How Focusing on One Strategy Made Him a 1,000 Deal Investor

Tez Arbertha made $9,800 from his first wholesale deal in 2016 after six months of grounding. Today, he is the founder of Verified Flippers. He has closed more than 1,000 deals and is building a thriving investment company and community that is reshaping how investors approach distressed properties across several markets.

If you want to break into virtual wholesaling or would like to scale your wholesale operations, then this interview will teach you exactly what is working in today’s market. Let’s start the conversation with AZ Abera, founder of Verified Flippers.

How Did You First Get Into Real Estate?

I was selling homeowners insurance back home about nine years ago, in August of 2016. A colleague at a new home-building company saw something in me that I hadn't fully recognized yet.

"You're really personable," she told me. "You could do really well in sales. You should come try to sell something to make more money than just insurance policies."

That conversation changed everything for me. I jumped into new home construction sales and from there discovered the world of wholesaling. But it wasn't the real estate itself that hooked me. I liked the possibility of operating independently, building something of my own, and not depending on a traditional job structure.

The revenue from my first wholesaling deal changed everything for me. My monthly income in sales was $10,000 to $12,000 and it was good back in 2018. However, earning $9,800 from a single wholesale deal proved that the investing model could work.

What Inspired You to Start Verified Flippers?

In 2020, I had built a solid wholesaling career for about 2.5 years. I then started posting content about wholesaling on TikTok. What happened next completely surprised me.

Wholesaling was off the radar for many people. My TikTok blew up overnight when I started posting about wholesaling. The information was helping people and my DMs and comments were flooded with questions.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have enough time to answer all those questions. I spent hours addressing those comments after walking properties or before hitting the gym but it wasn’t enough. The demand was overwhelming. My community, “Verified Flippers,” was born out of necessity. There were enough online courses out there but people were not getting the much-needed support.

Verified Flippers is a community where people always have somewhere to go for guidance, support, and real-world application of wholesaling strategies. I love sharing information with my community. I wish I had this information when I was a newbie.

The community model has proven wonderful. Members get continuous support and I can acquire deals from our community members.

Do Real Estate Investors Really Need Social Media?

Are you debating whether to invest time and energy into building a social media presence?

The answer is not always yes because it depends on the type of community you want to build. It is always about the scale and intention. You do not always need social media. Attend a few networking events, meet some really cool people, hang out on weekends, and still do deals. Your definition of community might be a mastermind group of 5 people. My definition of community is 5,000 people. Your vision for the community will determine your strategy.

The key is avoiding distraction. Social media is a powerful tool but only if it aligns with your actual goals. Check your heart and see where you really want to go before being distracted with other things like social media.

How Do You Find Distressed Properties at Scale?

My approach to finding properties has evolved. Earlier this year, we had a team of 9 closers and three virtual assistants. We were running inbound digital marketing across Facebook, TikTok, Instagram, and YouTube.

Our marketing got us several contracts and opportunities. It worked, but it was not optimal. Now, I have refined my strategy to focus on five targeted markets: Michigan, Illinois, Oklahoma, Arizona, and Texas. We are focused on quality rather than quantity. Our lead generation channels are PPC, pay-per-lead, and inbound marketing via Facebook and TikTok.

Which Property Types Are Most Suitable for Wholesaling?

What is the average sales price in your target market? You must stay within or below that range. Home rehabbers will want to stay lower than that range. For example, in Oklahoma, the average sales price is $247,000. My criteria is to purchase below $250,000. Occasionally, I may go up to $300,000 depending on the property.

Evaluating Leads for Virtual Wholesaling Operations

We have a clear hierarchy of exit strategies that a motivated seller can choose among our services. I was talking to a guy in San Antonio for two hours straight. I explained:

• Cash (did not work)

• Retail buyers program, which is our novation (did not work)

• Seller financing (did not work)

I am licensed in Oklahoma, so I can refer to an agent if it makes sense and pick up a fee. I can pitch options but if none of them work then the deal does not make sense. My evaluation criteria is helping the motivated seller.

Negotiating with Motivated Sellers: What’s Your Secret?

I learned something from Jeff Shore, who is a sought-after sales trainer. He talks about the concept of “Current Dissatisfaction,” or CD.

My best negotiation tactic is understanding the seller better than anybody. I want to know what is dissatisfying about their current situation. I want to know about the problem before pitching any solution.

Here is the truth most wholesalers miss: people do not sell their house because of price or money. They sell it because of current dissatisfaction.

A whole lot of times, people struggle to find current dissatisfaction and then they go into negotiation way too early. Try to get that person to burn down that house in terms of what is going on in their life and why they need to leave that property alone.

The negotiation is the cure or solution to the current dissatisfaction. I paint a picture: "Once you sign this contract, it is going to take care of your current dissatisfaction."

My focus is identifying dissatisfaction and providing a strategic solution to resolve the issue.

Best Tools for Real Estate Investors

REIsimpli is a great software. Combine that with our WhatsApp channel and it keeps everyone accountable. A weekly team meeting is crucial. Meet your squad every week and see how you are crushing the goals.

Most Common Mistake Made by Real Estate Investors

Shiny object syndrome is responsible for distraction and financial loss. Focus on one thing, one strategy, and understand it in full depth. This is the power of one thing. It has helped me close more than 1,000 deals. It is not about limiting yourself forever. It is about building a strong foundation before constructing the entire building.

Why Wholesalers Should Avoid Flipping Houses?

Many wholesalers view flipping as a "graduation," a promotion from wholesaling to something more sophisticated and profitable.

My biggest lesson from deals that caused trouble is that I could not scale. The most deals I did at one time were 12. Remodeling them and selling them was challenging. There is value in taking a fast nickel over a slow dime. There is value in knowing that you can get in and out of a deal and not underestimate what you do.

Many people begin their investment journey as a wholesaler. Then they undervalue the wholesaling aspect because that is what they did first. I disagree. Flipping a house can be a headache. It is a big responsibility and comes with a lot of problems like interest rates changing, market conditions, mismanaging budgets, and holding costs. If you can scale your wholesaling business, you will not experience the headache. Continue wholesaling and focus on creating long-term wealth.

How Would You Start Today with Just $10,000?

$10,000 is a good amount to be invested into digital marketing. Use pay-per-lead systems that can get you 5 leads per week. My team would consist of me and one disposition person. Focus on a handful of motivated sellers and try to close the deals.

What's Next for Tez Arbertha?

On the business front, Tez Arbertha is focused on growing the Verified Flippers brand and expanding his presence in the real estate education space. He is speaking at networking events along with speakers like Pace Morby and Nick Perry. He is in Phoenix, Arizona, where he enjoys networking with great people while trying to build a rental portfolio for long-term wealth accumulation.

On a personal level, Tez Arbertha got married one week before this interview happened. Our team congratulates him and wishes him a happy journey ahead. TZ is more focused on strengthening his relationship with Christ and helping more people get into this business. The conversation ended at an interesting point.

What's the One Piece of Advice That Changes Everything?

We asked Tez Arbertha to leave our listeners with a final piece of wisdom. He mentions keeping God first.

“As entrepreneurs, many things are under our control. But we do not feel good when we do not have control. The reality is that you do not have control over anything. One day, you will die. Somebody else will live in your house. Somebody else is going to drive your car. That gives you perspective about the temporary ownership of material things. When you feel gratitude, things become simpler, easier, and you accept a lot more. You can roll with the punches of life because they are going to come. Just keep God first and keep pushing. That’s it.”

You can connect with Tez Arbertha via his Instagram at @Tezarbertha.