Category: The CarrotCast Podcast

From online marketing to mindset, join us as we unlock the best stories, tactics, and strategies from America’s top investors and agents.

  • EP 288: How to Grow a 7-Figure Property Management Biz You Actually Enjoy w/ Chris Kennedy

    EP 288: How to Grow a 7-Figure Property Management Biz You Actually Enjoy w/ Chris Kennedy

    It is arrogant to believe that you are the guy who will solve all the problems within your business.

    – Chris Kennedy

    How to Grow a 7-Figure Property Management Biz You Actually Enjoy w/ Chris Kennedy

    It’s not often that we get to have a customer in-studio to tell us about their business journey.

    Chris Kennedy is not only a member but also a Carrot Camper who has taken what he has learned, implemented it and created an incredible vision for his future.

    We sat down to talk about his goals, his mission, what gives him energy, and what he is doing to take his business to the next level. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Chris Kennedy is an investor, broker, and property manager. With a robust portfolio of his own, he has been able to take what he has learned, and help others achieve the same success.

    By building solid relationships with tenants, property owners, and his team, Chris has been able to carve out a very lucrative niche for himself in a highly competitive market. 

    Building a Multi-Faceted Business

    Chris was an investor first, then got into sales and management. Today his company also handles property management, where he spends the majority of his time. His mission is to help thousands of people through responsible real estate practices.

    Currently, he is doing just that. By serving buyers, sellers, tenants, owners, and a long list of vendors, Chris is building a business that impacts more and more people each day. 

    Excelling at Property Management

    Most people dealing with property management don’t like it. One reason is that they are looking at it as a transaction vs. a relationship. It can be a brutal and intense job, which is exactly what Chris loves about it.

    He also has found true purpose in his work, both helping tenants and fellow investors succeed in their pursuits.

    His company is a steward of his client’s assets, and Chris takes great pride in this. 

    The key for him has been building the right team and putting the right systems in place. Many property management companies use antiquated systems. Because of this, Chris saw a lot of opportunity in this field.

    Adopting the latest and greatest technology has put him one step ahead of other managers in his area. 

    In the beginning, when managing less than 100 properties, the job felt difficult. But as he grew, he was able to hire a team, implement the best software, and design the right processes.

    Currently, he has around 30 clients, with a combined total of over 600 properties! 

    Moving From Operations to Ownership

    As founders, Chris and I can both relate to letting the day-to-day operations of the business consume your time. When you are self-employed and working solo, your income is tied to time.

    But as you grow and build a team, more of your time can be dedicated to coaching, casting a vision, and working in the areas in which you make the greatest impact. You can focus on what gives you energy as opposed to the daily tasks that drain you. 

    When Chris visited us at CarrotCamp, he felt as if he was drifting a bit and losing focus within his business. He expected to get tactical, learning how to build a website and get leads in the door. And while he learned quite a bit about that, he walked away with something much greater.

    The clarity and vision he needed to take his business to the next level.

    After CarrotCamp, Chris worked on his vision daily before sharing it with his team. Since that time the mentality, passion, and drive of his team have soared.

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  • EP 286: The “56k Profit Moldy House” Deal w/ Beau Hollis | Behind the Deal

    EP 286: The “56k Profit Moldy House” Deal w/ Beau Hollis | Behind the Deal

    A lot of times when you prejudge people or their current situations, you just look at the outside. You can lose a deal quickly by judging what you see. 

    – Beau Hollis

    The “56k Profit Moldy House” Deal | Behind the Deal

    Welcome to another episode of behind the deal. This is where we take you inside of an actual deal, covering all of the details from start to finish.

    In this Livestream, we were back with Beau Hollis to learn about the marketing, follow-up, and specifics that went into this particular deal. 

    In this episode, Beau walks us through the world’s moldiest house. You’ll see exactly how he found this deal and how he walked away with a $56k profit.

    Be sure to join us every other Thursday when we go behind the deal live on Facebook and Youtube. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Beau has been a friend here at Carrot for a long time. He recently walked us through a deal in which he bought a car right along with a house.

    This deal was quite a bit different. Most investors would run from a moldy house, but by offering the solution to a difficult situation made this a great deal for everyone involved.

    Here’s how it went down… 

    The Lead

    The lead came through a Carrot PPC ad at around 6 in the morning. It was a divorce situation in which each spouse had moved on and was living separately.

