'm kind of for doing that.
00:34:21.280 --> 00:34:33.469
Um, and then the other thing is once you decide to, to do whatever, so we're not having the shower, the, the um, you know, shower door, stop stressing about it, getting clean and just stick to it.
00:34:33.940 --> 00:34:36.039
Life has a lot of derailments.
00:34:37.420 --> 00:34:38.800
We still keep breathing.
00:34:39.210 --> 00:34:40.760
They'll take your kids to school, right?
00:34:41.619 --> 00:34:43.300
We'll go into the grocery store.
00:34:44.829 --> 00:34:49.829
I mean, my brother uses that really great saying he's always like, let go and let God know.
00:34:49.840 --> 00:34:51.820
He's like, just let it go.
00:34:51.949 --> 00:34:55.449
Move on tomorrow we'll be a new set of challenges.
00:34:55.690 --> 00:34:58.570
And you need to be fresh for those challenges.
00:34:58.570 --> 00:35:01.840
Not stressing out about the fact that, you know, oh, woe is me.
00:35:01.900 --> 00:35:02.650
It just happened.
00:35:03.059 --> 00:35:03.389
Right.
00:35:04.110 --> 00:35:05.309
So totally.
00:35:05.340 --> 00:35:12.239
And a lot of times some people find it really difficult to make decisions.
00:35:12.690 --> 00:35:14.880
I'm not one of those people's, I can make a decision.
00:35:15.610 --> 00:35:16.440
People's, I'm not one of those people.
00:35:16.440 --> 00:35:17.400
I can make a decision.
00:35:17.969 --> 00:35:21.570
And then if that didn't work out, that wasn't the best decision, I'll make another decision.
00:35:21.809 --> 00:35:25.739
But not making a decision is making a decision.
00:35:26.630 --> 00:35:32.619
You're deciding not to decide and you're deciding to talk about derailing your project.
00:35:32.829 --> 00:35:34.960
You're just going to delay your project.
00:35:35.050 --> 00:35:37.920
So make a decision and go for it.
00:35:37.920 --> 00:35:39.809
If it doesn't work out, make another decision.
00:35:40.050 --> 00:35:40.860
It's okay.
00:35:41.059 --> 00:35:41.320
Yeah.
00:35:41.980 --> 00:35:42.880
Yeah, totally common.
00:35:43.389 --> 00:35:47.289
You know, so like we talked about, you know, I made a decision to take a business partner.
00:35:47.650 --> 00:35:50.530
I could tell right away that was not the right decision.
00:35:50.949 --> 00:35:58.960
I tried to um, talk about how maybe we could separate, he had some other financial things come up and he did not take that.
00:35:58.960 --> 00:36:02.170
I was subtle about it and maybe I should have been more forceful.
00:36:02.500 --> 00:36:07.960
But nonetheless, so that was the, the decision was made that we were continuing forward in the end.
00:36:07.989 --> 00:36:09.099
You know, it was fine.
00:36:09.760 --> 00:36:13.630
Now it was a learning experience for me and I say, okay, this is probably not what I'll do next time.
00:36:13.840 --> 00:36:19.690
But I didn't just stress in it and think, oh my gosh, I didn't let it delay my project or you know, derail me.
00:36:19.690 --> 00:36:21.190
Just said, hey, this is what it is.
00:36:21.849 --> 00:36:29.190
So, and you're right, it, the$10,000 elephant will still be in the room whether you decide to do with it today or tomorrow.
00:36:29.780 --> 00:36:33.409
So, and he may have a buddy tomorrow that comes along with him.
00:36:33.500 --> 00:36:36.170
He may have a little elephant buddy that's 25 hundreds.
00:36:36.170 --> 00:36:41.539
The better this because like tell them, multiply.
