We were lucky to catch up with Chuck Taylor recently and have shared our conversation below.
Chuck, appreciate you joining us today. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?
Grind! I am serious! I have been in business for myself since 2006. It started small and slow but business picked up quickly. I added different services and broadened by client base even quicker. It wasn’t long before I realized I needed to work 7 days a week. I made myself available in every way possible to my clients for field work and any advisement they needed on a daily basis. Currently, I have over 50 clients, most are out of state and trust me with their property portfolios to maintain and keep them secure. You need to go above and beyond to set yourself apart from your competition and do not remind your clients of it. If you are doing it naturally, they will remind you and keep you full of positive affirmations!
Chuck, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?
I am a Property Recovery Agent. I recovery properties for real estate agents, investors and owners. Sometimes they are in foreclosure, sometimes tenants stop paying rent and need assistance in relocation. Then, of course, sometimes there are squatters in properties and I am also known as the Squatter Swatter. I help them to find a better path in life by leaving the property they are illegally living in currently.
My business started in 2006 as a data processing company for mortgage servicing companies throughout Northeastern Ohio. I had 3-5 employees at any given time and we processed 100+ orders a day! We were the first data processing company in this industry that wasn’t outsourcing overseas. We handled everything in house and our quality control was second to none! You see, mistakes cost money in this business so you want to make sure you and your employees are on top of what they are processing and we were on top! These factors are what helped make us grow faster. We provided a service contractors needed, we didn’t outsource, had the highest quality control and very fast processing,
I keep the same drive and mentality currently. Provide a needed service, do it better than anyone else, make yourself available and make no mistakes. This is why when people hear a ‘Property Recovery Agent’ they never heard of one. I put a name on what I do and packaged it with much needed services. I spend very little money on promotion. Word of mouth promotion has been my bread and butter to obtaining new clients over the years. My clients can’t wait to tell someone about what I have done for them to their friends and partners. That’s how I obtain new clients on the weekly!
What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?
Providing top notch service! Word of mouth promotion has obtained most of my clients because they simply can’t wait to tell of people about my services. That is the best way to build a business. You can pay for all the Google ads you want but if nobody know how you work and they may not choose you. If someone recommends you then you a much better chance of gaining a new client!
Have you ever had to pivot?
As mentioned previously, my business started as a data processing business. Automation started rearing its ugly head around 2012 and many companies started using it. Outsourcing also caused prices to go down and clients stopped caring about quality and focused on saving money. Mistakes now had a value. That was unacceptable to me. So, I started out in the field and moved around until I settled on what I do now with properties.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.propertyrecoveryagent.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/propertyrecoveryagentcle/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/taylormadeservices/
- Twitter: https://x.com/PRA_CLE?t=gjuh7TF2r_3hm3JMkWDvDA
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-4jU81urgQbQ0CN2wcN6sg
- Other: https://www.news5cleveland.com/news/local-news/cleveland-metro/meet-the-squatter-swatter-a-man-who-cleans-up-northeast-ohios-foreclosed-and-dilapidated-homes
