Want to know what a true internet troll is capable of? Monika Glennon, realtor of 20 years, found out – and it got ugly. Three years and a lawsuit later, Monika recounts the story of a false accusation online, how it snowballed, and what she did to clear her name. Listen in to hear what can happen when Facebook comment threads get heated, and learn why seeing the human in each other is the biggest lesson of the 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

• 01:00 – Introducing Monika
• 01:15 – She’s been in real estate for almost 20 years; she has been in Huntsville, Alabama for 12 years and moved a lot because her husband was in the military
• 01:57 – Huntsville has the highest concentration of engineers and scientists; it’s not like any other city in the south, it’s high-tech
• 03:10 – Monika’s CSIRE story
• 03:27 – In 2015, when she and her husband returned from a trip, her broker called her at 6am and kept calling over and over
• 04:20 – When she finally picked up, her broker told her that someone had said something bad about her online; she thought it was her first bad review
• 04:50 – It was a story posted on their local ReMax Facebook; it was a story saying that Monika had had sexual relations with a client’s husband
• 05:40 – The story went on to say that the woman (the writer) got a divorce and she advised against using Monika as a realtor
• 06:20 – She filed a federal lawsuit in Alabama and it has taken two years to figure out who it was; it was a total stranger
• 07:05 – In 2014 she had posted something during a debate on Facebook that made the person unhappy and this was their retaliation
• 07:45 – She was a drug-addict with mental issues; she became obsessed with finding out everything about Monika
• 08:40 – Her boss, family, and friends were given the story by a young woman in California who thought she was being a vigilante
• 09:22 – She won her lawsuit this year and was awarded everything; for 3 years, it was tiring and the lady kept writing bad things
• 10:03 – She decided to meet with the lady; her husband was parked across the street with a loaded gun because the lady had charges of kidnapping and assault
• 11:00 – They talked for four hours; the lady talked about how to make meth and Monika realized she had mental health issues
• 12:45 – Her business is recovering and people know she’s honest; the other lady is in prison for 20 years for violating the terms of her kidnapping/assault  
• 13:30 – The original story they were debating about on Facebook was about the smiling teenager selfie at Auschwitz
• 13:50 – The lady who wrote the false story about Monika was of Jewish descent and threatened the life of the teenager; Monika defended the teenager
• 15:00 – No one is anonymous online; Monika learned that there’s always a way to find out who is
• 15:43 – Monika wants the laws to be changed so people can protect themselves more easily from situations like this
• 16:16 – The lady used her professional photo, which was copy written, so she could get into federal court, but not everyone can
• 17:10 – She has been fighting for the protection of people; there are cases of people being falsely accused online and being denied jobs because of it
• 18:00 – We can’t make assumptions about people based upon heresy online
• 18:58 – Monika feels sad for the woman; her life was very difficult and she was very sorry
• 20:48 – Advice for listeners
• 20:50 – Don’t believe everything you read; there are humans behind each word you read online
• 21:40 – Stay out of comment threads, trademark your photo, and confront when necessary to clear the air
• 22:05 – How to contact Monika: Facebook, by phone (256)665-8772, or by email monikaglennon@gmail.com

3 Key Points

• A few words online can change someone’s life.
• We need to remember to see the human in each other.
• Stay out of heated comment threads, trademark your photo, and get out of your comfort zone to confront people when necessary.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Move over Cesar Millan, Jan Copeland’s husband is coming in to save this doggone day! Jan Copeland, leading realtor of 13 years and real estate coach, has got a crazy story that involves a foreclosed home, a drunk owner, and two not-so-ferocious pit bulls. Jan’s cash-for-keys stories are dangerous, life-threatening, and give us the behind-the-scenes footage that HGTV doesn’t. Listen in to hear how Jan handled these situations like a pro, and learn the top two pieces of advice she gives to all realtors.

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 – Introducing Jan

• 01:10 - She lives in Richmond, VA, was a realtor for 13 years, worked as a coach with her sister, and worked in corporate TeleCom before working in real estate

• 03:30 – Jan’s CSIRE story

• 03:35 – It involves dogs, beer, and the boonies and happened in 2005-2006
• 03:50 – She worked with foreclosures and went to homes offering cash for keys
• 04:05 – She went to a home with her husband where there were two pit bulls outside; he got out of the car and the pit bulls approached him
• 04:40 – She moved the car so she and her son wouldn’t be traumatized; the owner came home drunk, and in the meantime, her husband had befriended the pit bulls
• 05:30 – The owner of the home was upset that the dogs didn’t attack them, and her husband offered the cash or keys

• 05:35 – Another CSIRE story

• 05:40 – A man held her at gunpoint when she came to his home to offer cash for keys and told her to get off the property

• 06:08 – Crazy things happen in real estate: HGTV doesn’t even begin to cover it

• 06:50 – Realtors must manage situations in the moment
• -07:40 – Not everyone who gets foreclosed on is nice

• 07:45 – Another CSIRE story

• 08:00 – She was on a document for a foreclosed property and got a call from the police saying she was responsible for something happening at the property
• 08:05 – Water was spewing from the second-floor window and she told them that the owner was responsible; he had passed out drunk and was arrested

• 08:55 – Advice for realtors from a coach

• 09:15 – Purposefully connect every day
• 09:25 – Don’t use scripts and have a conversation instead
• 09:52 – How to contact Jan: email jan@livybrynn.com, LinkedIn, Facebook, and by phone (540)931-5050

3 Key Points

1. Realtors must be experts at managing tough situations in the moment.
2. Purposely connect every day – it’s not just “lead gen”!
3. Ditch the scripts and have genuine conversations instead.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

What’s better than one Crazy Shit in Real Estate story? Three! George Mantor, a north county San Diego realtor who has been in the biz for 40 years, has three crazy stories for us – including one where his client tried to jump out of his car on the highway! Over the past 40 years George has seen a lot of crazy things, but through it all he’s kept his innate desire to simply help people. Listen in to hear George tell the secrets of a long and happy career in real estate, and get inspired to keep the humor and fulfillment alive in yours.

