Uncontested Investing

Why Every Real Estate Investor Needs an Asset Manager

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we’re breaking down one of the most overlooked roles in a real estate investor’s team: the asset manager.   We dig into what exactly an asset manager does, how they’re different from a property manager, and why their value stretches far beyond spreadsheets. From analyzing financial health to forecasting long-term strategies, mitigating risks, and taking emotion out of tough investment decisions, an asset manager can be the key to turning your portfolio into a true wealth-building machine.   If you’ve ever wondered when (or why) you should bring on an asset manager, this episode will give you the clarity and confidence you need.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:41 What is an Asset Manager? 01:42 Asset Manager vs Property Manager 03:03 How an Asset Manager will help take emotions out of investment decisions 04:24 Budgeting, forecasting cash flow, and risk management 06:00 Maximizing returns: Lease audits, rent analysis, and market comparisons 09:21 Asset Managers as trusted partners in business 11:50 Building trust and transparency with your asset manager 14:05 Setting expectations, sharing goals, and aligning long-term vision 15:05 How to select the right Asset Manager: Due diligence and interviews 17:55 When is the right time to hire one? Scaling and hitting roadblocks 19:20 The natural cycle: from property management to asset management 20:43 Investing in your portfolio through assistants and asset managers   Quotables   “An asset manager can most comfortably remove emotion out of the transaction.”   “They’re not just adding money to the bottom line—they’re adding value to your entire investing strategy.”   “The good ones make more money when their clients make more money. That’s true alignment.”   Links   RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com   REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

Finding the Right Contractors & Building Lasting Relationships

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we dive into one of the most important aspects of real estate success: finding the right contractors and building strong, lasting relationships with them. Nate Linsky and Suzanne Andreasen break down practical strategies for networking, vetting, and partnering with reliable contractors, plus how to set expectations, communicate effectively, and use technology to stay on track. Whether you’re new to investing or managing multiple projects, this episode will help you avoid costly mistakes, strengthen your contractor relationships, and create a trusted network that grows with your business. Key Talking Points of the Episode: 00:00 Introduction 00:52 Why contractors are the foundation of your real estate business 02:46 Finding referrals through REI groups, trade shows, and local networks 05:35 Vetting contractor specialties and avoiding “one-size-fits-all” promises 06:56 Setting clear expectations on budget, timelines, and availability 11:20 Building goodwill: coffee, bagels, and small gestures that matter 12:57 Giving constructive feedback without damaging the relationship 15:30 The role of technology and tools in contractor accountability 17:45 How to track progress with digital communication and geocoded inspections 19:55 Starting small to test contractor reliability before bigger projects 21:31 Trusting instincts vs. making emotional decisions in disputes 22:48 Final takeaways and keeping professionalism at the forefront   Quotables   “Cheapest is not always best—referrals are the gold standard.”   “Be wary of the contractor who says they can do everything. Find people who do one thing extremely well.”   “Trust your instincts, but always act professionally. You never know when you’ll need them again.”   Links   RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com   REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

He Built a 1,400-Agent Empire by Walking the Talk with Tom Truong

In this powerful episode of Uncontested Investing, Tom Truong—real estate entrepreneur and global leader at eXp Realty—joins the show to share the unconventional path that took him from an insurance CFO to managing 1,400 agents across 37 states and five countries.   Tom opens up about early lessons learned from his mom, how a chance trip to see Robert Kiyosaki shifted his mindset forever, and why his leadership style is built on doing the work with his team, not just telling them what to do. His philosophy of “show up early, get involved, stay late” has fueled a career marked by scale, generosity, and deep impact.   Whether you’re a new investor looking to build your team or a seasoned pro wondering how to create more leverage, this episode delivers clear, actionable advice with heart.     Episode Highlights: 00:00 – Introduction to Tom Truong and the theme of building your team 01:00 – Tom shares his journey from insurance CFO to real estate investor 03:45 – Why Tom believes in investing with people, not just coaching them 05:45 – His core philosophy: do well financially so you can do good for others 07:15 – How he manages 1,400 agents with systems, structure, and CRM tools 10:30 – The global growth of eXp Realty and what makes it investor-friendly 13:50 – Identifying your hourly value and outsourcing low-impact tasks 17:30 – The most important roles to hire first as a real estate investor 22:30 – Tom’s criteria for vetting team members and spotting commitment 26:00 – The story behind his personal mission to help 100 people succeed 28:00 – Using blockchain to expand access to real estate investing 30:10 – How Tom sets clear, written goals with accountability built in 32:00 – Dealing with underperformance through one-minute conversations 34:00 – Why Tom “jumps in the dumpster” and leads by example 35:45 – Tips for new investors to build a network and find their first deal 37:20 – Tom’s passion: helping motivated people transform their lives   5 Key Takeaways   “Help 100 People” is more than a motto—it’s Tom’s mission. Inspired by his late mother, Tom is committed to lifting others up through education, partnership, and action. Don’t just coach—walk the walk. Tom believes the best mentorship comes from putting your own money into deals and doing them alongside your mentees. Build systems, not just teams. He uses CRM tools and organized communication systems to manage a global team without dropping the ball. Leverage is key. Identify your hourly value, then delegate everything else—Tom employs three assistants who work in shifts to cover nearly 24/7. The fortune is in the follow-up. One of his core mantras is to stay in touch and track every meaningful interaction with intention.   Notable Quotes     “The fortune is in the follow-up.” “If I tell you a deal is good, it’s because I’m willing to put my money in it.” “Show up early, get involved, stay late—those are the words my mom gave me, and I live by them.” “You don’t have to eat the whole pie. Split the pie and build a life around freedom.”       Resources & Mentions     Tom Truong on Instagram: @TomTruongRealEstate eXp Realty: https://www.exprealty.com RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast REI Ink Magazine: https://www.rei-ink.com       Let me know if you’d like this formatted for YouTube, email, or blog content as well.

