$11,000/Month with One VERY Unique Rental Property

Ashley Kehr:
That is actual property rookie episode 289er.

Garrett Brown:
I like distinctive issues and I’m actually good with hospitality. And as I began operating numbers and crunching all the pieces over like a month or two, it was a fairly apparent selection for me personally and my very own scenario. It does take loads to run the glamping website and to construct it up, so it took far more time of my very own time than I believed, however I used to be ready for that. I noticed that the money movement and the opposite advantages of it, of what I may do, constructing some fairness and constructing distinctive money movement locations was going to only blow only a conventional funding out the water for me. That’s once I pivoted to go to that route and all of it made sense and has labored out nice.

Ashley Kehr:
My identify is Ashley Kehr and I’m right here with my co-host Tony Robinson.

Tony Robinson:
And welcome to the Actual Property Rookie Podcast the place each week, twice per week, we convey you the inspiration, motivation, and tales you might want to hear to kickstart your investing journey. And you already know what? I really like having the ability to host a podcast like this as a result of we get to listen to so many superb tales, however each occasionally there’s a visitor that comes on that similar to selfishly, I’m so excited to speak to you as a result of they’re engaged on one thing that I’m additionally engaged on and I get to select their mind. And that was as we speak’s episode for me.

Ashley Kehr:
And I’m truly upset that I ended the recording as a result of Tony went on to ask a ton extra questions that we must always have had some type of bonus content material. Perhaps that’s simply going to be our rule till the visitor truly fully leaves the present, we simply hold rolling and recording for some bonus content material.

Tony Robinson:
Right now we’ve received Garrett Brown, and Garrett, he’s truly a music producer primarily based out of Houston, Texas, and he’s labored with large identify artists like Jhené Aiko, 2 Chainz. He named another actually large identify artists that he’s carried out work with, however he’s additionally received this ardour for actual property investing. And so all people will get to dive into Garrett’s story and the way he’s utilizing his music enterprise to gas his actual property enterprise.

Ashley Kehr:
And earlier than I point out all the good issues about Garrett, I simply wish to inform you guys that Tony was additionally within the music business at one level. And there’s a YouTube video, so I problem you to go forward, take a deep dive.

Tony Robinson:
And in case you discover it, simply DM it to me on Instagram. After I was working my first W2 job out of school, I used to be a supervisor at a warehouse and had a crew of, I don’t know, 80 folks. And I share with them that I had this YouTube video additionally, and I used to be like, “If anybody finds it, I’ll get on the road and I’ll work with you guys for a shift.” And somebody discovered it the very subsequent day.

Ashley Kehr:
Oh, actually?

Tony Robinson:
I don’t understand how they discovered it. However anyway, I ended up working half a day on-line with my crew members that day.

Ashley Kehr:
And what the worst a part of it’s, it’s truly not that unhealthy. I believed it’s very unhealthy and it wasn’t that unhealthy.

Tony Robinson:
Hey, I feel 20 12 months outdated Tony was doing a little fairly cool stuff.

Ashley Kehr:
We have now Garrett on as we speak and we’re very excited in regards to the completely different methods that he touches primarily based on, as a result of he has tried a handful of them. He began out flipping. Had a pair fouled offers that didn’t make their approach by means of, after which a really good profitable flip. Then he began doing condos the place he bought a handful of condos and turned them into short-term rental, after which two that had been long-term leases. After which from there determined to transition his technique once more into one thing that aligned extra together with his diploma, which was hospitality administration. I’ll allow you to guys take a guess as to what technique that was.

Tony Robinson:
And Garrett, he shares a extremely, actually cool technique, one which I’ve by no means heard anybody share earlier than about how as a model new investor, he was in a position to estimate his rehab prices. And it was in all probability one of the genius, easiest methods I’ve ever heard anybody share about estimating rehab prices. Then he additionally goes on to speak about why he spent virtually a complete 12 months in search of the precise metropolis to buy his Airbnb. And he talks about his conversations with completely different cities and completely different counties and his means of eliminating the places that didn’t assist his enterprise objectives. Simply all through this complete dialog, Garrett dropped lots of actually good nuggets all through.

Ashley Kehr:
Properly, Garrett, do you wish to begin off simply telling us slightly bit about your self and the way you bought began in actual property?

Garrett Brown:
Positive. My identify’s Garrett Brown. I’m from Houston, Texas. I personal a music studio and I’m a music producer by commerce, however I’ve been in actual property now. I’ve been a realtor for about six years now. And I’ve been an actual property investor now for about three years. Began doing a typical realtor route, studying the ropes of that. After which as soon as I began assembly a number of completely different pe… I’ve heard about or… I didn’t even actually see what all may very well be carried out by means of actual property investing on the time. All I knew was, get a consumer, promote a home, purchase a home, after which I might go from there. However as soon as I had anyone attain out to me about actual property investing, I discovered greater pockets and went from there. And it was undoubtedly a life altering second for me.

Tony Robinson:
You type of answered my query, Garrett, however I used to be going to say, did you turn into a realtor with the expectation of that being a stepping stone in direction of turning into an investor or was turning into a realtor only a technique to generate some further money?

Garrett Brown:
It was only a technique to generate some further money. I used to be in search of one thing that was actual versatile inside my music schedule as a result of I document just about 07:00 PM to midnight, 01:00, 02:00 AM each night time. And in the course of the day I didn’t have a lot, however I additionally traveled some. I used to be in search of one thing that was slightly extra versatile that I knew would be capable to construct up some money over time to actually get me the place I needed to go. I do have a hospitality administration diploma. That’s what I went to College of Houston for. I needed to ultimately possibly personal a bar or a music venue or one thing alongside these strains. I simply needed to get my toes moist with it. However I by no means deliberate on turning into… Actually taking place the trail of the place actual property investing is the factor that I discovered because the device that may be very very important for me going ahead.
And so as soon as I received into it and going, it simply performed itself out. And I began assembly folks once I was working with traders and I used to be seeing what they had been doing on offers and the way a lot they had been making and all these different issues. And I used to be like, “All proper, I feel I must take a step again and determine some issues as a result of I feel they’re doing it slightly higher than me.” As a result of I’m not an actual salesy man both. Realtors, I’ve an enormous large respect for them, particularly those which might be actually good. However it’s a really salesy factor, particularly while you’re calling on the market by homeowners, calling expireds. I used to be doing all that and it undoubtedly was simply not precisely up my lane. I needed to be slightly extra, use my hospitality diploma and be slightly extra distinctive with the place I used to be going and actually attempt to construct some monetary freedom and long-term wealth for me and my household going ahead.

Ashley Kehr:
Earlier than we go any extra into the episode, what does your portfolio appear like as we speak and what number of offers have you ever carried out?

