HGTV keeps rolling out unique and interesting content and on January 7, you can add “Rico to the Rescue” to the list. Rico León is an expert in construction, roofing, plumbing, restoration, insurance claims and acts as a consultant for all of those disciplines, which is why he was identified by HGTV to help “rescue homeowners from bad contractors.” And now, Rico is joining eXp Realty to further tap his vast network and generate income leveraged from his various businesses.
“I was referring tens and tens of millions – perhaps close to $100 million in real estate to my real estate friends. And they would say, ‘Thanks, Rico. Here’s a $400 referral fee or a $20 giftcard to Starbucks.’ And I’m thinking, ‘I’m sure you made $70,000 on that listing.’ It just got to the point where I was wondering why I was referring this much and getting nothing in return?”
Rico has joined forces with Grace Kennedy, the majority owner of DaVinci Realty in Denver where Rico will drive her leads and Grace will execute the deals.
“I don’t really want to show houses. It’s not my thing. So all my leads go straight to her – someone I trust and partner up with versus all my leads going to people that give me nothing. I’m making these people millionaires and I’m not getting anything in return. So I thought, ‘Why don’t I start my own brokerage?’”
Denver Stole His Heart and He Stayed
Rico has an interesting backstory. He learned the construction trade in his hometown of Pittsburgh while in his early twenties by working for Roto Rooter, dismissing his college experience as “attending 13th grade.” Roto Rooter taught him everything – plumbing, excavation and emergency restoration, then sales and marketing where he went on to handle multimillion-dollar reconstruction jobs. But, sunny California was the siren call. When his car broke down in Denver, he came to love the city and stayed.
“Denver wasn’t even in my radar, I was thinking Houston, Austin, Miami, New York and Los Angeles. There were so many cities before Denver, but fate brought me here.”
Rico has his hands in several businesses, including Red Hawk Roofing – which he could do “all day. It’s plug and play.” He is more selective for restoration jobs because the construction trade “these days is like the Wild West.” But it’s what gave him the expertise to be the lead on HGTV’s “Rico to the Rescue,” where he will be the first Latino host of an HGTV show. He also owns a production company with high-level cameras, audio technicians and photographers.
Watch a clip from “Rico to the Rescue” below:
Rico Has Big Plans for His Real Estate Business
“I have a meeting with a WWE (World Wrestling Entertainment) guy today. And with connections with HGTV, Warner Brothers and Disney, we might join forces. I want to start a division of celebrity circles when it comes to eXp. Training and growing the celebrity side of it, the influencer side of it. I’m going to be doing things that are going to be crazy in the real estate realm. I should have been doing it a long time ago, but the world has its timing of all things.“
And what of the HGTV opportunity?
“It’s kind of surreal. Grace and I have had many conversations that feel not real. It hasn’t hit me yet. We had a wrap party and I’m watching my own show. It’s a weird feeling and I’m very grateful for it. It’s given me my why. It won’t hit me until it’s out there. When someone tells me the show has helped them, that’s when it will hit.”
“Rico to the Rescue” will premiere on Saturday, Jan. 7 on HGTV and discovery+ at 9 p.m. ET/8 p.m. CT.
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