Tenant Screening Tips for Growing Real Estate Portfolios

In this episode, we’re diving into one of the most critical and often overlooked pillars of successful real estate investing: tenant screening. Whether you’re just getting started or actively scaling your rental portfolio into the double or triple digits, your ability to consistently place the right tenant will either fuel your growth or derail it completely.   I’ve seen investors make the mistake of relying too much on their gut, rushing into lease agreements because a property’s sitting vacant, or making subjective, emotionally driven decisions. That’s a recipe for legal headaches, late rent, and high turnover. This episode is all about avoiding those pitfalls with a reliable, repeatable, and legally compliant process for screening tenants at scale.   We cover everything from automation tools to red flags to fair housing violations and we even get into how you can still offer second chances to tenants without putting your entire investment at risk.    If you’re looking to grow without burning out, this is the episode for you.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 01:27 How consistency will help with legal compliance and redlining risks 04:05 Screening criteria: credit, eviction, employment, and documentation 06:54 Leveraging technology to automate tenant screening 08:40 Legal compliance and city-specific ordinances for multi-market investors 09:43 Understanding the cost of vacancy when making decisions 10:15 The role of credit history vs. credit score and identifying red flags 12:27 How to effectively verify your tenant applicants’ information 14:13 Avoiding fair housing violations: training your team and documenting everything 17:01 Why you can’t afford to let emotion or “sob stories” cloud screening decisions 19:02 Second chances vs. red flags: how to evaluate borderline tenants legally and fairly 21:50 Building out a team that can support you as you grow your portfolio 23:54 Resources to help you get your processes aligned   Quotables   “Just because you have a beautiful asset doesn’t mean finding the right tenant is a piece of cake.”   “There should be no gray area. Your screening process needs to be consistent and legal for every single applicant.”   “An eviction on record is a red flag. But don’t just check boxes, look at patterns.”   Links   RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com   REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

Using VAs to Handle Day to Day Operations in Your Real Estate Investing Business

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, we will wrap up our deep dive into property management by exploring one of the smartest scaling tools in real estate: virtual assistants (VAs). From tenant communication to maintenance coordination and bookkeeping, VAs are changing the game for landlords, operators, and investors of all sizes.   We’re breaking down how VAs can handle everything from leasing logistics to after-hours emergency calls and why using them can make a small operation look like a Fortune 500 team.   If you’ve been overwhelmed by the day-to-day or wondering how to grow without burning out, this episode offers real solutions with tested systems and tools.   Key Talking Points of the Episode   00:00 Introduction 00:47 The flexibility of working with VAs 01:49 Illusion of Size: How VAs can make you look bigger 03:26 Delegating leasing and tenant communication to VAs 05:04 Leveraging VAs for administrative tasks and operational efficiency 06:30 Lease renewals, document collection, and making sure timelines are met 07:39 Better maintenance management: responding to requests and after-hours support 10:00 Boosting tenant retention through high quality communication 12:35 Bookkeeping, reporting, and tracking payment activity 14:51 Where to find and hire trained VAs for your business 16:03 Time zone advantages and multilingual support from VAs 18:01 Training your VA: SOPs, permissions, and delegation boundaries 19:21 VA Communication Systems & Task Management Tools: Zoom, Slack, Trello 21:45 Setting the standards and providing training to support your VA 23:03 Building trust, promoting from within, and growing with a VA team   Quotables   “A VA can make you look like a 30-person team, even if it’s just you and a partner running the show.”   “If you’re scaling, your time is better spent strategizing, not chasing utility bills.”   “Build trust slowly. Start them on simple tasks. In six months, they could be running your books.”   Links   RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com   REI INK https://rei-ink.com/