Robert had flipped a dozen houses over the years—buy, renovate, sell, repeat. It was a formula that worked. But when he walked through his latest project, something made him pause. Instead of listing it, he made a different call: listing it on PadSplit.
That decision changed everything. What started as a detour from his usual playbook became the pivot point of his real estate career—one that turned profit into purpose and property into community.
Failing to sell a flipped property
The market in December 2022 wasn’t doing Robert any favors. His house appraised at $485,000, but buyers wouldn’t budge past $450,000. After three to five months of holding out, he refused to take the loss, but he also couldn’t keep waiting. That’s when he started looking at alternatives, and PadSplit continued coming up.
He was skeptical. “I wasn’t convinced the concept would work,” he admits. But in April 2023, he took the leap, listing four bedrooms as-is, two upstairs, two down, no dining room conversion, no major overhaul. Just the house as it stood.
Robert didn’t wait for his neighbors to wonder what was happening; he told them. A letter explaining the renovation, what it would mean for the block, and how it could add $50,000 to their own home values. By the time the work was done, the neighborhood wasn’t just tolerating the change. They were glad it happened.
Within two weeks, every room was rented for $275–$300 per week.
A personal approach to managing the PadSplit
Robert doesn’t just review applications — he picks up the phone. Every applicant gets a call. He wants to know where they’ve been, why they’re leaving, and whether their job is steady. For Robert, the paperwork only tells part of the story.
“I try to make the PadSplit how I would want it if I were living there,” Robert says. His residents appreciate his honesty and the effort he puts into making them feel comfortable. He communicates his expectations clearly and strives to ensure they’re satisfied, asking for feedback if he ever falls short of earning a five-star review.
Exceeding his revenue goals
The results speak for themselves. Robert didn’t just hit his revenue goals; he blew past them. Demand was strong enough that he went back into the basement, converted it into two additional rooms, and added a full suite that now rents for $325 a week. The house has become so sought-after that members don’t leave—they just move to a different room.
The house draws all kinds of people, whether they’re starting over after a divorce, professionals new to town, or anyone trying to get their finances right. And with parking for eight in the back, even that detail works in its favor.
But Robert knows a roof and a parking spot aren’t enough. He puts real effort into the common areas, making sure residents have reasons to step outside their rooms. A covered porch. A furnished deck. An office space. Places to breathe, unwind, and actually feel at home.
“As a San Francisco rental, I’d be lucky to break even. As a PadSplit, I make a nice return,” says Robert.
“I want my members to feel like their PadSplit is home!”
Every month, Robert swings by the store and stocks the candy bowls. It’s a small gesture, but it gives him a reason to check in, and his residents a reason to smile. The rest tends to take care of itself. No noise complaints. No dishes in the sink. No mess left behind. Just a house full of people who treat the place like it’s theirs—because in a way, it is.
Robert runs a tight ship, but a fair one. Two people per bathroom, maximum. Everyone gets their own towels, their own kitchen shelf, their own space in the fridge. He even stocks the bathrooms with two colors of towels so there’s never any confusion about what belongs to whom. Two refrigerators. Numbered pantry shelves. The details are small, but they’re the difference between a house that runs smoothly and one that doesn’t.
Robert is so satisfied with PadSplit that he’s referred eight investors to the platform. He believes it’s a win-win for everyone involved: residents pay less to live in a beautiful home, the city collects more taxes, and hosts see significant returns.
“It’s crazy not to do PadSplit. I hardly do anything to manage the home.”
How other hosts can increase their bookings
If Robert could leave other investors with one thought, it’s this: don’t just renovate, renovate with intention. “If you want to cast your net out there and get the best diversity for your house, have smaller rooms for those with lower incomes, have larger rooms or suites for those who can afford $300/week. Some members want larger rooms, a TV, or their own bathroom, and they’re willing to pay for it.”
Leaving behind house flipping for PadSplit
Robert’s experience has been so positive that he’s shifted his focus entirely.
“I’m now no longer flipping houses; I just want to find PadSplit properties,” he says. His goal is to acquire 10 PadSplit properties over the next five years, leaving one house to every kid in his immediate family.
Robert’s story is a testament to PadSplit’s potential, showing how a traditional house flipper can find new success in the shared housing market.
To learn more about Robert’s company, Buy Sell Rent Property Solutions, visit https://www.buysellrentpropertysolutions.com
