Mogul Moves Blog
This sink is everything! Cutting board, strainer, and drying rack all-in-one. We purchased for our most recent Signature Home and it was worth the upgrade. You can find at Menards online or in the store. Follow us on TikTok @yellow.door for more videos
Granite sink with cutting board, strainer, and drying rack included! :)
We have moved 12 times in 15 years. The first house we purchased we did not know to get an inspection. It was recently remodeled and we were sucked in by the new appliances and gorgeous flooring. Later we found out the addition did not have insulation and the HVAC was older than dirt. We had mice coming into our house during harvest time and nests of bees all around the home. We learned many lessons here- each of them making a promise to never take shortcuts. When we sold that house, the new family received a home they could be proud of. The next several places were small apartments. One of the apartments had a crime scene a few buildings down within weeks of moving in. The next house I am positive was haunted and had rats running like a heard of elephants throughout the attic every night. Then, a miracle happened. After a decade of Anthony working in the music industry and renting random places we could barely afford, we FINALLY were able to buy a home. It was the best feeling. Anthony placed the house under contract when we had no money in the bank. He always jumps and manifests life to fruition. Within 40 days, we were closed and moving into our new home. I could not believe it. It was our first new construction. The walls were so clean. The floor was so new! The appliances had never been used. This was the first time Anthony showed me what a “full circle moment” feels like.
We lived there for a few years and then relocated to our roots of Southern Illinois. We decided after visiting our family on a short trip home that it has always been our home. No matter how nice of a neighborhood we lived in, how many friends we made in Georgia, how successful our careers were, home is and always will be in Southern Illinois. We vowed to devote our energy into building our family’s legacy and our community’s legacy by simply following our passion and doing what feels right in our hearts.
In 2016, we purchased a 100 year old Victorian style home for $20,000. We dumped every cent we had saved into its renovation leaving no stone unturned. We did not even see the house before purchasing it. The foundation had no footers. There was no HVAC. The plumbing was as old as the house. But, Anthony doesn’t take no for an answer and moves progress a day at a time. After months of blood, sweat, and tears, we were finally ready to move in. The feeling of bringing the worst house on the block and turning it into one of the best houses on the block was a revelation. Homes change neighborhoods.
It was at this time that I realized houses are more than lumber, windows, paint, and doors. They are this beautiful works of art where families will spend majority of their lives. The kitchen will host holidays. These halls will have laughter and fingerprint throughout them. These yards will be where kids learn to throw a ball. The garage may be where a middle schooler starts his first band. These houses are homes. They are places where memories are created.
It was at this moment we decided our passion is building character into homes. For this reason, no Yellow Door home will ever be the same as the ones before it. Each is unique. Each has its own character. Each is inspired by the moments and experiences in our lives. Our homes are canvases where families can put their own imprint on them. It is a joy and an honor to be part of each of their stories and bring families a home they can be proud of for years to come.
We are grateful for the opportunity to continue this legacy throughout Southern Illinois.
We get the question all the time- HOW DO YOU DO IT WITHOUT GOING NUTS!? To be honest, living outside our comfort zone has become a lifestyle. As a family of serial entrepreneurs, we do whatever it takes to be successful. Each move brings us closer to the our goal of following our passion and making a living doing it. We dream of the moment when we call the shots. The moment when our clients, who are like family to us, trust our design selections and allow us to bring their home and their vision to the next level. The moment when we can fund a subdivision. The moment when we launch our store. The moment when we get to do it our way to our vision. We strive for the day when all the sacrifices CLICK and BOOM. You get a full circle moment. A moment where the stars align and you relish in the fact that it is all worth it. Today is one of those days. Keep up the hustle. The road to excellence is one traveled by few.
Running a business means at some point you will ultimately network with other business owners and begin to understand their struggles and accomplishments. It is a great support network, but with this being said, it is also important to remember to ALWAYS to focus on you. There is great value in networking and learning, but no two businesses are ever exactly the same. Establish procedures, hours, prices, etc. that work for your business and life. Of course, you must always be aware of your clients and their needs as well, but do not take too much weight in what other businesses are doing or look to them to for solving your problems. Keep company with those who can build with you, but always keep your best interest and the interest of your business in mind.
Yesterday was a yo-yo of a day… up and down, up and down, up and down. Many moments were “Uh, this is so hard?” quickly followed by a positive, “Guess what happened!!!” —an affirmation that the stars are aligning.
