With a reality show in the works, celebrity clients on speed dial, and a Halloween video that once featured their designer dressed as a witch, Tinker Development is hardly your average luxury builder.
They build jaw-dropping custom estates in Paradise Valley. They also make you laugh.
Tinker Development was founded by Erik Tinker, who later brought on partner Ryan Nelson—an attorney-turned-stand-up-comic-turned-content-creator. Together, they’ve built the brand as much on personality as precision. “We take the builds seriously,” they say. “But never ourselves.”
The two met in 2016 when Ryan, filming a demo for a real estate client, noticed a rogue drone flying uncomfortably close to his own. “I was thinking, who is this jack*ss?” he laughs. Turns out, it was Erik—flying his own drone over the same project.
Within minutes, the two were dogfighting mid-air, and shortly after, cracking up in person over their shared love of comedy, aviation, and just about everything else. “It was instant,” Ryan says. “It felt like we’d known each other forever.”
At the time, Erik had just begun to dip into the PV luxury market after years of managing small remodels in west Phoenix. His entry into the high-end space was strategic—he acquired a cluster of older homes side-by-side and essentially revitalized an entire pocket of a neighborhood. While most builders focused on polished before-and-afters, Erik was obsessed with the messy middle. “There’s too much focus on the final reveal. The in-between is where the story lives,” he says.
Ryan had recently wrapped a comedy TV pilot produced by Dog the Bounty Hunter and his late wife Beth.
“It didn’t go anywhere, but I was hooked on the process,” he says.
When Erik floated the idea of building a show around his work, Ryan was all in.
“He’s a natural on camera, and the characters on job sites are pure gold. We knew this world had something.”
Their first attempt was low-budget and DIY—just Erik and Ryan running around with a camera, joking on-site while showcasing trades. It was called Building with Tinker, and despite being stitched together with no budget and no plan, it caught the attention of producers.
“We had TV people reaching out,” Ryan says. “They loved that we weren’t trying to be like the other builders. We were just being us.”
The us part is important. Tinker isn’t run like a traditional firm. Erik’s wife Kirsten serves as controller. The whole team leans in to pranks, skits, and spontaneous ideas—like letting Alice Cooper operate a full-size excavator, or turning a house demo into a heavy equipment rodeo.
“We’re a small team, but it feels like a clubhouse. Everyone’s in on the jokes. Everyone pulls their weight," says Ryan.
There’s also a surprising amount of discipline beneath the antics. Ryan’s legal background helps guide contracts and development deals. Erik’s passion for design and process keeps the build quality uncompromising.
“We’re a little chaotic on the surface,” Erik admits. “But we’re incredibly intentional behind the scenes. We care deeply about every detail.”
That balance—high-level builds, high-level fun—is what makes the brand work. Clients feel it. Trades feel it. The audience feels it.
“Social media is a highlight reel for most people. We want to show the fails too. The chaos. The real stuff. Because that’s what people connect with," says Ryan.
It’s also what makes for great TV.
Over the last five years, Tinker Development has flirted with several networks and streaming platforms, exploring versions of a reality series.
“We’ve had HGTV meets Jackass pitches. We’ve had offers. But we kept saying no. Everything felt too forced or formulaic," says Ryan.
Then came a connection through real estate powerhouse Katrina Barrett, Owner of Walt Danley Local Luxury Christie's International Real Estate, who introduced them to a media group.
“They understood the tone. It felt right,” Erik says.
A new show is now in early development—centered around their next big spec build: a 12,000-square-foot car gallery home designed by CP Drewett with interiors by Loft Thirty One and sales led by The Agency’s Barrett.
“It’s basically the Avengers of Arizona real estate,” Ryan jokes. “But if the Avengers pranked each other and had flash-bangs going off at demo day.”
They claim bragging rights as the first builders to let SWAT teams run tactical drills inside their demo homes. Tear gas? Check. Bite suit? Absolutely.
“We’re not trying to be edgy. We just say yes to things that are interesting and align with our energy,” says Erik. It’s been part of their playbook since 2016.
That energy carries into everything—from Blackhawk helicopter rides with ex-special forces media crews to near-death experiences filming batting practice with MLB clients.
“It’s the kind of stuff you can’t script,” Ryan says. “And that’s what makes it worth capturing.”
Despite the buzz, they’re still builders first. The homes are serious. The craftsmanship is meticulous. The team’s work has attracted athletes, entertainers, and design lovers who trust them to execute bold ideas with heart and humor.
“We’re not everyone’s builder,” Ryan says. “But for the people who get us—it clicks.”
And while the business keeps growing, the vibe stays rooted in friendship, hustle, and a total refusal to take things too seriously.
“If someone doesn’t vibe with our approach, they’re probably not our person, and that’s okay. We’re not trying to be everything to everyone. We’re trying to build the best homes—and have a hell of a time doing it," says Erik.
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“It’s basically the Avengers of Arizona real estate... But if the Avengers pranked each other and had flash-bangs going off at demo day.”