Uncontested Investing

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Uncontested Investing is your no-frills real estate podcast, hosted by Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen. Designed for small to medium investors looking to scale their business, this podcast delivers practical advice that makes a difference. Each episode dives into the strategies, successes, and challenges of real estate investing, with Nate, Suzanne, and occasional expert guests sharing their insights. Whether you're a seasoned investor or just starting to grow your portfolio, tune in every Tuesday for actionable tips, valuable lessons, and the motivation to take your investing to the next level.

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October 27, 202628 min

Solving Problems at Every Stage of Real Estate Investing

Every real estate investment comes with challenges, but knowing how to solve them can make the difference between a profitable deal and a costly mistake. In this episode of Uncontested Investing, hosts Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen discuss practical strategies for overcoming obstacles throughout the investment process. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:00] Why problem-solving skills are essential at every stage of real estate investing [00:00:59] Overcoming limited inventory, competitive markets, and unmotivated sellers [00:01:36] Expanding acquisition criteria and identifying distressed and off-market properties [00:03:03] Using data and analytics to uncover motivated sellers and investment opportunities [00:03:52] Common challenges during initial investment analysis, including repair costs and comparable sales [00:05:02] Evaluating downside risks and the importance of having multiple exit strategies [00:06:14] How real estate professionals can identify hidden value-add opportunities for investors [00:06:51] Handling pricing disagreements, unrealistic seller expectations, and inspection concerns [00:08:27] Recognizing when to walk away from a difficult real estate transaction [00:08:53] Understanding seller motivation and using flexible terms to reach agreements [00:09:16] Creative deal structures, including seller financing and delayed closings [00:10:10] Why communication problems can derail otherwise viable real estate transactions [00:10:58] Addressing inspection surprises, environmental concerns, and due diligence challenges [00:11:53] Understanding structural issues, title complications, zoning, and permit problems [00:13:57] How agents and brokers can help investors coordinate inspections and manage expectations [00:14:58] Managing contractual deadlines, cancellation rights, and deposit risks [00:15:28] Common financing obstacles [00:16:00] Understanding debt service coverage ratios and evaluating rental property cash flow [00:16:41] Assessing rental income opportunities to address financing challenges [00:17:56] Building strong lender relationships and maintaining reliable financing options [00:18:43] Why successful investors establish backup financing strategies before they need them [00:19:27] Managing closing delays and setting realistic transaction timelines [00:20:08] Resolving title and property boundary issues while protecting financing terms [00:20:55] Staying proactive and solution-focused when market conditions or deal circumstances change [00:21:52] Using regular communication and deadline management to keep transactions moving [00:22:32] Addressing appraisal delays and providing relevant market information to appraisers [00:23:03] Managing post-acquisition challenges, including renovation delays and cost overruns [00:24:22] Prioritizing essential property improvements while maintaining renovation budgets [00:24:51] Managing contractor payments and avoiding excessive upfront disbursements [00:26:15] How trusted contractors and local market intelligence support successful investments [00:27:32] The importance of staying calm, communicating clearly, and building strong professional relationships Quotables: “And then the great investors don't ask, can this deal work? They ask what would happen, what would have to happen for this deal to work? So it's that perspective switch.” — Nate Zielinski [00:06:14] “So I think there’s things that you can maybe fix before the deal actually falls apart.” — Suzanne Andresen [00:17:13] “And I think it's just important to understand that many investment returns are determined after the property is acquired, not before.” — Nate Zielinski [00:27:04] Links: Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