Garrett Brown:
I’ve in all probability carried out, I’ve carried out… I’ve failed at two flips, lastly had one profitable flip. I’ve had a buy-in, live-in flip mainly that I did. After which I had three condos that I used to be short-term renting and long-term renting for fairly some time. However then at this very second I’ve bought most of that. After which I’ve a fairly main glamp website that we simply launched and we’re attempting to increase going ahead from about an hour away from Houston close to one of many main lakes known as Lake Livingston. I’ve a 426 sq. foot geo-dome, like a completely luxurious on grid, commercially everlasting geo-dome. I’ve a ranch home on there that’s price about 500,000 that we’re going to hire out very shortly. After which we’ve got a pair different websites we’re including onto the glamp website, including a extremely particular one in August. After which we’re attempting to increase from there and add a marriage venue and another issues as we go ahead with it.

Ashley Kehr:
I can’t wait to get into all of this, however let’s discuss these completely different methods. What made you begin with flipping?

Garrett Brown:
Simply often because… One factor I really like about actual property and as soon as I received additional into it, I noticed how various there was and I used to be having slightly evaluation paralysis as a result of it was like do I wish to discover a storage unit? Do I wish to flip a home? Do I wish to do Airbnb and do extra of the hospitality facet? Do I wish to do exactly purchase and holds? And I actually received extra into flipping first simply because lots of the traders I used to be working with had been doing flips. And so I actually was in a position to study loads from that course of. I might go stroll the properties with them. I might go to random… There can be investor listing and wholesaler listing that might ship out, “Hey, we’re having an open home 01:00 to 03:00 at the present time, all you traders come to this home.” And I might go to the home, actually not the intent of buying it, however I might go to only stroll the property, work on attempting to get my rehab prices. I’d have my very own little spreadsheet that I used to be working off of.
I received fortunate a few occasions and had a contractor truly stroll some locations with me that they’d give me their concept of what it thought it could take. And I might simply go to a few of these open homes and simply hearken to what different folks had been saying too. As a result of lots of these had been a number of the greater traders in Houston and they might be strolling round stating issues and I might simply pay attention and I might hear what they’d say, “Oh that is going to value 1500 to do that bathroom factor,” or no matter like that. And I used to be simply mentally taking notes. And I went to twenty, 30 of those within the first few months with no intention actually of shopping for. I didn’t have the monetary means to purchase something, however I used to be simply getting all this data to actually study rehab prices and what was actually going to make me snug going to that subsequent stage of truly placing in a suggestion and placing up my hard-earned cash that I’ve been working for therefore lengthy that I used to be so nervous of deploying.
However as soon as I truly began placing out affords, all that stress went away as a result of I noticed the power of what it could truly generate if one thing went by means of with a properly deal and simply attempting issues.

Tony Robinson:
Garrett, we’ve interviewed… You’re episode 289, so we’ve had 288 conversations up till this level. And I don’t assume a single particular person has ever mentioned that they’ve gone to open homes simply to listen to what different potential traders are saying the home would possibly want on the subject of rehab. What a easy but tremendous efficient technique to estimate your rehab prices. As a result of I really feel like for lots of recent traders, that’s one of many issues that actually will get them caught is that in case you’ve by no means carried out this earlier than, it’s laborious so that you can ballpark what amount of cash you would possibly spend to purchase and renovate a house. Clearly, when you’ve carried out it a number of occasions and in case you’re shopping for with inside your purchase field, you already know precisely what it’s going to value. Like Ash, I’m positive precisely what it prices to renovate a duplex in Buffalo. I do know precisely what it prices to renovate a 3 mattress, two tub in Joshua Tree.
But when it’s your first time doing it, there’s lots of query marks there. You additionally talked about about getting the GC to stroll with you, however only one different observe up query on this listening. First, how lengthy had been you at these open homes? Had been you simply there the whole time and simply letting folks come by means of after which had been you truly having conversations with the opposite traders or had been you only a fly on the wall and taking notes? Simply stroll us by means of the tactical facet of the way you truly received data out of that open home.

Garrett Brown:
Positive. It actually began once I was going with different traders or going with traders as an agent, looking for completely different locations and they might level out issues. However as soon as I began to get on a few of these wholesale lists, there’s a pair and other people in Houston that they get there… There’s a number of the largest wholesalers out right here, they host tons of open homes the place it’s, “Hey, first traders to point out up, whoever makes the most effective deal that day, you’ll get the property-vibe,” like money solely, all these issues like that. I might go there. At first I used to be slightly extra nervous. I wasn’t attempting to be apparent that I didn’t know what I used to be doing and issues, despite the fact that trying again, that’s so naive to assume that approach. However I might go possibly half-hour, 45 minutes and I might simply stroll round and act like I knew what I used to be doing. I wouldn’t actually discuss to many individuals. Each occasionally I could get into it, however lots of these folks had been whoever was in the home as their competitors and issues like that. However it blew my thoughts.
And I observed this from doing residential retail gross sales, that folks go into homes and so they simply discuss out loud and so they don’t notice that I could also be listening or consumers are strolling in saying all these items. And the other facet is you bought to be actual care… And I inform my consumers, after we stroll into homes, you might want to be actual cautious what you say out loud. It was comparable on the investor’s facet. Folks had been similar to… They’d be strolling in a rest room, they’d search for and be like, “Oh man, you see that? Oh, there’s a leak proper there. Oh, that’s going to be an excellent $5,000.” And I used to be simply taking this all into consideration. And after I received slightly extra snug with completely different traders and the terminology and all my very own analysis by means of greater pockets and simply attempting completely different spreadsheets folks put on-line. There’s a tunnel on-line, particularly in Texas, there’s completely different contractors or those who do rehabs that may put out a free spreadsheet of what they estimate this value for a brand new window right here.
And that will not be the precise reply, but it surely gave me an excellent guideline to the place I used to be going to go once I began strolling properties alone that I used to be truly contemplating shopping for. After which I had at the very least a ballpark to know, “Hey, doing this bathroom and having to repair the tile, to go to LVP, it could be on this value.” As a result of I heard anyone speaking about, that they thought this 1200 sq. foot home was going to value, I don’t know, $6,000 to place new flooring in or one thing. And I used to be simply taking these little bits of knowledge and I might go put it into my spreadsheet or I might replace the particular person’s spreadsheet that was… Perhaps it was a nationwide spreadsheet. I might possibly attempt to, “Okay, they thought that home windows… And this particular person, he did his in Georgia, however he thought his home windows had been going to be this quantity. However I’ve gotten different data from a few of my very own bids from different contractors or seeing folks discuss it that the home windows are literally in all probability going to be nearer to this.” And so I could go change it.
And I might all the time add that further cushion on high, realizing that all the pieces is all the time extra. And I noticed this from serving to traders, that all the pieces all the time goes dearer than you… Very not often does a flip or something go beneath finances.

Tony Robinson:
No approach.