    There was a teenage son living in the home, but Beau was assured he’d be able to find other accommodations if the deal went through. 

    The Follow Up

    Almost immediately, Beau was on the phone with the owner and setting an appointment to see the home. She wasn’t local, but Beau was still able to arrange to see the house at 1 pm that same day.

    One of the reasons Beau is able to close 20-30 deals a month is because of his prompt follow-up. 

    What Made This Deal Unique

    Aside from the basement being filled with mold, Beau had to negotiate this deal over the phone. As someone accustomed to belly-to-belly sales, not seeing the person face to face made things feel more challenging.

    Luckily, when dealing with inbound leads, the motivation is typically much higher than with outbound leads. In fact, by 1 o’clock that same day, Beau had this house under contract. 

    The Numbers 

    Beau bought the home for $125k and was able to sell it for $182k. The house was worth about $240k so after the end buyer remedied the mold situation, they were still able to flip it for a $30k profit.

    This is another shining example of how a property investor can remedy a problem, helping everyone to come out ahead. 

    Tips That Actually Work: Campaign Tracking Links

    Because of campaign tracking links, Beau was able to see exactly where his lead came from, Google Ads.

    What are campaign tracking links?

    Campaign tracking links allow you to see exactly how many people click on the links you put out on the internet?

    For example, you can see how many people click the links in your email signature. Or, in Beau’s case, his Google Ads account.

    Carrot’s platform allows you to create a unique link for any piece of content on your site.

    Whenever this link is clicked it records the data in your account (if someone turned into a lead or not).

    This feature can increase your ROI by 10x if you know what is working and where you should be spending your budget.

    If you’re already a Carrot member, learn how to add campaign tracking links to your website. Not a Carrot member? Join today!

    If you have questions about this or have ideas for future Behind the Deal episodes, reach out to Brady directly at brady@carrot.com.

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  • EP 284: The 3-Level Strategy to Buying Back your Time & Energy w/ 8-Figure Serial Entrepreneur Dan Martell

    EP 284: The 3-Level Strategy to Buying Back your Time & Energy w/ 8-Figure Serial Entrepreneur Dan Martell

    It’s easy to say we’re great when things are good, but it’s when things are wrong that we have our chance to prove how good we really are. 

    – Dan Martell

    The 3-Level Strategy to Buying Back your Time & Energy w/ Dan Martell

    Dan Martell is a serial entrepreneur and coach to some of the top SaaS companies in the world. His passion is growing businesses and people and I am one of the fortunate ones that get to call him coach.

    Dan has challenged me personally and within my business and has initiated transformation on the highest levels. Building businesses of impact and freedom are what we are all about here at Carrot.

    Today I was honored to sit down with Dan to talk about life and the strategies he uses and teaches to buy back your time. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    I first met Dan in 2018 and since then, he has helped me to not only transform my business but also my life. His troubled past teaches others that real transformation is possible once we shed the limitations we set for ourselves.

    Since working with Dan, I have been challenged physically, mentally, and within my business. During a global pandemic, with the world left in uncertainty, Dan taught me to think even bigger. His strategies and ways of thinking have allowed me to remove the self-imposed limits and grow more than I had ever thought possible. 

    Buying Back Your Time

    One of the greatest lessons I have learned from Dan is how to buy back my time. As Carrot has gone through different phases, I find that I become sucked back into the company, not making time for my family and health. Dan has taught me to find balance.

    Buying back time isn’t about adding capacity to your business, it is about opening up more time on your calendar. If you build a business you resent, it will never fulfill its potential. Buying your time back will help you achieve the freedom you set out to find when becoming an entrepreneur. 

    Level 1: Assistant

    The first thing you should do is hire an assistant. Someone to manage your calendar and email, owning it 100%. Dan doesn’t recommend a VA for a few hours a week, but someone you can physically meet with to discuss goals, plans, and strategy. 

    Level 2: Deliverables

    If you are in a business that provides clients with deliverables, hire someone to take over this part of the process. This is typically a task you can document and repeat. By hiring someone to fulfill this role, there will be no bottleneck for sales because your deliverables are hard. 

    Level 3: Marketing

    Once you figure out and perfect your marketing, you can hire someone else to do it for you. Much of it can be automated and planned ahead. As long as the person you hire understands your mission, hiring someone to do your marketing will free up a whole lot of time on your calendar. 