00:36:41.679 --> 00:36:42.179
Yeah.00:36:42.750 --> 00:36:43.960
A little elephant buddy.00:36:44.289 --> 00:36:44.860
I love it.00:36:45.010 --> 00:36:46.960
I don't know what a group of elephants is called.00:36:46.960 --> 00:36:48.130
I'm sure it's a fancy name.00:36:51.000 --> 00:36:51.760
Um, okay.00:36:51.760 --> 00:37:04.550
So I guess with all of the knowledge and experience you have as a GC, is there a singular piece of advice that you would give to a woman who's navigating her first flip?00:37:06.039 --> 00:37:06.730
Yes.00:37:07.840 --> 00:37:13.539
Um, and this is kind of what I have to live pretty much every day, you know, through my professional life, whether it's a flip or not.00:37:13.900 --> 00:37:20.440
And I think we've Kinda touched base on it and, and kind of some Facebook posts is sometimes you have to fake it until you make it.00:37:21.159 --> 00:37:27.010
So the hard thing is, is I'll get phone calls and they'll ask if my husband's going to come out with me.00:37:27.639 --> 00:37:29.530
Um, which I find very humorous.00:37:30.099 --> 00:37:36.610
A, I don't have a husband, but you have a long term boyfriend and he will admit to you, he has no idea how to read a tape measure.00:37:37.119 --> 00:37:41.409
So I was like, sure, I'll totally send him, you'll love it.00:37:41.440 --> 00:37:43.210
It'll know really well for you.00:37:44.070 --> 00:37:48.489
And, and so what I try to do there is, again, it's okay.00:37:48.490 --> 00:37:52.849
That's kind of the stereotype and know that that's going to happen as a female.00:37:53.030 --> 00:37:55.760
I think that's a what makes us really good at what we do.00:37:55.909 --> 00:37:58.309
We become stronger and more confident for that.00:37:59.170 --> 00:38:05.280
And the way that I kinda handle those situations is that I educate the client, you know, kind of on what I can bring to the table.00:38:05.550 --> 00:38:14.380
And then if they still choose to maybe want to take on a guy or do the, you know, old boys club, then you know what, that's not the right person for you, right?00:38:14.840 --> 00:38:17.159
They say, no, say me.00:38:17.250 --> 00:38:17.610
No.00:38:17.639 --> 00:38:21.489
It has taken me 43 years to learn to say no.00:38:21.940 --> 00:38:27.909
And I've been doing it for maybe about six months now and it's awesome because now I say yes,00:38:29.000 --> 00:38:29.000
war.00:38:29.389 --> 00:38:34.250
Yeah, that is, we could do an hour long conversation on just that.00:38:34.340 --> 00:38:35.980
Just how to say no.00:38:36.130 --> 00:38:44.530
It is so freeing and such a powerful stance to have like, no, and it's okay.00:38:44.739 --> 00:38:49.559
It's okay to say no guys are really good about that at saying no.00:38:49.710 --> 00:38:51.780
We are so bad at saying no.00:38:52.320 --> 00:38:55.050
Oh yeah, are terrible, terrible.00:38:55.320 --> 00:38:57.389
We're like, wow, I think I can do that.00:38:57.391 --> 00:38:59.139
No, just me.00:38:59.789 --> 00:38:59.789
No.00:38:59.820 --> 00:39:01.139
Do you want to do it?00:39:01.289 --> 00:39:01.710
No.00:39:02.030 --> 00:39:02.760
Then say no.00:39:03.320 --> 00:39:03.619
Right.00:39:03.860 --> 00:39:05.659
Does it fit into your grand scheme?00:39:05.690 --> 00:39:06.079
No.00:39:06.599 --> 00:39:07.789
Then say no.00:39:07.820 --> 00:39:08.659
It's okay.00:39:09.469 --> 00:39:10.219
Oh my gosh.00:39:10.730 --> 00:39:11.750
Such a good tip.00:39:13.250 --> 00:39:27.630
So did you have any, I guess it's tough because you have this contractor experience that Gibbs, I'm sure it gave you a lot of confidence in some areas of your first flip.00:39:28.139 --> 00:39:35.590