Garrett Brown:
As soon as I noticed that, I used to be like, “Oh, I in all probability want so as to add a 20% buffer on high of this too, whereas I’m doing it.” It was simply actually getting bits of knowledge. And I had evaluation paralysis in all probability for the primary 12 months or two as a result of I used to be simply so nervous like, “Oh these guys, they’ve been doing it, they received money funds to do it. Even when they fail they’ll be superb. And if I fail, my money funds are gone.” However as soon as I do it and I noticed common Joes and Jills doing the identical issues I needed to do, I knew that there was a approach I may make it occur. And I actually simply wanted to place my toes within the hearth and doubtless begin making affords and have a number of failed offers, which is what occurred to study, “Okay, this isn’t going to work, however I realized loads from it.” Nothing like that could be a failure. You’ll be able to’t fail till you stop. You’ll be able to solely take these as classes from all of your losses or all of your tribulations that the subsequent one, ultimately… You’re not going to make that mistake once more.
While you begin making consecutive errors, that’s when there’s a difficulty and that wanted to be corrected. When you make one mistake and you’ll nix that within the bud from the start, then that’s how your journey needs to be going. From what I’ve seen from the skin.

Tony Robinson:
Garrett, you had lots of actually nice data there. And I undoubtedly wish to hold the dialog transferring as a result of I really feel like we may discuss this for some time, however simply to make clear for all of our rookie listeners. You weren’t going to conventional open homes for properties that had been listed on market. You had been going after open homes for wholesalers. And the rationale you had been in a position to get a lot extra data is as a result of usually wholesalers aren’t promoting to retail consumers, they’re promoting to different traders. When you get a family of investor, that’s the way you’re in a position to be this fly on the wall and actually get insights from all these different traders. However dude, one last item you mentioned. I wasn’t even planning on bringing this up, however you mentioned it sufficient, I received to make a touch upon it. You talked in regards to the mistake piece and it’s so humorous, Garrett, as a result of I’ve a son, he’s 15 and simply being a youngster, you are inclined to do dumb issues.
Simply your mind chemically just isn’t the place it’s purported to be but. And despite the fact that you appear like you’re 21 years outdated inside, you’re like eight. And I inform my son on a regular basis, I used to be like, “Dude, it’s okay in case you make a mistake. Life is all about making errors.” As a result of I wish to give him the arrogance that making errors is okay. However similar to you mentioned, it’s like while you make the error, you get the lesson, however you don’t apply that lesson to your life, that’s while you begin getting in hassle. So many good issues. Ash I really feel like I can go on a tangent, however I do know you’ve received some actually cool methods, Ashley too, about analyzing or estimating rehab prices. You inform folks to place stuff into their card on Dwelling Depot and all that stuff. Are you able to simply discuss that? As a result of I feel that’s one other actually useful approach for people that aren’t possibly in a position to get into open homes with wholesalers.

Ashley Kehr:
There may be two ways in which I realized development value and the best way to even do a rehab. And a kind of methods was going onto Lowe’s and or Dwelling Depot and mainly going room by room, “Okay, I’m going to transform a rest room, I’m going to wish an arrogance.” Look it up on Dwelling Depot, how a lot does an arrogance value, a primary self-importance? Then I might take that and I might hyperlink it right into a spreadsheet the place I might have, what it was, what number of I would want with the hyperlink to the precise web site if I needed to return to it. After which how a lot it value. After which I might be capable to have a complete on the finish of least my supplies. And naturally, as I used to be beginning out, there was issues I didn’t know, okay, “How a lot grout do I want for this many sq. toes a WC to place the tile in or no matter? What’s the completed grout? How a lot will I want?” Issues like that.
However at the very least it’s received me began with considerably of an estimate, going room by room and laying out each materials that I would want. And YouTube was an enormous assist with that too. And the second factor that I might do is, I employed a associate, somebody who knew rehab and development. I gave him some fairness within the property in trade for him to do a number of the labor and to let me mainly observe him round and attempt to be of help. To at the present time he’ll say that I used to be not very useful, however I can do some issues now. These had been the 2 ways in which I realized about estimating rehab, is from taking over a associate who had expertise after which additionally simply discovering out the supplies. After which the labor half was loads more durable for me as a result of I really feel prefer it actually does fluctuate loads as to what it truly could be. Now we’re very diligent at holding monitor of, “Okay, what are present charges for getting flooring put in? How a lot are we a worth per sq. foot?”
And we attempt to use the identical distributors. Each occasionally most bid it out simply to ensure that our distributors are staying trustworthy, issues like that. However it undoubtedly helps when you may get your most well-liked distributors the place our painters… We all know each two bed room, one lavatory unit, that doesn’t have horrible wall injury, it’s going to value us X quantity or round that every time. And that makes it so useful to have the ability to go and estimate. Even for condominium turnovers, doing rehabs on these, what these prices are going to be.

Tony Robinson:
Earlier than we go on, since you sparked one thing within me, as a result of the factor that I all the time… I Liked your strategy, the factor I all the time considered, “I received to determine what materials I must do no matter job that’s.” And you might watch a YouTube video, however I believed, “With know-how as we speak, there’s in all probability a better approach to do that.” I opened up ChatGPT, I mentioned, “Give me a step-by-step motion plan for eradicating an outdated bathroom and putting in a brand new one. That is my first time doing this, so please assume I do know nothing about plumbing.” ChatGPT mentioned, “Positive, right here’s a step-by-step motion plan to take away an outdated bathroom and set up a brand new one. Instruments and supplies you’ll want.” After which it goes on to listing eight or I feel there’s 10 objects on right here that I’ll want. And now I’ve a listing of issues that I can go store for on Amazon to try to perceive what that value is. There’s no excuse now for anyone-

Garrett Brown:
It’s a good suggestion. Superb.

Ashley Kehr:
After which the subsequent factor you place it in, “Are you able to construct out a rehab template for me with all the pieces on it?”

Tony Robinson:
Precisely.

Ashley Kehr:
Garrett, together with your spreadsheet although that you just had, did you develop it over time as a substitute of simply taking the one you discovered on-line and sticking to that. Are there issues that you just observed that possibly on a few of these templates you discovered on-line that weren’t included that you just assume all people ought to have?