    Level 4: Sales & Beyond

    At the end of the day, you will always be the best salesperson for your business. As such, you’ll want to hold onto this aspect of your business until you are in a place to find someone to handle this part of the transaction. Once you have a solid sales manager in place, you can begin thinking about leadership roles for the business and team. 

    Entrepreneurs don’t grow into pain. They will often sabotage their success for fear of it being hard or due to a feeling of being unworthy. They pull back and would rather walk away than cross the next hurdle toward success. By being a careful steward of your time and going through the steps to buying it back, you’ll be able to grow and scale your business no matter what industry you are in. 

    Look for Dan’s book coming out in the fall of 2022! Using real-life stories and examples he aims to crush belief systems and limitations entrepreneurs hold often hold onto.

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  • EP 282: The “Contractor Bailed on Me” Deal w/ Keith Sant | Behind the Deal

    EP 282: The “Contractor Bailed on Me” Deal w/ Keith Sant | Behind the Deal

    Citations aren’t sexy, but they are important. 

    – Keith Sant

    The “Contractor Bailed on Me” Deal w/ Keith Sant | Behind the Deal

    Keith Sant is a long-time friend of Carrot, a five-time Carrot Camper, and returning guest here on the Carrotcast.

    Recently, he closed a deal that was plagued with difficulties from beginning to end. He will walk us through how he dealt with the contractors disappearing and his buyer bailing out at the last minute.

    After all was said and done, Keith even walked away with a higher profit than what he was expecting. Here’s an inside look at how he did it!

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Frequently you will hear about a deal’s numbers, but you won’t hear about all of the pitfalls, surprises, or how the investor got the lead.

    As our friend Keith Sant puts it, we’re not in the business of real estate; we are in the business of problem-solving. It is only when we solve the big problems that we get paid big money. 

    Behind The Deal

    The seller called Keith after finding his phone number via a Google search, and they were able to meet right away. The house needed some work and wasn’t in any condition for the MLS. The seller was moving and needed a fast closing.

    Because they were asking about $450k, there was an inspection and a 60-day close. While the price was steep, the home had a conservative ARV of $650k. 

    The Hurdle

    Keith faced multiple hurdles throughout this transaction. His contractors skipped out and, at the last minute and his original buyer fell through.

    With only a couple of days before the promised closing date, Keith had to call the seller and let him know about the situation and that there would be a delay. It wasn’t an easy call.

    The Solution

    Instead of backing out on the deal, which he could have quickly done, Keith powered through. He reached out to another potential buyer and was able to push the deal through just 3 days late.

    While the seller was not happy with the delay, Keith kept his word on the deal. He knew that he had promised to solve this seller’s problem, and finding a solution was the right thing to do.

    He took a smaller assignment fee to get the property sold. However, his original buyer had put down earnest money, which allowed Keith to walk away ahead. 

    Spending Your Marking Dollars Wisely

    When we first met Keith, he was doing a lot of bandit signs and ringless voicemails – hundreds of thousands of them.

    Today, over 80% of his deals come from Carrot.

    He is doing more business and spending less time because his organic leads have grown year after year. 

    Additionally, Keith sets up tracking phone numbers for each marketing channel. This tells him exactly where his leads are coming from, allowing him to focus on his marketing budget better. The saying goes… Half of your marketing doesn’t work, but most people don’t know which half! 

    A great benefit of your Carrot site is the ability to create campaign links. You can use these links on your Facebook ads, retargeting ads, Google My Business page, and anywhere that links to your website. Then, you will be able to track your leads to know precisely where they came from. 

    Sellers Setting Appointments

    A great tip Keith shared with us was his use of the Calendly app. Adding this feature to his website allows potential sellers to easily schedule their own appointment time right there on his website.

    They don’t have to wait for a callback, making them less likely to jump to the next website when looking for a buyer. You can also put a link to your Calendly app in your auto-responder emails and texts. 

    Since implementing this feature on his website 6 months ago – he has closed 8 deals. The people scheduling appointments are ready to sell. They are usually much more motivated than people you are cold calling. 

    Tips That Work – Citations

    A citation is like a business card that you put around the web. Think business directories, Google My Business, Apple Maps, and social media sites. You’ll want to fill out your business information, adding photos where applicable.