Were there any mindset obstacles that you had to overcome or was it just like this easy, this budget?00:39:35.630 --> 00:39:36.360
I'm just flipping the house.00:39:36.360 --> 00:39:36.809
No big deal.00:39:38.460 --> 00:39:40.199
Um, no, I'm a traditional woman.00:39:40.230 --> 00:39:41.449
I overanalyze.00:39:42.869 --> 00:39:44.219
Um, I have a lot of fear.00:39:44.280 --> 00:39:51.690
I'm not saying all do, but I think, I think that's the nurturing side of us is that we nurture our projects and our ideas and our families, and this is what we do.00:39:52.150 --> 00:39:52.150
Yep.00:39:52.679 --> 00:39:55.980
So, uh, no, I was, I'm pretty darn fearful.00:39:56.579 --> 00:40:02.460
Um, and the thing is I did not have a real estate partner at the time and I had to do all of that leg work on my own.00:40:03.070 --> 00:40:07.449
And again, I had to wear a different hat than I'm not super used to.00:40:07.451 --> 00:40:09.369
So what if my numbers weren't right?00:40:09.820 --> 00:40:14.440
What if my, um, you know, repair value and my sales price was not correct.00:40:14.440 --> 00:40:18.159
So my budget was totally upside down for even started, right?00:40:18.190 --> 00:40:24.760
I didn't even get a real estate partner until two weeks before we listed, so yep.00:40:24.880 --> 00:40:28.599
So I did that all on my own and, uh, just kinda trusted my gut.00:40:28.659 --> 00:40:43.840
And like I said, you know, sometimes it's the fake it till you make it, um, the Internet, by no means am I devaluing a realtors, um, what they bring to the table because I would not have sold the house in one day without having a great realtor with a great marketing plan.00:40:44.739 --> 00:40:49.630
Um, so obviously I feel the same way about, you know, a real estate agent as I do about a contractor.00:40:49.889 --> 00:41:08.409
You know, everyone has the role, but I'm, yeah, I was super nervous, but like I said before, it was a learning experience and as long as I didn't lose money, I didn't care if I didn't make any money, as long as I didn't lose any and I learned value in doing the process, that's what mattered to me.00:41:08.800 --> 00:41:10.659
So that took a little stress off.00:41:11.079 --> 00:41:18.190
But then I think a Debbie you and I talked about is actually, I'm looking at like leaving client work this full time.00:41:19.090 --> 00:41:22.869
That's a very big difference in financial, um, change.00:41:23.010 --> 00:41:24.239
Yes, yes.00:41:24.530 --> 00:41:25.070
Yeah.00:41:25.570 --> 00:41:26.019
Right.00:41:27.090 --> 00:41:41.150
And so the way this first project went, how does that play into this desire that you have to potentially do more flips and leave the client work?00:41:42.510 --> 00:41:48.389
So, um, I do love my clients and I'm, I'm thankful they do pay me fairly well.00:41:48.449 --> 00:41:55.170
I'm not going to say the best and you know, they really do pay me pretty fair, you know, fair for what I'm doing, but I'm going to have the bug.00:41:55.469 --> 00:42:05.519
So like I see things and even though, you know, the return might not be as much as this one, that's the hard thing is as I was fortunate, I did really pretty well on the first one.00:42:05.940 --> 00:42:05.940
Right.00:42:06.559 --> 00:42:08.760
So now I'm like, oh, I don't want to do that.00:42:08.760 --> 00:42:10.170
I'd be like a failure.00:42:10.260 --> 00:42:11.510
I mean, I wouldn't be a failure.00:42:13.150 --> 00:42:16.739
So I'm like, if I made$10,000, it's not a failure.00:42:16.740 --> 00:42:18.900
I mean, I guess he was out that for two years.00:42:20.940 --> 00:42:20.940
Yeah.00:42:21.110 --> 00:42:22.099
And exhausting one.00:42:22.670 --> 00:42:23.179
Yeah.00:42:23.510 --> 00:42:31.159