Garrett Brown:
That’s precisely what I did. I might take the template that I appreciated. I attempted 4 or 5 completely different ones, seeing what was on there and issues. And I took the one which I appreciated probably the most and over time would undoubtedly adapt it to the issues I realized, particularly case particular to the areas I’m in. In Houston, Texas, we’ve got lots of basis issues as a result of we’re so near the ocean and simply have a really moist soil for lack of higher phrases there. One factor that I feel in my space that I observed was that lots of basis prices, it was a extra prevalent factor and it was one thing that I wanted to account for extra going into homes. As a result of as soon as we’d discover out, particularly working with lots of traders, I noticed this that they’d work on the inspiration portion after which the inspiration would mess up all of the framing for one thing or the inspiration would crack some plumbing that wanted to be there after which it could add onto all these prices.
However it actually simply got here from… And I did comparable issues to you too with the Dwelling Depot and Lowe’s. As a result of Dwelling Depot and Lowe’s, they’ll come out and provide you with a quote for issues, particularly sure sub issues or new tile. And it’s most definitely going to be slightly dearer than extra of an area sub. However you’ll be able to take a few of these numbers and I used to be getting loc… I might name flooring firms that had been extra native and say, “Hey, what’s your fee for in putting in LVP in a X, Y, Z fashion home? What do you do for labor?” And a few of these folks, these subcontractors particularly gives you what their estimate is on… Portray’s an excellent one too, “Oh, normally we cost round this per sq. foot.” They usually’ll be capable to provide you with an concept that does have some variation.
However when you begin calling a few of these completely different folks… I might just about would attempt to name three or 4 subcontractors on, particularly all my early flips that I used to be attempting, despite the fact that they failed. I might have three or 4 subs come out typically. I’d stack them up and I’d attempt to not allow them to see one another coming on the similar time. Regardless that a contest stage, may need been good. I’m undecided on that. That’s extra of a psychology factor there possibly. However I might get a number of bids from completely different subs for a basis or a roof or plumbing or one thing like that. As a result of subs, you’re extra doubtless electrical. Subs are extra doubtless to have the ability to get a quote out of them at the very least to study from it and see. And I might give… Even when it was a brand new sub, I might go on Fb teams.
I’m actually large into Fb teams in Houston and the way I met lots of people and I’ve had completely different offers. There’s a pair actually large ones in Houston and a few of these could also be newer subs or newer folks attempting to start out their development enterprise. They usually could not have the rapport with lots of these traders, so they could be keen to come back out and provide you with a free estimate. Will you need them to do the work? That’s as much as you to do due diligence and belief your intestine and have a number of bids and possibly attempt to discuss to whoever you’ll be able to. However attempt to discuss to a few of these newer subs and newer contractors on the market as a result of they’ll in all probability gladly come stroll the property and provides their opinion as a result of they’re in search of new enterprise. Don’t be within the enterprise of losing folks’s time, I might say, as a result of that status will journey in a short time with you. However there’s a superb line between actually giving anyone a official shot to present a bid or losing anyone’s time. And I feel I did an excellent job of it.
I did have one contractor, I had him stroll a spot with me twice and by the second it fell by means of. He received slightly irate with me as a result of he walked it and wasn’t as completely happy as a result of then he’s, “I’m losing your time.” And it was like, “No, I undoubtedly didn’t waste your time on function. It’s simply the deal fell by means of. My laborious cash lender pulled on the second. I recognize you numerous and that’s superb.” And we haven’t crossed paths since and we don’t do any work. However that’s one thing that has occurred out of it. However more often than not, 95% of the time, the subs or whoever has been nice. And I’ve in a position to take a few of these quotes and actually perceive what I used to be going by means of going ahead. And even once I was constructing my glamp website, I knew what in all probability the LVP was going to value placing within the geo dome.
I knew what tiling a rest room, I had a normal concept of what it could value. My finances was fairly spot on. I did go slightly over finances after all, but it surely was fairly spot on for constructing one thing distinctive as a result of I had toured all these locations and talked to so many individuals and I did have that evaluation paralysis. However there was an excellent facet of it too, as a result of I received a lot data. And once I was able to dive in… I may have dove in slightly earlier, however I had far more confidence in all the pieces I used to be doing, so it was loads simpler.

Ashley Kehr:
When was that time that you just determined to dive in and really buy that first flip? How did you’re feeling assured sufficient? And also you talked about that on the one deal it fell by means of due to a tough cash lender. Is that the way you had been in a position to get the primary deal is you discovered a tough cash lender?

Garrett Brown:
Sure. I had two flips fall by means of and lots of it got here as a result of I began telling folks I used to be going with these traders. I used to be the realtor on them. I knew what they had been making. I had a really clear concept of, okay, being a realtor’s good, however there’s lots of time for commerce. I used to be driving all over the place calling expireds. As soon as I noticed what the traders had been making on a few of these HUD shut and all these HUD kinds and issues like that, I made a decision to start out looking for my very own deal. I began telling folks actively inside music. I by no means actually crossed the 2 between music and actual property. Most individuals that I knew, I did music, didn’t know I did actual property as a result of I used to be frightened about, “Oh, this man’s failed at music. It doesn’t matter what he did in his previous. He has platinum information and stuff. It clearly didn’t work as a result of now he’s attempting actual property, he’s needs to be a realtor like all people else.”
I used to be nervous considering that, “Oh man, individuals are going to assume I failed at music.” And like I mentioned, trying again, that was a really naive take as a result of as soon as I began telling folks, “Hey, I’m doing actual property now. I’m looking for some investments and if you already know anyone that has a home let me know.” Positive sufficient, a number of weeks later I had a buddy inside music name me, a buddy of a buddy was eager to promote a home. They didn’t wish to be there anymore. It had flooded some time again, however they had been in a position to repair it up some by means of flood insurance coverage, however they nonetheless needed it to… That they had a fantastic deal on it. I went and noticed the property, gave them a suggestion. I gave them precisely what they needed as a result of it match all of the numbers I used to be operating.
After which we had been throughout, I used to be so excited it was going to be minimal. I’d in all probability should put 15,000 into it. We received very near the tip after which out of nowhere my title firm calls me who I’d used a number of occasions for lots of offers. They usually say, “Hey, there’s an estranged brother that’s claiming title onto this home as properly too.” They usually didn’t discover it on the primary search and another issues like that, however they’re like, “The deal’s not going to have the ability to undergo as a result of he’s not signing off on it.” And it was simply this entire mess of, I used to be going to should do all sorts of lawyer issues and the revenue wasn’t going to be price it, so I backed out of that deal. I misplaced my earnest cash deposit.
I may have fought it and carried out another issues, but it surely wasn’t that a lot of a earnest cash deposit ultimately. I feel it was a couple of thousand bucks or one thing. The home was solely… It was 100 thousand {dollars} home, so it was a couple of thousand bucks. I misplaced it. However I realized, okay, there must be far more checks going into this, however I must ask the buddies like, “Hey, there’s not an opportunity that anyone else owns this property or something like that.” I by no means even requested that. I believed, “Oh, this can be a buddy. She looks as if she owns all the pieces. She didn’t convey up that there could also be a brother which will have a declare to it.” I misplaced that deal. Then we went on to a different one, discovered one other one. Similar contractor, I introduced him, I had a pair different contractors stroll that property. And after we went to stroll it, all the pieces was figuring out. I landed the deal, this was February 2020. I had a tough cash lender lined up, COVID hit laborious cash lender backed out. They had been so nervous about all the pieces.
I feel I needed to put possibly 80% down or one thing of the associated fee with the rehab and all the pieces. However then they backed out throughout March and mentioned, “Oh truly you’re going to should put up 60% or one thing now if you wish to get it.” And that is additionally once I received actual nervous too. I’m like, “Oh, COVID is right here.” All people, particularly in the actual property business, we don’t know what’s about to occur on the realtor facet too, so we backed out of that deal. Hindsight, I want we’d’ve discovered a technique to get that cash as a result of clearly the market shot up and it was in a fantastic location. Misplaced that deal. Onerous cash pulled out. Ultimately I used to be nonetheless working with some consumer of mine.