    You can spend a few hours/days setting these up, you can utilize software to help you through it, or you can hire a pro. No matter how you do it, these backlinks will help you build credibility with your potential clients and with Google – thus helping you rank higher in organic search results. 

    Join Us Live! 

    Join us every other Thursday on Facebook Live. We’ll be taking you behind the deal with some of the top guys and gals in the industry. Get answers to your questions live on air while learning the fundamentals of the business.

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  • EP 281: How to Recruit & Manage a Driving For Dollars Army for More Off-Market Deals w/ David Lecko of Deal Machine

    EP 281: How to Recruit & Manage a Driving For Dollars Army for More Off-Market Deals w/ David Lecko of Deal Machine

    Driving for dollars is the fastest way to get instant results, but you need to set your expectations and make a plan. Don’t quit too early. 

    – David Lecko

    How to Recruit & Manage a Driving For Dollars Army for More Off-Market Deals

    David Lecko is a returning guest and long-time friend of Carrot. His software, DealMachine, is a game-changer when it comes to curating a list of proven, personalized leads.

    Automating routine tasks and direct-to-seller marketing tools has freed up his time to work on the bigger deals and spend time doing what he loves which is what this is all about.

    Today we’re going to learn how he utilizes his software and a team of drivers to dominate his chosen market. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    As your business grows, one of the most important things you will do is build your team. Finding the right people, creating the right training, and finding the right balance will all be huge factors in your success.

    Driving for dollars is a proven strategy for investors, whether they are just getting started with a minimal budget, or if they are seasoned investors, looking to add to their marketing mix.

    Listen in or keep reading to learn exactly how he does it. 

    Why Build a Team?

    At Carrot, we are all about helping people build businesses of freedom and impact. A lot of this is done by saving you time on the day-to-day tasks so that you can focus on the things that give you energy. Building the right team and implementing the right processes can take those daily tasks off your plate, freeing up your time for more important things. 

    Many entrepreneurs I know become hyper-focused, losing the freedom that owning their own business was supposed to provide. I know first-hand that it can be hard to delegate and trust others with tasks they’ve done for so long.

    However, I’ve learned that if I am going to have the impact and life I want, then I need to find ways to create more time in my day. Automation and team building has helped me to do that. 

    Battling Entrepreneurial Guilt

    After building a team and finding more time in your day, it can be difficult to take time off. You may feel guilty for golfing on a Friday afternoon while your team is working or for stepping away from the office for a week to travel with your family.

    However, these are the things that may give you energy. Your team is better served when you come back refreshed and in the right mindset.

    Remember that you worked hard to get here, and for many, freedom is what it’s all about. 

    Finding Drivers

    After doing a couple of deals on your own, David recommends adding a driver or two to your team. A few of his pro tips include: 

    • Using a template ad that you perfect over time. This will attract the right people with the right mindset.
    • Have them perform a simple test such as downloading the DealMachine app and adding a property. This will weed out the unmotivated. 
    • Make sure to pay a couple of dollars more than Amazon does for drivers in your area. 
    • Don’t quit too soon. You’ll need to add about 300 properties to DealMachine before a deal goes through. In bigger markets, that number can jump to 1,200. 
    • You can pay drivers by lead, hourly, or when a deal closes. David prefers hourly, with quotas put in place.
    • Hire 2+ drivers at a time in case one doesn’t work out, you won’t have to do hiring/training processes again right away.
    • Have a weekly Zoom call to review properties and make any corrections to the quality of the leads. 
    • Utilize the training videos in Deal Machine for your drivers or create your own. 

    Driving for dollars is the fastest way to get instant results. It’s important to set clear expectations of your drivers and your intended results. Set expectations, make a plan, and don’t quit too early. I always tell you to trust the math.

    I’d trade $5k for a $25k profit all day. Run the numbers for your market, make a plan, and utilize Carrot and Deal Machine to build your real estate business!

    P.S. – Did you know DealMachine lets you try their app for 7 days for free? Go to DealMachine.com/Carrot to try it out and get a co-branded Carrot + DealMachine experience!

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  • EP 280: The “Free Car” Deal w/ Beau Hollis | Behind the Deal 1

    EP 280: The “Free Car” Deal w/ Beau Hollis | Behind the Deal 1

    I want to educate my sellers. Just like on Amazon, people are going to research before making decisions.