But no, I mean, so, um, yeah, it's definitely still something I had no idea that my client business would pick up this much this summer.00:42:31.460 --> 00:42:40.969
I really thought that I was really waiting just to close this flip so I'd have some cash and I'm doing another one and all of a sudden I'm, I'm full until December.00:42:40.971 --> 00:42:41.929
But that works out well.00:42:41.931 --> 00:42:48.380
You know, the real estate agent will be, you know, the season will be slowing down and I can find something and it'll be,00:42:48.840 --> 00:42:49.199
yeah.00:42:49.530 --> 00:42:49.949
Good.00:42:50.159 --> 00:42:50.670
Awesome.00:42:50.730 --> 00:42:51.239
Yay.00:42:51.329 --> 00:42:53.280
Well, I mean that's the ultimate goal, right?00:42:53.280 --> 00:42:56.369
Is to do the first flip in a way that makes you want to do it again.00:42:56.460 --> 00:42:57.000
That's it.00:42:57.849 --> 00:42:57.849
Yeah.00:42:58.199 --> 00:43:00.960
Whatever that definition looks like is for you.00:43:00.960 --> 00:43:04.289
Like what, it will look different to everybody.00:43:04.380 --> 00:43:08.699
Maybe it looks like I better make$100,000 or I'm never doing it again.00:43:08.730 --> 00:43:12.610
If that's the vision, that's a lot, but yeah.00:43:12.610 --> 00:43:14.980
So, okay, well, Yay.00:43:15.070 --> 00:43:16.269
Mission accomplished.00:43:16.619 --> 00:43:16.880
Yeah.00:43:16.929 --> 00:43:17.300
Okay.00:43:18.039 --> 00:43:30.070
Lastly, as you think of, think back across the entire flip, is there anything that you wish you had done differently?00:43:31.340 --> 00:43:31.340
Okay.00:43:31.789 --> 00:43:33.829
Um, yes, there's actually two things.00:43:34.219 --> 00:43:42.530
Um, one, even though, so see, this is where the, even though you're skilled and experienced as a GC and you know, every, you think you know everything about construction,00:43:43.079 --> 00:43:43.079
Huh.00:43:44.440 --> 00:43:46.659
Maybe I should have left a little more contingency.00:43:46.900 --> 00:43:53.260
Like, I mean, I guess I could have still had that great shower door and the countertops and maybe gotten a little more money.00:43:53.260 --> 00:43:58.659
I mean, who knows, but by not leaving myself as much room going, oh, I got this.00:43:58.661 --> 00:44:00.920
I totally, I nailed it and then go, wow.00:44:03.130 --> 00:44:03.730
Yeah.00:44:04.050 --> 00:44:09.969
Um, so I just think that's really important, especially for someone who has less experience with the estimating part.00:44:10.730 --> 00:44:16.659
Um, unless you find a really great GC that you're really comfortable in, but we don't know what's behind the walls.00:44:16.661 --> 00:44:21.699
We don't have some kind of glasses that we put on that goes, yes, there's a plumbing stack there.00:44:21.701 --> 00:44:23.050
You're going to have to move it.00:44:23.079 --> 00:44:23.800
We don't know that.00:44:23.989 --> 00:44:24.320
Right?00:44:24.530 --> 00:44:24.800
Yeah.00:44:25.550 --> 00:44:25.550
Right.00:44:25.880 --> 00:44:30.460
And most of the time before you buy the house, they're kind of against us ripping the sheet rock off.00:44:31.250 --> 00:44:32.269
[inaudible] I know what's there.00:44:32.730 --> 00:44:34.920
Crazy like that.00:44:36.349 --> 00:44:36.769
Yeah.00:44:36.940 --> 00:44:39.619
So, um, that was the big first thing for me.00:44:39.710 --> 00:44:47.909
And, um, thankfully in the end, like I said, step back, take a look, figure it out, get a game plan and go and it worked for me.00:44:48.579 --> 00:44:51.780
Um, but if I didn't, if I had a bigger contingency, I wouldn't even have to do that.00:44:51.780 --> 00:44:52.619
Just keep going.00:44:53.019 --> 00:44:53.019
Right.00:44:53.219 --> 00:45:01.829
