Rust Belt Flip/Brrrr experts? Need advice on scaling

[Matthew Banks]

I've done 7 Brrrr projects but am a bit burned out. We've got $1k/mo CF on each door which is great. We're in a mid-size Northern rust belt city and the economy here is good. Its almost impossible to find a Brrrr acquisition that pencils if we hire contractors to do the reno's, so we've been making a lot of DIY contributions. Curious if others are doing the same or if you found another approach? Any advice on how we could find more affordable contractors or crew hires? I do regularly see good deals to either flip or BRRRR but I've got a f/t job and am nervous to make the leap to f/t flip/Brrrr. Love advice from someone who has done it.

[Kerlous Tadres]

Hey @Matthew Banks, from my experience, the key is building a reliable local contractor network. Look for smaller crews or younger tradespeople who want steady work. They’re usually more affordable and flexible than big GCs. Batch projects when possible to get better rates, and leverage referrals from other investors or your local RE community. Until you have contractors you trust to handle most of the work, I’d keep your day job. Focus on systems that save time and scale your team gradually. Deals with $1k/mo per door are strong, so prioritize ones that can run smoothly without overloading you.