    – Beau Hollis

    The “Free Car” Deal w/ Beau Hollis | Behind the Deal 1

    Back on September 16th, we did an awesome Livestream with our good friend Beau Hollis. As a long-time Carrot customer, wholesaler, investor, and occasional flipper, Beau is going to take us behind the scenes, showing us every aspect of the deal.

    Its part of a new Livestream we are doing that takes you inside a real-life deal, from start to finish. We answered questions live on air and offered some tips that really work. Catch up on this exciting new series here, and join us every other Thursday, live on Facebook! 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Beau always brings one thing with him, and that’s positive energy. He’s a generous, straightforward, all-around good dude, and we are thrilled he is taking us behind one of his most recent deals.

    Today we’re looking at a deal he did with a woman named Brenda. He made her a fair offer, closed at lightning speed, solved her car problem, and walked away with about $12k. Here’s how he did it. 

    How the Deal Began

    Brenda called Beau’s office around 3 o’clock on a Tuesday afternoon. He asked when he could see the property and she let him know that she was ready right away. Within an hour he was viewing the property and making her an offer.

    Brenda had let him know that she had other interested parties coming to see the house, so he knew he’d need to act quickly to lock this property down. 

    Solving Multiple Problems

    While touring the house, Beau noticed there was an old car parked in the driveway. He know this wasn’t Brenda’s car and that it must have belonged to the previous owner of the house as the property was in a probate situation.

    Without any intention or motive, Beau asked him what she planned to do with the car. When she told him it didn’t run and she needed to sell it, he offered to buy it too, writing it into the contract then and there.

    Just like that, he was able to solve two major problems Brenda was dealing with. Because he solved more than one problem, offered a fair price, and was able to close quickly, Beau was able to get Brenda to sign a contract right then and there. 

    Everyone Comes Out Ahead

    Brenda wanted $185k for the house and Beau offered $170k. They went back and forth, meeting in the middle at $178. Beau got a great property, and a car out of the deal, while Breda got a fair price and was able t close by Friday of that same week!

    Beau’s team pulled together and was able to close on the property in just three business days. Speed and convenience were what were important to Brenda and Beau delivered. After all, was said and done, Beau walked away with about $12k in profit on the deal. Not too bad for a couple of days of work! 

    Giving Back

    At first, Beau thought we would sell the car. Maybe make a small profit after fixing it up. But then he thought to himself, why not give it away. For someone just getting started, it would be a great car to drive for dollars.

    The idea evolved, and now he is also giving away $1,000 in addition to the car, and we are including 3 free months of Carrot service! All you have to do is visit Beau’s Youtube channel for more! 

    Tips That Actually Work: Credibility Bars

    Credibility is one of the most important things for an investor, wholesaler, or any business owner really. A few years ago, Beau didn’t have any video on his site, but today, he makes sure to document everything.

    When you visit his site, one of the first things you see are videos, featuring real people, with real stories. Other Carrot members opt to use a credibility bar, with direct links to their Google, Facebook, or BBB page. 

    To learn more about how to create a credibility bar on your site, watch this tutorial.

    If creating videos seems intimidating or you’re not sure where to start, we offer an excellent video marketing playbook and carrot.com/video. If you have questions about this or have ideas for future Behind the Deal episodes, reach out to Brady directly at brady@carrot.com.

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  • EP 278: 4 Ways Chasing Pirates as a Marine Helped Josue Velney Become a Confident Real Estate Investor

    EP 278: 4 Ways Chasing Pirates as a Marine Helped Josue Velney Become a Confident Real Estate Investor

    You have to get creative in a competitive market. We aren’t always high volume, but we are high profit.

    – Josue Velney

    4 Ways Chasing Pirates as a Marine Helped Josue Velney Become a Confident Real Estate Investor

    Josue is a Carrot client, Carrot Camper, and a perfect example of someone who is doing things right. He has served our county as a Marine, shipping out on three combat tours. He then spent 12 years in the fire service, while building a rental portfolio.

    Today, Josue has retired from the fire department and holds a portfolio worth 10’s of millions of dollars. With 50 units under construction or in the permitting and zoning process, Josue has become a master of bringing value, finding value, and controlling his mindset.

    Today we’ll learn exactly how he has taken his military background and brought those lessons into his real estate business. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Josue has found success from hard work, knowing how to get in the right room and his tireless pursuit of education.

