The Great Franchisee: Jason Maier, Renovation Sells, Denver

Jason Maier built his career in the finance industry and worked for the past decade and a half in operations for a retirement company. But the finance expert never quite felt fulfilled in his line of work until the COVID-19 pandemic offered him a new route. Now, Maier is one of the newest franchisees with Renovation Sells*, the fast-growing home-remodeling franchise that makes presale renovations to make homes ready for market.

When COVID-19 hit, Maier decided to take the voluntary separation package his company offered and commit to a plan he and his wife Jacey, an interior designer, had long fantasized about: flipping houses full time. After flipping their first home, Maier says he realized the market was too saturated with buyers, so they decided to pivot to franchise ownership with Renovation Sells.

Maier signed to become Colorado’s first Renovation Sells franchisee, with an agreement for three territories in the state.

1851 Franchise: Tell us your story – what did you do before franchising?

Jason Maier: My dad was in the military, so we moved around a lot when I was a kid, but for the greater part of the last three decades, I’ve lived in Colorado. I spent the past 15 years in the financial industry, where I worked in operations for a large retirement company that served higher education institutions. 

In May of last year, the company I had been working for offered a voluntary separation package as a result of the pandemic. I knew I wanted to take the package but did not want to return to corporate America. One of the biggest reasons I left was because I simply wasn’t happy in corporate America. I didn’t enjoy having multiple bosses, all of whom had different ideas on how things should be done. I was always thinking, “What else is out there? Would I be happy being my own boss?” My wife, who is an interior designer, and I had always discussed flipping houses but while working full-time, neither of us had the drive to. I decided, with the support of Jacey, that this was our chance to build something of our own and start flipping houses.

1851: How did you initially find out about franchising? 

Maier: I began my entrepreneurial journey in 2020 and I bought my first house to flip in December. I did a lot of the work on my own but hired out certain aspects of the project as needed. The project was completed in two and a half months and the house sold on the first weekend for well over the asking price. After I sold the house I found it hard to find another project, so I started looking at other options. I joked with my friends that with a white-hot real estate market and limited inventory I picked the absolute worst time to start flipping houses! I discovered franchising through my brother-in-law, who connected me with a franchise broker.

1851: Why did you pick franchising over starting your own business?

Maier: My brother-in-law connected me with the franchise broker, and that’s the first time I really even considered franchising. Franchising wasn’t a concept I was familiar with and, assumed, incorrectly, that franchising was mostly large restaurants and brick-and-mortar stores. Once I began talking with the consultant, I discovered what a vast industry it was, and it became a really attractive opportunity. The thought of being my own boss became more and more appealing.

1851: What types of brands did you look at?

Maier: All the brands I looked into were in the home repair industry.

1851: Why did you pick Renovation Sells? What excited you most about the potential?

Maier: Despite being the newest concept out of the four, I narrowed things down with the franchise consultant, and Renovation Sells really stood out to me. Not only was I getting in on the ground floor and able to choose a preferred territory, which wasn’t the case with some other brands, but I truly believe in the concept and vision that Mike and Amanda Valente have. I have a lot of trust in the leadership team. I appreciate the fact that they have a diverse group of franchisees with different business backgrounds and that our input is valued. I didn’t get this sense from the more established brands. Because of this I truly believe Renovation Sells will grow quickly into a nationwide brand that realtors trust to provide fast, high-quality pre-sale renovation services. 

What excites me about Renovation Sells is that it ties into what I was doing while flipping houses but with a lot less risk. I became really passionate about it and now, I get to expand my portfolio with what will soon be a recognized brand. Before I even went to Discovery Day, I pitched the concept to a few friends who are realtors in the Denver market, and they all were excited because it’s a need in the market that hasn’t been met. Realtors all have stagers, house cleaners, painters, and contractors to do major work, but none offer cosmetic rehab services. Often times the realtor spends their valuable time coordinating different trades for their clients. I get to do something I love while fulfilling a need in the market.

1851: What are your dreams with the business? What does the future look like?

Maier: I’ve signed to open three territories, so getting those up and running is my focus for the short-term future. Once I get the business refined and processes in place, I hope to start scaling the business and bring on project managers and salespeople to help with the expansion. My goal in the next 12-24 months is to increase brand awareness to the point that Renovation Sells is the first call a realtor makes after signing a listing agreement. 

1851: What value do you see your business providing to Denver?

Maier: The market is extremely hot in Denver right now. More than ever before, people who are buying a house look at the listing pictures. I get to help the realtor and seller make sure the pictures sell the house before the buyer even steps foot in the home. It’s really a win-win for everybody. The seller maximizes the sale price, the sale for the realtor is quicker and the buyer gets a move-in ready house that doesn’t need to be updated.

1851: What advice would you have for others looking at buying a franchise?

Maier: My biggest piece of advice would be to do something you’re passionate about. If you don’t believe in it and it doesn’t excite you, why do it? That’s where the key to success lies.

1851: What do you do in your personal time?

Maier: My wife and I have two children, and our oldest is excited to learn how to ski. After a 15 year hiatus from skiing, I’ll be back on the mountains with him. We take advantage of living in Colorado and try to participate in as many outdoor activities as possible.

ABOUT RENOVATION SELLS

After years working as a contractor and licensed REALTOR®, Michael Valente was frustrated with the delays and complications that often come with custom home renovations and wanted to do something different. In 2017, Michael and his wife Amanda began building Renovation Sells, which focuses exclusively on pre-sale renovations, delivering high-impact cosmetic improvements that result in quicker and higher-priced home sales. By shifting to partnering with home sellers and real estate agents, Renovation Sells has seen explosive growth. After rehabbing more than 200 Chicago-area homes in three years for an average of $20K per project, they've identified the gap in the marketplace of outdated homes on the market not matching the preferences of millennial buyers and crafted a solution to bring move-in-ready homes to all markets. In 2021, Renovation Sells began franchising and is seeking qualified franchise owners to bring this much-needed service to markets throughout the country.