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 – Introducing George
• 01:22 – He’s in north San Diego county and it’s his 40th year in real estate
• 01:55 – He has seen the consumer protection laws evolve and understands how it can be difficult to understand
• 02:30 – George’s CSIRE story
• 02:30 - His first transaction was a run-down fixer-upper; one day before closing the seller’s ex-husband’s ex-wife’s lawyer called
• 03:20 – The ex-wife wanted to claim some of the proceeds
• 03:40 – The seller decided that she didn’t want to do it and tried to leap out of his car on the highway
• 04:25 – He stopped her from leaping out of the car and pulled over
• 04:50 – She regained herself and went through the sale
• 05:00 – Another CSIRE story
• 05:05 – During the wildfires of north county San Diego a few years ago, he had a listing in escrow
• 05:40 – For the final walk-through, they saw that the kitchen roof had burned
• 06:25 – Helping manage buyer’s and seller’s anxiety as a realtor
• 07:00 – Good realtors help manage that so people can complete their desired transaction
• 07:30 – George has a good sense of humor and reminded them that lightning rarely strikes the same place twice
• 08:00 – Most of his clients are people he has a relationship with and he’s wired to want to help people
• 08:45 – It’s important to have legal knowledge so you can help your clients
• 09:30 – Another CSIRE story
• 09:35 – A marine colonel listed his San Diego house with George because he moved to Orange County
• 10:05 - When George went to do a walk-through with the buyer’s agent, he arrived to the home early to find a motorcycle in the living room and food containers everywhere
• 10:30 – He rescheduled it for the next day; the colonel’s son had been living there and the colonel said it’d be taken care of
• 11:15 – The next day, the house looked like nothing had ever happened; it was perfect
• 12:00 – How realtors can better help their clients
• 12:10 – By offering counseling along the way, clients can be made to understand that things will happen along the way and the realtor will help
• 12:20 – To clients, their shelter is the biggest part of their life; it’s not just a transaction
• 13:00 – With divorced clients, you must sit down with them to clarify that they’ll need to work together
• 15:00 – George’s book – The Awful Truth About Careers in Real Estate
• 15:20 – This book is good for the public and those pursuing a career in real estate
• 16:13 – The book and George’s contact information is available on Amazon

3 Key Points

• As a realtor, you have the power to help alleviate your client’s anxiety during the process.
• It’s important to educate yourself on the different facets of real estate.
• In real estate, a sense of humor is critical!

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

What’s more fun than a drag open house? Jared Anthony, realtor and previous airline pilot, chats with us about outside the box – and super-fun – ways to sell real estate. Although he’s nailed down new and unique ways to sell, he has also learned that not every client is a good fit. When asked to sell a home full of urine jugs and dead animals, he knew it was time to pass the job off to someone else. Listen in to hear Jared’s two-cents on making a difference, burning bridges, and why realtors (clearly) aren’t always in it for the money. 

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 – Jared’s background
• 1:25 – Jared’s in Houston, but he does business in Austin, San Antonio, and Dallas; he used to be an airline pilot and sell cemetery plots
• 02:55 – The one thing that helped him survive the first two years in real estate
• 03:05 – He’s done drag open homes and crazy things to get his name out there; he does things outside the box to sell
• 04:15 – He’s learned to watch his back and his association
• 04:30 – Drag open homes
• 04:40 – He left a big box brokerage for a marketing real estate firm called POGI that thrives on diversity
• 07:00 – They incorporate anything to stand out and make a difference; every agent gives back to a charity
• 08:30 – The right way to switch brokers
• 08:40 – Don’t burn bridges; if you want to switch brokers, do so with a respectful, up-front conversation
• 09:42 – Jared’s CSIRE story
• 10:00 – They had listed a home for a client who had passed away; they went in the house and there were jugs of urine and dead animals inside
• 10:30 – The home was disgusting; he told the family to “burn the sucker down” and didn’t get the listing
• 11:15 – Sometimes there are sales that simply aren’t a good fit; we must recognize those times as professionals
• 12:00 – You don’t have to take on every client
• 12:20 – Jared put the family in touch with a company that could clean up the house
• 13:25 – Realtors aren’t always in it for the money
• 13:48 – Jared is up-front, blunt, and caters to the client’s individual needs
• 14:20 – If you can’t meet a client’s needs, you must realize and accept that
• 14:45 – How to reach Jared: Facebook, his website com, or call/text (832)570-5726

3 Key Points

1. Clients are not homogenous, so our marketing strategies shouldn’t be, either.
2. Realize when a job isn’t a good fit.
3. Cater to your client’s individual needs and realize when you must refer them elsewhere.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Who doesn’t like giving (or receiving!) a good gift, right? Angela Burgess, CEO of the Gaston Association of Realtors, got creative with her gift-giving one Christmas, and the experience left her with a greater appreciation for thoughtful, connecting gifts. It’s easy to get stuck giving generic gifts that end up getting tossed, forgotten or – dare I say it – re-gifted. But, give a gift that connects to a memory or cherished moment with a client, family member, or friend, and you’ve given something much greater than just a one-time gift. Listen in to hear what Angela did, and get inspired to get creative with your gift-giving, too.

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 – Angela is the CEO of the Gaston Association of Realtors and has over 25 years of experience as an executive administrator
• 03:05 – Angela’s gifts to her adult children on the last Christmas in their home
• 03:50 – Their family stopped giving Christmas gifts years ago, but in the attic, she found her children’s old toys to give as gifts to each of her adult kids
• 04:25 – Her kids played with Star Wars games and toys they had had as kids and it was beautiful to sit with those memories
• 05:45 – Adult kids can buy things themselves, so it was nice to gift something that held a memory and created a beautiful moment
• 06:24 – Realtors get to know their clients very well and can give their clients a gift that has a deeper connection
• 07:33 – There are memories in the making in the things clients find when clearing out their home
• 08:35 – Realtors can help clients make memories
• 08:50 – Angela found out recently that she’s going to be a grandma and she’s excited to give more childhood gifts this Christmas
• 09:52 – She looks for stocking stuffers when she travels
• 10:40 – The intentionality of gift-giving
• 11:00 – Gift-giving can be a great opportunity for deepening the connection with family and clients
• 12:00 – Angela’s contact information: angela@gastonrealtors.com 

3 Key Points

• A routine attic purge could be an opportunity for finding memories and gifts!
• Realtors can help clients make memories.
• Give creative gifts to deepen the connection with your family, friends, and clients.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Did you know that it’s impossible to feel anxiety and gratitude at the same time? Amy Broghamer, author and realtor, does which is why she gifted doughnuts to her local firefighters after a bitter sale. Amy tells us the dirty details of the sale and what she did to turn her day around afterwards. Little did she know she’d be seeing those firefighters again so soon – at her own home! Get ready to hear another crazy story, and see why practicing gratitude pays off, sometimes instantly!

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:

• 01:30 – Amy’s background; she’s been in the industry for 13 years and sells about 40 to 50 homes a year
• 02:00 – She works in Cincinnati and nearby Kentucky; she wrote a book called “The Playbook for Success”
• 02:45 – Amy’s CSIRE story
• 03:00 – She was about to close on a property and the buyer’s agent called her to ask if she’s been to the house recently
• 03:30 – Pictures showed garbage all over the front yard and the buyers were mortified at the final walk-through
• 04:30 – The sellers had no concern about the trash, they didn’t realize what had been done while they weren’t there and that the buyers weren’t happy
• 05:40 – Her clients were upset that the buyers couldn’t see past the trash, although a lot of the trash wouldn’t be picked up because it was all over the yard
• 06:20 – She asked the sellers put themselves in the buyer’s shoes; she recommended they hire a person to help haul away the trash
• 07:15 – She brought donuts to the closing to alleviate the stress and tension, her clients were upset at her and rejected the donuts
• 08:30 – She considered eating all the donuts but took them to the Fire Department to show her gratitude instead
• 10:30 – Her husband called her about an hour later to tell her their house had caught on fire; it was a mulch fire fueled by the landscaping lighting
• 12:00 – She pulled into her driveway and saw the two firefighters she had given the donuts to an hour earlier
• 16:15 – How to contact Amy: Find her on Facebook or on her website 

3 Key Points

• You can’t experience anxiety and gratitude at the same time, so you must replace anxiety with gratitude!
• Watch out for mulch fires and hazardous landscape lighting!
• Be grateful for your local fire department! 