    We’re inspired by the way he has taken lessons learned in Iraq and as a professional pirate hunter and applied them to the world of real estate. From teamwork to training to flexibility, these are the things Josue is doing to build himself an empire. 

    #1 – Never Stop Training

    The Marine Corps is big on staying in shape and always being ready for war – mentally and physically. Josue learned leadership during his MP training, SWAT training, and martial arts training. He learned about body language, motivations, and focus.

    These same strategies are also true for investors. It is important to never stop learning – whether it is about the industry, how to run your business, or yourself. 

    #2 – Stay Flexible

    When Josue received the orders for his pirate chasing mission, he had no idea what he was getting into. He lived in tight corners, without bathrooms, and was put through more intense training.

    He learned how to be resourceful and brought those skills into his first deals. Toward the beginning of his investment career, the focus was on being a buy-and-hold investor. However, Josue realized he was sitting in the wrong seat.

    Today his focus is on construction management and his business’s main focus is on the development of raw land. 

    #3 – Focus on the Team

    Chasing pirates awarded Josue his highest medal, the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, but he wouldn’t have been able to do anything without his team. On this mission, the task force included Marines, Navy, Coast Guard, and civilians, who shared expertise to achieve a common goal.

    The same is true for Josue’s business today. The focus is on creating the best team. Not just within the office, but a team that is made up of the best architects, engineers, insurance agents, lenders, attorneys, accountants, and subcontractors. 

    #4 – Sympathy, Empathy, and Understanding

    When out chasing pirates we understood why they were kidnaping people and capturing ships. They also understood that we had a job to do. It was a surprising skill and mindset that has aided Josue in his business today.

    As real estate investors/developers, we try to understand the seller’s motivation and situation. We try to solve the seller’s problems; however, we cannot jeopardize the health of our company to do so. If his team isn’t able to help, they will work to find someone who can.

    At the end of the day, for Josue, it is about leaving communities better than he found them. 

    We loved hearing Josue’s story and motivations. Helping to improve his community while passing on his knowledge to those up-and-comers behind him is inspiring and something we never tire of seeing.

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  • EP 277: How These ‘Covid Pivots’ Delivered $600k/yr on 1/3 the Marketing Budget w/Joe Hartman and Shane Bloyer

    EP 277: How These ‘Covid Pivots’ Delivered $600k/yr on 1/3 the Marketing Budget w/Joe Hartman and Shane Bloyer

    When you’re a wholesaler, getting the deal is great. But our value is in who we can turn around and sell it to. That’s what the seller is paying you for. 

    – Joe Hartman

    How These ‘Covid Pivots’ Delivered $600k/yr on 1/3 the Marketing Budget w/Joe Hartman and Shane Bloyer

    Joe and Shane have been with Carrot since 2014. They’ve made many shifts in their business over the past 7 years, including a strategic downsizing (right-sizing) at exactly the right time.

    Using Evergreen Marketing, intentional relationships, and a fresh take on their business, they have transformed their business into what they always knew it could be.

    Today we are learning exactly how they did a 180 in their business while dealing with competition, a tough market, and a global pandemic. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    At the beginning of 2020, Joe and Shane found themselves in a difficult situation. Profits were slim, the hours were long, and the business wasn’t they had hoped it would be.

    There wasn’t a shortage of deals, rather, they were spinning their wheels in the wrong direction. It was there and then that they decided to make some big changes in their business.

    Simply put, they set out to eliminate all of the things that minimized returns. While the process wasn’t an easy one, the changes they made quickly drove their profits, while eliminating overhead costs. Here’s how they did it… 

    A Fresh Take 

    The average wholesaling business will typically follow a similar model. You’ll have a VA, acquisitions team, dispositions team, marketing people, and a transaction coordinator.

    Shane and Joe did this, a few different times, with a few different people.

    And while they got the process down, the returns weren’t there. They needed to take an inventory of their business to get out of the cycle they were in. 

    Discovering What They Need

    The idea in many of these wholesaling businesses is to grow, grow, grow, scale, and grow again. While some people are able to do this, many will quickly find themselves over their heads.

    Joe and Shane didn’t need 60 deals a month, they’re good at 10. Sure, it’s a great model for some, but setting lofty goals proved to be detrimental as the business quickly became more than they could manage.

