Estimated Reading Time: 9 minutes
Welcome to the very first installment of my new Side Hustle Series!
If you’ve been following me for a while at Power Selling Mom, you know that I am all about multiple streams of income. While my heart usually beats for eBay and e-commerce, I’m a firm believer that as an entrepreneur, you should always have your eyes open for “the next thing.” Whether you are looking to fund your next big inventory haul or you just want to pad your savings account, side hustles are the engine that keeps the business moving.
Today, I’m sharing a story about a quick gig I did recently that felt almost like cheating because it was so fast and so simple. I made $75 in just 20 minutes of actual work.
The task? Filming an investor property walkthrough.
No, I didn’t need a professional cinema camera. No, I didn’t need a film crew. I just needed my smartphone and a little bit of local knowledge.
The Drive: Punta Gorda to Port Charlotte
The day started like any other Friday. I had my reselling tasks lined up, but an opportunity popped up through a contact of mine. A real estate investor needed eyes on a property, fast.
The house was located in Port Charlotte, Florida, which is just a short hop from where I am in Punta Gorda. I hopped in the car, enjoyed the Florida sunshine, and made the drive. Even with the commute, the actual time spent “on the clock” at the property was minimal.
I’ve always said that being a successful reseller is about being “on the move.” Whether you are sourcing at a thrift store or driving to a property, movement creates opportunity. If you want to see the quick breakdown of how this looked on the ground, you can check out my YouTube Short right here where I show the “behind the scenes.”
What Exactly is an Investor Property Walkthrough?
You might be wondering, “Danna, why would someone pay $75 for a 20-minute video?”
Here is the secret: Real estate investors often buy properties sight-unseen, or they live in a different state (or even a different country). They need someone they trust to walk through a potential investment and show them the real condition of the home.
This isn’t a fancy real estate marketing video with soft music and slow-motion pans of the kitchen. In fact, investors don’t want that. They want the raw truth. They want to see the water stains on the ceiling, the cracks in the foundation, the age of the HVAC system, and the overall “vibe” of the neighborhood.
In this side hustle series spotlight, we are looking at a “boots on the ground” service. You are the investor’s eyes and ears.
The Math: Why This Side Hustle Wins
Let’s break down the numbers, because as business owners, we have to respect the clock.
- Gross Pay: $75
- Time on Site: 20 Minutes
- Hourly Rate (Projected): $225/hour
Compare that to the time it takes to source, photograph, list, and ship a $75 item on eBay. While I love reselling, it’s a high-touch process. This property walkthrough was low-touch. Once the video was uploaded to the cloud and sent to the investor, my job was done. No packing tape required!
This kind of high-efficiency earning is exactly what I talk about on the Power Selling Podcast. We need to find ways to inject cash into our businesses without draining our most precious resource: time.
How Modern Technology Makes This Possible
Years ago, you would have needed a camcorder, a physical tape, and a way to mail that tape to the investor. Today, your smartphone is a powerhouse.
For this gig, I used my phone to take a series of high-resolution photos of every room, followed by a continuous video walkthrough. I started at the curb to show the street view, walked through the front door, hit every bedroom and bathroom, and finished in the backyard.
I didn’t even need to edit the video. The investor wanted the raw file so they could pause and zoom in on specific details. I uploaded the files to a shared Google Drive folder while I was still standing in the driveway, hit “send,” and the $75 was essentially in my pocket.
Why I Love “Non-Reselling” Side Hustles
You might think it’s strange for the “Power Selling Mom” to talk about filming houses. But here’s the thing: everything is connected.
When I’m out filming a house, I might spot a yard sale nearby. When I’m networking with real estate investors, I might find someone who needs help clearing out an estate, which leads to more consignment opportunities for my eBay business.
I’m currently at a stage in my life where I’m focusing on projects that bring me joy and connection. For example, I recently turned 65 and created a “Turning 65 Activity Book.” It was a passion project to help others navigate that milestone with a smile. Sometimes, we do things for the heart, and sometimes we do things for the bottom line. This property filming hustle is a perfect mix of being out in the community and earning a great return on time.
How You Can Start Making Money Filming Houses
If you want to make money filming houses, you don’t need to wait for a job posting on a major site. You can be proactive.
- Join Local REI Groups: Look for Real Estate Investment groups on Facebook or Meetup.com in your area.
- Network with Out-of-State Investors: Many investors focus on high-growth areas like Florida but live in New York or California. They are desperate for reliable people to do “walkthroughs.”
- Offer a Flat Rate: Keep your pricing simple. A flat fee for a 15-20 minute visit is attractive to investors because they can build it right into their “due diligence” budget.
- Be Honest: Your value is in your honesty. If the house smells like mold, say it. If the floor feels soft, point the camera at it.
Bridging the Gap with AI
In my AI for Resellers community, we talk a lot about using technology to work smarter. While filming a house is a physical task, you can use AI tools to help you write your outreach emails to investors or even to summarize your notes from the walkthrough into a professional report.
If you are looking to scale your business and find more time for these high-paying side hustles, you have to embrace the tools that are available to us today. We are living in an era where $75 for 20 minutes of work isn’t just a dream, it’s a Friday afternoon in Port Charlotte.
What’s Next in the Side Hustle Series?
This is just the beginning. I have a whole list of side hustles that I’ve personally tried or researched that fit perfectly alongside a reselling career. We’ll be talking about everything from niche consulting to digital products and beyond.
The goal is to move from being a “hustler” to being a CEO. That means choosing the tasks that pay the best and outsourcing or automating the rest.
If you enjoyed this post, please “Spread the love” and share it with a friend who needs a little extra cash in their pocket this week!
Don’t forget to subscribe to the Power Selling Podcast on Buzzsprout or your favorite podcast app for more tips on e-commerce, AI, and the entrepreneurial lifestyle.
Until next time, keep selling: and keep hustling!
