Jess Shipwash of Shipwash Properties –The Life of a Nurse, Mother, Wife, and Real Estate Investor

Photo Credit: Haleigh Crabtree Photography

Jess Shipwash is a wife and mother to a newborn baby boy, born in May of 2021. Jess is the co-founder of Shipwash Properties LLC, a real estate investment company that she founded with her husband, Jeff. In addition to real estate, Jess is a registered nurse with a strong background in critical care. Jess worked across many different critical care units during the COVID-19 Pandemic and currently works in a surgical unit when she is not buying real estate!

Can you tell our readers about your background?

I grew up in a family of nurses. My mother and grandmother were both nurses, and I have several extended family members that are nurses.  It was always a dream of mine to become one as well. I graduated nursing school in 2016, and started my career in critical care, working in a variety of departments including cardiac critical units and intensive care units. In addition to my medical career, I always had a burning desire to become an entrepreneur. My husband and I both love real estate and we were fascinated by the HGTV shows on flipping houses. It may sound corny, but we dream to become the Erin and Ben Napier (Home Town on HGTV) of Tennessee! 

What inspired you to start a business?

I wanted to take the passion I have for caring for others and turn it into something that could benefit my community, and that I could truly call mine! So, we launched a real estate investment company! In addition to starting a business I am passionate about; I want to have the opportunity to pass something down to my son. Handing the keys of a successful business over to my son one day fuels me through the late nights and weekends. Jeff always had an entrepreneur spark as well. We just never could figure out exactly what we wanted to do. We “accidently” flipped our first home. I say “accidently” because we had no intention of flipping the house. We had owned it for right at a year, but a house we fell in love with came available in our neighborhood and we just had to have it! During that year of ownership, we remodeled different areas of the home. Nothing major, just a lot of cosmetic stuff. This is where we learned that we truly enjoyed home remodeling. When we went to sell the home, we made a decent little profit from it. That was the “ah-ha” moment that triggered me to investigate flipping homes as a business.

Where is your business based?

My business is based in Knoxville, TN. Although we are based in Knoxville, we serve the entire East Tennessee Areas from Oak Ridge, all the way down to certain areas of Chattanooga. 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took?

I started my business by reading as many books as possible about real estate investing, I could get my hands on! In addition to books, I listened to what seems like 500 podcasts. Every day on my way to and from work, I would listen to a podcast.  I knew I wanted to start on the right foot. This is an extremely competitive business, so I didn’t want to go into this without a game plan. I wanted to form a great team of people I could rely on. In real estate, you need attorneys, real estate agents, CPA’s, contractors, and many other people to rely on. Without these people, you run the risk of failing before you start. In the early stages of my business, I networked and built relationships with as many of these people as I could. So far, we have been able to establish a great network of professionals that help our business grow!

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

In my opinion, every great business starts with a great website. In 2021, most people start their search for services on the internet. I knew that to be successful, we would need a credible website. In this field, you have so many random generic websites of people that are not true real estate investors but claim to be. For us to separate ourselves from these people, we needed to first build our site and make it as credible as possible. In addition, documenting our flips across social media platforms shows that we are who we say we are and that we mean it when we say we buy houses as is to flip!

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

My biggest challenge has been time management. I am a new mom, and my son is my first child. In addition to him trying to learn new routines, I am as well! My business is still in the early stages of its life; therefore, a lot of time and effort is spent trying to learn, grow, and develop new strategies to grow it. Several hours is spent promoting, running the day-to-day stuff like ongoing rehabs, and bookkeeping as well. I am still working to grow our online presence as well, so a lot of time is spent on implementing SEO strategy. To overcome this obstacle, my husband and I decided to basically take shifts on different chores and tasks. Some days, he does all the project management stuff in the business, and does less house chores, and other days it’s the opposite. We rotate these back and forth. We also prepare our days with a written agenda. Checking off different tasks allows us to keep track of what needs to be done and provides a small win each time we complete one!

How do you stay focused?

Always know your why. Why are you sacrificing sleep to get this task done? Why are you sacrificing time out with friends? Why are you sacrificing buying that new car? Knowing your why keeps you on track for your goals. My why is creating financial independence and freedom for me and my family. If having a 9-5 becomes an option rather than a “have-to, “That is freedom. If you can write a check when you need a new car without thinking twice? That is financial independence. That’s what keeps me motivated and keeps me focused on the most difficult tasks each day!

How do you differentiate your business from the competition?      

I love getting this question! We are not your typical “we buy houses” company. Since we only serve the community we live in, we take great pride in conducting business the ethical and legal way. In addition, we market ourselves more than our business brand. When you search my company, I want you to be able to put a face to it more than a brand. Most of my competitors hide behind their websites and you can’t even find the name of the person who owns the company. We wanted to differentiate ourselves by documenting all our home renovations, placing real pictures all over our website that includes us, and having a detailed about us section as well.