    By refocusing their efforts, they have been able to achieve the profits they dreamed of, without having to chase down tons of extra deals. 

    Right-Sizing

    A difficult part of this process was letting people go that they were close with. It wasn’t easy, but it needed to be done. By “right-sizing” their business, they were able to reduce overhead, while making it easier to manage. Instead of having a large team, they are now a group of 5-6 who are able to function at a very high level. 

    Not only did they change the composition of their team, but they also changed their marketing mix. Instead of going after all of the shiny objects, they refocused on what was working: Radio, banner ads, and SEO. They have also gone small with their office space, saving thousands by reducing their square-footage. 

    They have “right-sized” their business model too. While they dabbled in wholesaling, flipping, and rentals, they realized they weren’t able to do all three well. Today, their focus is on wholesaling and building a business on rock, not sand. They’ve discovered a system they can grow and build upon to create a truly sustainable business. 

    Evergreen Relationships

    When it comes to competition, the game is strong in the Baltimore market. Instead of competing, Joe and Shane have chosen to partner. They have successfully formed valuable relationships with many who would normally be considered competition.

    They have realized that there is enough for everyone and by working with others who share the common goal of helping others, they have become more successful in their pursuits. 

    Both Shane and Joe love teaching and have been working on a nuts and bolts wholesaling course that can help anyone get started. It’s in beta-mode currently, but you can reach out to Joe and Shane directly for more info! 

    Shane: shane.bloyer@gmail.com
    Joe: joe@phigproperties.com

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  • EP 275: 3 Costly Mistakes Newer Investors Need to Understand w/ Brett Iwanowicz

    EP 275: 3 Costly Mistakes Newer Investors Need to Understand w/ Brett Iwanowicz

    Master communication and networking and you will master anything you put your mind to. 

    – Brett Iwanowicz

    3 Costly Mistakes Newer Investors Need to Understand w/ Brett Iwanowicz

    Brett Iwanowicz is closing just under two deals per month on average, but it wasn’t always this way. Brett struggled with anxiety, feelings of inadequacy, and low-self esteem. It took him a long time to decide what he wanted in life and find the momentum to get him there.

    Today, Brett is living life on his terms. By surrounding himself with the right people, building credibility through video, and figuring out exactly what he wants his life to look like, Brett is carving out the life of his dreams. Today, he is sharing his early mistakes so you can learn how to avoid them. 

    Read the Full Show Notes Below…

    Brett Iwanowicz is a property wholesaler in upstate New York. His journey is not unlike many others in that he has battled insecurities, fear, and a lack of direction.

    While it took him a few years to get where he wanted to be, he used his pain to propel him into new directions that gave him the ability to carve out his dream lifestyle.

    Today Brett is sharing 3 of his greatest rookie mistakes and how they led him to where he is today. 

    1. Understanding Your Budget

    When Brett started his wholesaling business, he knew it was important to set a budget. What he didn’t know, is that when it comes to marketing, you’ll want to budget for at least a year of implementing the same technique.

    Let’s say you choose direct mail, don’t dive in, feel dissatisfied with the results, and put the rest of your time, money, and energy into something else. Stay the course. Create a sustainable budget that will help you build that initial momentum. 

    2. Understanding the Mind of a Seller

    Successful people aren’t always the smartest, but they are always the friendliest. Once Brett realized that he didn’t need to be “smart” to get into real estate, everything changed.

    What he realized, is that in order to be successful, he needed to be the nicest one. He changed his mindset and went full-steam ahead!

    3. Understanding Your Strengths and Weaknesses

    Brett has always struggled with numbers, which stopped him from really getting out there sooner. His fear of talking numbers kept him away from the closing table more times than he would like to admit.

    He conquered this by surrounding himself with the right people, His peers taught him and put him in connection with people who can help. Once he had a little money to his name, Brett hired a coach and focused on personal development. His coach taught him how to plan and set goals. 

    Finding Your Mission

    Back when Carrot was first getting started, I set a lot of goals for myself and wasn’t hitting any of them. I felt defeated so put the goals away until we moved a few years later. Once I read them over, I laughed

    I had hit all of those goals that had seemed too far-fetched at the time. For Brett, it took him several years to live his life by design. But he never gave up. He knew what he wanted, created a plan, and did the work. You can too. 

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