Resources

• Get free copy of Amy’s book here.
• Get the best doughnuts here.
• See the town’s best firefighters here.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Perfect timing because it’s almost Halloween and we’ve got a story that’s going to give you the spooks! Glenn Bill, 30-year real estate industry veteran, recounts the story of a home with bad history and creepy vibes. He tells us of the importance of psychologically affected property disclosures and gives insight on how to learn of your state’s disclosure requirements. Listen in to hear Glenn’s crazy stories – and get a glimpse into the spooky, funny, and just plain unbelievable world of real estate.

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 –Glenn is a 30-year veteran in the real estate industry and is based in Indianapolis with a team of 6
• 01:30 – His CSIRE story
• 01:40 – Glen started out doing estate work and professional farming work
• 02:00 – He went to a home that was recommended to him, and when he entered it had blood on the walls and carpet
• 02:30 – There had been a murder suicide at the home, and they asked him what the marketing plan should be
• 03:00 – The price was listed at a great price but people said they felt a presence and bad karma at the property
• 03:30 – Glenn believes spirits are real and psychologically affected property disclosures are needed; it was a tragic and creepy sale
• 04:00 – Another (funnier) CSIRE story
• 04:10 – He’s had air conditioners sent to and replaced at the wrong address and he’s sold the wrong home
• 04:30 – There’s nothing better than the industry and the people in the real estate industry
• 05:00 – Buyers in 1989 had to rely on word-of-mouth for a property, that house today would have a whole different buying process
• 05:40 – How psychologically affected property disclosures would look like in Glenn’s opinion
• 06:00 – In Indiana it exists, although it isn’t commonly used; the seller must disclose if a death, killing, or other psychologically affected occurrence happened in the home
• 06:45 – Check with your state to see what disclosure requirements exists, and ask the right questions
• 07:30 – Glen knows of a property where an axe murder occurred, but the people living there don’t feel anything odd or strange
• 08:00 – How to reach Glenn: com
• 08:30 – He wrote a book called, “The ABC’s of Attitude” 

3 Key Points

• Different strokes for different folks!
• See what the disclosure agreement requirements are for your state – especially if you feel something spooky at a property.
• The processes to buy a house today have evolved so buyers are better educated on a property before they visit it.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

As the owner of her own real estate company, broker Addie Owens has seen her fair share of crazy shit in real estate. But what happens when she finds herself at a home she dubs “The Panty Palace”? Tune in to hear Addie’s reasons why she never visits a vacant home alone, and why safety measures are as equally important for your clients are they are for you.

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:

• 00:40 - Addie’s Background
• 00:48 - She’s from a small town in the middle of Florida
• 01:03 - She’s been in the business for 13 years with REO properties as her main source of business
• 01:12 - She has 2 kids, ages 18 and 19 and she is married with a dog
• 02:00 - The “Panty Palace”
• 02:20 - She was contacted by a bank and assured that this mobile home was vacant
• 03:07 - She contacted a locksmith and planned to meet at the mobile home together since it was in a heavily wooded rural area
• 03:32 - The locksmith arrived early, and called her to confirm the house was vacant because he saw signs of life like a running fridge and food on the counter
• 04:10 - She thought it could probably be a squatter so she called the local authorities to help handle the matter
• 04:30 - She arrives and can barely get to the door because the ramp is covered by overgrown Jasmine vines
• 04:54 - Managed to get inside only to find the place littered with beer cans and a dirty stained chair
• 05:35 - There was also a two-foot deep perimeter of Sunday circular ads throughout the whole house
• 05:58 - The local deputies arrived and in the master bedroom they found “mounds of panties of all shapes and sizes” that were strewn everywhere
• 06:49 - Inside the second bathroom they discovered little plastic bottles that were filled with tiny amounts of fluid and they realized he was collecting his own fluids along with a freezer in each bedroom the police wouldn’t touch without a warrant
• 07:54 - While they were there, the occupant came back to the home
• 08:27 - Occupant was about to eat lunch when the locksmith came by so he fled because he had told the bank he had moved out
• 09:44 - She couldn’t secure the house until the eviction process got started
• 10:38 - Property Preservation crew calls to tell her the occupant built a shack at the end of the property and had been living there since his eviction
• 10:57 - She ultimately declined the property because of the unsafe situation
• 11:56 - Addie’s Safety Measures
• 12:12 - Now she always schedules an appointment with a locksmith or Property Preservation before visiting a vacant lot
• 13:24 - She modified her email signature to include that she requires a copy of a driver’s license before taking clients on showings and encourages her other realtors to do the same
• 13:41 - There is always the opportunity for squatters, you can’t take your location for granted
• 14:12 - It’s beneficial to have a mentor help walk you through some of these challenges
• 14:58 - Addie’s contact information: visit her website at www.addieowens.com where you can contact her directly

3 Key Points

1. Don’t go visit a site alone, especially if it’s in a secluded area
2. Squatters can happen anywhere, never take your environment for granted
3. Have established safety measures in place to protect both you and your clients

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Katie Allard

Have you ever been afraid of walking into an unfamiliar house and coming face to face with a dead animal? Well never fear, because New Jersey broker Tiffany DeLucia is here to tell you all about her several encounters with corpses, both animal and human. Tune in as Tiffany explains how she sold a house with a dead raccoon inside and why it’s important to stay safe while selling real estate.

