Earn Your Leisure

Episode: How AI & China Can Save You Thousands in Real Estate Development

Hosts: Rashad Bilal, Troy Millings | Date: November 7, 2025

Episode Overview

This episode of Earn Your Leisure explores innovative strategies in real estate development, focusing on how to leverage AI tools and global sourcing—especially from China—to significantly save money. The hosts, Rashad Bilal and Troy Millings, break down best practices for vetting contractors, negotiating better deals, and utilizing technology and international suppliers to maximize profit, both for individual homeowners and large-scale developers. The discussion delivers actionable insights for anyone interested in real estate, construction, and entrepreneurship.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

The Importance of Due Diligence and Negotiation in Construction

• Vetting Contractors Thoroughly (02:31)

  • The hosts stress the importance of getting multiple quotes for any real estate project, noting that contractors often add unnecessary “tax on top of tax,” anticipating potential future price hikes (e.g., political changes).
  • “You really have to shop contractors right now because some people are just adding tax on top of tax…just because they think Trump is going to add the tax or they adding it right now before it's even in play.” — Host/Expert (02:31)

• Negotiation is Non-Negotiable (02:45)

  • Strongly encourage listeners to negotiate all quotes and terms when dealing with contractors, emphasizing this as a key skill in the 2025-2026 volatile market landscape.

Leveraging AI for Smarter Project Management

• Using AI to Assess Quotes and Find Vendors (03:04–04:00)
  • Rashad and others describe using ChatGPT and similar AI tools to upload contractor quotes, analyze whether they're reasonable, and get estimates for fair pricing.
  • “I upload that quote into my chat. GBT… if you put pictures of what you're looking to do and really break it down, then it will give you, like Rashad said, low, high, middle.” — Host/Expert (03:04)
  • AI tools can also help identify top-rated contractors in your area, arming users with critical market info for negotiation and decision-making.
  • By preparing with AI-generated questions and background info, homeowners and developers can approach contractor interviews more intelligently and confidently.

Sourcing Materials from China: Major Savings for Developers & Homeowners

• Documenting the “China Play” (05:09–06:13)

  • Rashad recounts traveling to China and partnering with experts to directly source building materials—a process that the team calls the "China play."
  • Significant cost reductions are possible, especially for major items like kitchens and bathrooms, when buying in bulk from Chinese manufacturers.
  • “If you're a real estate developer, I think you really need to tie in with this because… you can get mass items for cheaper.” — Co-host/Commentator (05:35)

• Case Study—Multiplying Savings (09:43)

  • Example: Saving $30,000–$50,000 per kitchen, multiplied across multiple houses in a development, can lead to $2 million in extra profit without compromising quality.
  • “You save, let's say, you save 30, 40, 50% times that, times five, you're going to have a substantial savings…Now you just made yourself $2 million by executing smartly.” — Co-host/Commentator (09:43)

• Practical Guidance on Navigating Suppliers (11:32–12:56)

  • Listeners are cautioned that not all Chinese manufacturers are equal; it’s usually best to partner with someone who knows the local landscape.
  • “You can't just show up in China and just be like, I'm here. You can, you technically can…But if you really, really want to get…each, like for instance, my kitchen and closet, I went to a store that specializes in just kitchens and closets. Right. And the prices were so good, I asked them if they could do everything, but they…only specialize in kitchens and closets.” — Co-host/Commentator (11:48)

Real Estate Segments: Residential, Commercial, and Hospitality

• Bulk Manufacturing for Hotels and Commercial Spaces (12:56–13:43)
  • Discussion turns to the hotel business, which benefits even more from bulk purchasing as every room has duplicated features (e.g., headboards, nightstands).
  • The hosts note that steady income from nightly rentals makes these efficiencies even more important.
  • “These things come in bulk, and now you're looking at like—wait, they've made savings on the actual building of the hotel or wherever the commercial space is, and now they charge you every night. So the long-term income comes back from it as well.” — Rashad (13:11)

Opportunities for Community Engagement & Education

• Panel Proposal at Invest Fest (10:50)
  • Hosts invite listener feedback on holding a dedicated panel at Invest Fest about the China sourcing strategy, highlighting significant audience interest and the desire to educate the community further.

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Negotiation:

  • “Get three or four quotes and do not be afraid to negotiate…you have to negotiate everything and you have to use tools like AI.” — Host/Expert (02:40)

• On AI Empowerment:

  • “Even if you put pictures of like what I'm looking to do and really break it down. And then it will give you, like Rashad said, low, high, middle…So now when I'm interviewing these contractors, I can have an intelligent conversation because I already have my questions already pre-written with that information.” — Host/Expert (03:20–04:00)

• On Global Sourcing Mindset:

  • “We had that call, you said, yo, I'm going to China for this. That and the third. And I was like, all right, this gonna sound good…The prices are just absolutely phenomenal.” — Host/Expert (05:09)

• On the Importance of Specialists:

  • “The prices were so good, I asked them if they could do everything, but they like, we really can't because we only specialize in kitchens and closets…But you gotta have somebody to kind of walk you through that process.” — Co-host/Commentator (11:50)

• On Maximizing Profit Through Smarter Sourcing:

  • “If you, if you're like, I probably saved $300,000. Right. But I'm a home, I'm just a homeowner. If I'm a home developer now, times that, times six, seven. But then I'm still selling that market rate. So now you just made yourself $2 million by executing smartly.” — Co-host/Commentator (09:55)

Key Segments & Timestamps

• Shopping & Negotiating with Contractors: (02:31–03:20)
• Uploading Quotes to AI, Researching and Preparing: (03:04–04:00)
• Sourcing Materials from China—Personal Experiences: (05:09–06:13)
• Math Behind Developer-Level Savings: (09:43–10:50)
• Navigating Logistics in China, Importance of Local Experts: (11:32–12:56)
• Commercial Real Estate—Hotel and Bulk Purchase Profits: (12:56–13:43)
• Community Engagement—Panel Suggestion at Invest Fest: (10:50)

Summary Takeaways

• Always secure multiple contractor quotes and negotiate assertively.
• Lean on AI tools (like ChatGPT) for pricing verification, due diligence, and contractor research—these can level the playing field for non-experts.
• Sourcing construction materials from China can yield massive savings for both homeowners and large-scale developers, but working with reputable specialists is crucial.
• The best strategies in sourcing and automation can be multiplied for larger projects, dramatically increasing profitability.
• Participate in community learning—hosts are eager to expand on these topics at Invest Fest or similar forums.

For Listeners

This episode delivers an in-depth look at cost-saving strategies that combine technology and global sourcing to give developers and homeowners a financial edge in real estate. Whether you’re building your first home, considering a major renovation, or managing multi-unit developments, Rashad and Troy provide actionable insights and a candid, conversational guide to leveling up in today's fast-changing market.