Demo To Dollars
Demo to Dollars is your go-to podcast for real-world, how-to strategies for flipping houses, delivered in fast, focused, no-fluff episodes you can actually use.Hosted by Ed Mathews, real estate investor and founder of Clark St Investors Academy, this show cuts through the noise to give you the exact tactics Ed and his team use in their flipping business every day. No theories. No hype. Just practical lessons to help you find deals, estimate rehabs, raise capital, and close flips like a pro.Whether you’re working a full-time job, starting from scratch, or scaling your operation, each episode gives you...
Real Estate Rehab Secrets: Ask Me Anything
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Don't wing it. That's the core message from Ed in this illuminating episode of Demo to Dollars. For those stuck scrolling through Zillow dreaming of their first flip but paralyzed by uncertainty, this episode delivers the blueprint you've been searching for.
Ed tackles the most pressing questions from aspiring house flippers across the country. He dispels the myth that you need a contractor's license to flip houses while emphasizing the importance of building a professional team. "You're not building a job, you're building a business," he reminds listeners, encouraging them to...
Why Your ARV Strategy Is Costing You Thousands
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Smart real estate investors know that misusing ARV (After Repair Value) can cost them thousands, while those who approach it strategically create room for significant upside potential.
• ARV is an educated guess about what a property might sell for after renovation, not a guaranteed number
• Many investors treat ARV as gospel or artificially inflate it to make deals work on paper
• "Tommy" bumped his ARV from $280K to $295K to force a deal to work, ultimately breaking even after months of work
• Conservative ARV estimates create safety margins for unex...
It's Just Business. So Rehab Like It.
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The critical mindset shift for successful house flipping is remembering "you will never live there," which prevents costly personal design choices that eat into profits.
• Personal preferences are the enemy of profit in house flipping
• Example: Early flip where custom tiles, maple cabinets and high-end fixtures cost an extra $18,000 without increasing sale price
• Success story: Competitor spent $52,000 on market-appropriate renovations and made $60,000 profit
• Buyers want a "blank canvas" they can personalize themselves
• Focus spending on kitchens, baths, and curb appeal where buyers notice
• Choose durable, mid-range materials th...
The Secret Wall Street Doesn't Want You to Know About
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Wall Street has hidden the truth that you can legally use retirement funds to invest in real estate while maintaining tax advantages. Self-directed IRAs (SDIRAs) offer investors control, cash flow, growth, and upside potential beyond traditional stock and bond investments.
• SDIRAs allow you to direct investments yourself instead of relying on fund managers
• You can buy rentals, flip properties, fund deals as a private lender, or invest in syndications
• Profits stay in your account growing either tax-deferred (Traditional) or tax-free (Roth)
• Roth SDIRAs use after-tax contributions but qualified withdraw...
From Zero to Funded: Building Trust with Private Lenders
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Discover how to build a private lender pitch deck in just one afternoon that will help you secure funding for your house flips without relying on traditional banks. This step-by-step guide breaks down exactly what lenders care about and how to present yourself as a trustworthy investment partner, even if you're just starting out.
• Private money isn't exclusive to experienced investors with large portfolios
• A compelling pitch deck needs six key elements: mission, track record, simple numbers, clear terms, organized timeline, and social proof
• Start with an authentic mission statem...
The Mystical Unicorn That Isn't: Seller Financing Demystified
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Struggling with sellers who still expect 2021 prices despite today's market realities? This episode offers a game-changing approach that transforms seemingly impossible deals into profitable opportunities.
The secret lies in a simple but powerful negotiation technique: "I'll pay your price if you give me terms consistent with your pricing." Instead of walking away from overpriced properties, you'll learn how to pivot the conversation toward seller financing with terms that make deals work. This isn't about haggling—it's about creating genuine win-win scenarios where sellers get their desired price point while you secure fav...
The Three-Offer Offer Strategy: Turning "No" and "Maybe" into "Yes"
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Struggling to close deals with motivated sellers? You're about to discover a game-changing negotiation strategy that transforms "let me think about it" into "let's make this happen."
Most real estate investors make the same critical mistake - they approach sellers with a single take-it-or-leave-it offer. This strategy paints both parties into a corner, creating resistance and hesitation. What if you could completely flip this dynamic with one simple shift in approach?
The Three-Offer Close is my secret weapon after years flipping houses across multiple markets. Instead of boxing sellers...
Flip Without the Flop: Lessons From My Worst Deals
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Every successful house flipper has battle scars from deals gone wrong—I'm pulling back the curtain on three of mine that nearly cost me everything. These aren't theoretical warnings; they're real mistakes that drained my bank account and tested my sanity.
Your contractor selection can make or break your timeline. When I hired that bargain-basement crew from Craigslist, I ignored glaring red flags because I was hypnotized by their low bid. Six weeks turned into twelve, with days of complete silence between sporadic work. By the time I finally fired them, I...
Beyond the Interest Rate: What Makes Private Lenders Say Yes
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Ever wondered what's really going through a private lender's mind when you're pitching your real estate deal? Forget what you think you know about raising capital – this episode flips the script on everything.
Most real estate investors completely misunderstand what motivates private lenders. Contrary to popular belief, it's rarely about the interest rate you're offering. These aren't faceless institutions – they're doctors, business owners, and retirees looking for something more valuable than a few extra percentage points: security, simplicity, and someone they can trust.
We dive deep into the psychology of p...
Chess Not Checkers: The Attorney Connection That Made Us $42K
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Struggling to find profitable real estate deals in today's ultra-competitive market? You're not alone. While most investors fight over the same Zillow listings and get outbid by wholesalers with deep pockets, there's a smarter approach hiding in plain sight.
