Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Ana Barajas. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Ana, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?
After a horrible experience; one of those life-altering moments that can break families and shake your sense of stability, I found myself standing in the middle of a gutted house, savings gone, trust shattered, and no accountability in sight. It wasn’t just a financial loss; it was emotional, spiritual. I cried for weeks.
It started the way many home renovation stories do; full of excitement and trust. I had done what I thought was everything right. I vetted a general contractor. I checked his references. He was licensed, communicative, and came across as incredibly professional. He answered every call, every text. He knew all the right things to say. I felt confident handing him my deposit; my life savings, really…because I believed I was working with someone I could trust.
Once the money changed hands, so did everything else. Progress slowed. Excuses started piling up. Materials were “on the way” but never arrived. Subcontractors came and went, confused and unpaid. The once-reliable contractor began dodging my calls. Days turned into weeks. Then, he vanished.
What he left behind wasn’t just a gutted house; it was a gutted heart. My family and I were living in chaos. I was emotionally wrecked, financially drained, and completely helpless. No one warned me how unprotected I really was; not the insurance, not the contract, not even the legal system.
I cried. A lot. Not just out of frustration, but out of disbelief. How could this happen so easily? Why wasn’t there something in place to protect people like me?
That was the question that changed everything. I realized my story wasn’t unique; it was just undocumented. Thousands of property owners go through this every year. And so I made a decision: I would turn my tears into something useful.
That’s how Build Safe Escrow was born. My purpose became clear; to bring trust, transparency, and accountability to the construction industry. To protect both property owners and honest contractors with a system that ensures no one gets paid until real work is done.
We don’t just hold money; we hold people accountable. Because no one deserves to be financially devastated by a dream project turned nightmare.
That pain became fuel. I turned my tears into purpose.
My mission now is to bring trust, accountability, and transparency to an industry that desperately needs it. The construction world is full of broken systems. I created Build Safe Escrow to make sure no one else has to go through what I went through; because financial protection and peace of mind should be the standard, not the exception.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
After experiencing one of the most devastating chapters of my life; a renovation disaster that left my home in ruins and my finances in shambles, I knew I couldn’t be silent. What happened to me wasn’t rare; it was just rarely talked about. So instead of hiding from it, I decided to build something that would prevent it from happening to others. That’s how Build Safe Escrow was born.
Professionally, I’m focused on reshaping how money moves in the construction industry. Build Safe Escrow is a neutral third-party escrow service built specifically for construction and remodel projects. We protect funds by holding them in escrow and only releasing payments when pre-agreed project milestones are met. This means property owners are protected from fraud and unfinished work, and contractors get paid on time, without having to chase down checks.
What’s most exciting to me is that we’re not just offering a service; we’re creating a movement toward trust and accountability in an industry that desperately needs both. We’re showing people that financial protection and peace of mind don’t have to be luxuries; they can be standard. And we’re doing it in a way that’s accessible, simple, and built for everyone.
Whether you’re renovating a single bathroom or managing a multimillion-dollar development, we offer flat-rate services that scale to your needs. No complicated contracts, no guesswork; just clear terms and full transparency. We’ve created a product that fits any size project, no matter how big or complex. Even better? You can call us and be set up as early as the next day, ready to launch your project with full financial protection in place.
We’re showing people that escrow (once a scary or confusing word) is actually the smartest and most empowering tool you can have in your construction journey.
Right now, we’re expanding our services nationwide and launching new educational resources for both property owners and contractors; like downloadable contract templates, renovation guides, and webinars. We’re also actively building partnerships with HOAs, municipalities, and construction professionals who want to raise the bar in their own communities.
At the heart of it, my work is about protecting dreams. A home renovation should be exciting, not traumatizing. A contractor should be empowered to build, not burdened by financial uncertainty. We’re creating a future where everyone involved in a construction project feels safe, respected, and protected.
That’s the legacy I want to leave behind.
Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?
Three Most Important Qualities, Skills and/or Areas of Knowledge
Looking back, I’d say the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, business acumen, and the ability to communicate with clarity and empathy.
Resilience: Without a doubt, this has been the foundation. Entrepreneurship and especially building something out of personal pain, requires you to get back up every time you’re knocked down. There were moments I doubted everything: the vision, the timing, even myself. But resilience kept me moving forward. For anyone starting out, understand that setbacks are not the end; they’re just part of the blueprint. Your ability to recover, reframe, and rebuild will define your success.
Business Acumen: My background in marketing and business helped me take a deeply emotional experience and turn it into a sustainable, scalable company. Knowing how to analyze the market, understand customer pain points, and build systems was essential. My advice? Learn the basics of business; how to price your product, how to market, and how to create processes that scale. Passion without structure can only take you so far.
Clear, Empathetic Communication: In the construction world, people are often burned by bad experiences. Whether I’m speaking to a homeowner, contractor, or city official, I’ve learned that communication is everything. You have to speak truthfully, explain processes clearly, and meet people where they are emotionally. If you’re building something new, especially in an industry that’s resistant to change, your words are your bridge. Learn how to build trust with them.
For anyone early in their journey: develop your mindset first, your systems second, and your relationships always. Your strength won’t just come from what you build, but how you carry yourself while building it.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
Of course! we’re always looking for the right partners. At Build Safe Escrow, we believe in scaling with purpose. While we’re growing organically, we deeply understand the power of building together. Collaboration allows us to reach more people, solve bigger problems, and make a lasting impact in the construction industry.
We’re especially interested in partnering with:
Contractors and builder networks looking to offer escrow as a competitive edge
Property managers, HOAs, and developers who want safer project oversight
Municipalities and government procurement offices exploring milestone-based payment systems
Real estate professionals, designers, and architects who care about protecting their clients from financial risk
And even technology platforms that want to integrate construction payment protections into their systems
If you’re reading this and thinking, “We could do something powerful together,”; we’d love to connect. You can reach us directly through our website at www.BuildSafeEscrow.com, email me at ana@buildsafeescrow.com, or give us a call at 855-611-3532.
Let’s build a safer, smarter industry together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://buildsafeescrow.com/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buildsafeescrow
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/build-safe-escrow/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@BuildSafeEscrow
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