Newbie Columbus, Ohio - Minimal Experience, Desire to Wholesale

[Jon H.]

Hello BP Community! A close friend told me to check out the BP podcast. I listened to over 10 episodes on a drive from my home in Columbus, Ohio to Connecticut and back. I've had a desire to get into flipping for over a decade. I've done a TON of DIY (actually, probably multiple tons if measured by the mass of building materials!!!). But it's all been for my primary residences - which doesn't make much money. 

I'm originally from Alabama and even spent some formative years in Denmark. I worked as an electrical engineer for about a decade.  I left that field and was a carpenter at a custom furniture shop for a period.  I then started and ran a handyman business for nearly a year.  For the past 1.5 years I've been working as an Estimator for a "Selective Interior Demolition" Subcontractor to major General Contractors, both local and national. These jobs have provided me a depth and breadth of experience (not just technical, but business, marketing, customer service, management, etc) and I intend to leverage it all as lily pads towards my goals. 

On the side, for the past 12+ years, I've been a hammer-swinger for the two residences I own, doing literally everything except roofing (yep, everything, including plumbing, electrical, ductwork, flooring, demolition, framing, drywall, brick-laying, windows, cabinets...... etc). I learn by doing and do by learning. (I also learn by messing up!)

And now, I'm getting ready to start the transition into REI. I've got a roadmap, but, as with all plans, I'm sure it will change as I learn, engage, and receive feedback. That roadmap, as of right now, is outlined.

1. Learn - Keep FTJ (Full Time Job)
   1. Books, podcasts, BP, people
   2. FTJ and PTJ options: Go back into being a residential handyman and contractor
2. Wholesale - Keep FTJ
3. Ramp up Wholesaling, possibly until either quitting or finding a PTJ to offset
   1. Wholesaling goal - raise capital to flip later
4. Plataeu Wholesaling, ramp up Flipping while ramping down Wholesaling
5. Plataeu Flipping, ramp up Buy-and-Hold
6. Long Term Goal: rental portfolio with extra capital to invest in others

My motivation does include swinging hammers (I love the physical work), but I recognize that won't be where I need to put myself to make money past the short-term (and my body won't be able to do that forever). I'm also motivated by the desire to find good people who do great work and putting them together to create teams.  I'm sure some will work for me directly, but mostly others as independent contractors/sub-contractors. I want to provide jobs, through value-driven work. And I want to provide end-users with homes. And, of course, make money for me and my own.

My long-term goal (15+ years) is to have a portfolio of rentals for income, a solid retirement pool, and additional capital for investment to provide to the next generation of "doers" who want to flip or buy-and-hold. I am currently fleshing out that plan starting with that rough roadmap you (may have) read up above.

Right now I'm looking for where to learn, whom to connect with, and to see where I can get started on my roadmap (including if that means working ON the roadmap!).

I'm not expecting answers here in this thread - just giving y'all my full intro. I'll start diving into these forums. Seems daunting!!! Excited and grateful this resource is here. Hopefully I can pay it back!

-Jon H

Columbus, OH