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:

• 00:40 - Tiffany’s Background
  • 00:48 - She’s been in real estate for 22 years and “basically came out of the womb and started selling.”
  • 00:54 - She lives in New Jersey and covers North Central New Jersey
• 01:46 - Tiffany’s CSIRE Story
  • 01:53 - She tends to discover dead bodies - animal and human at her listings
  • 02:12 - Recently had an investor purchase a home from a bank and discovered a dead body in the septic system
  • 02:45 - House was historic and no one knew who the person was or how they ended up there
  • 04:11 - The last home she sold had a dead raccoon in the wall that the bank refused to remove
  • 05:00 - Had to put in the notes on MLS that there was a dead raccoon in the wall that won’t be removed but in the end had 17 offers on the property
  • 05:50 - Never crossed her mind not to tell people about the raccoon in the wall
  • 06:15 - This can be a reminder that it’s ok to disclose everything on the property
• 07:30 - How Tiffany handles animal and human corpses
  • 07:40 - First experience was in Vermont listing a beautiful primary home
  • 08:13 - Received a call that the owner was trying to kill himself while there was a showing
  • 08:46 - Called the real estate commission and they told her the owner wasn’t of sound mind and she couldn’t list the property
  • 09:20 - She has encountered emergency situations plenty of times and has had to call police or fire services
• 09:40 - Tiffany also trains other real estate professionals
  • 09:48 - She tries to make her lessons fun and memorable by joking to help make the ideas stick
  • 10:42 - Sometimes it’s a scary business and you need to be prepared
  • 11:45 - She joined a leadership academy through North Central Jersey Association of Realtors and emphasizes safety the most
• 12:04 - Tiffany’s contact information: Cell number: (862) 242-0390 or email her at tiffanys@remax.net 

3 Key Points

1. Be sure to check all aspects of a house when purchasing - including the septic system
2. A house can sell even in less than ideal circumstances
3. Safety is important to keep in mind while selling real estate 

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Katie Allard

Part 2 with the one and only Sher Powers of Nashville. Sher built an extensive background in investment real estate before becoming a full-service REALTOR®. In this episode, Sher tops last episode’s story of too many cockroaches with a hair-raising story of a house full of guns and a spying homeowner. Sher also imparts a couple of hard-earned lessons for new realtors to be aware of. 

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 — A re-cap of Sher’s background
  • 01:01 — From Nashville, TN
  • 01:04 — Has a small, boutique agency called Urbane Residential Specialists
  • 01:08 — Works with investors to buy, fixup, renovate and resell, as well as with 1st-time homebuyers
• 01:43 — What drove Sher to become a full-service realtor
  • 02:11 — Ended up in a partnership doing eight renovations a month
  • 02:27 — Would see 1st-time homebuyers unhappy with circumstances of their purchase
  • 02:52 — Realized entry-level realtors were representing the most vulnerable buyers
  • 03:14 — “My heart was really drawn to 1st-time buyers and helping them have a great first experience.”
• 05:10 — Sher’s CSIRE story
  • 05:11 — She was working with a family, 1st-time homebuyers, who were looking at entry-level properties
  • 05:42 — As Sher and the couple walked through the house, they found 50 weapons, all out in the open
  • 05:59 — “There were grenades.”
  • 07:10 — Client commented that whoever lived in the house was scary, and they didn’t think they wanted to do business with them, and then they heard a giggle
  • 07:29 — “I’m getting goosebumps telling you now.”
  • 07:40 — After a second giggle, Sher realized they were being spied on, and they decided to get out of there
  • 08:32 — “We were basically being spied on by this guy who had an arsenal.”
• 10:09 — Houses on the market need to be prepared for the public to come through
  • 10:27 — Realtors can’t be with their clients the whole time
  • 10:44 — Lock up anything related to weaponry, lock up prescription drugs
  • 11:03 — Tell your realtor about any cameras or safe houses inside the house
• 12:19 — Never allow sellers to stay after closing unless money is held in escrow
  • 12:28 — Had to spend her entire commission on replacing a hardwood floor
  • 12:35 — Seller had asked if they could move out after closing
  • 12:50 — Left a beautiful rug in the living room, which revealed an unfinished floor beneath
  • 13:20 — “The entire floor had been cut out.”
• 15:10 — Make sure sellers know what is deemed a fixture in the contract
  • 15:15 — Final walk-through had already been done when she got the call from her client
  • 15:29 — “They’ve taken all the rose bushes.”
  • 15:52 — Seller had removed 30 or 40 plants from the yard
  • 17:07 — Got the seller to purchase a large gift card to a nursery to try to match the size and look of the original landscaping
  • 17:48 — “It’s a challenge for every realtor to figure out what their clients are thinking.”
• 19:59 — Sher’s contact information: Visit her websites com and Urbane Residential Specialists or Urbane Residential Specialists on Facebook

3 Key Points

1. Sellers need to put away any unsafe possessions before the public comes through, such as weapons and medications.
2. Don’t let sellers stay in the property past closing without extra money in escrow.
3. Read the current version of your standard contract so you can educate your clients.    

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Tara May Flanagan

Real estate is not what you ever expected it to be, until you end up in the middle of something fun. Power-house broker Sher Powers tells us about the worst experience she ever had viewing an investor property in Nashville, when she opened the door to hundreds of cockroaches. Sher has worked in both normal and investment real estate, and she’s learned to expect the unexpected. Tune in to find out why Sher values renovations over resells, and how agents can ensure their clients get the best market rate for investor properties.

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:

• 01:06 — Sher’s background and how she got into real estate
  • 01:08 — Started as a real estate investor, buying property to renovate and resell
  • 01:29 — Hit a snag in partnership and ended up with a portfolio of 24 rentals and no cash reserves to cover repairs and tenant needs and make readys
  • 01:45 — Used license to survive – became a realtor
  • 02:08 — Wanted to help new agents and new buyers
  • 02:33 — Specializes in 1st-time buyers and investors who renovate for re-sell
• 02:22 — Why doesn’t Sher call them flips
  • 02:58 — “There is nothing flippant or flippy about doing a full renovation – it’s a lot of work.”
  • 03:44 — Flipping is a quick, non-emotional transaction, compared to renovation, which is about creating a house that someone will love
  • 04:08 — 1st-time homebuyers deserve good expectations and good education
• 04:15 — Renovations are houses being brought back to life
  • 04:22 — They’re ideal for entry-level buyers
  • 04:30 — Improve neighborhoods one house at a time
  • 04:47 — On seeing the buyer’s response to their renovated home: “I love the experience; I never get tired of it.”
• 06:28 — Sher’s CSIRE story
  • 06:35 — Went to Nashville with a client to view an inexpensive property; the client had to return to the car, so Sher entered alone
  • 07:00 — “Leigh, I am not exaggerating—I wish I was—hundreds of cockroaches fell on my head.”
  • 08:11 — Her client got bug spray from the car and sprayed her with it
  • 08:28 — She still can’t watch Indiana Jones because it triggers the memory
  • 09:34 — In real estate, you will see hoarders, and you will see families that live in ways that is heartbreaking
  • 10:11 — “There is a heartache that goes with buying destitute property.”
  • 11:51 — She never enters a house without using her toe to push the door open
• 12:30 — Note for agents to think about
  • 12:44 — Sher once encountered a tenant who did not want the property shown or sold
  • 13:04 — “He answered the door stark naked.”
  • 13:56 — Encourages her clients to negotiate on the front-end, where buyers can see the property from the inside before making an offer
  • 14:34 — If you’re wanting to sell an investment property, it needs to be vacant
  • 15:42 — Do everything you can to make it easy for the tenant to say yes
• 16:31 — Sher’s contact information: Visit her website Urbane Residential Specialists or Urbane Residential Specialists on Facebook 

3 Key Points

1. Renovations are different from resells.
2. Investors should be prepared for the unexpected when viewing investment property.
3. Vacant investment property will yield a higher market price than occupied. 

