​It started with a $6,000 mistake...

[Daray Olaleye]

It started with a $6,000 mistake...

Late Saturday, enjoying one of my much needed nights out, I received a text from one of my tenants stating that the A/C unit was just blown out..

I wasn't concerned except that it was a 2am text & call and that the next day was Sunday (weekend service repair calls are always more expensive).

As summer approaches, I knew that this was a situation that needed my immediate attention...

I immediately had one of my managers collect some quotes for a new unit and labor (never use Yelp! - It's only good for food haha).

The quotes came back as such: $5500, $6400 and $7800 for a new 3 ton unit and installation..

I was appalled as these prices didn't sit right with me so I decided to take matters into my own hands and do some on the ground research since I just so happened to be in Houston that weekend.

They say your network is equal to your net-worth so I immediately reached out to my network of investors and got the contact of a formidable handy man in the area.

We were able to cut out the multiple middlemen and go straight to the wholesale distributor (cutting off all middle men would mean going straight to the manufacturer but it's not possible to buy one off units from them).

I paid $1000 for a brand new 3 ton unit and was charged $500 for the labor of the handyman...

Needless to say, I'll be working with this handyman for future projects and repairs..

Total cost - $1500 and 2 hours of my time

Total savings - ~$6000

Because of my spidey sense and network, I was able to save a ton of money, form a new relationship in the process, acquire a connect with the wholesale distributor and write this article..

[Ned J.]

Hope you are dead on and you saved a ton of $$....

But let us know in 6-18 months......

I've seen too many " the pro wanted $xxx dollars and I got a handyman/guy off Craigslist to do it for 1/4 of that price", only to have that job/repair/equipment fall apart in a few months and cost double to fix it compared to having it done right the first time

If it all work out, fantastic....but sometimes you really do get what you pay for.....