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Crazy Sh*t In Real Estate with Leigh Brown

Crazy Sh*t in Real Estate!—a podcast that will shatter the HGTV-induced veneer of real estate, and celebrate the challenges of working in this wild, wacky business. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting https://leighbrown.com DM Leigh Brown on Instagram: @leighthomasbrown DM Leigh Brown on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LeighBrownSpeaker/ DM Leigh Brown on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leighthomasbrown/ Subscribe to Leigh's other podcast: https://www.leighbrown.com/podcast/real-estate-from-the-rooftops
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Now displaying: May, 2018
May 31, 2018

Not all Crazy Shit in Real Estate stories have to be bad-crazy! We’ve got some good-crazy ones, too! Dawn Kayano, a realtor in Honolulu, warms our hearts with a real estate story full of generosity, surprises, and the true meaning of “ohana.” It’s refreshing to hear a story about good people in the world coming together. Dawn tells about how a heartfelt story, an ambitious young woman, a killer cover letter, and a passionate realtor made magic happen. Tune in to hear what Dawn’s client did to buy her father a home he could finally call his own.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience.

 Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • 00:45 – Dawn’s Background
  • 1:00 – She’s lived in Honolulu for 8 years and is an Oahu native, which helps in real estate
  • 02:22 – Dawn’s CSIRE Story
  • 02:30 – She’s been pushing her Facebook and Instagram more and a friend reached out that she met 10 years ago through a friend
  • 03:10 – She asked if Dawn would be interested in helping her find a property for her father who never owned property
  • 03:42 – He lived in a rented studio and they were going to sell it so he wasn’t going to have a home
  • 04:02 – The friend wanted to use the equity in her studio to pay the down payment for her father’s studio as a surprise
  • 04:20 – She was in her early 30s and Dawn was touched that she would do this for her father
  • 05:00 – They found a ground floor unit with 2 bedrooms and 2 bathrooms close to her father’s job
  • 05:30 – They submitted an offer and she wrote an amazing cover story; they had received a cash offer as well, so she felt weary going up against that
  • 06:20 – The seller ended up going with her because she loved the story and wanted to support
  • 07:00 – They brought her father into the unit and had him read the letter she had written; he started tearing up and couldn’t believe it
  • 08:20 – He was so grateful and it was a special moment
  • 09:00 – Props to the seller and the seller’s agent for believing in the story; it feels good to be a part of special stories like this of making a house a home; this is the good CSIRE
  • 10:00 – Real estate can be about stories and family and making a home
  • 11:45 – How to reach Dawn
  • 11:50 – Telephone: (808)389-4662 text/call or her website: http://www.dawnkayano.com/

 3 Key Points

  1. Using social media is important so you can connect with prospective clients.  
  2. A great and heartfelt cover letter can make a difference.
  3. Being in real estate is so rewarding, especially when you get to be a part of special moments like these!

 Credits

May 29, 2018

Thou shalt not quit thy job before closing! Jen Teske, a realtor in Edwardsville, IL, keeps a record of all the crazy real estate stories she’s got, but the one that involves a buyer quitting his job before closing day beats them all. Jen gives us the scoop on an early possession gone wrong, how she handled the situation, and what she learned. Tune in to hear about Jen’s 2-hour move-out and how, at the very least, she got her cooler back.   

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • 00:50 – Jen’s Background
  • 1:00 – She’s been in real estate since 2007, lives in Edwardsville, IL in a suburb of St. Louis, and is a part of the “Jen and Jean Team”
  • 02:30 – Jen’s CSIRE story (she writes them down!)
  • 02:45 – One of her buyers broke one of “the golden rules” when you buy property, the family moved in and got early possession before closing and then the buyer quit his job
  • 05:22 – She called the client to ask what happened, and he said he didn’t think they’d check the day of closing
  • 06:05 – The client had to be out of the house in two hours so she helped them move out; a month later he returned her cooler and said they were going to buy in a year
  • 07:00 – She blocked his number and added more commandments to the “golden rules” list
  • 07:30 – Buyers, don’t ask for early possession and sellers, don’t give it
  • 07:40 – She highly recommends against
  • 08:20 – The buyer had no idea that his actions were going to affect other people
  • 08:40 – The real estate agent can’t control the client’s behavior but still looks bad to the other agent; she had to profusely apologize and take ownership for the client
  • 08:50 – Handling the situation
  • 09:00 – She explained to the other agent what the client did despite having told him the ground rules
  • 09:40 – She felt terribly for the boy who was wanting to start his new school after the move
  • 10:30 – How to get in touch with Jen and the Jen and Jean Team
  • 10:35 – Website: com
  • 10:50 – Telephone: (618)541-1010
  • 11:00 – If you know someone relocating to St. Louis, don’t forget about the Illinois side

3 Key Points

  1. Always tell your clients the ground rules...and repeat yourself if you have to!
  2. Buyers and sellers: Early possession is not recommended!
  3. Always handle less-than-ideal situations with transparency and grace.   