October 20, 202619 min

Mastering the Investor Mindset: Fear, Risk, and Discipline

What separates successful real estate investors from those who struggle to get started? In this episode of Uncontested Investing, hosts Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen examine the psychology behind investment decisions and the mindset required for long-term success. Inspired by their recent conversation with real estate professional Ashley Reidy Quinn, they discuss how fear, confidence, emotional discipline, and personal motivations influence investment strategies. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:00] Understanding the psychology of successful real estate investors and lessons from Ashley Reidy Quinn [00:00:37] Core motivations for investing, including financial freedom, passive income, wealth preservation, and legacy building [00:01:46] Aligning investment strategies with personal goals and lifestyle priorities [00:02:56] Overcoming the fear of losing money, making mistakes, and taking action [00:03:39] Preparing for setbacks and building financial cushions into early investments [00:04:19] Avoiding analysis paralysis and using due diligence to act despite uncertainty [00:04:54] Why investors should establish and consistently follow their buy box [00:05:12] The evolution of investor confidence, from initial excitement and overconfidence to disciplined decision-making [00:06:26] Treating investment mistakes as learning opportunities rather than failures [00:07:01] Building confidence through preparation and recognizing confirmation bias [00:07:59] Seeking advice from trusted professionals and avoiding recency bias during changing market conditions [00:08:46] Understanding anchoring bias and emotional attachment to property valuations [00:09:22] Recognizing when to walk away from negotiations that no longer make financial sense [00:10:01] Avoiding herd mentality and developing an independent investment strategy [00:11:05] How following investment trends too late can reduce returns and increase financial risk [00:12:11] Understanding growth-oriented investors and using portfolio appreciation to support expansion [00:12:30] Comparing growth and opportunistic investment strategies, including renovation, refinancing, and property sales [00:13:28] Prioritizing lifestyle flexibility and personal freedom over maximizing investment returns [00:13:51] Maintaining emotional resilience and discipline through real estate market cycles [00:15:14] Identifying opportunities during market downturns while maintaining established investment criteria [00:15:26] Building a winning investor mindset through investment criteria, decision-making frameworks, and investment journals [00:16:30] Using investment journals to track contractors, timelines, and lessons learned [00:16:56] Learning from mistakes, developing mentorship relationships, and focusing on process over outcomes [00:17:38] Why emotional discipline can be an investor's strongest competitive advantage Quotables: “They simply learn to act despite uncertainty, right? So, you know, the fear isn't controlling the narrative for them. They do their due diligence, but they're willing to take chances, right?” — Nate Zielinski [00:04:19] “Your discipline-confidence should be your mantra. You know, this is a disciplined environment and you need to stick to it, and not following your intuition can really lead to some major setbacks.” — Suzanne Andresen [00:06:27] “There's no one right way to success. And it's impossible to duplicate exactly someone else's career. So really what you want to try to do is do what's best for you.” — Nate Zielinski [00:10:01] Links: Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

October 13, 202643 min

From Psychology to Property: Ashley Reidy Quinn on Building Trust in Real Estate

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Ashley Reidy Quinn, co-founder of the Asset Advisory Team, joins Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen to discuss her path into real estate and the people-first approach that shapes her business. Ashley shares how an early interest sparked by her mother led to a career in New York City real estate, why her psychology background remains central to working with clients, and how trust and accurate data help move transactions forward. She also discusses winning Rental Deal of the Year, handling unexpected problems, stress testing investment properties, knowing when to say no to unrealistic expectations, working across multiple markets, building a strong team, and maintaining perspective through family, reading, and celebrating accomplishments. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:00] Introducing Ashley Reidy Quinn and the Asset Advisory Team [00:00:40] How Ashley’s mother sparked her early interest in real estate [00:02:12] Applying a psychology background to a career in real estate [00:02:53] Why problem solving and managing people are central to transactions [00:04:15] Winning Rental Deal of the Year during Ashley’s first year in the industry [00:05:48] Why building supers can be critical resources in New York City real estate [00:06:40] Managing client trust through a complicated rental transaction [00:07:42] Ashley’s belief that real estate is driven by psychology, emotion, and trust [00:10:24] How investor behavior and expectations have changed over time [00:11:19] Working with attorneys to understand changing New York housing policies [00:13:02] The behind-the-scenes work required to serve high-end rental clients [00:15:33] Consistency, client service, and perspective as drivers throughout Ashley’s career [00:18:15] Using accurate pricing data to support listings and long-term client relationships [00:20:24] Learning when to say no to unrealistic seller expectations [00:21:53] Stress testing New York City investment properties before acquisition [00:25:21] The opportunities and challenges involved in commercial-to-residential conversions [00:27:13] Adjusting the approach for New York City, Westchester, the Hamptons, and Long Island clients [00:29:21] “Comparison is the thief of joy” and learning to recognize accomplishments [00:31:21] Keeping the client’s priorities first during negotiations [00:33:10] Getting comfortable with uncomfortable situations early in a real estate career [00:33:52] Presenting listings accurately and remaining accessible to buyers and tenants [00:35:23] Selling the building, neighborhood, or lifestyle when the unit itself is less distinctive [00:36:44] Building investor confidence through trusted advisors, preparation, and regular check-ins [00:38:08] Building the Asset Advisory Team and learning when to delegate [00:40:05] Serving international clients across multiple time zones [00:40:52] Reading and family time as ways Ashley resets outside of work [00:43:08] Closing remarks and resources for the Uncontested Investing audience Quotables: “It's just remembering that the client is always first. In New York City, our business is so data-driven. We have the numbers.” — Ashley Reidy Quinn [00:07:42] “In this industry, the highs are really high. There are a lot of great wins, but the lows are really low.” — Ashley Reidy Quinn [00:15:33] “...There’s so many parts in the transaction that can just go astray and can result in a deal not getting closed.” — Ashley Reidy Quinn [00:32:06] Links: Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcasthttps://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/info@rcncapital.com

