About Clean Slate Investments

My name is Kris, and I'm the founder of Clean Slate Investments. I wanted to share our story and what makes us different from the national cash buyer corporations you see advertised everywhere.

How This Started

I got into real estate because of my mom. I started working for her in the early 2000s, learning the business from the ground up. She taught me how to evaluate properties, work with people, and build relationships in this market. Over the years, we transitioned into doing business together, combining her 30 years of experience with my drive to scale what we were doing.

In 2014, my wife Laura joined the team. That's when everything changed. She brought design expertise, project management skills, and an eye for renovation that took our business to a new level. Suddenly, we weren't just buying and selling houses — we were transforming them and building a real operation.

We're based in Elm Grove and Brookfield, which sit at the heart of Southeastern Wisconsin's best neighborhoods. This is where we live, where we work, and where we've built our reputation over decades.

Today, it's the three of us: my mom Val, my wife Laura, and me. I really enjoy working with my two favorite people in the world, and together we've built something we're all proud of.

My Role: Buying Properties With My Mom

My mom and I buy the properties together. We evaluate each deal — market value, renovation costs, timeline, risk. Between us, we've got deep knowledge of this market: I bring energy and drive, and my mom brings 30 years of relationships and market insight. Together, we make solid offers.

When I make an offer on behalf of Clean Slate, that's what you get at closing. I'm not going to come back and ask for more money or lower my offer when I walk through the house again. You have my word on that. We've built this business on integrity and follow-through.

My mom and I buy inherited houses from families dealing with estate complications. We buy rental properties from landlords who are done managing problem tenants. We buy homes from people going through divorces, relocations, or life transitions. We buy properties nobody else will touch — as-is, no contingencies, no drama.

Between the two of us, we've got decades of experience in Milwaukee, Waukesha, Brookfield, Elm Grove, and every neighborhood in Southeastern Wisconsin. We know which areas are appreciating, which are declining, and what a fair offer actually looks like in today's market. We're not using some national corporate algorithm. We're using real market knowledge built over decades. We're also part of a broader real estate operation in Wisconsin. If you're looking to buy or sell a home traditionally, check out Blauhaus Flat Fee Realty, our flat-fee brokerage that serves the same communities we work in. .

Laura's Role: Design, Staging, Photography, and Listing

Laura is my wife, and she brings something critical to this business that most cash buyers don't have — genuine design expertise, marketing skills, and the ability to sell renovated homes at the best possible price.

After we buy a property, all three of us manage the renovation process. But Laura is the one who fine tunes the design — coordinating materials, managing timelines, solving problems, and making sure the work stays within budget and on schedule. She doesn't just check boxes. She understands design, flow, what actually matters to buyers, and how to maximize a property's value without overspending on upgrades that won't return.

Once the renovation is done, Laura stages the property, photographs it professionally, and lists it for sale. She's a licensed real estate broker who knows this market inside and out. She knows what neighborhoods support certain price points, how to position a property for maximum appeal, and how to negotiate with traditional buyers to get the best price.

This is important: most cash buyer companies buy a property, hire a contractor, then hire a realtor to sell it. That's three separate entities with different incentives. We're not like that. Laura manages the entire process from renovation through staging and final sale, so every property is handled with continuity and expertise from purchase through resale.

My Mom Val's Role: Buying, Renovation, and Downsize Specialist

My mom Val is the foundation of this business. Also a licensed broker, Val's been in real estate in Southeastern Wisconsin for over 30 years, and she has relationships and credibility that money can't buy.

She taught me everything I know about this business, and honestly, I'm in real estate because of her. Working alongside her and Laura every day is a privilege — I really enjoy working with my two favorite people in the world.

My mom and I evaluate and buy properties together. We look at the numbers, assess the property, and make fair cash offers. Her 30 years of experience means she brings perspective and market knowledge that's invaluable to every deal we make.

She also shares renovation management duties with Laura and me. Her knowledge of what buyers want and how properties should be positioned comes through in every renovation we do.

Val specializes in helping older homeowners and empty nesters transition from their family homes to condos, active adult communities, or assisted living. She understands this transition intimately. She knows the emotional complexity of leaving a home full of memories. She knows the financial considerations. She knows how to help people make this decision with confidence and peace of mind.

When someone reaches out to us who is ready to downsize, Val is often the one who takes the call. She listens. She understands. She guides them through the process with patience and respect. After three decades, people in this community know and trust her. They refer friends and family to her. That trust isn't something you can manufacture. It's built over years of honest deals and genuine relationships.

