Andreas Anusavice

Brush up on the basics and fine tune the small things that may get overlooked at different times.

 

Andreas Anusavice grew up in New England and attended East Greenwich High School in Rhode Island. During his senior year of high school, family financial difficulties forced him to dive into the work field to make ends meet. A born entrepreneur, he started a tree service business with very little money in his pocket. Through a lot of hard work, determination, and dedication, he was able to grow that business. However, Andreas Anusavice began to realize it was not the industry that he wanted to be in for the rest of his life. He was able to save enough money to purchase his first investment property and sold his tree servicing business, enabling him to pursue real estate investing on a full time basis. He has always had a passion for real estate and helping others, which helped form his current real estate investing business. As the Founding Member of Zenith Trust, LLC he assists homeowners in various types of situations by purchasing their properties for cash in whatever condition they are in.

Where did the idea for Zenith Trust, LLC come from?

I’ve always been interested in real estate and investing in properties in different areas whether urban or rural and getting to know that specific principality. I was becoming increasingly unsatisfied with waking up in the morning dreading the work day I had ahead of me. I wanted to work within a field I enjoyed, so I slowly began investing in real estate. I knew it was not going to be an easy field to become accustomed to, but what is? Investing can be a risky business but you try and learn from the mistakes you have made and no matter how experienced you are in this field, you learn something new everyday.

What does your typical day look like and how do you make it productive?

My typical work day consists of around the clock communication with others I am dealing with at that time. Whether it be the contractor who is performing work on one of our houses, a homeowner we are working with to purchase their property, my associates who are working with me, or the title company that is handling the purchase, I am always available to speak with from early in the morning to late at night. Communication is a key aspect of my business and is absolutely essential to keep everyone on the same page. Because of excellent communication, we are able to streamline processes and prepare different endeavors to finalize effortlessly.

How do you bring ideas to life?

I’ve been blessed with the ability to see the bigger picture in various types of situations and the necessary steps that need to be taken to get there. I’m able to visualize ideas and weigh the pros and cons of them in order to determine whether or not it is an idea that will yield maximum profits. I’m able to bring the good ones to life through hard work and dedication to that specific idea. Whether it is a simple answer to a question or if some serious elbow grease needs to be put in to that idea to bring it to life, I make sure I do what it takes to get the job done.

What’s one trend that excites you?

One trend that really excites me within home renovating is the new wood tile that has become a very popular look throughout the market. Not only has the tile evolved over time and now carries a true hardwood appearance, but it also has the durability of porcelain tile, which makes it highly desirable for a family that is going to live in the home for the foreseeable future. I don’t think it is a trend that will soon dissipate, I believe the look is here to stay!

What is one habit of yours that makes you more productive as an entrepreneur?

A habit that I have gotten into that has really helped my business is asking my associates and others I work with for their feedback on how we are handling certain situations, and recommendations from them on what they think we can improve on as well as how we can improve. I have never been the type that institutes a ‘my way or the highway’ mentality when it comes to stream lining procedures. I’ve learned that it is more beneficial to come to a conclusion as a whole rather than making a sole decision and testing it out to see if it will work.

What advice would you give your younger self?

I would tell myself to really make schooling and education a priority. I remember being told by a lot of people around me the importance of education, but at that time for me, it went in one ear and out the other. I was more concerned about sports and other activities throughout my childhood. I’d also tell myself to enjoy being a kid and having very little responsibility while it lasts. It seems like kids want to grow into adults overnight but in hindsight, all we want to do now is go back in time and relive our childhood, completely free of the burdens of adulthood.

Tell us something that’s true that almost nobody agrees with you on.

In this business, I often get told how important it is to reap maximum profits as opposed to caring about the customers. That’s not how I’d do my business at all. For me, if I put my customers’ needs and concerns as top priority, I can always be sure to end up with happy and satisfied customers that trust me a hundred percent. With customers that have so much trust in me, they can turn into repeat customers or even refer new customers to me, which eventually leads to more business opportunities.

As an entrepreneur, what is the one thing you do over and over and recommend everyone else do?

I’d have to say to always brush up on the basics and fine tune the small things that may get overlooked at different times. The underlying systems and processes used in one’s specific craft have to be established and near flawless before a business can scale and expand. Just like a house, first and foremost you need to have a stable foundation before you can begin to build upon it.

What is one strategy that has helped you grow your business?

I’ve learned from other very successful business owners that one of the major things I have to do is consistently reinvest in my business. In starting a business, a lot of people start to make a little bit of money and pull it all out to make big personal purchases such as cars, houses, sometimes jewelry, but that is not the way to start a sustainable business. Don’t get me wrong, I will make big purchases that I need to make if in the end it’s going to benefit my business in the long run, but it is very important to have a “rainy day” fund because all small businesses have their low points getting up and running. I’ve experienced the ebbs and flows of business, and in order to own a company that is going to last, one needs to have a consistent pipeline of new business on their calendar.

What is one failure you had as an entrepreneur, and how did you overcome it?

In the past, I failed as an entrepreneur by giving responsibility to an unreliable person. Because of that, we lost out on that vocation and a substantial amount of money tied into it. I stand by the old saying, attributed to Napoléon Bonaparte, “If you want something done right, do it yourself”. But let’s face it, all entrepreneurs are going to fail at one point or another. What separates successful ones from the average ones, is the ability to learn from those mistakes and initiate the necessary changes that have to be made in order to avoid going down that same road again.

What is one business idea that you’re willing to give away to our readers?

You know, to be honest, I’ve been so consumed with my current business that I have not had any time to think of another business idea. Someone reading this probably has a better idea than I ever would, and I hope they run with that idea and see it through to fulfillment.

What is the best $100 you recently spent? What and why?

I’d have to say the K9 Advantix I purchased for my 2 Labrador retrievers! Coming home after long days of work to those two pups is a very comforting feeling. I make sure to keep my companions healthy as they are my pride and joy.

What is one piece of software or a web service that helps you be productive? How do you use it?

Our CRM system Podio is very helpful for us. It keeps all of our current renovation projects organized and helps us stay up to date with them. It’s also helps us organize the pertinent information about the houses we may potentially be purchasing in the near future.

What is the one book that you recommend our community should read and why?

I would have to say, “The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People“. It is a great read and gave me a lot of insight on what should be of most importance to you during your day-to-day activities. It’s very inspiring and the book recommends that you have a positive outlook in every situation you are in. It taught me to think of all situations as a win/win.

What is your favorite quote?

My favorite quote has to be “Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen, others make it happen.” As a person who started his own business despite being presented with various obstacles in life, I’d like to think of myself as one of those people that make things happen.

Key learnings:

– Do something where you can wake up and look forward going to work
– Don’t try and rush to grow your business. Make sure your foundations are solid before taking the next step
– Always keep an open line of communication with those whom you are working with. Answer your phone no matter how important or unimportant you may think that call is.
– You are going to fail at one point or another. Don’t let that deter you from achieving your goals. Learn from those mistakes and move on.

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