October 6, 202634 min

Building a Team That Scales Your Real Estate Business

Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen wrap up their series on scaling and company culture by discussing how real estate investors can build teams that support long-term growth. They cover hiring for character before skill, building structured interview and onboarding processes, continuously recruiting talent, and creating an employer brand that attracts strong candidates. Nate and Suzanne also discuss retention, compensation, recognition, professional development, leadership pipelines, and giving employees room to make decisions. They close by emphasizing that successful CEOs build people they can trust and create opportunities for employees to grow. Key Points From This Episode: [00:00:32] Building a team that can scale a real estate business [00:01:17] Why people and culture can drive growth more effectively than simply making more money [00:02:00] Shifting from evaluating deals to evaluating talent as an investor becomes a CEO [00:02:35] How bad hires hurt morale, productivity, customer experience, and culture [00:03:20] How employee negativity can eventually affect customers and company reputation [00:04:24] Avoiding reactive hiring when growth moves too quickly [00:05:43] Getting second opinions during interviews and evaluating cultural fit [00:06:05] Common hiring mistakes, including focusing only on experience and setting unclear expectations [00:07:22] Hiring for character before skill and identifying qualities that are hard to teach [00:08:55] Using situational interview questions to see how candidates respond under pressure [00:09:58] Using multiple interviews to test consistency in a candidate's answers [00:10:26] Why strong organizations continuously recruit, even when not actively hiring [00:11:23] How employer branding and strong employees attract better candidates [00:12:34] Creating a structured and repeatable interview process [00:14:16] Evaluating leadership potential and long-term career goals [00:15:45] Why honest answers beat candidates saying what leaders want to hear [00:16:28] Defining what day one, week one, and month one should look like for new hires [00:19:41] Training resources that let employees learn without the pressure of live execution [00:20:51] Building trust through transparency, meaningful work, and connection to the mission [00:22:25] Why culture and quality of life can matter as much as compensation [00:24:37] Using recognition and professional development to retain high performers [00:26:40] Giving employees enough responsibility to make decisions on behalf of the company [00:27:37] Creating visible career paths and a pipeline of future leadership [00:29:23] Keeping top performers involved in conversations about company growth [00:30:16] Retention challenges: burnout, communication gaps, unclear career paths, and cultural drift [00:31:53] Learning from employees on the ground and improving the company from the bottom up [00:32:37] Why successful CEOs learn they do not need to control everything Quotables "Skills are something that can be taught, but the attitude is harder to change." - Nate Zielinski [00:07:22] "Employees stay where they feel valued." - Suzanne Andresen [00:20:19] "I don't need to control everything. I don't need to do everything. If I hire the right people and I build the right culture, the rest just happens naturally." - Nate Zielinski [00:32:37] Links Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