Why We Work Together

On paper, it would be easier to work alone. Fewer voices. Fewer opinions. Simpler decision-making.

But that's not why I brought Laura into the business alongside my mom. I brought her in because we're better together than separately.

My mom and I buy properties together and know we're getting fair deals. Laura manages the renovation process with us, making sure every project stays on track and on budget. Then she stages, photographs, and sells the renovated home for the best possible price.

Together, we handle every aspect of the business with expertise and continuity. A lot of people reach out to us stressed, uncertain, or desperate to sell. They've inherited a house they don't want. They're ready to downsize and move into the next chapter of their life. They're exhausted from managing a rental property with problem tenants. They need someone who gets it.

That's where my mom comes in. She listens. She understands. She makes people feel like they're working with someone who genuinely cares about their situation, not a corporate machine trying to extract the maximum profit.

What We Stand For

We're not perfect. We're a family business, which means we have the same dynamics as any family. But we're united around a few core principles that guide every deal we do:

Integrity. We make fair offers. We don't lowball you because you're desperate or stressed. We don't have hidden fees or surprise terms at closing. What we offer is what you get.

Expertise. Between us, we have over 50 years of combined real estate experience in Southeastern Wisconsin. My mom has been in the business for 30 years building relationships and market knowledge. I bring drive and analytical rigor to property evaluation. Laura brings design expertise, renovation management, and the ability to sell properties at top market value. That expertise isn't theoretical — it's built on real deals over decades.

Speed. We buy with cash. We close in as little as 10 days or as far out as 2-3 months. We don't have bank contingencies or inspection contingencies that drag out the timeline. We say what we're going to do, and we do it.

Direct Contact. You work with us — Kris, Laura, and Val. Not a call center. Not an assigned agent. Not a corporate bureaucracy. You deal with the people who are actually buying your house and managing your transaction.

Quality Workmanship. After we buy a property, all three of us manage the renovation process. We're not cutting corners or using cheap contractors. We're renovating homes we're proud to put back on the market.

Who We Help

We buy from people in a lot of different situations:

People who've inherited a property and don't know what to do with it. People dealing with probate complications, multiple heirs, or title issues anywhere across Southeastern Wisconsin. We handle that complexity. Learn more about our inherited home buying process.

Empty nesters and retirees ready to downsize from their family home in Brookfield, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, or surrounding communities. People looking to transition to a condo, active adult community, or assisted living. Val specializes in this and makes the transition smooth and empowering. Check out our downsizing guide to learn more.

Landlords who are done managing problem tenants and want to exit the rental business. We buy rental properties as-is, tenants and all. We take on the landlord responsibilities so you can move forward with your life. See our rental property solutions.

People going through life transitions — relocations, divorces, career changes, family situations — who need to sell fast and without the stress of a traditional sale. If you're looking to buy or sell the traditional way, we also operate Blauhaus Flat Fee Realty, a flat-fee brokerage serving Southeastern Wisconsin.

People with properties that need work — code violations, structural issues, outdated systems. Properties a traditional buyer would never touch. We buy them as-is and handle the renovation.

We're Proud of the Work We Do

We've bought over 400 homes across Southeastern Wisconsin, including in Brookfield, Elm Grove, Milwaukee, Waukesha, and surrounding communities. We've renovated them. We've sold them or rented them out. We've built a business on fair dealing and quality work.

We're licensed, accredited with the BBB, and deeply rooted in this community. We're not a franchise or corporate operation. We're Kris, Laura, and Val — a family team committed to buying homes honestly and helping people move forward with their lives. If you're looking for traditional real estate services in our service area, check out Blauhaus Flat Fee Realty.

When you work with Clean Slate Investments, you're not just selling a house. You're working with a family business that understands your situation, respects your time, and will treat you fairly from the first phone call through closing.

Ready to Work With Us?

If you're selling a house in Southeastern Wisconsin — whether it's an inherited property in Brookfield or Elm Grove, a family home you're ready to leave, a rental property you're done managing, or any other situation — give us a call. We'll explain how we can help.

No obligation. No pressure. Just a straightforward conversation with Kris, Laura, or Val about your situation and how we might be able to help.

Looking for our broader real estate advisory services? Interested in traditional buying or selling with a flat-fee broker? Check out Blauhaus Flat Fee Realty.

Call or text: (262) 391-0366

Email: kris@homewithswen.com

Monday–Friday, 9am–5pm CT. We typically respond to inquiries within 24 hours.

Back to Clean Slate Investments | Sell an inherited house? |Ready to downsize? | Sell a rental property? | Looking to buy or sell traditionally? Try Blauhaus Flat Fee Realty