Backed By The Bros: Rebuilding After Destruction

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The second episode of Backed By The Bros had us on the edge of our seats this week! Between devastating structural damage, a stunted income stream, and trying to put it all back together in a time crunch, Drew and Jonathan had their hands full with this project. Unlike last week’s episode, though, Backed By The Bros episode 2 wasn’t about remodeling a new investment property into a gorgeous short-term rental. Rather, it was about completely rebuilding the structure from the ground up to make it habitable for renters.

But backing this investment not only took serious strategy and finesse—it also took a ton of resources and creativity. That meant way more than just slapping some paint on the walls and refinishing the floors. The Bros and the investor sifted through the reno budget, and even when things got tough, they pivoted to try and make it work. But would it all be worth it in the end? You’ll have to watch Backed By The Bros episode 2 to see!

In the end, Drew and Jonathan chose to back Frank. They really wanted to help him get back on his feet after a devastating structural and monetary loss. Frank’s insurance claim gave him a healthy $500,000 to help rebuild the property, but he had to make sure to delegate the money wisely, especially since the permits only allowed for a tri-plex, rather than the previous four-plex build.

However, the Bros still gave Jessika and Gil their best advice. And because they had their ducks in a row, Drew and Jonathan were confident that the couple would be able to finish their project successfully without any outside help from them.

After calling Frank with the news, he and the Bros immediately got to work. Because of the severity of the damage, there was a ton to get done. From gutting to redesigns, calling on contractors, electricians, and consulting with Drew and Jonathan and their experts, this property rebuild was a doozy. Of course, no reno this large is without its hiccups. Just as they began gutting the property, they found major termite damage. It called for a total reconstruction of the outdoor deck and stairs. This definitely put an unexpected dent in the budget, but they did their best to cut costs elsewhere to make it work.

But along with fixing the damage, they also had to rethink the interior layout as well. The bottom floor’s 1-bedroom and studio apartments were going to be combined to adhere to permits. The two upstairs 1-bedroom apartments stayed as-is, but the layouts were rearranged to make better use of the space. It was certainly worth it, since the spaces need to be both beautiful and functional for renters.

To get as much out of the rental units as possible, Frank decided to make use of some furniture that had been taking up space in his warehouse, as well as some of the Bros’ furniture from their warehouse, to furnish the apartments. A furnished apartment will increase the rental value, and it also makes short-term rentals a breeze.

After three months and an unbelievable amount of hard work, Frank’s tri-plex rental property was finally in a place that he felt comfortable with to start looking for tenants. And making the rentals furnished was totally worth it—potentially almost tripling the previous income he was getting from the space. Overall, the Bros’ backing was valued at around $100,000 between trades, appliances, and furniture. In combination with the $500,000 from insurance, Frank came in right at the insured amount, and stayed on-budget for this reno.

Click here to see all of the items featured in this episode!

The Exterior

Apartment #1

Apartment #2

Apartment #3

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