We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Robert Wiseman. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Robert below.

Robert, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Please tell us about starting your own firm and if you’d do anything different knowing what you know now.

When I first started my company Wiseman Homes, I was very involved in every aspect of the business. From the accounting, marketing, building, hiring, etc., I had to take my ideas and begin to bring them to life. I knew I wanted to build high quality homes and become a brand that would be recognized for being unique and offer clients a customized experience. The first projects I did were home renovations. This allowed me to start small and gain some experience. I was on site at every project observing and learning what each trade was doing. I familiarized myself with the different phases of construction and what they required. I wanted to be sure that I knew what was going on at the construction site so that no one was cutting corners. I also took courses on construction and learned as much as I could.

Once I had done a few renovation projects, I decided that I wanted build homes from the ground up. I began to form my brand and built spec, custom and later semi-custom homes. I researched different areas and market trends to be able to stay one step ahead and select the area I would focus on to build. I made a lot of sacrifices in order to build a business that was doing things differently and providing people with a product that was superior to anything else on the market.

Looking back at where I started and seeing where we are now, I don’t think I would have done anything differently. Every decision, step and risk I took has led me to where I am today. I made decisions that I believed were the best in order to improve and get to the next level. I made some mistakes along the way, but those only provided me with learning opportunities and the chance to grow.

My advice to any young professional that wants to start their own company is to take action. Don’t get stuck over thinking what you are going to do. Make a plan and execute the first step. Once you get the momentum going in the right direction you will see things begin to fall into place. You may not have all the answers in the beginning but the best way to learn is to jump in. You also want to be flexible. Sometimes things don’t go according to plan and you have to be able to make adjustments in order to stay successful. Being an entrepreneur takes a lot of sacrifice, but it is all worth it once you create the life you are passionate about.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers?

I am a real estate entrepreneur, developer and investor. My wife, Melyssa, and I have been married for 11 years and we have two amazing daughters. Together we have built our real estate companies, Wiseman Homes and Wiseman Properties. She is also a licensed real estate agent and has been instrumental in helping our business grow. I first began working in the real estate industry as a mortgage banker in 2004. In 2009 I decided to get my real estate license and then my real estate broker’s license and founded Wiseman Properties. I worked with clients and specialized in short sales. Soon after that I had the opportunity to work on a home renovation project with another investor. While going through the renovation process I discovered that I really enjoyed it. I did a few more renovation projects and then decided I wanted to begin building homes from the ground up.

In 2010 I founded Wiseman Homes, a boutique home building company, that focuses on spec, custom and semi-custom homes close to the heart of the city of Houston. We provide a variety of thoughtfully planned homes designed with today’s most sought-after amenities, that compliment their surroundings. We allow clients to make selections so that they can add their own personal style to the home, but we also provide them with a carefully pre-selected set of options so that they do not feel overwhelmed with the process.

Most recently I founded Urban Row Group, a real estate investment and development firm in Houston, which focuses on developing superior build-to-rent properties across the Houston metro area. We have been able to implement a data-driven process that includes identifying, acquiring, stabilizing and optimizing cash-flowing value-add properties for investors. We also have an in-house property management company, Urban Row Management, available to assist investors in maintaining and managing their investment properties.

What sets me apart from others is the level of quality, care and expertise I bring to each project I take on. Whether it is building a custom home for a client or working with investors to create a larger development, I treat each project with the same level of attention to detail. I love putting all the pieces of the puzzle together and then bringing each project to life. My goal is to add value to every interaction I have and bring opportunities to others. I am very proud of the team my wife and I have brought together and I look forward to leaving a legacy that our children will be proud of.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

When I first started in residential construction I had a partner that had been in the construction industry for several years. I learned a lot from this person but unfortunately, as is sometimes the case, things did not work out and we decided to part ways. When I told this person that I was going to begin a new company on my own and I wanted to continue building homes, I was told that I would never be able to do it on my own because I did not have enough experience. This was tough to hear and at first I started to doubt myself and almost believed what I was told. Maybe I didn’t have the amount of experience to be successful. But deep inside of me something told me that I still needed to take the chance. I felt confident in my ability to work hard and find the information I needed. Maybe I didn’t have all the answers right then, but I knew I had the ability to find them. I had to start over from scratch, shut out the negative comments from others and fight my own inner defeating thoughts. I had to find the courage and confidence to build my own business. I started taking action in the direction I wanted to go. I created my company, formed a brand and brought together a team. I built one house, then another and another until I started to have a presence and good reputation as a home builder. It took a lot of hard work both physically and mentally to be able to overcome and reach the level where I am at today.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

The way I have built a positive reputation within my market is by always following through with what I say I will do. There have been times when I have struggled to continue but the thought of letting someone down keeps me going. When my name is on something, I want it to stand for quality. I work very hard to make sure my clients are satisfied and the details on a Wiseman Home are always a step above.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.wisemanhomes.us www.urbanrowgroup.com www.wisemanproperties.net
• Instagram: @robwise13 @wisemanhomes
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/urbanrowgroup

Image Credits
Kristin Silliman, TurnKey Visuals, Mariel McHugh.