Tony Robinson:
Garrett, let me simply ask actually shortly, as a result of you’ve got these two makes an attempt and each are quote, unquote “failures” proper? You’re not in a position to get them to the end line. At any level between that first deal or that second deal that didn’t undergo. Are you saying to your self at any level, I don’t know if this actual property investing factor is for me?

Garrett Brown:
Oh, yeah. Completely. It goes again to that lesson of… I used to be down for a short while. I come from the music business the place it’s a really no primarily based business. 99% of the time I’m listening to no. It received me down for slightly bit, however as soon as I considered it, I used to be like, “I’m not going to permit that to occur once more. It was not my fault.” I did all the pieces proper on the deal. The deal, it was going to be a fantastic deal. I used to be going to revenue on it. It was going to be the primary one. Simply because I dropped or… Simply because the ball was dropped on some random relative being there by means of title or nevertheless it slipped by means of the cracks. Ultimately, as soon as I received out of my day of like, “Oh man, that sucks. I misplaced the deal.” I noticed, I used to be like, “Properly, there’s nothing that I personally did. I want to only hold attempting.”
Then I went to the subsequent one after which similar factor once more. I used to be actual upset about it for a couple of day or two. After which I sat there and I’m like, “It was nothing that I did.” After which within the month or two later, as soon as the… The market was nonetheless skyrocketing, I checked out it and I used to be like, “I truly known as a fantastic deal.” And that gave me much more confidence to go. After which, so possibly three or 4 months later, I used to be strolling a consumer with a property. She was about to purchase it in an space that I knew properly that I grew up in. I noticed a on the market by proprietor an indication. And I received lots of my realtor offers calling on the market by homeowners to start with, so I used to be very snug with it. Gave them a name. They mentioned, “Hey, we simply wish to eliminate the home. We would like 115 for it. You’ll be able to come stroll it tomorrow. It’s not in nice form, but it surely’s not in unhealthy form.”
I walked the deal, I walked the place. I knew what these homes would go for as a result of I had a consumer that was working in that precise neighborhood. And we’d carried out tons of analysis in several homes in there, so I knew the place revenue may stand. I knew I may promote it for about 225, we may in all probability put 40 to 50,000 in it. And we ended up doing all that. I had a tough cash lender serving to me out, we needed to put down 80 or we needed to put… They funded 80% of the price of the place. They funded 100% of the rehab. We had been in a position to pay them again. I’m a realtor so I’m in a position to save on commissions fortunately. However I nonetheless ended up making about 40,000 revenue. Purchased it about 115, about 50 into it. After which we bought it at about 225.
After which as soon as that occurred, that actually began… It advised me two issues. It advised me, one, I didn’t actually wish to flip homes. Favored the way it went, however I additionally knew that I began… I needed to take this cash and go into short-term leases or long-term leases extra as a result of there was lots of stress moving into with the flip, but it surely turned out properly. I received lots of studying classes and a few upfront capital to actually spark all the pieces going ahead. However it did educate me that possibly flipping wasn’t my favourite factor as a result of even coping with the sellers was… They had been actual cool general, however there was just a few completely different nuances that I didn’t actually like working with sellers and that.
After which they’d come again and, “Oh, you mentioned you had been going to do that on at the present time.” And “Oh, your laborious cash lender is… Can we shut tomorrow?” And simply various things that received on my nerves for lots of various causes. And so I used to be like, “Truly I wish to be extra accountable for what’s happening and actually construct the long-term wealth,” versus a fast buck that I get taxed majorly on and should go in and discover a new place. And now I must name extra on the market by homeowners and all that, which I’m not a fan of, but it surely does work properly. That’s what I ended up with there.

Ashley Kehr:
Garrett, you talked about that you’ve the diploma in hospitality. Is that what made you shift into the short-term rental together with your geo-dome or did it simply occur at likelihood? Are you able to discuss that transition?

Garrett Brown:
Positive. I all the time knew I needed to do one thing within the hospitality business. I’ve been a waiter perpetually. My first job was… I used to be 16, I used to be busing tables and issues like that. And so I all the time needed to possibly have a restaurant and I’m into music, so I used to be possibly a music venue. However as time went on, after I flipped that home, I made a decision that I used to be like, “Okay, I wish to strive one thing slightly completely different.” I purchased my very own smaller rental in Houston, Texas. I received it for round I feel 115 or 120. I used to be going to stay in it. It was going to be my proprietor occupied and I needed to… It wasn’t in unhealthy form, however I knew there may very well be some reworking to it that might convey it up. I received that rental. However then at the moment I used to be like, “Okay.” I used to be working with a landlord not removed from that rental. He had three smaller condos. It wasn’t in a fantastic a part of city, but it surely wasn’t in a nasty half. And I used to be serving to him hire the locations out yearly and do another issues.
He received in direction of the tip and he can be calling me, he mentioned, “Hey, I feel I truly wish to promote the condos. Can we put them up on the market as a substitute now?” And I began doing a little analysis into it and I knew what he was in a position to hire it out. And I knew lots of that data already. He needed to listing them for 70, he had three condos, he needed to listing them for 70,000 a chunk. I used to be in a position to discuss him, say, “Hey, let me purchase them, I’ll purchase them for…” We find yourself settling at 59 per rental and I received a small blanket mortgage to cowl that. I put about 25% down on it, which is within the $40,000 vary. And people locations every… I had two of them on long run that had been renting for 900 a chunk. After which I had one which was doing brief time period that was making… It diverse every night time, but it surely was making a couple of thousand or 2000 per thirty days. As soon as all the large cash from BlackRock and all these folks got here in, this was like 2019, 2020 when this was happening.
As soon as all the large cash got here into Houston and it already was beginning to ramp up all these condos, only a primary rental, the costs all shot down as a result of they had been coming in and so they had been having 30, $40 condos that had been simply as good as mine in a greater a part of city. And I couldn’t actually sustain. And so I knew that there was was a approach that I may use my hospitality diploma to my benefit as a result of I feel one factor that lots of short-term rental host misread is the quantity of visitor expertise and hospitality that really goes into operating a short-term rental. Particularly a really profitable one with all these completely different leases on the market now. It’s not only a, “Hey, put some furnishings in it and after that it’s palms off and all the pieces’s going to go nice.” I knew that that was a bonus I may take. I began operating numbers. I used to be like, “Do I wish to promote these locations and purchase a small townhouse nearer to city with possibly I may get ADU within the yard or a storage condominium.”
Or do I wish to strive… I used to be watching Rob’s channel, I used to be watching Kai Andrew’s channel, a number of completely different folks like that. And I used to be like, “Perhaps I may do one thing with this glamping concept. I like distinctive issues and I’m actually good with hospitality.” And as I began operating numbers and crunching all the pieces over like a month or two, it was a fairly apparent selection for me personally and my very own scenario. It does take loads to run the glamping website and to construct it up. It took far more of my very own time than I believed, however I used to be ready for that. I noticed that the money movement and the opposite advantages of it, of what I may do, constructing some fairness and constructing distinctive money movement locations was going to only blow only a conventional funding out the water for me. That’s once I pivoted to go to that route and all of it made sense and it has labored out nice.