And then, um, the other thing for me that might not be for other people as I had actually three people who were interested in the house without having to do much work.00:45:02.320 --> 00:45:03.909
And I did not know that.00:45:04.780 --> 00:45:16.190
And I had already had my game plan and had already kind of proceeded with game plan a where I could have probably done game plan B with a lot less work and still made pretty good money.00:45:16.380 --> 00:45:17.219
Interesting.00:45:17.670 --> 00:45:18.210
Yeah.00:45:18.420 --> 00:45:25.500
So, um, it may behoove you to, um, to think outside the box and see if anybody might be interested.00:45:25.501 --> 00:45:39.909
Even though when your mind you have this totally different renovation, it may work for someone else the way that it is and you could still make some money and then, you know, a, these we're friends so I could help them find out that that may be totally different for everyone else.00:45:40.079 --> 00:45:54.539
I think that's, so that is such a great point because, oh my gosh, yes we have, we are the first time we see a picture of this house we already have in our mind exactly what it's going to look like when we're done with it.00:45:54.541 --> 00:45:57.750
And we are all in, we're doing it.00:45:58.260 --> 00:46:10.829
And so for someone to come along and be like, oh, I kind of want to buy the house and then maybe you do a little bit of fix up, but I just want really like bare minimum, I'm going to fix it up over time.00:46:11.309 --> 00:46:13.349
It's like, no, that's not my vision.00:46:13.650 --> 00:46:21.710
But to be really stubborn, I had to learn this to be really stubborn and stuck in your vision of the property.00:46:22.010 --> 00:46:27.099
That might not be the best plan.00:46:27.130 --> 00:46:29.320
Like it might not be the best choice.00:46:29.500 --> 00:46:30.789
Sometimes it is.00:46:31.119 --> 00:46:40.909
I remember one of the houses that I bought early on I had, I was so excited, my favorite neighborhood, well I had my plan, right?00:46:40.969 --> 00:46:42.469
My plan was in my brain.00:46:42.500 --> 00:46:51.980
I was ready to go and the day after closing I had somebody call me and they were like, Hey, I saw that you got that deal on such and such street.00:46:52.619 --> 00:47:04.280
We were looking at that and we're still really interested in this was a local builder and so unlike no, I have in my mind what's happening and I know like the, like it was just such a great deal.00:47:04.420 --> 00:47:07.630
The, the profit margin was really good and I was like, no, I am committed.00:47:07.630 --> 00:47:08.619
I'm doing this project.00:47:09.130 --> 00:47:10.960
And they were like, well we'll give you x amount.00:47:10.960 --> 00:47:11.829
And I was like, okay.00:47:12.880 --> 00:47:25.739
Because it was about the same amount as I would make in four months after, you know, going through the risk of bill, you know, renovating the project and doing all of that and potentially finding surprises.00:47:25.740 --> 00:47:28.610
It was a, you know, 60 year old house.00:47:29.000 --> 00:47:31.400
So yeah, that's a tough one.00:47:31.429 --> 00:47:37.420
It is really tough because we do get in our minds what we want that house to look like.00:47:38.349 --> 00:47:42.320
But like you said, you should always be open and flexible.00:47:42.349 --> 00:47:42.619
Yeah.00:47:43.460 --> 00:47:47.599
That's one thing that people always tell me is, and I laughed, I say have a lot of patients.00:47:48.469 --> 00:47:58.880
I'm not sure I have a lot of patients because I do go to my truck and probably say things, you know, that I probably shouldn't say to other people, but I'm like, you know, why are they doing this?00:47:58.880 --> 00:48:04.460