Credits

May 15, 2018

Beware of falling ladders! Well, this warning came a little late when a potential buyer got hit in the head with a ladder when he decided to open the attic door. But Kristi was smart: She connected the seller and potential buyer and let them handle the rest on their own. (Potential legal battle? No thanks!) Tune in to learn about Reed and Kristi’s real estate journey and how they’ve teamed up as a couple to offer an incredible and unique experience to their clients.   

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience. 

Time Stamped Show Notes: 

  • 00:45 – Their background  
  • 00:47 – Reed has been in real estate for over 10 years and Kristi started in 2016 as Reed’s assistant after being a dental hygienist; she got licensed in March of 2017 
  • 02:45 – Kristi’s biggest challenge as a real estate spouse 
  • 03:00 – They get along well, but the biggest challenge is that she’s the decision-maker at home while now he’s the decision-maker at work 
  • 03:30 – Reed is more spontaneous while Kristi is more structured and organized; they share a calendar so they know each other’s schedule  
  • 04:45 – Reed would want to spend before and she wouldn’t understand, but now that she’s an agent she understands the investments that need to be made 
  • 05:15 – Their CSIRE story 
  • 05:40 – They were about to board a plane when she got a phone call from another agent who showed her listing 
  • 06:15 - The client had pulled the attic door down and the ladder attached to it smashed his face 
  • 06:35 – She called back when they landed, and it turns out the buyer wanted the $500 ER visit paid for, and the agent said $700 
  • 08:00 – She told the seller to contact an attorney, backed out of the deal, and put the seller in contact with the client 
  • 09:10 – Realtors can carry liability that they don’t even think about, even they go through only 90 hours of “training” to become licensed 
  • 10:00 – On the job training is so much better than any licensing class and Kristi could get that through working with Reed 
  • 10:30 – Advice for working with a spouse or working with a spouse team if you’re a client 
  • 11:00 – Clients like working with a spouse team because there is more knowledge and availability between the two 
  • 11:30 – They are all-in real estate; it’s their livelihood  
  • 12:15 – They do well together and think the same way through most things 
  • 13:00 – How to contact Reed and Kristi: Call or text (502)741-1391 or email reed@reedestategroup.com; they service Louisville, Kentucky and Southern Indiana 

3 Key Points 

  1. When working with a spouse, it’s important to set roles. 
  2. Realtors can carry liabilities they don’t realize can exist.  
  3. On the job training is essential because the licensing simply isn’t enough.  

Credits 

May 10, 2018

From pouncing wolves to snapping snakes, Kimberly Adams-Mann has seen it all in real estate – and lived to tell about it. Kimberly dives into stories of abandoned dogs and hoarding, clues us in on the way she handles challenging sales, and tells us why it’s sometimes just easier to smile. Tune in to hear how Kimberly manages working with her husband, and why she’d pick taxidermy over pet damage any day.     

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • 00:55 – Kimberly’s background
  • 01:00 – Kimberly was born in San Francisco, grew up in Wisconsin, then moved to northern Illinois; she could be an English teacher if she wanted to be
  • 01:15 – Her family has been restoring properties since she was in her 20s; she moved back from England and got into real estate about 5 years ago
  • 02:35 – The trouble with animals in real estate
  • 03:09 – You have to get past bad animal stuff if you want to succeed in real estate, and just smile sometimes
  • 03:30 – CSIRE Story
  • 03:35 – Kimberly received a listing opportunity; a woman had gotten ill and dogs were left on her property
  • 03:45 – The property was left a disaster; she even needed people to sign waivers that they understood that there was a biological hazard on the property
  • 04:00 – She got the property, listed it, sold it to one of her investors, and the investor listed it with he again later
  • 04:20 – There was a lack of care for the property because she had gone to the hospital, but she was a hoarder as well
  • 04:55 – Hoarding: The house had pathways to rooms and some places were not even accessible
  • 05:13 – The biggest form of hoarding Kimberly has seen is papers, like stacks of old bills
  • 05:36 – The property was on MLS but wasn’t traditionally marketed and was sold quickly to the investor
  • 06:15 – Agents brought investors through
  • 06:45 – Doing the right thing and being honest about concerns/hazards and what you need to do to protect your business
  • 07:00 – Kimberly’s husband is her business partner, he’s nicer and the “rainmaker,” and she come in to tell how it is
  • 07:30 – Taxidermy stories
  • 07:40 – Her husband saw a stuffed pouncing wolf displayed right inside a front door
  • 08:00 – She was walking through a house she loved, went into the family room, and saw a stuffed coiled snake in the living room
  • 09:20 – She prefers taxidermy over pet damage
  • 10:40 – Contact Kimberly through their website: tamthomes.com - (262)676-2383

3 Key Points

  1. Do what you need to do to protect your business.
  2. Be honest and clear about your listings and protect your clients.
  3. Get past animal stuff with a good attitude: It may not be bad to the client.  

Credits

May 3, 2018

Can you feel the love? Brady could after Megan gave him her business card!  After Megan showed him some homes, he found the one – house I mean – but not before a relationship blossomed between the two. Now they’re happily married and working together; she with the marketing, communications, and negotiation skills and he as the numbers wiz. A perfect match! Tune in to hear how they met, what they learned, and what the future has in store.  

