Meet John Arendsen | Entrepreneur

We had the good fortune of connecting with John Arendsen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi John, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I started working when I was 8 years old selling gift cards door to door. Paper route when I was 11. Worked as a bag boy/checker/stock clerk for a supermarket from 16-19.

Tried college and didn’t like it so I hitch hiked to Florida and worked as a Cabana Boy, Scuba & water ski instructor and performed a high diving act for the Hollywood Beach Hotel. Water skiing led me to the boat manufacturing biz from ’67 until the ’73 oil embargo. Boat biz went South so I developed a paint protective coating that went world wide until the ’79 gas crisis.

Moved to San Diego in ’80 sold boats and cars for a few years until I started my construction company in ’86. Got my general contractor’s license, then manufactured home contractors license. Didn’t like being beholding to anybody to I then got my manufactured home dealers license. Backed into my real estate brokers license by default and finally my DMV dealers license.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
We are in the Accessory Dwelling Unit (ADU) aka BACKYARD HOME, Granny Flat business. I’m 100% independent. We wear all the badges we need i.e. general and manufactured home contractor, manufactured home dealers license, park model and tiny home DMV license, real estate broker’s license, et.al., in order to perform 100% of any project we take on. We provide a one stop, turnkey service to our clients.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Surf breaks like Cardiff Reef, Ponto’s Jetty, Moonlight Beach, Swamies, Boneyards, etc. There’s just too many great surf breaks in San Diego to choose from. Then a few good local restaurants i.e. Le Papagayo’s, Buona Forcetta, Almafi and several more. Again too many great places to eat. For a fun night out we’d go to the Belly Up in Solana Beach for an intimate concert by any number of well known entertainers. Or for a fun weekend staycation we’d be off to Humphreys Half Moon Bay on Shelter Island for an outdoor concert from any number of world renowned artists. And much much more. That’s why the call San Diego the world’s largest playground.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?

My daughter, Genelle Arendsen-Newell who lives in Austin with her husband and who raised 4 children and now owns an international executive search firm.

My daughter, Kari Arendsen, who is a world class architectural and interior designer and considered one of the top 100 designers in the World.

My son, Chad Arendsen, founder and owner of coatdr.com one of the top custom ground up design builders in San Diego and one of San Diego’s most generous givers.

My daughter, Janeene Arendsen-Lovell who manages all of our family business’s, trusts and entire estate. She is also heads up our creative team and is responsible for all our marketing, advertising and management of our websites and social/business media platforms.

My son, Scott Arendsen, our construction and development company president and owner of his boutique custom construction company Nonconventional Krafts. He also designs and builds hair salons for his wife, Shannon.

My nephew, Joseph Arendsen, founder and owner of True Local Realty one of San Diego’s most successful single owned real estate brokerage and investment groups. I’m very proud of the fact that once the kids graduated from high school we shipped them overseas for a summer whence they returned to college and never moved back home to this day.. They are all independent and successful entrepreneurs.

Website: crestbackyardhomes.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crest_backyard_homes/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=crest%20%22backyard%22%20homes

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@crestbackyardhomessandiego7833

Other: JOHN ARENDSEN EMAIL: johnarendsen@crestbackyardhomes.com CELL PHONE: 760 815-6977 Pricing (Optional) – do you wish to share your pricing with our readers (services, products, etc.) CREST BACKYARD HOMES offers the best possible pricing and project turnaround time in the ADU Biz. Because we are factory built time and money are reduced dramatically. An entry level 2 bedroom 1 bath 576sf BACKYARD HOME can be completely installed including permitting, site development and home installation for $175,000. There simply isn’t a better price out there