Wendell’s Weekly Wins and Whiffs

🏆 Win of the Week: Momentum Built on Execution

One of our recent fix and flip projects just went under contract, reinforcing what we continue to see when fundamentals are done right. While many properties are sitting longer and buyers remain cautious, well located assets with thoughtful renovations and realistic pricing are still commanding attention.

That outcome was not accidental. It was the result of buying correctly, executing a high quality renovation, and staying aligned with what today’s end buyer actually wants, not what worked in the last cycle.

For anyone interested in seeing the finished product, here is the listing: Click Here!

At the same time, we are leaning into growth with intention at Tide & Timber Ventures. This week, we brought on a dedicated Deal Analyst, which is a meaningful step forward operationally. With this addition, we expect to increase our capacity to make 200 to 300 additional offers per month, significantly expanding our ability to pursue fix and flips, new construction, and wholesale opportunities.

More offers mean more data, more conversations, and ultimately more opportunities that align with our acquisition criteria. In competitive environments, speed, consistency, and disciplined underwriting matter, and we are building the team to support that at scale.

💨 Whiff of the Week: Hiring Friction and Staying Disciplined

This week was a reminder that building the right team takes patience and restraint, even when progress feels slower than you would like.

We had a few interviews fall through for the executive assistant role, and progress has been stagnant on a couple of other positions we are actively trying to hire for as well. That can be frustrating, especially when workload is real and additional support would immediately create leverage.

At the same time, this is a direct result of being intentional about how we hire. Every candidate moves through a structured process that includes a survey, application, case study, and interview. That system is designed to filter out poor fits early, not rush someone into a seat simply to relieve short term pressure.

The reality is that hiring slow does make the search harder. Fewer people make it through. Timelines stretch. Momentum can feel delayed. But when the right person does come through, and they have in the past, the payoff has been absolutely worth it.

The miss this week was not that roles are still open. It was the reminder that discipline is tested most when patience is required. The focus now is to stay committed to the process, continue searching with intention, and trust that the right people are found through consistency, not compromise.

 🔦 From the Field: Delays, Workarounds, and Real Costs

We are still experiencing delays on a few projects due to Duke Energy, the electrical utility here in Charlotte. Power connections continue to stall progress, and while it is largely out of our hands, I have been following up relentlessly to keep things from going completely cold.

That is part of building and operating. Some constraints you can control. Others you can only manage through persistence and pressure. In the meantime, we focus on moving forward wherever we can instead of waiting on a single bottleneck to clear.

On one of our new build projects, that meant pushing ahead with extensive grading work. This lot required a significant amount of earthwork, which ultimately led to installing a large retaining wall to properly support the site.

Check out the photo here:

Now for the part most people underestimate. That retaining wall alone came in at roughly $15,000.

Retaining walls get expensive fast. Materials, engineering, labor, and site conditions all add up quickly. If you are building or buying properties on lots with steep slopes or elevation changes, this is something you absolutely need to account for early. It is one of those line items that can quietly blow up a budget if it is overlooked.

The takeaway from the field this week is simple. Delays will happen. External friction is part of the game. The operators who keep momentum are the ones who adapt, re-sequence work, and stay proactive instead of waiting for perfect conditions.

Back to it,