 

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience.

 

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • 01:00 – Background
  • 01:05 – They are in Palm Coast, Florida, have been in FL and real estate for 5 years; Brady is a financial advisor and realtor
  • 01:35 – Megan started as a kindergarten teacher in NC; she moved to FL mid-school year and a friend suggested real estate
  • 02:30 – Their CSIRE story
  • 02:37 – They live 30 minutes north of Daytona Beach, where all the bikers end up; 3 years ago, she was working at their office, handing out hot dogs, and talking to bikers
  • 03:08 – She grabbed a drink at a nearby restaurant, chatted with a table of people, started to give her cards out, and they said, “Brady’s looking to buy a house!”
  • 03:40 – They started talking, he was with a financial advisor and they were looking for a realtor partner to refer to their clients
  • 04:10 – Brady was looking, but wasn’t in a rush; he was interested in Megan, they had dinner a few times and she met his partners
  • 04:45 – He finally asked her on a date; she consulted with her friends, and decided to do it
  • 05:05 – They had a romantic beach date with wine and a fire; but she didn’t know where he was taking her at first
  • 06:25 – They went looking at houses; they found one that she loved, was good for a family, and had good resale value
  • 08:15 – They are selling it now
  • 08:30 – The agent had told her about the house a week prior, and had posted it on MLS seconds before she called him
  • 09:20 – Their love was budding at the time of home’s purchase
  • 09:35 – Why sellers and buyers should not talk
  • 10:00 – They bought the house from kids selling their parent’s house; they thought the roof had been redone in 1994
  • 10:13 – Brady and the seller exchanged phone numbers
  • 10:30 – She learned that the house had never been redone and was almost 40 years old; Brady already knew and said “it’s fine”
  • 11:30 – They could’ve had serious problems with that, but they got an inspection and it was fine
  • 11:40 – He could’ve gotten himself in trouble talking to the seller; Megan had to take off the girlfriend hat and tell Brady that he couldn’t do that
  • 12:45 – Next steps in Megan and Brady’s life
  • 12:48 – Brady got his license a year ago and they’re looking to grow their team
  • 13:00 – Their goal is to live in the beach town where they met
  • 13:26 – They are qualified to help people in both real estate and finances; he in numbers and she in negotiating and communications

 

3 Key Points

  1. You never know if love might find you through real estate!
  2. Buyers and sellers shouldn’t talk; your realtor needs to be there as a chaperone!
  3. Inspections are important:  The information the seller gives you may be incorrect.

 

Credits

May 1, 2018

Here’s a riddle: When would a buyer question the valuation of a seller’s house due to damage they did to it themselves? ...When it’s a daughter buying from her parents! Jerry Cibulski, a realtor living the life on the North Fork of Long Island, will never forget when he found himself in the middle of a family sale. Tune in to hear how Jerry handled his family members while managing everything behind the scenes, and why he believes family members are best referred elsewhere.

Please subscribe to this podcast in iTunes or in the Podcasts App on your phone. Never miss a beat from Leigh by visiting The Leigh Brown Experience.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

  • 00:30 – Introduction
  • 00:40 – Jerry is a Southold real estate agent with Century 21 Albertson Realty; there are lots of vineyards, vacation properties, and beautiful homes
  • 1:10 – Everything is interconnected to create a food, entertainment, family, and sharing experience
  • 02:45 – His parents thought about moving back down to FL but changed their minds; they went down to Bradenton, FL to visit family and he gave them their home’s value
  • 03:25 – He called them and turns out they found a house, put money down, and needed to close in 90 days, which means a buyer would’ve needed to contract that day
  • 03:37 – They said that his sister could buy it and they needed his help to figure out how
  • 04:00 – 3 months later, his dad is saying “shit or get off the pot” and his sister is rethinking the valuation of the home due to a hole in the door she kicked as a teenager
  • 04:50- People don’t know what is going on behind the scenes; there are so many nuances to working within guidelines, especially in unique situations
  • 06:15 – He also helped his sister sell her house and had to walk her through the appraisal process
  • 07:12 – His sister learned from experience; to get the best interest rate she called her mortgage rep every day until she liked the rate
  • 08:00 – When she was ready to purchase and move forward, the perfect home in FL showed up and the timing connected
  • 08:30 – Her parents love their new house and community
  • 09:05 – After going through everything herself, his sister understands the process much better
  • 09:35 – Jerry’s thoughts about representing family members
  • 09:48 – You’re better off referring them to someone else; you’re too close to it
  • 10:15 – Being a seasoned agent, you need more experience and explaining
  • 11:00 – You can set up a team in other places and refer your family to them
  • 11:32 – How to reach Jerry: By phone, (631)404-2507, email, Instagram, or Facebook

3 Key Points

  1. There are so many nuances to working within guidelines, especially in unique situations.
  2. Refer family out to other realtors in your network to save the headache and build your team.
  3. People don’t know what goes on behind the scenes in real estate – do what you can to educate them.

Credits

1