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Tara May Flanagan

Summary:

Early in Leigh York’s colorful career, an eventful sale involving missed medication, a fire, and a rolled pickup taught her to keep calm in the midst of craziness. She has learned that however she reacts to a situation is exactly how her client will react, so it is best to model level-headedness.

Leigh is also working to at the National Association level to set industry standards for realtors and instructors that would keep them active in the field while teaching in order to stay fresh.

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:

• 0:40 – Leigh York’s background
  • 0:50 – The third–generation of her family in real estate, Leigh started “before the turn of the century” exclusively in farm and ranch. That morphed into development. Now, rather than drive over 5 counties, she covers half of one very large county in Fort Worth, TX.
  • 1:40 – Leigh also loves to travel, teach, and speak to other realtors. She also does consulting on culture for other businesses. Got to do it all!

• 3:30 Leigh’s CSIRE story 
  • 3:34 While she was doing predominantly farm & ranch, Leigh sold a piece of property. She met with a sweet, wonderful woman selling her little house on a large piece of property––more or less the family farm.
  • 4:40 – The seller explained that all of her kids wanted the property and if she died they would just fight over it, so she wanted to sell it.
  • 5:00 – Leigh lists the property, gets it on the market, and communicates frequently with the seller. The lady mentions that her oldest son is upset, but he shouldn’t be a bother.
  • 5:30 – Within about ten days of closing, Leigh’s husband, who happens to be the volunteer Fire Chief in the area, calls to say there’s a fire on the property.
  • 6:40 – When Leigh arrives she sees that the grass from the front of the house all the way out to the road is blackened. But she’s got good real estate karma.
  • 7:20 – The son had decided that if he couldn’t have the house, nobody could—and he was going to burn it down. He goes behind the house, sets a fire about 10 feet away, and leaves. The fire burns to within one foot of house, splits and burns around the house, then meets at the front of the house and burns all the way to the road. It never touched the house!
  • 8:30 – Before Leigh can call the owner, her cousin, the City Marshall, calls to let her know that the son is en route to the hospital to be admitted to the psychiatric ward.
  • 9:00 – The son apparently had mental health issues and had not been taking his medications for a few days. He had gone to a neighboring town, taken a pickup truck on a test drive without a salesperson, driven to his mom’s house to set it on fire, and on the drive back to the dealership rolled the pickup!
  • 9:40 – So now Leigh has to call the mom/seller and tell her that not only was her place on fire, but that her son is in the hospital and on his way to jail.
  • 10:00 – While she’s on the phone with the seller, the rep for the buyer is trying to call because of course the buyer has family in the area and has heard about the fire.
  • 10:30 – Leigh keeps calm. She did not call the seller and say, “There’s been a huge fire and your kid is in the hospital.” She said, “You know, we’ve had an interesting day out here, and I want you to know that everyone is safe. Let me catch you up on what happened.”
  • 10:45 – The seller’s response was calm. She replied, “OK, you go handle the buyers and I’ll take go care of the kid.” So they continued the negotiations.
  • 11:00 – The house was OK and the grass was going to grow back, so they just replaced some fence posts. It didn’t even delay closing––everything was fine!

• 11:15 – The importance of keeping calm 

• 11:35 – However you react to a situation is exactly how your client is going to react, so keep calm and let your client reflect that good behavior.
• 11:50 – This kind of calm behavior is what can set you apart as a realtor. If you fly off the handle to protect your client, it’s not going to help. So much of a realtor’s skill is reflected in the way they convey information.
• 13:00 – Real estate instructors can help their students by talking about the psychology of what they do. If Leigh is teaching a class on contracts, she doesn’t just teach people how to fill in the blanks. She also talks about who they’re representing, what they’re going to talk about with the client, and how that conversation might sound.
• 13:50 – They role play or talk it through so that they can know how to stay calm when the other party doesn’t agree with what goes in the blank on the contract.
• How do we train buyers to select the right representative?
  • 14:20 – We have to coach consumers to interview their representative. Don’t just take whoever answers the phone.

• 15:00 – The need for best practices for instructors
  • 15:45 – We need to pay more attention to who gets to be an instructor. They need to be active in the market. If you haven’t handled a transaction in 6 months, you don’t have as much credibility as someone who is on the phone with a client right before she comes to teach. The market changes day to day.
  • 16:30 – Leigh Brown is a volunteer leader in the Residential Real Estate Council – a group of realtors who want to focus more on education and who carry the CRS designation. During her volunteer presidential year, they implemented new standards for instructors, and it was met with some pushback and angst.
  • 17:00 – They had some instructors who had not sold anything in 40 years! While the mechanics of selling may have stayed mostly the same, the entire climate has changed, consumer expectations are different, and the legal side has moved dramatically as regards liability.
  • 17:30 – Being active in selling makes Leigh York a better instructor and speaker, and being an instructor and speaker makes her a better seller in her market. Each aspect helps the other.
  • 18:00 – In Leigh York’s volunteer role in professional standards in the National Association, she is working on the idea that there needs to be standards for instructors and all realtors. She started out as just once voice, but her voice is growing. She believes they will get there––just not at “Leigh speed.”
  • 20:30 – It does seem like all of this begins with people being nicer to each other. 

• 20:45 – Contact Leigh York at Leigh@LeighYork.com, or call 817-613-2420. She’s on Facebook and Instagram as well.

3 Key Points

1. Stay calm and let your client reflect that good behavior.
2. Consumers need to choose a realtor carefully—don’t just use the person who picks up the phone.
3. Real Estate instructors need to be active in the business in order to be good teachers.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Katherine Burke

As a new realtor, Heidi didn’t know how to keep calm when things got a little stinky at closing time. Now, with 10 years under her belt and her own office, she’s learned that real estate isn’t all glamour and cocktails at the signing table. Not even close. Tune in to hear Heidi’s crazy story about stinky carcasses (yes, you read that correctly), her client on the 6 o’clock news, and how another agent’s calm demeanor saved her from a total meltdown.