While this is typical of anyone’s day, it was not until owning a business that I realized it is emphasized even more. Lesson here, set your goals and focus on them. Every. Single. Day. Revisit these goals. Be realistic, but always optimistic :)
Biggest lesson of all, be patient. Do not change paths just because of one bad moment, day, or month. Continue to focus on doing “good” business and the longterm vision and the low moments will pass and you will see the light at the end of your tunnel.
An online source suggests "20% of small businesses fail in their first year [and] 30% fail in their second year." No matter the specific numbers, I think we can all agree that there is a high likelihood for a business not to make it to its 5 year anniversary.
Recently a friend and I began discussing our businesses. She and her husband began a couple of new business ventures over the past couple of years and my husband and I began investing in real estate a little more than 4 years ago. Recently, she and I both left our full-time careers to dive into growing our businesses. As we chatted, we quickly learned that we both have similar challenges. Our conversation has led to some rich details on how to grow a family business in 2018--from a "newbies" perspective.
With this, below outlines a few simple guides we are both putting into place to help scale our husband-wife owned businesses. If you have more tips from personal experience, then please feel free to add in the comments section.
1. Communicate your vision. In our business, my husband is the visionary for our construction company and I have a strong hand in our rentals. We have realized how important it is to discuss this vision in great detail and explain to each other what we envision the business to look like this month, year, and throughout a lifetime. The vision may modify, but the work and long hours are much easier when you both understand the end-goal.
2. Define your roles. This was one of the hardest challenges for us. What are my strengths and what are his? How can we define our roles and tasks without stepping on eachothers toes? How do we communicate effectively with each other and potential clients? We are finally at a point where we are understanding the divide and shared duties, but this takes time and is ever evolving. Lastly, do not go overboard with this one, but it is also important to hold yourself and each other accountable for tasks needing completed. It's not worth an argument, but it is worth asking what is the factor keeping this task from getting completed--is it the kids' schedules, too much to do with too few hours, or over Netflix-ing?! A little nudge can go a long way in keeping each other motivated.
3. Hold a weekly meeting. As an employee for the past 10+ years, I am use to scheduled meetings, but my husband is not. Too many meetings can be damaging, but so can not setting aside a time to discuss important details of your business. Holding a meeting helps us to stay on the same page--divide and conquer. It also helps us to define work time vs. family time. Contrary to popular belief, when you own a family business--you will talk about your business over dinner or a date--and to us, that is okay. We are passionate about it, love it, and want our kids to understand it as they grow up as well. The weekly meeting is where we handle the more stressful discussions and ensure we approach difficult conversations with a positive mentality and with the same professionalism as you would an outside employer. You can even hold these meetings over coffee, at home, or on a walk. After all, you own your own time.
So far, we are still figuring out the ins and outs of a husband-wife business, but to date these are a few guidelines that have helped us begin to scale to a larger capacity and vision. Remember to play-off each other's strengths and support each other as you learn new things.
Anthony leveling a 100 year-old victorian house's floors.
Anthony and Felix getting to work!
Being a winner is not decided by an amount of money, size of a home, or college degrees. A winner has the confidence to take on challenges others avoid, to deal with conflict, to have tough conversations, take calculated risks, and not always be the nice guy or gal. A winner knows that a set back now will lead to bigger goals being reached later. A winner surrounds him or herself with other winners and makes it a point to avoid discussing other people's downfalls at it only distracts from them reaching their goals. A winner elevates the level of potential of everyone in their network. A winner keeps the bigger vision in mind.
As someone who does not have a natural “winning” perspective, I’ve intentionally worked hard to change my perspective to see the good in every situation. It has been a challenging and worthwhile journey.
I use to hate asking questions at the chance of hearing the word "no." I now realize I was taking things too personally. Now, I know better through self-reflection that in the micro moment that “no” is tough to hear, but in the macro, we will win huge in life. We are only on this earth once- I am choosing to change my mentality and grow into a winner.
My brother loves ninja turtles and my mom loves birdhouses. I feel it is important for them to have decorations and designs that reflect them in their homes. My mother has added accents of birds, colors, and a couple birdhouses to bring her space to life. My brother has a couple very cool ninja turtle art pieces. Not only does it look great, but when I am in their homes, it feels like THEIR house.
Don't feel pressure to find everything right away. It may take a while to find pieces to fit your space. While I do not recommend an entire dining room wall filled with ninja turtles, you can look for accent pieces, like a clock in the office, to bring your style alive.
