The primary challenge facing real estate investment operations in California’s Imperial Valley is not financing or market conditions, but the difficulty of finding reliable contractors, according to Gisela Sanchez, a realtor and brokerage developer with eXp Realty who has worked in the area for nearly five years.
“I think the biggest challenge is just finding people who are truly committed to their business,” Sanchez said, describing operational hurdles beyond typical market concerns. “For instance, if you hire a gardener, or if you hire someone to come and repair the carpet, do they even show up to clean the carpet?”
This problem spans multiple trades and services essential to property rehabilitation. “We’re constantly trying to find the right people, and as we find the right team, we hold on to them, and we obviously take care of them. But it amazes me how many people lack the follow through,” she added.
The issue is not just about attendance. When contractors do show up, the quality of work often fails to meet professional expectations. “Are you going to come in and garden this place? Are you going to come in and paint? Or they do such a sloppy job. I think there needs to be more pride in their business in general,” Sanchez said.
For investors managing tight timelines and specific marketing schedules, contractor unreliability leads to delays. Sanchez described her structured approach to preparing properties: “I have a timeline of everything that I’m going to do, whether it’s hire people to do professional photography, drone, a Matterport for our marketing, professional cleaning. So when these people don’t show up, it messes things up.”
This ongoing issue requires frequent team management and replacement. “I’ve been really good at hiring new people and letting go of others that don’t need to be part of our team,” she said, noting that contractor turnover has become a routine operational challenge.
When discussing the root cause of this reliability problem, Sanchez offered a direct assessment: “I just think that some people just don’t care. If you care about your business, you’re going to show up. If you don’t care, you won’t show up.”
This suggests the issue is less about market dynamics such as pricing or availability and more about differing levels of commitment between real estate professionals and local service providers.
Successful investors in the Imperial Valley are responding by building stronger contractor networks and maintaining higher standards for team retention. “In my business, I have a lot of pride in my business. I make sure that when I help a client, I really take care of them,” Sanchez said, contrasting her approach with the challenges she faces with contractors.
This situation points to a broader challenge in secondary markets, where the professional service infrastructure may not meet the standards expected by investors who are used to more established real estate markets.
