In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with Brian Kirchner from City Life Group to discuss the journey of building a real estate investment and management powerhouse in Pittsburgh. They explore the early days of starting in real estate, the pivotal moments that led to launching City Life, and the strategic decisions that shaped their growth.

The conversation delves into the complexities of running a brokerage, investing in properties, and scaling a business while maintaining operational efficiency. Brian shares insights on why they initially pursued a ReMax franchise, the challenges of managing agents, and the decision to ultimately shift focus away from brokerage services.

A major theme of the discussion is the role of property management and construction in their business model. The guests break down how they transitioned from handling everything in-house to leveraging subcontractors for greater efficiency. They also highlight the importance of standardizing processes, managing overhead costs, and adapting to market shifts in Pittsburgh’s unique real estate landscape.

Tune in to hear valuable lessons on scaling a real estate business, overcoming industry bottlenecks like labor shortages and construction delays, and staying adaptable in a competitive market. Whether you're an investor, agent, or entrepreneur, this episode is packed with practical takeaways on strategic growth and long-term sustainability.

In this episode of Business Blueprints, host Brian welcomes tattoo artist EJ Pettiford, who has been pursuing his lifelong dream of tattooing in the Pittsburgh area for five years. EJ shares his journey, highlighting the various jobs and experiences that led him to finally achieve his goal. He discusses his current position at Crimson Lotus Collective, where he works alongside mentors who have significantly influenced his creative growth in the tattoo industry. The episode reflects on the importance of meaningful conversations and planning, with Brian and EJ reminiscing about their many car rides where they mapped out EJ's path to success. Tune in to discover the passion, perseverance, and mentorship that fuel EJ's artistic journey.

https://www.instagram.com/ejpettiford_412tattoo/

https://www.crimsonlotuscollective.com/artists-1/ej-pettiford

In this episode of Business Blueprints, guest Bradely Jacobs joins Bryan to discuss the power of focusing on a single business model before branching out into new ventures. The conversation highlights the pitfalls of “scatterbrain syndrome,” where entrepreneurs attempt to juggle multiple income streams, often at the expense of true mastery and success.

Drawing from real-world experiences, the speakers share insights on building a strong foundation by concentrating on one area, such as flipping homes or multifamily properties, before diversifying. They delve into lessons learned about market dynamics, scaling effectively, and avoiding financial strain caused by premature expansion.

Tune in to learn why depth of knowledge and expertise outweigh breadth in the early stages of entrepreneurship and how strategic focus can set the stage for long-term growth and sustainability.

In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan interviews Jim Fredo from Spring Capital Partners about his transition from corporate America to real estate investing. Jim shares lessons learned from early mistakes and discusses his investment strategies, including conservative financial practices and managing multifamily properties.

Bryan and Jim delve into key aspects of property management, from tenant relations to renovations. They discuss the importance of vertical integration, using project management tools like Asana, and maintaining integrity in construction. Bryan also reflects on the challenges of hiring virtual assistants and the significance of local knowledge in Pittsburgh's real estate market.

Tune in to hear valuable insights on scaling a real estate business, navigating insurance and utility issues, and building the right team for success.

In episode 22 of Business Blueprints, Bryan welcomes Phil Pagliari, a multifaceted individual who is a Christian, father, husband, pastor at Valley Remnant Church, designer, and freelancer. The episode dives into Phil's inspiring journey, highlighting the significant transformations he has undergone since high school. Phil shares his experiences, starting from his graduation in 2004, his brief stint at Pittsburgh Technical Institute, and his early ventures from the streets of Denora. Despite a tumultuous start, Phil's story is one of resilience and continuous growth, showcasing his commitment to his mission and the remarkable changes he has embraced over the years. Tune in to hear more about Phil's life, lessons learned, and the strength of his personal evolution.

In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan is joined by Matt Durbin from mad.homes to dive into the world of real estate and mortgages. Matt shares his extensive experience in the industry, starting from his beginnings in mortgage in 2005 during the subprime boom. He discusses his transition to Fort Lauderdale, where he launched a mortgage broker business before shifting focus to real estate brokerage. With 30+ agents and nearly 300 transactions a year, the conversation touches on the challenges of managing a growing team and the importance of staying focused on core business goals. The conversation highlights the importance of having analytic goals in business and the challenges of staying focused in fast-paced industries like real estate and construction. Tune in to gain insights from Matt's journey and learn about the strategies he employs to navigate the complexities of the market.

"YOU JUST HAVE TO REALIZE NOW IS THE MOMENT"

In this episode of Business Blueprints, Bryan sits down with good friend Arron Groomes, a sharp and innovative professional in the real estate industry. They reflect on their early days at Urban Capital, discussing how those formative experiences shape their careers and deepen their understanding of the field.

Arron shares his unconventional path into real estate, beginning with an initial pursuit of physical therapy. After realizing it is not the right fit, he pivots to accounting, where he discovers the tax advantages of real estate and develops a passion for the industry. As a student at the University of Pittsburgh, Arron co-founds a real estate club, creating invaluable networking opportunities and connecting with some of Pittsburgh’s most prominent industry leaders.