September 29, 202632 min

Culture and Scaling: Building Growth Without Losing What Matters

Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen discuss how company culture and scaling need to develop together as real estate investors grow into CEOs. They explain how rapid hiring can strain communication, onboarding, accountability, and alignment, especially as teams add managers and departments. They close by emphasizing that leaders must model company values and build teams that strengthen the culture as the organization grows. Key Points From This Episode [00:00:00] Why company culture and scaling need to grow together [00:01:21] Keeping culture foundational as revenue increases [00:02:07] Using growth to support hiring, onboarding, and cultural training [00:02:55] How rapid scaling can fragment communication across a growing team [00:03:53] The shift from working directly with a team to managing through department leaders [00:04:23] How departments can develop separate subcultures when leadership becomes disconnected [00:05:02] Warning signs of scaling too quickly, including turnover, conflict, reduced engagement, and declining accountability [00:05:58] Scaling at the rate that best serves the company instead of following outside pressure [00:06:38] Why growth reveals existing weaknesses in culture [00:07:08] How larger teams expose unclear expectations, weak leadership, and undefined values [00:08:44] Maintaining alignment as headcount increases and evaluating cultural fit during hiring [00:09:32] Why CEOs need to thoroughly vet hiring decisions and take responsibility for company direction [00:10:05] Maintaining clarity around the company vision, mission, and core values [00:10:39] Preparing strategic priorities, training plans, and employee responsibilities before hiring [00:11:23] Giving managers room to develop their own approach while supporting company goals [00:12:36] Assessing current employees and long-term alignment before beginning a major scaling push [00:13:18] Knowing when promoting from within works and when an outside manager may be necessary [00:15:08] Using meetings, scorecards, leadership sessions, goal setting, and consistent messaging to reinforce alignment [00:16:40] Building hiring systems that evaluate values alongside skills [00:17:39] Using onboarding to teach company history, expectations, mission, and accountability [00:18:48] Evaluating cultural contribution alongside employee performance [00:19:32] Using performance evaluations and improvement plans before termination [00:20:11] Recognizing and promoting employees who embody company values [00:21:05] Recognizing contributions from employees at every level of the organization [00:21:30] Repeating the company vision, mission, and core values consistently [00:23:14] Creating memorable ways to introduce new hires to the company culture [00:24:10] Communicating where the company is going, why growth matters, and what success looks like [00:24:55] Helping employees understand how their individual roles support the larger mission [00:27:51] Making company values a standard for every new hire [00:29:43] Developing leaders who multiply the culture as the organization grows [00:30:19] Why culture and scaling must continue developing together Quotables “And jumping off the cliff too soon is harmful. And again, you could lose the company or some of your key employees. And neither one of those are really where you want to take it.” — Suzanne Andresen [00:06:38] “Consistency is going to win the day every day and it certainly helps a CEO. It can be a CEO's best friend.” — Nate Zielinski [00:15:08] “Coaching is something that they should look into. They should talk to their mentors. They should be open to the idea of being coached.” — Nate Zielinski [00:26:39] Links Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

September 22, 202629 min

Culture as a Competitive Advantage: Building a Company People Want to Join

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen discuss how company culture can become a competitive advantage as investors grow and scale their businesses. They examine how shared values influence decision-making, accountability, communication, hiring, customer experience, and profitability. Key Points From This Episode [00:00:00] Defining company culture as how people behave when leadership is not in the room [00:01:04] Shared beliefs, standards, expectations, and culture as a recruiting advantage [00:01:44] How culture influences decision-making, communication, accountability, customer experience, and performance [00:02:45] Why every company develops a culture, intentionally or accidentally [00:03:28] Culture as a competitive advantage competitors cannot easily replicate [00:03:57] Creating consistency, cohesion, and faster execution through a strong culture [00:05:23] Establishing clear expectations and boundaries from the beginning [00:05:51] Building a culture where employees help one another succeed [00:06:39] Using collaboration and peer learning to improve team performance [00:07:20] The connection between company culture and profitability [00:08:04] How lower turnover, higher productivity, referrals, and client retention affect profitability [00:09:22] Creating better customer experiences through a values-driven organization [00:10:33] How culture shapes tenant service and problem-solving within real estate operations [00:11:22] Why company culture starts with leadership [00:12:22] Leading through actions rather than relying only on stated core values [00:13:27] Leadership mistakes that can undermine accountability, teamwork, and integrity [00:14:34] Creating fair and consistent policies for retaining top talent [00:15:18] Providing employees with purpose, growth opportunities, recognition, and clear leadership [00:16:06] Why top candidates evaluate company leadership and culture during the hiring process [00:17:20] Recognizing departments and support teams beyond top sales performers [00:18:13] The importance of every employee in shaping a customer or candidate’s first impression [00:18:52] How company culture reveals itself during difficult market conditions [00:19:39] Preparing teams and staffing levels for potential market downturns [00:20:35] Addressing challenges openly to prevent uncertainty and discontent [00:21:02] Building employee trust through transparency and a clear plan [00:21:28] Creating lasting culture through core values, recognition, and accountability [00:22:39] Celebrating employee wins publicly [00:23:30] Encouraging employee feedback and open communication [00:24:22] Developing internal leaders who already understand the company culture [00:25:21] Using core values throughout hiring, meetings, and performance reviews [00:27:14] Recognizing employees who consistently exemplify company values [00:28:00] Why building culture requires consistent effort over time [00:28:22] Establishing the desired culture early and hiring people who support it Quotables “Yeah, and I think it kind of goes hand in hand with consistency, but what culture can create is cohesiveness, right? It's everybody working towards the same goal.” — Nate Zielinski [00:05:51] "The sooner you get that trust established, the more business they’re going to do with you." — Suzanne Andresen [00:10:15] “Employees appreciate the trust and the transparency. And that's one of the ways where you don't really have a choice. Things are bad. Let's just be honest about it. Let's get it all on the table. But here's the plan.” — Nate Zielinski [00:21:02] Links Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