Tony Robinson:
Garrett, and your dome is gorgeous. We received a photograph of it right here and possibly we are able to drop it into the present notes for folks to take a look at. You probably did a improbable job with it. However one thing you talked about that actually stood out to me is that lots of new traders don’t notice the extent of hospitality that goes into being an efficient short-term rental host. Are you able to possibly give some examples of the place you’ve seen possibly different Airbnb hosts drop the ball and the way your background, your diploma in hospitality administration has possibly allowed you to separate your self from the competitors?

Garrett Brown:
Positive. There’s a number of examples that instantly stood out to me earlier than I even received additional into it. As a result of I’ve traveled loads for music and we’ve stayed in lots of Airbnbs. I’ve gone to California for a number of prolonged months and simply booked a long run Airbnb. And I’ve additionally had shorter stays too. And I observed that those that… Me and my girlfriend had been touring, those that we all the time actually, actually cherished and would convey up afterward can be little touches to hospitality. Whether or not it was a easy be aware with a small snack basket, simply how receptive they had been to us or how responsive they had been. Anytime we had questions verse once I stayed at different locations the place it was apparent like, “Okay, this man or this gal received a spot and so they simply threw a mattress in it.” I stayed in a single Airbnb that the photographs, it wasn’t even the identical furnishings once I walked in, it was fully completely different. And it was an excellent worth and another issues like that, so I didn’t elevate a stink about it or something.
I simply rolled with it and stayed there for what it was. However I simply bear in mind considering this can be a signal that… And I’ve stayed in lots of locations like that, whereas it was apparent that the particular person simply thought that they might throw some furnishings in it, and that was just about the tip of it. However the locations that I knew, and from my hospitality background, as a result of I’ve labored in occasion administration, I’ve labored in lodge administration, different issues, the visitor expertise is so crucial for a profitable STR, particularly in as we speak’s market the place there’s simply so many decisions and other people can keep wherever they need. There’s brief time period leases, there’s resorts, there’s different glamping and tenting websites. There must be one thing that actually brings the visitors again to you and actually makes them really feel like they had been greater than a visitor, that they had been your loved ones or one thing staying there. And I actually needed to supply that to folks once I was going ahead with it.
And I might work on making methods to ensure that there can be particular issues there. I all the time ask them, “Hey is there a special day you’re celebrating?” Something like that. Simply so I can discover out no matter further data I can get from them to assist make their keep much more memorable. As a result of the phrase of mouth and other people placing out social content material over your keep and other people actually speaking about different issues and leaving all these opinions goes to skyrocket your STR enterprise. As a result of in any other case that phrase of mouth and that really feel that they get from it’s simply not going to be there. They usually’re going to haven’t any cause to be a return buyer or to inform their mates who’re very prone to do comparable issues as them. As a result of folks love social forex in the USA. To have the ability to inform anyone that, “Hey, I received this actually cool place that I stayed that not many individuals have heard about or not many individuals have stayed at. And it was superior. It was among the finest holidays we had.”
You’re not going to get that in case you simply throw a mattress into place, say, “Hey, right here’s your code to get within the door, have an excellent keep. Let me know while you go away.” I needed to only make sure that I separated myself as a lot as I may in that side.

Tony Robinson:
Garrett, a number of once more, actually insightful issues that you just known as out right here. I feel that the very first thing I wish to discuss is the truth that you mentioned your glamp website is in, you mentioned Lake Livingston, not too removed from Houston. I’ve personally by no means heard of Lake Livingston. And Ashley, have you ever ever heard of Lake Livingston in Texas?

Ashley Kehr:
I do know Houston fairly properly and I’ve by no means heard of that.

Tony Robinson:
And the rationale I ask that query is as a result of folks all the time come to me and say, “Hey Tony, what metropolis or what market ought to I purchase my subsequent Airbnb in?” And there’s all the time these large nationwide identified places. You’ve received Disney, you’ve received Joshua Tree, you’ve received Zion, you’ve received Smokey Mountains. However what I’ve been telling people is that each single state has some native regional draw that’s going to convey folks in. And I feel you’ve carried out a fantastic job. I wish to discuss slightly bit extra in regards to the glamp website, Garrett, to present people a greater understanding of what it’s. First, I feel in case you can outline what the dome is and the way it differs from a conventional tent. After which additionally simply discuss in regards to the construct out course of. How lengthy did it take so that you can construct it out? Did you need to get this permitted? Are you on septic? Are you off grid? Are folks showering with a bucket of water? Give us the insights after which in case you can on the finish simply share what the numbers appear like from a income or revenue perspective.