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 – Heidi’s background

• 01:00 – She got into real estate in 2008, is a broker/owner of her own office which is a part of the Next Home Dynamic franchise, which she recently opened
• 01:30 – They serve Freeport, PA, a suburb of Pittsburgh, and her 10-year anniversary will be on her 50th birthday where she’ll celebrate in Charleston

• 03:00 – Heidi’s CSIRE story

• 03:10 – There’s no HDTV-type glamour in real estate, 9 out of 10 people leave the business in the first year
• 03:30 – She listed a doublewide for sale on a family farm; there was that house, a big beautiful farmhouse, and another property that was sold 10-15 years’ prior on a farm
• 04:00 – They’re about to close and 2 days prior the seller calls her and asks if she saw the news
• 04:30 – Turns out the man who owns the other property on the other side of the farm had a dump truck, dump, and large pile of deer carcasses rotting in his driveway
• 05:15 – It was a mile and a half away from the property she was selling, but the stench was still terrible; the seller had called the news to tell the story
• 06:00 – The next day the state came out, cleaned it up, and fired/arrested the guy; he had been living just a few feet from the carcasses
• 07:00 – Real estate isn’t all glamour, and this story shows it
• 07:45 – When she called the other agent, she was calm and just said, “We’ll get through it”
• 08:30 – On the way home from closing, she ran into a deer and it shit all over her windshield

• 08:50 – Keeping calm when things get rough and the benefits of old and new realtors

• 09:05 – Things will resolve themselves, or their magnitude will lessen; new realtors get flighty but need to learn through experience
• 10:10 – You need a mentor; you need someone to call when crazy things happen so you can get some perspective
• 10:35 – It’s ok to hire new realtors, just ask if they have a mentor or broker; new realtors are excited, energized, and are eager to please
• 11:50 – Old-timers can get a little lazy and lack excitement
• 12:15 – Contact Heidi at Heidi@nexthomedynamic.com or visit their website at nexthomedynamic.com

3 Key Points

1. “It’s ok, it’s cool, we’ll figure it out.”
2. It takes experience to learn how to remain calm in tough situations.
3. New realtors can be great to work with, just be sure they have a broker or mentor to lean on.  

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Sometimes you’ve gotta keep a secret. And sometimes Mercury Retrograde impacts your client’s decision to sign any contracts (dang you, Mercury!). Isabel Affinito, a young realtor in central Austin, knows this all too well. Listen to her Crazy Shit in Real Estate story that involves Mercury Retrograde (if you don’t know what that is, you’ll just have to tune in to find out!), a divorce mid-sale that she had to keep quiet, self-fulfilled prophesies, and a happy – and relieving – ending for the books.

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 – Introducing Isabel
• 01:15 – She’s under 30 years old and already a success, she’s been selling real estate in Austin for 4 years, and sold real estate outside of New Jersey for a couple years
• 02:15 – They live in central Austin now, which is closer to her family in Oklahoma; when driving out of Austin, they say “We’re not in Austin anymore, we’re in Texas”
• 03:30 – Isabel’s CSIRE story
• 03:45 – A client who wanted to sell their house said they wanted to wait until after Mercury Retrograde to sell because contracts aren’t to be signed during that time
• 04:30 – Isabel was respectful, asked questions, and asked if she wouldn’t take an offer if it was given during Mercury Retrograde; the client said she would
• 06:15 – They still listed the house; the clients were awesome and Isabel liked them and they got multiple great offers that first weekend
• 07:10 – She calls the client and finds out the couple is getting a divorce; it was like a self-fulfilled prophecy and things got crazy
• 07:55 – He had bought the property before they got married, so lawyers and multiple parties needed to get involved; she was representing both
• 08:31 – She called for “best and final” and determined that something would be signed in 24 hours; that’s when she found all this out
• 09:04 – All the agents expected a quick resolution and she had to keep everything confidential
• 10:00 – Sometimes the seller’s agent can’t share everything; the other agents started flipping out and wanted to know what was going on
• 11:20 – They thought the sellers were just wanting to get more money; eventually she could tell them that there was a possible divorce going on
• 13:00 – They finally come to an agreement about what’s going to happen with the money and are willing to close; all 3 offers stuck around
• 14:01 – She knew which one was the highest, but the other two were nicer
• 14:56 – By the time they sit at the closing table, they had decided not to divorce; she felt honored to take them through the transaction
• 16:00 – One of the hardest things to learn and maintain as a realtor
• 16:05 – The ability to slow down, stay calm, and act with caution with clients that are highly emotional
• 16:55 – You want a passionate realtor that can slow it down and get serious when needed
• 17:26 – The couple decided to take the money and travel; they’re doing well
• 18:00 – How to contact Isabel: com or on Instagram @funkyhomesofaustin; she also has a new podcast called Funky Homes of Austin

3 Key Points

1. Be respectful of your client’s beliefs and always ask questions. 
2. Crazy shit always happens in real estate!
3. As a realtor, slow down, stay calm, and act with caution.  

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Guess who’s joining us from the land down under? Rachael Goldsworthy! Rachael is a long-time realtor with a brokerage in Hawkesbury, Australia, and she’s got a knack for visualizing potential and opportunity when others don’t. Inspired by her less-than-ideal experience when she bought her first home, Rachael launched her real estate career with a mission to improve the consumer service experience in the industry. Tune in as Rachael fills us in on a story of a house full of rats, black walls, and stench – and why she bought it anyway.  

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 – Rachael’s Background

• 1:20 – She bought her first property in the late 90s and has a brokerage (they call it agency) with a team of 6 in Hawkesbury
• 02:05 – Buying her first home inspired her to begin a career in real estate; she had dragged the whole family along
• 03:30 – The home was in extremely bad condition but she fell in love anyway; her family thought she was crazy
• 04:50 – It was the worst house on the best street, and she saw an opportunity there; she renovated it and moved away for 2 years
• 05:15 – She listed with a big agency and the agency had placed terrible tenants in her home; they had severely damaged the home and landscaping
• 06:05 – She was sad and disappointed and thought there had to be a better way; she let the company try to sell the house, too
• 07:23 – In Australia you list with one agency; she didn’t know so she got a second agency to try and sell it
• 08:50 – She wasn’t an agent but decided to put an ad in the paper for it; she got two buyers and both wanted it, she sold it for 75% more than her original purchase price
• 09:13 – That marked the moment that she realized she wanted to be in real estate, so she could improve the experience for the consumer
• 09:45 – She’s been constantly growing and learning ever since; she found opportunity in crisis

• 11:00 – Rachael’s marketing approach and how she incorporates customer service

• 11:10 – There are a lot of pain points for the consumer and for real estate agents; agents must continue growing and networking
• 11:30 – She works her business around the gaps she sees in the market

• 12:00 – Rachael can visualize what “could be” with a property; how she conveys this to potential buyers who are viewing “ugly” properties

• 12:55 – It’s all about taking the emotion out of the equation and working with the facts
• 13:07 – Write a list of pros and cons and know what makes the property a good investment
• 14:16 – She knew the bones of the house were good, despite other cosmetic things that looked like a lot of work; she focuses on the good with potential buyers, too
• 15:04 – Focus on the big picture and what will increase the property’s equity; make sure they’re buying for the right reasons and are happy with the purchase

• 16:24 – Rachael’s biggest surprise since entering the industry: People

• 16:38 – She found that the more she invests in others, the more they’re willing to invest in you
• 17:00 – At first, she tried to do everything alone, now she collaborates a lot with others
• 19:00 – Rachael’s contact information: Website RachaelGoldsworthy.com.au or on any social media channel

3 Key Points

1. A good realtor can see an opportunity where others don’t.
2. Always continue growing, learning, and improving the consumer experience.  
3. You don’t have to do everything alone; collaboration is good!  