September 15, 202627 min

Ready to Scale: Building the Systems, Team, and Leadership for Growth

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen build on their conversation with RCN Capital CEO Jeff Tesh to examine what real estate investors should have in place before scaling a business. Key Points From This Episode [00:01:08] Growing to meet an established need instead of spending in anticipation of growth [00:02:45] Managing staff capacity and bottlenecks before adding more employees [00:03:09] Building systems and documenting repeatable processes before expanding the team [00:04:19] Using standard operating procedures and automation to make responsibilities easier to teach and delegate [00:05:14] Identifying key early hires, including virtual assistants, administrative coordinators, transaction coordinators, and acquisition managers [00:06:00] Using fractional executives and other fractional roles to bridge staffing needs during growth [00:06:39] Hiring for attitude, collaboration, and alignment with the company’s mission [00:07:57] Measuring the financial and long-term return on new team members before continuing to hire [00:10:28] Choosing affordable lead sources that work for the business before expanding marketing spend [00:11:05] Tracking marketing performance to understand where to reinvest [00:11:38] Establishing KPIs and scorecards for leads, appointments, contracts, conversion rates, deal size, and marketing ROI [00:13:29] Setting job expectations clearly at the beginning of the employer-employee relationship [00:14:11] Using measurable goals to create accountability during the early stages of scaling [00:14:47] Creating incentives that reward employees for exceeding performance expectations [00:15:13] Identifying and focusing on the KPIs that have the greatest impact on the business [00:15:48] Learning to delegate, transition from operator to leader, and avoid micromanagement [00:16:49] Recognizing when remaining a solo investor may be a better fit than building a larger company [00:17:36] Setting realistic benchmarks when transferring responsibilities to new team members [00:18:11] Using manageable performance goals to help new hires develop over time [00:19:10] Assessing opportunities and maintaining consistency when expanding into new geographic markets [00:20:38] Diversifying markets and asset types while considering local staffing and property-management needs [00:21:30] Scaling through leadership by developing trusted people who can help grow the organization [00:22:11] Demonstrating a proven business model before seeking outside capital [00:22:39] Building accountability, ownership, communication, and shared vision as the company grows [00:24:01] Including different parts of the organization when developing company core values [00:24:18] Hiring people who bring stronger skills, new ideas, and different perspectives into the business [00:25:25] Making the shift from a competitive individual investor mindset to leading a team of talented people [00:26:06] Nate and Suzanne recap the factors investors should consider before deciding they are ready to scale Quotables “You want to make sure that the people that you’re bringing in, they fit with your whole (I’ll say) family….” - Suzanne Andresen [00:06:52] “You need to have multiple sources and you need to have them delivering consistently.” Nate Zielinski [00:10:06] “Yeah, and I think, specifically in this industry for investors looking to scale, one of the traits that they should be looking for is accountability.” - Nate Zielinski [00:14:10] “And Jeff talked also when you’re doing your core values - you want people from every walk of life in a company…” - Suzanne Andresen [00:24:00] Links Questions about the episode: podcast@rcncapital.com REI INK: https://rei-ink.com/ REI INK Magazine on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/rei-ink-magazine RCN Capital: https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com