Garrett Brown:
Positive. Glamping, I nonetheless battle with this, I feel it’s glamorous tenting. May very well be superb tenting, luxurious tenting mainly. After we had been going into it, I seemed for a spot for a couple of 12 months or so earlier than even discovering the precise place, as a result of I actually wasn’t positive. I knew it wanted some particular attraction there. I knew I needed it to be close to Lake Livingston. And there’s additionally Sam Houston Nationwide Forest proper by, which is considered one of 4 nationwide forests in Texas. I needed to be actually explicit the place I used to be going as a result of I needed to be very shut to those locations. As a result of I knew I couldn’t get precisely on the lake as a result of there’s so many HOAs there that constructing a dome was going to be just about unattainable to seek out an space on the lake that was going to permit me to construct it.
However most of them have deed restrictions you could’t construct a house beneath 700 sq. toes or various things like that. We had been attempting to resolve between if we needed to… I visited completely different glamping websites. I went to off-grid geo domes. I went to on-grid locations and I knew fairly immediately that I needed to do on-grid. One, as a result of I didn’t wish to mess with the compost bathroom and another issues like that. And I additionally knew that I might quite have much less websites on the… I’ve 10 acres, I’d quite have much less websites on the place and be capable to cost a extra premium. As a result of I went to some locations that had 40 domes on two or three acres or one thing insane. And I knew immediately that’s not one thing I needed to do. I used to be in search of completely different locations. I didn’t have a mortgage on the time or something. And I hoped I may discover a place that I may proprietor occupy a pleasant home, get the land with a 5% down standard mortgage after which construct out on the positioning whereas I lived there for that 12 months.
You must occupy the home for a 12 months. I knew I might stay there and it was superb as a result of I used to be touring on the similar time, touring and different issues. I used to be in a position to lastly discover a place that was… After about eight months, placing in several affords. Some issues didn’t work out, they needed 600 for this place. I used to be in a position to get them right down to 550. We put about 5% down. The home we’re turning into an STR within the subsequent few weeks. We’re engaged on it proper now. We’ve put about 50,000 in renovations into it. However we needed to ensure that the geo-dome, which we constructed out… The geo-dome constructed out was about $150,000. However that additionally included, we put a septic tank in, we put a water properly in. We ran our electrical poles again there. And that is additionally these, the septic, the properly… And properly the electrical, we’ve got so as to add another pole, however these are all going to tie into our subsequent website that we’re constructing behind the property.
We just about put the dome in the course of the property. After which our subsequent large one which’s going to be… We take into account our actual, actual large challenge, it will likely be simpler to get these utilities on the market as a result of we’ve already went midway into the land and began that course of. And now we simply tie within the septic system and trench out the plumbing and we tie within the plumbing over there. The build-out for the geo-dome was slightly dearer than we needed it to be, particularly with highway infrastructure too. However that is additionally going to make our subsequent construct, which we’re attempting to finish by August, less expensive going into it. And proper now, if we listing the geo-dome, my mortgage is about $3,000. We simply modified our insurance coverage from simply common residence insurance coverage, we modified this to correct insurance coverage.
It virtually doubled, however they’re insuring the dome, they’re including business legal responsibility insurance coverage on high of this. They insured the home. And so now my mortgage might be going to go as much as in all probability nearer to three,500, 4,000 in there, particularly with some tax will increase. However simply operating the geo-dome, we plan to… We already simply launched… About a few weeks in the past and we’ve already had 12 completely different bookings are available in. And so we’re already just about have hit our mortgage for that. As soon as we hire the home out within the subsequent week or two, we count on that so as to add on one other three or 4,000, so we’re it between in all probability 5 to six,000 revenue between these two websites. However as soon as we triple down and add our subsequent website, which is a extremely spectacular construct, it’s in all probability going to shoot as much as in all probability into the 11 to 12,000 vary per thirty days as a result of that website goes to be very, very free and clear from lots of the everyday bills that I’m already having to do by having the home and issues like that, so we’re fairly excited for it.
And it took some time to seek out the precise piece of land. I didn’t do a 1031 out of the condos or something like that as a result of I knew it was going to take time to seek out the precise piece of property. I didn’t wish to simply rush and purchase one thing. And it did, it took me fairly some time to seek out the precise piece and discover the precise county. The contact on the allowing course of, I did should get a business allow utilizing my realtor data and simply calling. I might name native contractors and I known as the allowing departments for all of the counties round. There was about three counties that I used to be trying in between. And I might name contractors and say, “Hey, what’s it like allowing on this county?” And a few folks would give me a solution. I’d name one other contractor. I’m like, “Hey, have you ever constructed something on this one? What’s it allowing on this space?” After which I might name the allowing departments as properly to inform them, say, “Hey, that is what I wish to do. I wish to construct a geo-dome. Is that this attainable?”
They usually’re not going to have the ability to provide you with a sure or no reply as a result of there’s so many nuances to it. But when they’re instantly like, “Nope. No, we’ll by no means.” Like, “No, no.” then it’s in all probability not the precise county. And there was one county close by that was like that. As soon as I discovered the county that I’m truly in, I may inform that they had been extra… Lake Livingston, I used to go there rising up. My dad’s boss used to have a lake home on the market, so we’d do retreats on the market and different issues. I all the time knew that that was a spot, it’s the second-largest lake in Texas truly. It’s a man-made lake. Many of the ones in Texas are artifical. And so I knew that they’d a historical past of brief time period leases the place folks would go up there and so they weren’t going to outlaw it anytime quickly. I used to be in a position to get with San Jacinto County, which is the county that I’m in, I advised them my concept and so they similar to, “Hmm, that’s attention-grabbing. Simply tell us everytime you get to it and we’ll have a look.”
And speaking to contractors, in addition they advised me that, “Hey Sanchez, this county goes to be approach simpler to work with in another counties.” And I used to be in a position to, with my geo-dome. I exploit particular domes who they really present for… I feel I paid $2,500 and so they provide you with stamped structure plans to that geo-dome. And this made all the pieces a lot simpler getting it permitted. As a result of even the county even mentioned like, “Hey, we normally don’t even get this a lot element in our plans that we get from folks. That is spectacular.” And I’ve had some various things come up, even simply including extra websites. There’s been some ADA compliance points which have come up. I had an area architect that has helped me with website design plan to push by means of these subsequent phases of what I’m attempting to commercially allow all the best way. However simply having my structure plans, having the design and having the ability to… I’ve labored with the county commissioner and different issues.
I all the time make sure that to inform them, “Hey, I’m going to be utilizing native contractors, native cleaners. We’re going to pay our scorching taxes, the lodge occupancy taxes we’re going to be offering… Individuals are going to be coming into eating places.” All these different issues like that. We’re attempting to make this a mutually helpful relationship and convey extra folks to this lovely space that you’ve and actually attempt to… I don’t wish to say promote them, however you might want to inform them what good belongings you’re bringing to the county as properly to allow them to see like, “Hey, okay, that is truly a good suggestion for us too to get into this enterprise.” And it’s been a expertise for them as a result of I’m the primary… There’s different distinctive websites, however I’m the primary geo-dome anyplace close to Houston and I’m the primary glamp website actually close to any of those lakes or something. There’s different extra rural RV parks and campgrounds. However attempting to do what I’m doing, they’ve realized loads within the course of with me. However simply doing this due diligence earlier than actually helped me ensure that I used to be in the precise space.

Tony Robinson:
Once more, Garrett, so many nice nuggets right here and I really like your means of simply selecting up the telephone and calling the county to grasp their insurance policies as a result of I feel that’s one thing lots of people miss. However one thing you simply talked about that made me consider one thing, while you mentioned that you just’re the primary dome to actually be on this space. How do you underwrite a novel construction like that when there’s no different comparable properties in that market? What technique did you utilize to try to ballpark how a lot income and potential earnings you’d be making?

