Branch Served:
- North Dakota Army National Guard (22 years)
About Erik Wall
Erik Wall is a residential REALTOR and business owner of SnowByrd and GroundHog. On the real estate side, he is passionate about helping people build generational wealth through buying, selling, and investing. SnowByrd is an ondemand snow removal service and GroundHog is an ondemand lawn care service which have been in the works for almost four years and have recently launched.
“I love helping people make their lives simpler and more convenient and these two businesses do just that—just like other on-demand services we use these days,” Wall said. “If you don’t feel like snow-blowing, shoveling, mowing, or weed-whacking your lawn, hop on one of the apps, book your service, and one of our insured contractors will be out shortly after to take care of it for you.”
Currently, the SnowByrd app is available on both app stores and GroundHog’s app will be ready next summer. For GroundHog, appointments will be taken through the company’s website (officialgroundhog.com).
“As an entrepreneur, I’m always looking for new ideas and ways of making life better for people. So, being a big part of these startups has been a passion of mine,” Wall said.
Q: Can you tell me about your company?
A: You have good days and bad days on a deployment but with the simplicity of life and the camaraderie get you through. It’s tough being in a war zone on foreign soil and away from home and your family for a year or more at a time, but knowing we are there to protect their country as well as ours, makes it all worth it.
Q. What was your first job after service and what was that experience like?
A: I got into real estate while still in the service so when I officially retired, it was an easy and smooth transition. The values instilled in me in the military have served me well on the civilian side.
Q. Did you have any struggles after returning to civilian life?
A: The biggest challenge is going from something so structured as military life to a more unstructured career, which real estate can certainly be that.
Q: Did you plan to start your company before enlisting in the service?
A: I always wanted to start a business but at 20 years old when I enlisted, I hadn’t figured out what I was truly passionate enough about to start a company around.
Q: What does a normal day on the job look like for you?
A: I get into the office around 8:30 a.m. after dropping off my kids, then I look at the new homes that have come on the market. After that, I try to get some education, whether that be reading or checking out trends and the overall market. Next, I make phone calls, send texts, and follow up with emails if I don’t have any showings or closings. In the afternoons, I catch up on files, call clients, do home showings/ inspections/closings, and then follow up with anyone I need to. I then go and pick up the kids and spend time with them until 8-8:30 p.m. when they go to bed and then I usually go back to work negotiating offers and trying to get the best deals for my clients. This is a very condensed version and no days are normal, but I love the variety that comes with each and every day! Some days you think it’s going to be a pretty easy day to play catch up and you end up working non-stop for 12-14 hours and I love it!
Q: How did your family react when you told them you were pursuing service?
A: I was 20 and going to school at NDSU when I joined and didn’t tell my parents what I was doing. After I enlisted, I called my parents and told them I just joined the Army National Guard. My mom didn’t know what to think and was nervous for me. My dad said, ‘Great job,’ and that was that!
Q: What do you remember about your first day of business?
A: I started my real estate career in 2005 as a loan officer in Las Vegas. I had no idea what I was getting into, but I was excited as real estate always intrigued me. I showed up on the job, got a little bit of training, and then they said, “Here’s a list of people to call, good luck!” I remember thinking, ‘Shouldn’t I get a little more training?’ as I had no idea what I was doing. Looking back, it made me constantly adjust and get better on my own, which I really enjoyed and appreciated. I believe that having others do the work for you means you won’t learn a thing. You’ve gotta get in there, get dirty, and learn from your own experience.
Q: Has your service experience changed your business mindset?
A: My service experience taught me a lot of discipline and attention to detail. I’ve always had a good work ethic since I was little, but being in real estate and owning your own business takes more than just a good work ethic, it takes attention to detail and the discipline to work even when you don’t want to. Often times it’s easier to just procrastinate and put things off, but in this industry, if you do that, you’ll run into several months without a paycheck.
Q: Have you found any specific resources or support networks that have been instrumental in your entrepreneurial journey as a veteran?
A: The VA has a number of resources but I think just being a Veteran has given me something to always talk about with people and the network of Veterans is pretty large and getting bigger every day! Being able to have that common ground with many of my clients really builds that internal trust right away and has helped along this journey.
Q: What was the hardest challenge in opening your business?
A: I didn’t have a playbook as to what opening a business like this looked like and have had to learn by a lot of trial and error. I had some resources to help guide me and asked others who owned real estate teams, but everyone does things slightly differently and I knew what I wanted my team to look like so have made several adjustments throughout the years.
Q: What does being a veteran symbolize to you?
A: Being a Veteran for me is a symbol of pride, honor, and commitment. I spent 22 years in the military and it was always about doing something bigger than myself. Being willing to lay down my life for people I didn’t know and for the greatest country on Earth is something I’m so proud to be able to say I did!
Support Erik Wall
Wall Street Realty Team – eXp Realty
erikwall.fmwallstreetrealty.com
SnowByrd
officialsnowbyrd.com
GroundHog
officialgroundhog.com