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

I see London I see France, I see...someone’s underpants? That’s right, this IS Crazy Shit in Real Estate, after all! Broker and coach Anthony Lamacchia shares with us the crazy story of when he took a buyer through a home and a nearly-naked woman made a surprise appearance. Anthony leads his own brokerage now and, having switched from the family landscaping business, he truly knows what it takes to start in the trenches of real estate. Tune in to find out what Anthony teaches new realtors and what advice his grandfather gave him that all realtors should live by.  

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:

• 01:05 – Anthony’s background and how he got into real estate

• 02:00 – Selling homes and the online businesses that try to do it differently  
• 03:30 – Getting into real estate in 2004 after leaving the family’s successful landscaping business
• 04:05 – His father is now his biggest fan; he now has a brokerage with 150 people in the company
• 05:20 – He transitioned slowly out of the family business

• 05:45 – What new agents don’t realize

• 6:00 – Be aware of what you communicate to your sphere of influence; if you want to be a full-time realtor, don’t advertise whatever else you’re doing
• 06:35 – Anthony’s grandfather’s advice: If you want to be a realtor “you ought to dress like it”

• 08:30 – Anthony’s CSIRE story

• 08:45 – He drove to Dorchester, Boston for a showing; at the time, it didn’t have the best reputation
• 09:07 – He was new to the business, got the key out of the lockbox, walked up to the door with his first-time female buyer, and knocked
• 09:30 – They thought no one was there, but as they leave a woman comes out of her room in a bra and underwear
• 09:50 – She wasn’t even phased, she just walked past them down the hall; he called his friend and he said it wasn’t a big deal if the buyer didn’t make it one

• 11:15 – Real estate is an entertaining business

• 11:20 – He kicks off the new agent’s training course by saying 75% of the business is being a psychiatrist and 25% is selling real estate
• 11:50 – You must learn how to calm people down and listen

• 12:25 – Anthony is more of a businessman than realtor

• 13:00 – He prefers building up others over personally helping others buy and sell homes
• 13:40 – He helps his agents become successful by using existing tools like Zillow
• 14:20 – He teaches people to take actions in a calculated fashion; nothing he teaches is “new”
• 14:50 – How to contact Anthony and his firm: email Anthony@LamacchiaRealty.com, check out LamacchiaRealty.com, or Crush It in Real Estate on Facebook

3 Key Points

1. If you want to be a successful real estate broker, dress like it.
2. The job of a realtor is 75% psychology and 25% selling real estate.   
3. You can be successful by using existing tools rather than avoiding them.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Today we’re discussing a topic that is often overlooked in real estate: Safety. And not just in regards to realtors, but consumers, too! In today’s episode, Angela Shields, CEO of The Tennessee Realtors, provides us with some case studies that act as perfect examples of why safety should always come first. Tune in to hear Angela tell the story of a realtor who barely made it out of a home showing alive, and find out why even a consumer should verify the legitimacy of their realtor. The moral of the story? If you see something, say something. It could save someone’s life...or your 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:

• 00:50 – Introducing Angela Shields, the CEO of The Tennessee Realtors
• 01:20 – Angela represents the state and realtors of Tennessee
• 01:43 – They support all the realtors that are part of the local associations, do legislative work to protect private property rights, and watch out for consumer
• 02:21 – They also educate realtors
• 03:20 – The importance of realtor safety for the realtor and consumer
• 03:53 – It’s important to know with whom you’re doing business
• 04:34 – Story of when a realtor needed protection
• 04:45 – In San Antonio, TX she got a call that a realtor had been attacked by someone who had been referred to her
• 05:22 – She took the person to see a few houses, and at one house the person walked around, disappeared, went to the attic, and came back down with a pipe
• 05:42 – He hit her with the pipe, she ran outside to the porch, tried to flag multiple vehicles, and started to run to her car
• 06:30 – She ran towards the road, a car full of teenagers stopped for her and pulled her into their car, and he chased them in his car; luckily they found a cop
• 07:15 – He had everything in his trunk to tie her up and kill her; he was convicted of attempted murder and the kids had saved her life
• 07:30 – What Janice is doing now
• 07:45 – After she recuperated, she began teaching classes on safety; her name is Janice Tisdale
• 08:14 – Her background helped her survive the attack and the story gives hope for the integrity of our future generations
• 09:55 – She tells her story to help others avoid what she went through; in real estate, there are reasons realtors take precautions like asking for I.D. and meeting in public
• 10:30 – Realtors are always giving back and Janice is an example of that; for years, she came in every month to teach the safety portion of new member orientation
• 12:00 – The consumer side of realtor safety; the public doesn’t know who they’re dealing with, either
• 12:30 – Angela heard of a case where a realtor had a mental health issue; it became an issue over time, until finally a consumer and the association had to face it
• 13:00 – It can be dangerous for the consumer and that realtor eventually left the business and sought treatment
• 13:30 – Brokers have things in place to protect their agents and the consumers
• 14:00 – We need a constant conversation regarding licensure and regulations that’ll keep people safe
• 14:35 – If you see something, say something
• 15:50 – There’s a difference between someone having a bad day and someone having an actual mental health issue
• 16:40 – Have safety policies set in your office: Code words, let someone know where you are and with whom, and ask for a license and research (as a consumer)
• Contact Angela: http://angela.shields@tnrealtors.com 

3 Key Points

1. Oftentimes your background experience will prove beneficial in real estate.
2. Upkeep safety policies and procedures – whether you’re a realtor or a consumer.
3. If you see something, say something.  

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Have no fear, the Real Estate Superhero is here! Jeremias “J-Man” Maneiro, a realtor in Rochester, NY, tells us the story of when he carried a client through her entire home tour, and how that moment officially bestowed him with true superhero status. But this superhero’s not just muscle. Tune in to hear how he cared for his client before and after her broken ankle surgery, despite how motivated she was to buy. And, for all you cold-weather dwellers, J-Man’s got some valuable advice that could save you an insurance claim worth nearly as much as your home.

