For the first time in as long as I can remember—at least 30 years—I stiffed a waitress. This decision didn’t come lightly, especially as a former server myself. But as a real estate investor who’s focused on providing excellent service to my residents, lenders, and community through the BRRRR method (Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat), I had to rethink the way I view tipping.
Back in my serving days, I knew how much tips meant, but now, my “tips” come in the form of tenants paying rent on time and residents appreciating the improvements we make to their homes. As I’ve gotten older, I started believing that tipping was expected no matter the quality of service. But recently, an experience made me reevaluate this.
It all started in a drive-thru when I ordered two drinks—a bottled Coke and a smoothie for my kids. Before even hearing the total, the cashier asked, “Will that be a 20%, 15%, or 10% tip today?” I respected her confidence, but I politely replied, “Zero percent—this is a no-tip situation, I’m in the drive-thru.” Tipping used to be about “To Insure Prompt Service,” but today, it seems to have lost that focus.
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The next experience really pushed me to reconsider my tipping habits. While driving from South Carolina to Alabama, we stopped at a Cracker Barrel after a flat tire on our trailer. My family went inside to cool off and get seated while I changed the tire in the heat. When I joined them about 15 minutes later, my wife told me, “The waitress knows you’re joining us, but I didn’t order for you since I wasn’t sure what you wanted.”
Another 15 minutes went by before the waitress returned—for the first time since I had sat down. She delivered food to my family and told me, “I’ll be back to take your order.” By that point, I was frustrated. I knew that ordering now would mean another wait of at least 15 minutes, making my family sit through my meal. For the first time, I decided not to leave a tip.
As a real estate investor using the BRRRR method, I’ve learned that service matters. Whether it’s maintaining high occupancy, ensuring low turnover, or providing value to my lenders, excellent service is what keeps people coming back. Our residents love living in our properties, our lenders continue to fund our deals, and the improvements we make add value to everyone involved. This is my way of ensuring repeat business, just like a good tip rewards great service.
If I fail to serve my residents, lenders, or community well, I don’t get that “tip” in the form of repeat business. So, when a service experience falls short, like that day at Cracker Barrel, it reminds me that tipping should still reflect the quality of the service provided. It’s a principle that applies to both the restaurant industry and the world of real estate investing.
The BRRRR method teaches us to constantly improve and add value, whether it’s through renovating a rental property or building relationships with our community. Just as I aim to provide exceptional service in my investments, I expect the same when I’m on the receiving end.
This experience taught me that whether you’re investing in real estate or simply dining out, the focus should always be on quality. When we focus on delivering the best service possible, we build long-term relationships and loyalty—whether that’s with tenants, lenders, or even restaurant patrons. What do you think? Is tipping always expected, or should it be tied to the quality of service? Let me know your thoughts!
Common FAQs using the BRRRR Investing Strategy:
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With none of your own money, yes. Partnerships are the best way to grow your portfolio without using your own money. Utilizing creative strategies like Hard Money (via W2 Cap Capital LLC) will allow you to fund the purchase and rehab with only 10% down (sometimes 0% down given the opportunity).
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