We love graffiti art and Mario Brothers--I mean...who doesn't love Mario?! so we have a few graffiti murals up, one being Mario. Whenever possible, we work with local artists to create personalized pieces--they are talented, typically reasonably priced, and appreciate and deserve the support.
Live on the edge, try different things...because just like life, you can always try something new!
Graffiti art
Moments come and go where we allow ourselves to slip into a mental funk. Many times this comes from looking at what others have and we are missing. Be it lavish vacations, cars, clothes, a family, homes, etc. the grass may seem greener on the other side. Just know that everyone is going through their own battle--some may seem greater than others, which is perspective. The next time a colleague gets the promotion you were hoping for, your friend announces she is pregnant while you have been trying for years, or your brother closes on his first home--remember to hold back the feelings of envy and the "why not me" thoughts. We all have our time to shine--it is just a matter of when and where. Be happy for others' success. Build up your circle, work hard, be patient, and above all live in the moment when provided the second to do so. If your inner circle is not building you up and support you during times of success and need--then it is time to find a new circle. Long term, positivity always wins.
Our sweet flower
Little Miss Positive
When faced with a decision you either decide with your heart, mind, gut, or learn to use all to your advantage.
The heart allows your emotions to take charge. Is it impacting someone I love, something I believe in, or maybe even someone or something I despise?? Either way, thinking with only your heart can lead to irrational decisions, but when used intelligently helps find your passions.
The mind is a powerful tool. It is a tool you must practice using to focus on bettering your ability to see multiple perspectives. Your mind creates a pros and cons list and allows you to make the calculated decision that on paper--is the best choice.
The gut is the X factor. I often hear people say that I didn't go with my gut feeling- often called your intuition. Your gut is the annoying voice in your body festering and telling you what the answer is, but your heart and mind keep jumping in front and shutting your gut down. Get this--your guys is ALWAYS right. Many times it takes months and years to realize this--the sooner your realize, the better you become at making challenging decisions. It requires a level of patience to see it through, which few possess, but for those few--it is a most glorious and fulfilling prophecy.
Personally and historically, my mind would always win and my heart was not even a contender. It was not until everything I believed to be true about life was challenged in my late 20s. It was then that I began hearing my gut. In my 30s, I now allow my mind and (somewhat) my heart to battle it out and then my gut jumps in to make the ultimate decision. It may sound crazy, but I believe listening to your gut is actually a higher power directing your life in a vision you are not capable of understanding.
So, while all play a necessary role in decision-making, take it for me, go with your GUT 100% of the time.
Over the past few years we have purchased a variety of flooring materials: carpet, laminate, vinyl, hardwood, tile, linoleum, etc. Let us tell you, they are NOT all created equal. Our favorite flooring, which we use in every project is LVP flooring because of the price point, simple installation, variety of options, and durability. LVP stands for Luxury Vinyl Plank and LVT stands for Luxury Vinyl Tile. As the name implies, Luxury Vinyl Planks look like planks of hardwood floors; and Luxury Vinyl Tile looks like Tile or natural stone. We no longer use laminate, ceramic tile, or hardwood and stick with LVP or LVT (if using tile) because of its lasting benefits. Here are a few things we wish we would have know when purchasing vinyl flooring.
1. Color: So far, we have installed cherry, maple, weathered gray, and very dark brown/black vinyl floors. To date, the weathered gray has been our favorite in maintaining a new look that is flexible with most decor and also lasts for years to come. It does not show dust, foot prints, or animal hair, while the dark brown/black shows EVERYTHING! It looks beautiful while clean, but it is a pain to keep that way. Cherry and maple moderately keep clean, but do not transition well with decor and other updates, such as cabinet color.
2. Thickness: One point most buyers ignore is the thickness of the flooring, or the base of the board to the top of the board (not including the pad). The thicker the flooring, typically the better the flooring--more impact resistant, less echoing, hides subfloor imperfections. It is also easier to lay thicker flooring and is more durable. You can find thickness in the details section of the flooring. We do not go below 4mm, but prefer 7mm and up. If you want it to feel like real hardwood, then pick 10-12mm.
3. Water and Scratch Resistant: Even more important than thickness is the ability for the floor to be scratch resistant. Once we laid a floor to realize the ladder of an employee was scratching the floor as they were touching up the paint. Needless to say that these floor were not durable, but they were 10mm "thick." You can even find flooring that is water proof, which is great to bathrooms and kitchens. Remember, typical hardwood flooring is not waterproof or scratch resistant--plus it costs more.