September 8, 202629 min

Hire Smarter, Grow Stronger: Jeffrey Tesch on Leadership and Company

Jeffrey Tesch, CEO of RCN Capital, joins Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen to discuss his path into real estate investing and the principles that shaped RCN Capital's growth. Jeffrey explains why the company focused on profitability from the beginning, how empowering employees has helped create a strong company culture, and why hiring people smarter than yourself can strengthen an organization. He also reflects on launching RCN during the aftermath of the financial crisis, adapting through COVID, the expansion of private lending, developing employee-led core values, and the importance of industry collaboration. Jeffrey also shares how family and time away from work help him recharge. Key Talking Points of the Episode [00:00:00] Jeffrey Tesch's introduction to real estate investing through a college course [00:02:10] Moving from Subway ownership into investment properties [00:03:25] Growing RCN Capital around profitability instead of rushing to scale [00:05:11] Defining company culture through employee empowerment and career growth [00:06:53] Balancing company growth with opportunities for existing employees [00:07:40] How RCN Capital adapted from fix-and-flip lending into rental financing [00:09:09] Launching RCN Capital during the aftermath of the financial crisis despite industry skepticism [00:10:55] Why celebrating collective company wins and employee contributions matters [00:12:50] Measuring trade show participation through specific goals, KPIs, and ROI [00:13:31] Funding RCN Capital's early loans with owner equity and the evolution of private lending capital [00:14:34] How RCN Capital handled COVID by retaining and repurposing its team [00:15:53] Jeffrey's leadership philosophy of hiring people smarter than yourself and empowering them [00:17:22] Learning from industry peers and the value of sharing best practices [00:19:08] Collaboration through the National Private Lenders Association [00:20:15] Creating RCN Capital's core values through a bottom-up, employee-led process [00:21:59] Using speaking engagements and industry events as opportunities to learn and contribute [00:23:53] Continuing to seek feedback after speaking engagements [00:25:44] How family time helps Jeffrey recharge outside of work [00:26:42] The rescue farm at RCN Capital's office and its role as a positive break for employees Quotables "Culture has always been about empowering the employee to be the best version of themselves." — Jeffrey Tesch [00:05:11] "The mantra amongst the managers is always hire somebody smarter than yourself." — Jeffrey Tesch [00:16:02] "By giving freely of yourself to others, that rising tide really does lift all ships." — Jeffrey Tesch [00:18:26] Links RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

September 1, 202619 min

Turning Website Traffic Into Real Estate Revenue: What Actually Matters

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Nathan and Suzanne break down how real estate investors can turn website traffic into revenue. They explain why page views, clicks, and rankings matter only when they lead to calls, form submissions, appointments, and closed deals. The conversation covers matching website content to visitor intent, building trust through reviews and testimonials, simplifying offers, using strong calls to action, creating location-specific and video-enhanced pages, and avoiding common conversion killers. They also discuss tracking where leads come from, investing in professional website support, and continually optimizing the online experience to turn visibility into contracts. Key Points From This Episode [00:00:06] Turning website traffic into real estate revenue instead of focusing solely on visits [00:00:39] Looking beyond vanity metrics such as page views, clicks, and rankings [00:00:59] Measuring calls, form submissions, appointments, and closed deals as meaningful outcomes [00:01:57] Understanding the difference between high-intent and lower-intent website traffic [00:03:13] Matching website content to the visitor's mindset and level of intent [00:03:50] The click-to-close framework and capturing attention within the first five seconds [00:04:30] Building trust quickly with testimonials, videos, reviews, and other credibility indicators [00:05:41] Strengthening local credibility through community engagement and useful content [00:06:13] Making the offer simple by reducing friction and clearly communicating benefits [00:06:57] Using strong calls to action throughout every page of the website [00:08:00] Having a professional web designer audit the website and improve conversion opportunities [00:09:09] Reducing friction and anxiety by removing barriers and addressing concerns [00:10:03] Building website pages around a single conversion goal [00:10:21] Using headlines, benefits, proof, calls to action, and location-specific pages [00:11:02] Creating dedicated pages for individual cities and neighborhoods to support local SEO [00:11:52] Adding videos that explain processes and address specific seller situations [00:12:34] Avoiding conversion killers such as slow website speeds and poor mobile performance [00:13:32] Prioritizing clarity instead of overloading website pages with content [00:14:24] Avoiding weak calls to action and missing credibility indicators [00:15:03] Tracking website performance and measuring visitor engagement [00:15:20] Asking leads how they found the business and investing further in successful channels [00:16:05] Budgeting time and money to build credibility and improve website performance [00:16:59] Using relevant third-party content with permission and proper credit [00:17:24] Treating traffic as potential and conversion as profit [00:17:58] Asking professionals and other investors for feedback on the website experience [00:18:18] Connecting SEO, digital branding, visibility, and profitability Quotables "If someone's confused, they're not going to convert. If it's a straightforward path and easily laid out for them, they're just going to keep taking step after step after step until you convert." Nathan Zielinski [00:06:39] "You want to focus on one goal; conversion. That really is the purpose of why you're doing this. And your target has multiple components." [00:10:03] Suzanne Andresen "You can't improve what you don't measure." Suzanne Andresen [00:15:10] Links RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