What has been your most effective marketing strategy to grow your business?

Google Ads and word of my mouth has been the life blood of my business so far. I am working extremely hard to get our website to the first page of Google.  The consulting company we are working with has truly been amazing. Our website, nor our branding would be what it is today without them. I had zero knowledge of how to build a website, and no idea where to start with SEO. But with their help, we are moving in the right direction. See you on page one of Google soon Knoxville!

What's your best piece of advice for aspiring and new entrepreneurs?

I want to rehearse the part about knowing your “why.” Running a business is hard. Starting one from scratch in a competitive market? That’s fun too! Having a “why” gets you through the days you want to give up. There will be days, trust me.  Keep moving forward on your path and continue to have grit. Not giving up is a lot harder than running a business. Surround yourself with people who want to see you succeed. I can’t preach this enough! The people who see your success as competition, eliminate them from your life immediately. Negativity is contagious. If you associate with people who consistently don’t believe in you, you will fail. Make your circle small and help each other win! 

What's your favorite app, blog, and book? Why?

This is a tough one! My favorite app has to be TikTok. Not only do I get inspiring design ideas for our houses, but it also provides hours of comedy when I need a pick-me-up. My favorite blog is the mighty investor by Jerryll Norden. His blog is essentially written as a diary and it details his entire investing journey. Jerryll started his life a robotics scientist but found a passion in real estate. Not only has he created a successful real estate business, but he has also started one of the best SEO companies in the United States! My favorite book is Paddle Your Own Canoe by Nick Offerman. Not only was Nick amazing in Parks and Rec, but his book also provides great inspiration on believing in yourself.

What's your favorite business tool or resource? Why?

My all-time favorite business tool so far has been QuickBooks! QuickBooks is so simple to use, and it allows me to manage my business like a smart business person should! My husband has an accounting background, so it wouldn’t be fair to say I haven’t had a lot of help in learning it! QuickBooks provides the resources for me to track expenses and income down to a project level, which influences the decisions I make on the next house. It’s also convenient when it comes time to pay Uncle Sam. All our receipts and expenses are in the system and is super easy to produce our tax documents.

Who is your business role model? Why?

Without a doubt, Dan Price of Gravity Payments. Dan is famous for raising the minimum wage of all his employees to $70,000 back in 2015. Dan went under great criticism from business experts saying that his company would fail, and it just wouldn’t work. What happened? Gravity Payments tripled its revenue over the next five years. Dan is the perfect example of realizing that a company’s greatest asset really is the employees. Like many of us, I have spent parts of my life working for companies who only care about the bottom line and not the morale or health of its workforce. Dan proved not only could you demonstrate this by sacrificing his own salary, but a company can reap the benefits for it in the future. As my company grows, I want to provide life changing opportunities for my future employees just like Dan! 

How do you balance work and life?

The famous work/life balance. Does that even exist in 2021? Just kidding! Since the pandemic, I have worked hard on making a list of priorities and placing them above all else.  My husband and I dedicate certain times of the day and certain days of the week to strictly family time. It is certainly difficult at times. He works a full time W-2 job, we run the business together, and we have a newborn. We do our best to layout a schedule of things to allow us to complete these tasks in an efficient way. Everything has a due date and person responsible. So far, it has worked well! Our goal is to one day run the business as a true CEO, and not allow the business to run us! Balance is tough, but it can certainly be accomplished.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My two favorite things in the world are getting a pedicure and going to the lake. Getting a pedicure is my free mommy time.  My husband and I have a boat, and East Tennessee has several lakes to choose from. We always attempt to go out on the lake and hang out with our friends. This is great bonding time for family in addition to a great way to decompress! Thank goodness for summertime and lake therapy!

What do you have planned for the next six months?

The next six months I plan to finish working our SEO for our website. I have a goal set to do at least $1 million in real estate transactions in 2021. With six months left, I think we can hit that goal. In addition, I am working to finish building out our formatting on our website as well and finally stick to something!  I am wanting to learn more about doing short-term rentals for my business. Air Bnb is a great opportunity in locations near me, and I think that would be a great branch to add to my business. Lastly, I want to spend as much time as possible with my new baby boy! Learning to be a mom has been one of the greatest experiences of my life and I wouldn’t trade it for anything!

How can our readers connect with you?

We encourage everyone to check out website! In addition to our website, readers can follow the progress of our home renovations across social media platforms at the following:

Website: https://www.webuyhousesinknoxcounty.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/shipwashproperties

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/shipwash_properties/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/shipwashproper1

"Keep going!! Take the leap of faith!" with Maxine Peck

Maxine Peck helps people in Las Vegas and Henderson move up with ease. Growing up in Henderson and personally buying and selling in the community has given her the unique ability to understand what her clients really need. She created a 5-Step process called The Advantage Method which takes the stress out while serving at the highest level. Her business is built around strong communication, teamwork, and customer service. Find out more info on her website https://dreamhomesbymaxine.kw.com/

Can you tell our readers about your background? 