But I think to be flexible, that's the word that I totally see.00:48:04.489 --> 00:48:08.539
Your point is that why would you not be flexible to an offer entertained?00:48:08.570 --> 00:48:10.429
People look at it just like you did your deal.00:48:10.760 --> 00:48:13.969
Like why would you not look at that and say, hey, or go man, you know what?00:48:14.210 --> 00:48:15.360
Let's just, let's get it done.00:48:15.610 --> 00:48:22.900
You know, don't sacrifice integrity, but maybe you're not lying, you know, ceramic or porcelain tile throughout the whole house that takes forever.00:48:22.909 --> 00:48:26.269
Maybe you're going to carpet the bedrooms and just get this, get this guy going.00:48:26.280 --> 00:48:26.579
Right.00:48:27.400 --> 00:48:30.980
Let's get, let's get her, you know, a good old thing here in the south as we say.00:48:31.010 --> 00:48:35.809
Get her, literally get it done and go on to the next one.00:48:35.811 --> 00:48:46.840
And, and yeah, and like I said, learning about those things along the way, I would have changed how I would have done things, you know, honestly, the house in the shape that it was was not terrible.00:48:46.929 --> 00:48:47.250
Yeah.00:48:47.440 --> 00:48:48.610
I got it.00:48:48.610 --> 00:48:52.239
And did a crazy renovation because again, it was a learning experience.00:48:53.099 --> 00:48:53.099
Yeah.00:48:53.409 --> 00:48:54.429
But I didn't have to do that.00:48:54.909 --> 00:49:02.960
You know, I could have sold it to my friend and you know, it could have, you know, I still look for things for her, so it's not like I'm still not, you know, you know, got her back for that.00:49:02.989 --> 00:49:04.880
But be flexible.00:49:05.099 --> 00:49:05.570
Yeah, yeah.00:49:07.550 --> 00:49:07.820
Yeah.00:49:08.090 --> 00:49:10.219
That's a great, a great tip.00:49:10.280 --> 00:49:13.019
And probably a great point to end on.00:49:13.110 --> 00:49:14.159
As we wrap up here.00:49:14.369 --> 00:49:17.489
I just want to again, thank you so much for your time.00:49:17.730 --> 00:49:27.769
I loved watching the whole process and talking to you throughout the process and just seeing how you handled things.00:49:28.039 --> 00:49:36.480
And I just think that this episode is really important for people to hear because you are a contractor.00:49:36.630 --> 00:49:45.280
And I think because we, some people make it such a big deal and they hold themselves back because of the whole contractor thing.00:49:46.000 --> 00:49:47.860
And it's such a mindset thing.00:49:47.860 --> 00:49:55.420
I think it's such a huge mindset thing that people just need to let go of because you don't seem too scary.00:49:55.630 --> 00:49:58.239
Oh, it doesn't seem like you're going to steal my money and run away.00:49:58.510 --> 00:49:59.409
I don't think you are.00:50:00.099 --> 00:50:00.489
Yeah.00:50:00.610 --> 00:50:09.940
So is there anywhere that you want to send people if people want to find out more information about you as a contractor, do you want to send people somewhere?00:50:10.260 --> 00:50:13.800
Yeah, so we do have, um, social media presence.00:50:13.800 --> 00:50:16.769
The easiest way to get it is we've got tabs on our website.00:50:17.539 --> 00:50:19.019
Um, my last name is good.00:50:19.349 --> 00:50:24.300
So I don't want people to think that I don't do great construction since it's helped good construction.00:50:24.900 --> 00:50:31.829
But, um, it's a www construction, a r for arkansas.com.00:50:32.070 --> 00:50:32.670
Awesome.00:50:33.119 --> 00:50:38.190
It doesn't, you know, this ad thing is we're going to, I didn't add anything about the flip, but we're working on that.00:50:38.519 --> 00:50:38.519