The conversation highlights the importance of relationships in real estate, with Arron emphasizing how early connections and lessons continue to provide opportunities. He discusses the challenges of wholesaling and property management during the early stages of his career, explaining how these experiences influence his investment strategies and approach to business.

The episode also examines Pittsburgh’s unique real estate landscape, from its evolving neighborhoods to the growing impact of tech companies on the local economy. Arron explores the influx of out-of-state investors, the shifting property values, and the critical role of conservative underwriting in navigating unpredictable market conditions.

This episode offers a detailed look at Arron Groomes’ professional journey and the dynamic nature of Pittsburgh’s real estate market. Through this engaging conversation, listeners gain valuable insights into building a career in real estate and adapting to a constantly evolving industry.

WHEN YOU SEE A PROBLEM IN THE MARKET, TRY AND FIX IT!

In this episode Bryan sits down with agent and construction professional Jon Masuga! Hear how the guys met back in 2014 and how flipping brought them together. The guys talk learning the how to’s and why remodeling was the next pivot from flipping. Hear Jon's opinion about why it’s so hard finding the right properties and why people are turned off by lazy flips. Find out what a client avatar even is during this awesome discussion. Lastly, Jon also thinks to be a real estate agent you also have to have an extensive knowledge of construction to be great for your clients.

Jon asks Bryan for advice on growth to wrap up the show. 

Starting out as an intern for a real estate group in college, Jon has accumulated over 13 years in different positions in real estate, majority of which involved being a Realtor at various big name brokerages. Most recently, Jon was a Sales Representative for NVR home builders (Heartland Homes/Ryan Homes) for 5 years where he sold over 100 new construction homes of all shapes and sizes, ranging from $250,000 to over $1,000,000. In that time, Jon would meet with 4-5 buyers a day and learn about their wants, needs and struggles in the search to find their new home. When COVID hit Jon realized that the nature of real estate was changing forever, and being part of a large corporation would not allow him the flexibility to always do right by the client.

Sensing the enormous change in Pittsburgh real estate with limited inventory and rising prices, Jon saw an opportunity to start a brokerage that acted as a Fiduciary to the client instead of just trying to get their business anyway possible. Jon aims to build his brand around eliminating all the things people hate about traditional brokerages like binding contracts, random fees, minimum commissions or a big team where you can get lost in the shuffle.

Jon has built a trusted network of real estate professionals including lenders, title companies, real estate attorneys, new construction sales reps, investors and an most of all an affiliated construction team to deliver real value to all his clients. Jon owns and invests in the markets you’re already looking so he can relate to what you’re going through in your search first hand. Whether you’re selling your home, finding your next or looking to start into the world of investing, JEM Realty has it all in one place.

GROWTH IN A BUSINESS STARTS WITH SELF-DEVELOPMENT!

In this episode, Bryan sits down with Travis Kenny & Adam Fincik of Planet Roof! Hear the guy's amazing story of how to run a business and still believe in yourself, and to know when it needs to pivot. Being in business together for 9 years they noticed they were not properly running their business. Now the guys are leading from the front with both in sales after restructuring. They dive into a common theme on our show -  RELATIONSHIPS ARE EVERYTHING and business coaching is KEY!

The guys also give their opinions on the insurance world and why as a roofing company they no longer do insurance claims. Lastly, the guys give their one piece of advice to anyone wanting to start a business. 

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Adam started roofing at age 17. He had over a decade of experience before joining with Travis to start their own company. Together, they have 40 years of combined experience.

Adam saw that some of the companies he worked for were unethical and cut corners to make more money. This is a concept that both Adam and Travis disagreed with, so they made it a mission to ensure that Planet Roof always puts the customer first, ensuring quality work and total satisfaction.

Planet Roof was established with customer’s expectations as a top priority. We believe in providing customers with top quality and a satisfying project experience unlike any they’ve ever had. They are committed as owners and as an organization to consistently improve their services by staying on top of all the latest technological advances and quality materials of construction to deliver the best value possible for every customer.

THE POWER OF EDUCATION

In this one, Bryan is joined by a person he has known for a very long time, Daniel Costantino of Achieve Capital Partners! The guys go over some war stories and Dan's most recent nightmare that has now turned out into a great thing. He also explains how he got his start and how a mastermind group changed his life. His biggest piece of advice on how to learn is "Get around the people who do what you want to do". Also who doesn't love hearing some crazy covid business stories?!

You will become a better leader after listening to this one, listen up!

Achieve Capital Partners is a leading private equity real estate firm that offers stable, high-yield returns to accredited investors. Their investment options are comprised of multi-family housing throughout the Greater Pittsburgh area and have been growing steadily since founded.

Vertically integrated, they have in-house property management, maintenance, and construction which gives them the ultimate control over investment assets.  

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