In the turnkey real estate industry, anyone can claim to offer "full-service" investing. The
term gets thrown around so frequently that it's lost much of its meaning. But when
you're entrusting someone with your financial future and potentially hundreds of
thousands of dollars, you need more than marketing buzzwords.
3 min read
Customer Service Standards: What Sets Premium Turnkey Real Estate Companies Apart
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Oct 9, 2025
3 min read
The Foundation for Turnkey Investing Success: Exceptional Customer Service
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Oct 2, 2025
Excellent customer service is not a “nice to have” in turnkey investing—it’s the foundation. Totally non-negotiable. Your turnkey provider or property management team can excel in virtually every other area, but if they stink at customer service, you’re in for a rough ride!
4 min read
Emergency Maintenance Response: What Investors Should Expect from Property Managers
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Sep 25, 2025
Picture this: you're coming home from vacation. After throwing elbows at the airport, suffering through layovers, and paying $40 for a disappointing burger and fries, you're finally home. You unlock the door and step in, luggage in tow.
And you immediately know something is very wrong. A quick look at the thermostat shows that it's 92 degrees Fahrenheit when it should be 72 degrees Fahrenheit. Obviously, you can't sleep like this. You're spending your first night home in a hotel.
4 min read
The Real Estate Investor's Quick Guide to 1031 Exchange Rules
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Sep 11, 2025
Real estate investors have a wealth of tax strategies at their disposal. This is one of the primary motivators for investors to choose real estate as their primary asset! We’re here to give you the rundown on one of the most powerful tax-deferral tools at your disposal: The 1031 Exchange.
Summary: A 1031 Exchange defers capital gains taxes through the sale of one investment property and the purchase of another "like-kind" property.
3 min read
This Single Market Quality Makes ALL the Difference for Turnkey Real Estate Investors
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Aug 14, 2025
How do you choose a worthy investment market? Here’s a hint: if everyone is talking
about it, it’s probably not the right choice. By the time the cat is out of the bag on “hot” real estate markets, the window to score deals is closed.
And what passive real estate investor wants to waste their time on speculation?
4 min read
25 Questions Curious First-Time Investors Should Ask Prospective Turnkey Partners
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Aug 7, 2025
Investing in real estate is an exciting prospect with the potential to totally transform your financial future. But it’s also intimidating for first-time investors, and understandably so! A significant amount of money is at stake, and there’s so much for new investors to learn.
As a result, many newcomers opt for a turnkey approach. That is, they purchase properties from an established turnkey provider that handles property acquisition, renovations, resident placement, and property management.
3 min read
5 Rules for Successful Turnkey Investing in Today’s Market
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Jul 31, 2025
In today’s real estate landscape, the rules of the game are evolving. Investors are entering the space with high expectations—and sometimes without the preparation necessary to meet them. I’m seeing it in investor conversations, online forums, and in the hundreds of inquiries we receive each month at REI Nation.
5 min read
This Old (or New) House: What’s the Better Buy-and-Hold Bet?
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Jul 24, 2025
If you’re investing in real estate for the first time, you probably have lots of questions. After all, there are so many options and strategies available. It can be overwhelming! But let’s focus on one of the bigger decisions investors must make: To invest in older properties that require renovation or opt for shiny, brand-new builds.
3 min read
The #1 Skill Every Turnkey Property Manager Should Have
By Chris Clothier on Thu, Jun 5, 2025
We’ve been in this business for a while now. It’s safe to say we’ve seen just about everything the market can throw at real estate investors, from housing market crashes to global pandemic panic. Good times and tougher ones, too.
We’ll let you in on a secret, though: your success in real estate investment rarely has to do with market conditions. It has everything to do with the things you can control. As a turnkey investor, you rely on a team to get the job done. Critical to that team is property management.
And what’s the most essential quality in your property manager? Proactive communication.
A survey shows that, aside from rent costs, the number one most cited reason for rental residents to forgo lease renewal was an unresponsive and ineffective property manager.
Further Reading: Crucial Questions New Investors MUST Ask a Property Management Company
3 min read
5 Ways Out-of-State Real Estate Investing Fast Tracks Early Retirement
By Chris Clothier on Thu, May 22, 2025
Where should you invest in real estate? It’s the age-old question. We can make an excellent case for a few specific markets, but we want to speak more generally here. Real estate investment strategy is often about the slow zoom-in—focusing on general principles that grow in specificity as you move towards your personal pinpoint.