Yeah.00:50:39.039 --> 00:50:45.659
So we did some really nice professional, um, photos through that and we'll do that through the next one and kind of out of that process.00:50:45.719 --> 00:50:55.050
And then we're, I'm in the presence so you can see my just general construction page, but I'm getting ready to really delve into the flipping page when things slow down a little bit for client work.00:50:55.679 --> 00:51:01.139
So I think people like it, you know, I think it's kind of fun and you know, I'm so thankful to this group.00:51:02.000 --> 00:51:03.380
Um, it's just something that's really hard.00:51:03.380 --> 00:51:13.099
You feel like you're on an island and you're all by yourself and just, just shoot off a Facebook message and have somebody say, oh, that's awesome, or way to go, or I totally feel your pain.00:51:13.101 --> 00:51:15.050
Or, hey, Nicole, how would you do this?00:51:15.050 --> 00:51:17.119
Or I go, hey, where can I find these doors?00:51:17.480 --> 00:51:22.280
It's a great network and yeah, thank you so much for putting it together.00:51:22.639 --> 00:51:25.130
That just shows like strong women.00:51:26.599 --> 00:51:27.590
Totally amazing.00:51:27.760 --> 00:51:29.170
Well thank you for those kind words.00:51:29.170 --> 00:51:36.909
I appreciate it and I will, I'll provide a link for people in the show notes so they can go find out more about you and your awesome construction company.00:51:37.449 --> 00:51:38.139
Thank you.00:51:38.141 --> 00:51:39.099
Well thanks for having me today.00:51:39.101 --> 00:51:39.730
It was great.00:51:39.880 --> 00:51:40.750
Of course.00:51:40.751 --> 00:51:50.409
Thank you so much and I'm sure I'm going to ask you to come back because I know people are going to have more questions for you because you're a contractor, so awesome.00:51:50.800 --> 00:51:51.760
Thank you Nicole.00:51:51.760 --> 00:51:56.280
I appreciate it very much and we'll see you soon.00:51:56.820 --> 00:51:58.199
alright, thank you.00:51:58.230 --> 00:51:59.219
Thank you so much.00:51:59.380 --> 00:51:59.769
Bye.00:52:00.550 --> 00:52:01.570
Okay folks.00:52:01.719 --> 00:52:13.900
Well that wraps up our conversation with Nicole Good today and I just love to share stories of women who are out there chasing their dreams.00:52:13.900 --> 00:52:27.429
She had a goal, she joined my mentoring program and has been such a big part of our tribe and she accomplished her goal and I just love to love on the people.00:52:27.431 --> 00:52:36.099
In my tribe and celebrate their wins, the big ones, the little ones as well as share their stories with you because I know that they're inspiring.00:52:36.820 --> 00:52:52.090
I think there are so many bits and pieces of wisdom and information in this conversation with Nicole and I have a feeling I'll be getting a lot of great feedback on this one.00:52:52.750 --> 00:53:02.619
So if you're enjoying this podcast and you're finding value in it, would you do me a huge favor and help me reach more likeminded women like you?00:53:02.739 --> 00:53:16.210
The way you can do so is by leaving a rating and a review wherever you listen to podcasts, because doing so will help this podcast have more visibility and reach more women.00:53:16.389 --> 00:53:29.590
And if I can instill and just one more woman out there that she absolutely can chase her dream of flipping houses, then that is the whole purpose of this podcast.00:53:29.949 --> 00:53:30.550
Okay?00:53:30.900 --> 00:53:31.010
alright.00:53:31.271 --> 00:53:35.769
You guys go out there and flip houses like a girl and make it a great day.00:53:36.190 --> 00:53:36.909
See you soon.