4. Texture: Some vinyl flooring is smooth while other styles are textured. The thicker the flooring, the more texture options there tend to be. Our preference is a more textured floor for a few reasons: 1) more slip resistant, 2) resembles real wood, and 3) hides imperfections, such as a scratch.
5. Plank width: This is really a personal preference, but we prefer the wider planked floor as it tends to make rooms feel larger and provides a more craftsmanship appeal. But, depending on the style of the home, a smaller plank may be fitting as well.
6. Price: Many people think carpet is much less expensive than vinyl flooring but, it honestly can be about the same price. When you purchase carpet, you typically purchase a pad too. Together, depending on the quality of carpet, this price comes to approximately $1.80-$2.50 per square foot. There are many locations where you can find a great vinyl floor for this price that may last much longer than carpet.
7. Moisture barrier: If you have a good subfloor and no reason to believe there will be any water issues, a click and lock waterproof vinyl should not need a moisture barrier, but consult a contractor to be sure.
We hope this list provides you with enough insight to pick the floors that are just right for you!
Dark LVP flooring (and our pups)
When people ask "Where did you meet?" and we tell them "We began dating in high school," it almost always follows with an "awwwww" reaction.
Most people ask “How have you made it since high school?” I tell them it has been a journey of love and many lessons along the way.
Here are our top 3 leaning lessons from mid-30 year-old high school sweethearts.
1) ADVENTURE OF A LIFETIME
Positive: You have known each other from day 1--prior to having anything to call your own. You are on an adventure together. I remember when my husband, then boyfriend, would walk up to the gas station telephone to call me at night. He did not have two nickels to rub together. We did not know what the future held, but we were in it together. You have grown together to have a common vision.
Challenge: You have literally lived through years of highs and lows. As much as you remember the good times, the not so good times were typically during your most immature years. Yeah, remember saying that dumb comment to your boyfriend after a long night in college--well, some people never forget (lol). At this point, you may or may not have completely forgiven each other...pretty much all of your baggage comes from direct impact.
2) YOU ARE FAMILY
Positive: I tell my mother-in-law "love you" just as much as I tell my own mother. My father-in-law is dad to me. The same goes for my parents and our siblings. There is a level of mutual comfort and trust that only comes with knowing each other since childhood. The same goes for friends. My husband knows all of my friends since childhood and vice versa. What is understood does not need to be discussed between our friendships and family. We understand the value of these connections at each level.
Challenge: Again, there is a lot of history, but history is not always positive. As a good boyfriend or girlfriend should do, growing up it provides a level of mindfulness about the people in your life that sometimes you need to hear, but also don't always want to hear.
3) VISION
Positive: There is no better feeling than waking up each day and knowing that you are here today because of each other. From your parents, kids, to your passions--each piece has been impacted by your relationship. I always say that a relationship is nothing without a common vision. We know where we have been and we know where we are going. We have been through trials and tribulations, which makes us fearless in the face of challenges.
Challenge: What happens when your visions do not align? This most likely will happen along the way. My advice is to not give up so easily. There will be highs and lows each day, each month, each year. Do not overanalyze your relationship during one of the low moments. Keep the vision in mind, discuss it daily, stay on the same page and know how you both fit into the big picture. Communicate with each other often and adapt along the way. Work hard to grown together,
Our first renovation
This is the moment...putting it all on the line...breathe deep...exhale...jump.
The unknown is a scary place for many...including myself. As it turns out, I married Anthony, who finds comfort on the brink of organized chaos. I, on the other hand, like the known, record everything in a monthly spreadsheet, and weight the pros and cons for days prior to making decisions. Anthony takes a moment to think it through and then acts without hesitation accepting the consequences of his choices and always keeping an optimistic vision. As you can imagine, our "conversations" when making choices are intense and often comical.
This blog will capture the highs and challenges of running a family business, while also providing insight into our lives and tips from our real estate experience as we grow our expertise.
Through self-education, passion, and faith we strive to provide beautiful homes to today's families. In hindsight, the vision started years ago, but today is the day it becomes a family business. Here's to the unknown<3
High school sweethearts
Contact us today!
(618) 619-8835
administrator@yellowdoorinc.com
Southern Illinois