August 25, 202623 min

Content that Converts: How to Unlock More Deal Flow

In this episode of Uncontested Investing, Nate Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen explain how real estate investors can turn blogs and videos into deal flow. They discuss why conversion-focused content matters more than views, clicks, and other vanity metrics, and outline three content types that can attract prospects: high-intent SEO content, problem-solving content, and trust-building content. Nathan and Suzanne also break down the structure of a high-converting blog, effective video formats, common content mistakes, and a practical publishing plan. They close by explaining how investors can repurpose one idea across blogs, YouTube, social media, and email while maintaining a sustainable cadence. Key Talking Points of the Episode [00:00:00] Nathan Zielinski and Suzanne Andresen introduce the role of blogs and videos in generating deal flow [00:00:41] Why content supports SEO, search visibility, credibility, and trust before first contact [00:01:16] Treating every piece of content as a digital doorway to the business [00:01:16] Measuring conversions instead of relying on views, clicks, and impressions [00:02:24] Creating intent-driven, conversion-focused content rather than chasing viral reach [00:02:40] Ending each piece of content with a clear call to action [00:02:40] Using high-intent SEO content to reach people who are ready to act [00:03:55] Creating educational video equivalents for location-based search topics [00:04:11] Addressing inherited properties, divorce, tax liens, bad tenants, and other seller problems [00:04:11] Using an empathetic and educational tone instead of a sales-focused approach [00:05:34] Building trust through deal walkthroughs and before-and-after renovation content [00:06:07] Explaining renovation decisions to educate prospective clients and investors [00:06:20] Using YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, testimonials, and day-in-the-life content to strengthen trust [00:07:04] Structuring a high-converting blog around a clear, location-focused headline and pain point [00:07:44] Removing introductory filler and providing simple, actionable information [00:08:21] Using local keywords and frequently asked questions to improve SEO and credibility [00:09:14] How testimonials and video content help establish expertise [00:09:35] Allowing prospects to become familiar with an investor before the first conversation [00:10:24] Producing how-it-works videos that explain real estate concepts and processes [00:11:07] Breaking down seller scenarios, pricing, and costs to build confidence [00:11:33] Using case studies to challenge common objections and demonstrate possible outcomes [00:12:08] Answering seller questions through FAQ videos and shared experiences [00:12:41] Turning live Q&A sessions into evergreen website and social media content [00:13:17] Placing videos on landing pages without hurting mobile performance or load times [00:13:36] Connecting a website to YouTube while keeping the website optimized for speed [00:14:14] Using short social media clips to share timely and practical information [00:14:32] The content flywheel connecting Google rankings, video trust, engagement, leads, reviews, and stronger rankings [00:15:36] Continuing to publish new information after reaching a strong search position [00:15:46] Avoiding generic, non-local, and overly sales-focused content [00:16:41] Giving the audience a clear next step through a specific call to action [00:16:50] Common mistakes including ignoring video, posting inconsistently, and misaligning content with search intent [00:17:08] A weekly plan built around one keyword-focused blog and two or three short videos [00:17:31] Adapting the same information for people who prefer written or video content [00:18:01] Adding a monthly case study, renovation walkthrough, and testimonial video [00:18:20] Repurposing older material and breaking long-form videos into shorter clips [00:19:09] Converting existing content into emails that direct audiences back to the website or video channel [00:19:34] Reusing timely content instead of continually starting from scratch [00:19:46] Distributing one idea through blogs, YouTube, Instagram, LinkedIn, and email newsletters [00:20:46] Reaching people across the platforms they prefer to use [00:20:58] Getting more mileage from each piece of content while avoiding creator burnout [00:21:44] Establishing a comfortable and sustainable publishing cadence [00:21:55] Prioritizing consistent, useful content even when publishing only once a month [00:22:28] Presenting the same message in multiple formats rather than creating a new message each time Quotables "Every piece of content is a digital door to your business." — Nathan Zielinski [00:01:16] "People aren't choosing the best offer. They're choosing the investor that they trust the most." — Nathan Zielinski [00:06:20] "You don't need more content. You need more mileage from each piece." — Nathan Zielinski [00:20:58] Links RCN Capital https://www.rcncapital.com/podcast https://www.instagram.com/rcn_capital/ info@rcncapital.com REI INK https://rei-ink.com/

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