Growing up my passion was always to help people. In college, I got a job at a hotel here in Las Vegas which ended up being the beginning of a 10-year career in the customer service industry! Over those 10 years, I got the best training in the world! That’s where I get my commitment to provide such a high level of service.

What inspired you to start your business?

It’s so crazy how real estate and I crossed paths so many times before I realized it was my calling! Really what inspired me to start my real estate business was being the unsatisfied client in multiple transactions. And when I say multiple it was every deal, I was involved in. I felt like I was a number to the agent, the lender, the escrow officer, the list could go on. Every time it became clearer that I could provide what was lacking at an exponential level! This inspired me to start my business and create my Advantage Method.

Where is your business based? 

My business is based in the Las Vegas and Henderson area of Nevada. I also work with a lot of agents worldwide and can help from anywhere! 

How did you start your business? What were the first steps you took? 

I’m a big believer in planning for success, a big planner in general. I like to research and go into something with as much information as possible. That’s exactly what I did starting my business. I read blogs, articles, and talked to as many biz owners as possible. Then I did the hardest part. I took that leap of faith. I quit my 9-5 and jumped all into Real Estate.  

What has been the most effective way of raising awareness for your business?

I love using social media for my business. I use it to educate my clients and in turn, it organically raises my brand awareness. Essentially, I represent my brand, so I love being able to put myself out there.

What have been your biggest challenges and how did you overcome them?

In the beginning, I’d say my biggest challenge was being intimidated. There are agents in Las Vegas that have been in business for over 40 years. Then I quickly learned that everyone in real estate has their own unique business. Not one is the same. I focused on what my clients were looking for and how I could best provide it. Confidence is really how I overcame that challenge! 

How do you stay focused?

I really have the opposite problem with focus. I have trouble shutting it off. I think the secret to staying focused is finding something you’re truly passionate about. 

How do you differentiate your business from the competition? 

Something that differentiates me is that I’ve been in the clients’ shoes many times before getting into real estate. From those experiences, I created a 5-Step process called the Advantage Method which takes the stress out of buying and selling. I meet with every client for a comprehensive consultation so can learn their goals and come up with a plan to best support them. Then the Advantage Method is tailored to their needs.

What has been the most effective marketing strategy to grow your business? 

The most effective strategy so far has been social media marketing. Using my social media platforms to educate, share real estate stories, advice and tips have allowed me to connect with more clients. Why keep all my knowledge a secret? I want my clients to be as educated as possible so they can make the best decisions for their individual situations.

What’s your best piece of advice for aspiring new entrepreneurs?

Keep going!! Take the leap of faith! It’s not easy starting a business. The secret that differentiates the success stories from the failures is not giving up.

What’s your favorite app, blog, and book? Why? 

I’m going to be totally embarrassing right now and say my favorite app is my notes app. I’m always on the go and can get a call from a client at any time and I feel it’s really important to always answer my phone and take notes. I use my notes app literally hourly. I use cooler apps too, I promise! My favorite blog is The One Thing. It has great tips on how to stay motivated and in the right mindset! Love listening to their podcast on the way to the office. My favorite book is The Millionaire Real Estate Agent by Gary Keller. It opens your mind up to endless possibilities and shows you how to run your business like a business, not a job.

What’s your favorite business tool or resource?

I love Canva for creating all of my marketing material. I can create professional designs with my own unique brand personality. You can make anything from business cards and thank you cards to presentations and animated social media content.

Who is your business role model? Why? 

My business role model is definitely my mom, Carol Hay. She’s always had a passion for helping people wronged. She started Hay Law when I was growing up and inspired me at a young age. Her passion and drive are like none I have ever seen. She taught me that hard work, dedication, and care are what separate the good from the great. I don’t know anyone who is more passionate, thoughtful and committed than her. I’m so lucky I’ve had her as my role model.

How do you balance work and life? 

It’s definitely not always easy to balance both. I love my work; I hate to even call it to work! The best way to balance is to create a schedule. The first thing to schedule is your family time for the week. Once you do that, then add in the “work.” Schedule breaks to eat, exercise, and time off to reset.

What’s your favorite way to decompress?

My favorite way to decompress is to hang out with my fiancé Jordan and 2 pups Milton & Memphis. I love spending time with them, going for walks, and relaxing at home.  

What do you have planned for the next 6 months?

I cannot wait for what’s to come! I’m so excited! I plan to grow my business by helping more people have the best real estate transaction of their life! I plan to provide my clients and friends on social media with more real estate tips, valuable info, and a way to connect with me.

How can our readers connect with you?

I’m so glad you asked!! A great way to connect with me would be to add me on Facebook and send me a message! I love connecting with new people. Add me here: https://www.facebook.com/MaxinePeckRealEstate. Can’t wait to meet you!