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 – Jeremias “J-Man” Maneiro’s background

• 01:00 – He started in real estate in 2005 when he was 25, he’s in Rochester, NY, he and his wife Christina are a real estate team, and they’ve been married for 10 years
• 02:55 – They met at a company Christmas party when they found out they have the same birthday

• 03:35 – J-Man’s CSIRE story

• 04:00 – What makes him different, what makes him a Real Estate Superhero, started from this one story when he was showing homes to a young couple
• 04:05 – In the second to last house, the woman falls on the front step; he heard a snap and told them they could stop but husband told her to “suck it up”
• 04:55 – Husband thought the next house was the one, so he said to go to it and they could go to the hospital afterwards
• 05:30 – He liked the house and came back out to get the wife from the car; they carried the wife through the whole house
• 06:30 – They wanted the house but went to urgent care first; she had broken her ankle, was rushed into surgery, and wrote an offer that day (after the drugs wore off)
• 07:25 – She tells the story to her friends and family and says her “Real Estate Superhero” carried her through the whole house

• 08:12 – Reminder to carry short-term disability insurance as a realtor in case something like that were to happen to you, and not your client
• 08:43 – J-Man made sure his client was in the right state-of-mind before allowing her to write an offer
• 09:03 – A professional realtor stands out for being careful, thoughtful, and with integrity
• 10:20 – A piece of advice for sellers

• 10:50 – He’s had at least 8 different clients that have had frozen pipes, which can cause extreme water damage, when they move out and leave their home vacant
• 11:10 – He suggests winterizing the house because it’s not worth the risk
• 11:32 – Someone his brother referred him to had thought he could control his furnace and home appliances from his phone, but the thermostat had run out of batteries
• 11:50 – A main waterline had broken on the second floor of the house and it sounded like a waterfall from next door; water was coming out of the basement windows
• 12:07 – They were already in contract and they had a $78,000 claim against the water damage on a $95,000 home
• 12:30 – This is why you hire a realtor; things will always happen in a transaction, but the realtor is the glue that keeps the transaction going
• 12:50 – It worked out in the buyer’s advantage because she could select the changes during the reconstruction
• 13:15 – How to contact J-Man: themaneiroteam.com @jmanspeaks on Instagram, and JManSells on Twitter and Snapchat

3 Key Points

1. Carry short-term disability insurance as a realtor.
2. Be a real estate superhero by going above and beyond for your clients.
3. A realtor is the glue in your real estate transaction that make sure everything works out.

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

Ohana is a Hawaiian word that means extended family and Sissy Sosner, a Hawaiian realtor, has got a true ohana story for us! Sometimes it’s easy to forget just how much of a supportive family we’ve got within the real estate community. Sissy tells us about a friendship that led to a house-swap, and how she’s so grateful for the people in her life who connect, care, and support her in true Hawaiian ohana fashion. Tune in to hear about what happens when you trust the universe and allow magic to happen.  

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 – Sissy’s Background

• 01:00 – She grew up in Hawaii, lives on the island of Oahu, works on the island of Kawai, and has been in real estate for 8 years

• 02:30 – Sissy’s CSIRE story about Hawaii being all about “ohana”

• 03:13 – Her Caldwell Banker office is her ohana, her church is her ohana, CRS is her ohana (she got her CRS designation a few years back), and she has ohana in Cape Cod
• 03:30 – In early 2017 she read an article on a CRS designee Nadine who jumpstarted her business on the cape and Sissy reached out to her
• 04:00 – Fast forward a few months and they found a school for their son on the cape, remembered Nadine, and connected with her there
• 04:45 – She toured the Cape Cod market, discussed house swapping, and did a house sway with Nadine when her son had a week off for Thanksgiving
• 06:15 – They entrusted their homes to each other and it was all thanks to the CRS family

• 06:35 – RRC is the Residential Real Estate Council which improves the education of realtors and CRS are the Certified Residential Specialists who have gone beyond the regular training

• 07:05 – You should never hire a realtor unless they have their CRS designation because they focus on creating a community and bettering where they live
• 07:45 – Realtors are interconnected and family-centered, and sometimes that isn’t seen when people think “realtor”

• 08:20 – Nadine had connected her with a friend and made time to spend with Sissy without any monetary benefit
• 10:00 – Their house-swap took a leap of faith; the same leap that clients make when choosing a realtor

• 10:45 – It’s all about putting the other person first, Nadine does this in her personal and business life
• 11:30 – Contact Sissy: call/text (808)938-5588, email sissys@cbpacific.com, or on her website sissysosner.com
• 12:30 – Go to CRS.com to find a CRS realtor or to get more information on becoming a CRS

3 Key Points

1. Ohana can be found within the real estate world.  
2. Trust the universe and magic will happen.
3. Hire a CRS if you are looking to buy or sell real estate, or become one if you’re a realtor!

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

What can be messy and smelly and furry all over? Foreclosures! Especially the ones Sharon has seen. Sharon Alters, a second-generation realtor from Jacksonville, shares her craziest real estate stories which include none other than stubborn hoarders and house-squatting horses! Although she no longer does foreclosures, Sharon recognizes that they can be fun – like a box of chocolates where, “ya never know what you’re gonna get.” Plus, there’s a sense of fulfillment in helping families get into properties they may not otherwise afford. Tune in to hear all about hoarders and horses, homes turned into barns, sky-high piles of junk, and tons of stuff with a grand yard sale value of – drum rolls, please – zero. 

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 – Sharon’s Background
• 00:54 – She lives in Jacksonville, has been in real estate for 18 years, is a 2nd generation realtor, and now her daughter works in real estate, too
• 01:50 – Her CSIRE story
• 02:00 – In 2011 her friend who worked with a big bank asked her if she wanted to do foreclosures
• 02:10 – About a year in, she got a small farm with two houses; one house was on the road and she didn’t see the second house
• 02:45 – She sent her handyman to rekey the houses and find the second house, he called her from the property to tell her there were horses in the second house
• 03:30 – The doors and windows had been taken out of the house to make it a barn
• 04:00 – The horses had been living in the house for over a year and a half; the house had to be torn down, which was expensive because it was in the middle of nowhere
• 04:30 – The house had been stripped down and she tracked down the original owners to figure out what to do with the horses
• 05:30 – The bank reimbursed the people that had been feeding the horses; Sharon liked that bank because it took care of her and others
• 06:25 – The bank demolished the house and sold it that way; a man across the street bought it for his daughter
• 07:20 – The rush of working with bank-owned properties; helping people get into properties they couldn’t otherwise afford
• 07:40 – She got a notice of eviction to give to a family on Christmas Eve; she decided she wouldn’t do that
• 08:10 – She did it a few days later; and the bank waited until February and gave the family money to move
• 08:35 – They went to the house and they hadn’t moved; she told the bank and they gave them 24 hours to leave
• 09:00 – The next day they were gone, but they were hoarders so the inside of the house was full up to the ceilings
• 10:00 – “Yard sale value” is sometimes $0; but this was an expensive trash-out
• 10:45 – She no longer does foreclosures
• 11:30 – Foreclosures are not the bank’s fault; banks can be understanding and flexible

3 Key Points

1. In many instances, it’s not the bank’s fault if someone gets foreclosed on.
2. Foreclosures can be fulfilling because you help people get into homes they may typically not be able to afford.  
3. Banks can be understanding and work with people to an extent; they’re not all bad. 

Credits

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

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

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

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

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

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

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder

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

• 14:30 – Contact Megan and Brady at (386)597-3545, megan@themeganfarrellteam.com, or through Facebook or Instagram

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

• Audio Production by Chris Mottram
• Show Notes provided by Melissa Valder