Garrett Brown:
That was undoubtedly one of many tougher issues and that’s one of many causes… If we’re talking in simply fairness and appraisal worth and issues like that. After which how I used to be in a position to decide that it was going to be worthwhile to place it there. That’s one cause why I needed a really stable home construction on the property that I knew I may… I purchased, it wanted some work, but it surely wasn’t a ton of… It was lots of beauty work and I knew that I’d be capable to convey this home up larger out there so I’d be capable to keep some extra fairness. As a result of constructing the geo-dome, there’s in all probability not a lot fairness that I’m placing into the dome as a result of all of the infrastructure that I’m placing in will come again for me. However appraisers are going to have a look at this and don’t know the place to place it at so far as that time period, if I get able to promote this down the road or something.
However I knew that between… I used AirDNA and different areas that I may see… AirDNA’s information is fairly good, but it surely’s been skewed within the final couple of years. And it’s additionally, such as you had been saying, this can be a distinctive construct, so it’s laborious to get information on any such construction being the one one there. However there are a few smaller distinctive builds, possibly 45 minutes away that I might go on Airbnb and Vrbo and simply take a look at what their occupancy was for the subsequent month and see what they had been charging and see what number of opinions they’d the previous month. And I can’t bear in mind what the precise share is, I don’t know if it’s 20 or 30% of individuals go away opinions on locations or possibly just a bit much less. However I might go in and see, “Hey, they solely had one evaluate over the previous three months.”
This space won’t be good as a result of you’ll be able to inform they’re not getting a ton of bookings right here since you’d see extra opinions on these completely different locations. However as soon as I used to be capable of finding some areas that I’m like, “Okay, this pocket that I’m truly in, it’s slightly nearer to the Houston facet, they nonetheless get a ton of…” I’m seeing all these completely different distinctive stays. There’s like a Treehouse possibly half-hour away. I might see what their occupancy charges had been. There’s a yurt that’s possibly 45 minutes away. I might see what their occupancy charges had been after which I might simply look within the normal space that I used to be in to see. And in the course of the COVID increase, all people was booked out even additional. However as soon as the subsequent 12 months handed, I might take it extra with a grain of salt. Like, “Okay, they don’t have any bookings arising in a few months, however what does their month appear like proper now?”
And it’s all taken with a grain of salt, as a result of none of those are definitive solutions and inform you like, “Oh, this can be a nice market.” Or, “Oh, hey, they didn’t have many opinions. That’s a horrible market.” I additionally knew that purchasing inside two fairly respectable regional sights between Lake Livingston and the Sam Houston Nationwide Forest, that if I can present some kind of actually distinctive factor that hasn’t been there, folks go to these locations on a regular basis. I simply should seize that market and determine how I can get them in. Even when there isn’t any actual nice examples of what I’m attempting to do. I simply used all that and put my mind collectively crunching numbers, and it’s been very near what truly has took place with my occupancy charges and issues.

Ashley Kehr:
I feel Tony and I are going to have a night of Googling geo-domes.

Tony Robinson:
I’m one step forward of you. I received Lake Levinson up proper now. I see Lake Conroe on the opposite facet.

Garrett Brown:
Lake Conroe is one other one which I seemed into. There’s completely different the reason why I selected towards that. It’s slightly dearer and few different causes. However there’s loads close to Houston, simply being from right here, that I knew of rising up that folks wish to journey to.

Ashley Kehr:
Properly, Garrett, thanks a lot for sharing all your data. My enterprise associate, Daryl, has needed to do a dome for therefore lengthy. And so he’s going to like this episode and possibly you’ll give him the motivation and inspiration to really take motion on that concept. Okay. I’m going to take you to our rookie examination. What’s one motion factor rookies ought to do after listening to this episode?

Garrett Brown:
I’d say be a part of completely different Fb teams in your native space and go to a few of these meetups and go attempt to discover some… And simply discuss to extra folks. Speak to extra wholesalers, discuss to whoever you’ll be able to and see what’s actually on the market. How I even received additional in that is once I lastly began interacting with extra folks and studying what areas I can go to and discover out about these open homes which might be on the market. I received on mailing listing. And don’t be afraid to only put your self on the market and attempt to join with folks and put your data on the market for folks to ship you stuff and go to a few of it. Don’t simply take a look at it and go, “Oh, okay, that’s cool.” Actively attempt to make it part of networking and studying various things and actually put your self within the hearth.

Tony Robinson:
All proper. Query quantity two, what’s one device, software program app or system that you just use in your corporation?

Garrett Brown:
I exploit Lodgify proper now for my property administration and it’s actually, actually cool. Has lots of actually cool options and I do undoubtedly assume very extremely about that. After which actually, I exploit the BiggerPockets calculator a ton once I was actually studying the best way to rehab stuff. I don’t wish to be sounding cliche. What BiggerPockets actually did as soon as… I didn’t know something about investing. And as soon as I discovered the positioning, it was like, “That is wild.” And the calculator, it actually does provide help to actually analyze some issues going ahead. And although you might mess up on some numbers, however it’s a higher calculator than 99% of the issues I’ve bumped into. And even in case you don’t have the professional membership and issues like that, I’d have a pair a month that I used to be simply attempting and as soon as I received the professional membership, I used to be doing 10, 12, 13 calculations each single day, simply operating up as many numbers as I may to actually perceive the market and it taught me loads

Ashley Kehr:
And it’s very user-friendly. Each single spot the place there may be to place it in a quantity, it tells you what this quantity is, the place to seek out it, what does it imply, why it’s essential to your evaluation too. I undoubtedly love the BiggerPockets calculator reviews. Okay. The final query, Garrett, is the place do you propose on being in 5 years?

Garrett Brown:
5 years, I’m hoping to take my glamping operation and all the pieces I’ve realized from constructing geo-domes and my subsequent distinctive construct and take it to a couple different locations round Texas or across the nation. After which additionally I’m planning to construct a marriage venue not too far within the far future and actually hoping to maximise that and doubtless add some completely different distinctive stays close to the marriage venue. And I’m hoping to only actually construct the posh tenting business close to Texas specifically. Perhaps a number of different areas from there and actually extrapolate it to what I’m hoping it will likely be.

Tony Robinson:
Properly, you’re properly in your approach, Garrett, your query with this one up to now.

Garrett Brown:
Respect it.

Tony Robinson:
All proper, earlier than we wrap up, I wish to give a shout-out to this week’s Rookie Rockstar? Right now’s Rookie Rockstar is Eric Tuberville. And Eric says, “I’m tremendous excited. That is my second funding property. I simply went beneath contract on it and it’s 13 acres plus a cabin. It’s going to be a brief time period rental, then going to place some glamping websites on it, a few tiny properties and probably some extra spots for campers and RVs.” Eric, congratulations and clearly you’ve received Garrett now as a job mannequin when it comes to the best way to make that factor kill it while you take it stay. Congrats once more, Eric. Tremendous completely happy for you.

Ashley Kehr:
Okay. Properly Garrett, thanks a lot for taking the time to come back on right here with us as we speak. Are you able to inform everybody the place they will attain out to you and discover out some extra data?

Garrett Brown:
Positive. I recognize y’all having me. It’s undoubtedly a honor and a bucket listing factor to be speaking to y’all. My actual property channel that I do all sorts of glamping data and issues is Good Flipping Alternative. You will discover me on all completely different platforms like that. After which my glamping operation is Cameron Ranch Glamping, it’s named after my brother that handed away about 14 years in the past. Be at liberty to shoot me a message. And I really like interacting with folks. I don’t have many individuals that like speaking glamping and issues, so I’m all the time open to speak store with anyone as a result of most of my mates aren’t concerned about it.

Ashley Kehr:
You imply none of your mates wish to go glamping?

Garrett Brown:
They wish to go glamping, however they don’t wish to discuss in regards to the, placing in a sewer and issues like that.

Ashley Kehr:
They only wish to present up and it’s prepared right here.

Garrett Brown:
100%. However I recognize it. Thanks.

Ashley Kehr:
Thanks everybody for listening to this week’s episode. I’m Ashley @wealthformrentals and he’s Tony at @tonyjrobinson. Be sure to are part of the Actual Property Rookie Fb group and be a part of the opposite like-minded traders to speak about glamping or no matter technique you have an interest in. We’ll see you guys on Saturday with a rookie reply.