The secret? Building strategic relationships with bankruptcy and divorce attorneys who regularly work with clients who must sell properties quickly. These legal professionals sit at the crossroads of personal crisis and financial pressure – exactly where motivated sellers emerge. And best of all? These opportunities never hit the MLS, meaning no bidding wars an...
Stop Getting Burned: The Ultimate Contractor Vetting System for Real Estate Investors
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Hiring the wrong contractor can be the single most costly mistake in your house flipping journey. Missing deadlines, exceeding budgets, and delivering subpar work—these nightmares start with one critical error: choosing the wrong professional for your project.
Today I'm sharing my battle-tested system for contractor selection that has saved my flipping business thousands of dollars and countless headaches. You'll discover 20 powerful questions designed to separate the professionals from the pretenders. Each question serves as protective armor against the common pitfalls that trap unsuspecting investors. From verifying licensing and insurance to un...
The 7-Step Blueprint to Finding Trustworthy Contractors
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Every house flipper knows the pain of a contractor nightmare—blown budgets, missed deadlines, and quality issues that make you question your sanity. But what if you could build a team of reliable professionals who consistently deliver?
This episode of Demo to Dollars cuts through the fluff to deliver actionable strategies for finding trustworthy contractors who will become valuable assets to your flipping business. Host Ed Mathews shares seven proven tactics that separate the pros from the pretenders, including the surprising power of early morning supply house visits, the goldmine of co...
Code Violations: Your Hidden Goldmine
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Code violations and city liens serve as distress signals from property owners who are often burned out or facing financial difficulties, creating perfect opportunities for off-market real estate deals. By positioning yourself as the solution to these problems, you can access discounted properties that most investors overlook.
• Call or visit your city's code enforcement office to request open code violations lists
• Search for properties with municipal or tax liens at your city/county clerk's office
• Consider paid services like PropStream that compile public records of violations
• Market directly to distr...
The Real Cost of Finding Motivated Sellers: PPC Strategies for Investors
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PPC advertising offers real estate investors a powerful way to find motivated sellers, though it comes with both advantages and significant costs in competitive markets. We break down the strategy of using Google and Bing ads to target homeowners actively searching for solutions to sell their properties quickly.
• PPC leads are high-intent prospects actively searching for solutions, not passive scrollers
• In major metro areas, expect to pay $100-$400 per lead
• PPC advantages: immediate results (within 24 hours), scalability, and effectiveness in competitive markets
• Disadvantages include high costs, need for professio...
Beyond the Zestimate: How Smart Investors Calculate True Property Value
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The foundation of every successful house flip isn't hammers and nails—it's getting your numbers right. And no number matters more than the After-Rehab Value (ARV). This critical figure determines everything from your offer price to your renovation budget and ultimately your profit. Getting it wrong can sink your deal before you even start.
Many aspiring real estate investors struggle with accurately calculating ARV, which keeps them stuck scrolling through listings without taking action. Today, we break down three proven strategies professional flippers use to determine what a property will sell fo...
The 30-Minute Rehab Scope: Your Blueprint for House Flipping Success
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Turning property rehab into a science with a foolproof scope of work system that takes just 30 minutes to create and protects your profits on every project.
• Creating a solid scope of work (SOW) sets expectations, controls budget, and builds confidence with lenders
• Organize observations into categories: exterior, interior, and mechanicals
• Tag each item as Repair, Replace, or Leave to bring structure to gut instincts
• Focus improvements on what matters: clean, safe home with nice kitchen, bathrooms, and curb appeal
• Leave some tasks for new homeowners to complete—they'll want...
Stop Guessing, Start Inspecting: The Walkthrough
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A systematic property walkthrough separates successful house flippers from hopeful amateurs by helping you spot red flags, estimate rehab costs accurately, and avoid profit-killing surprises. This episode provides a complete six-part inspection checklist that serves as your blueprint for evaluating potential flip properties with confidence.
• Begin with exterior inspection including roof condition, siding damage, window quality, foundation issues, and drainage problems
• Evaluate interior structure by checking walls, ceilings, floors, and layout functionality
• Inspect mechanical systems thoroughly – HVAC, electrical panel capacity, and plumbing are potential budget-busters
• Pay special attention to kitchen...
Are You Wasting Time Getting Three Bids for Every Project?
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Most aspiring house flippers never get started because they lack a clear blueprint for success. This episode breaks down one critical aspect of the house flipping process: when to follow and when to break the common "three bids" rule for hiring contractors.
• The three-bid rule helps compare prices, avoid getting ripped off, and keep contractors honest
• Follow the rule when in new markets, for big-ticket items like roofs and HVAC, and for volume trades like flooring
• The goal isn't finding the cheapest bid but spotting outliers and confirming the averag...
Old School Works: How Direct Mail Still Closes Real Estate Deals
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Direct mail remains one of the most effective ways to connect with motivated sellers when done right, helping real estate investors find off-market deals even in competitive markets. This episode provides a seven-step blueprint for creating direct mail campaigns that build trust and generate real estate opportunities.
• Start small by focusing on just one town you know extremely well
• Target motivated sellers facing real challenges (vacant homes, pre-foreclosures, tax liens, code violations, divorce, probate)
• Follow the "law of seven touches" - consistency builds trust over time
• Approach sellers with gen...
House Flipping Barriers: Overcoming The 3 Myths
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In this inaugural episode of Demo to Dollars, Ed Mathews shares his practical strategies and tactics for flipping houses, even if you're starting from scratch.
Ed addresses common hurdles such as lack of time, finding deals, and raising capital, offering real-world solutions drawn from his 14 years of experience in the field.
Each episode promises to deliver concise, powerful lessons to help you navigate and succeed in house flipping.
Ed's aim is to pay forward the mentorship he's received and guide you step-by-step to your first or next suc...
