A $14,000 Surprise Repair At One Of Our Rental Properties

What happens when your rental property renovation is finally finished, the cleaners are booked, the photographer is scheduled, and then a surprise repair shows up out of nowhere? In this episode, Wayne and Gabby share the painful story of a $14,000 surprise repair at one of their rental properties. After finishing a basement suite renovation, they discovered a major drain line issue that required jackhammering through the newly renovated suite, replacing the drain line, and repairing the damage afterward. Wayne and Gabby break down what happened, how they responded, why having the right trades and systems matters, and why real estate investors need to be prepared for unexpected repairs. They also talk about renovation surprises, contingency budgets, buying with enough equity cushion, cash reserves, and why owning rental properties requires emotional resilience. This episode is a real look behind the scenes of real estate investing. Not everything goes smoothly. Not every renovation stays on budget. Not every problem can be avoided. But with the right systems, the right team, and the right reserves, investors can handle these moments and keep moving forward. If you own rental properties, are planning your first renovation, or think real estate investing is always clean and easy, this episode will give you a more realistic picture of what it takes to build and manage a rental portfolio. What You'll Learn in This Episode What happened with Wayne and Gabby's $14,000 rental property repair Why surprise repairs can happen even after inspections and renovations Why drain line issues can be expensive and disruptive Why sewer lines and drain lines are not the same thing Why renovations rarely go exactly according to plan Why opening walls can reveal hidden electrical, plumbing, and safety issues Why investors need contingency budgets for renovations Why buying with equity cushion can protect you when costs increase Why cash reserves are critical for rental property investors Why having the right trades on your power team matters How Gabby handled the repair using systems and trusted contractors Why emotional resilience is part of being a real estate investor Why investors should expect problems and know who to call Why Wayne and Gabby still see the deal as manageable because they bought it right Why real estate investing requires both patience and action Why sharing real stories helps investors understand the business more honestly About Your Hosts Wayne & Gabby Hillier are full-time real estate investors and real estate investing coaches based in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Through their REI Masters Mentorship Program, they help Canadians build long-term wealth using rental properties, BRRRRs, flips, joint ventures, wholesaling, seller financing, rent-to-own, garden suites, and creative real estate strategies. The Canadian Real Estate Investing Morning Show is a daily podcast focused on helping Canadian investors build cash flow, scale their portfolios, and invest with confidence. Resources & Contact REI Masters Edmonton Real Estate Investing Bus Tour: www.reimasters.ca/edmontonbustour Use discount code: REI Morning Show Learn about the REI Masters Mentorship Program: www.reimasters.ca Bookkeeping & tax help for real estate investors: www.finngo.com/rei Get Wayne's book: The 5% Rule™ – A Real Estate Cash Flow Test for Canadian Investors https://a.co/d/jdZaBXM Submit a question or connect with us: [email protected] Thanks to Our Sponsors Calvin Realty – Edmonton Investor-Focused Realtor calvinrealty.ca Finngo Bookkeeping & Tax – For Investors, By Investors www.finngo.com/rei Kirkwood & Brennan Mortgage Group [email protected]