No one likes to be stuck in the middle of a sibling rivalry! Chris Stafford, a REALTOR® of 27 years in the San Francisco area, played the mediator between two brothers – and it wasn’t fun. While one brother sabotaged the sale of their home and the other was furious and fuming, Chris reflected on the lesson we could all take away from this story. Listen in to find out how Chris handled the brothers – and still got a raving testimonial at the end 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 leighbrown.com.

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 00:45 – Introducing Chris, a CPA and real estate broker who has been selling for 27 years ago in the San Francisco Bay area
• 01:40 – Chris’ CSIRE story
• 01:50 – It was an example of the dynamics of dysfunctional families; two brothers owned a $2M property and one of the brothers was an executor
• 02:10 – The other brother was living on the property and didn’t want to move, even though he has another property; there was animosity between the brothers
• 02:50 – The brother made the sale difficult by putting signs up during walk-throughs, leasing to others, and destroying the building
• 03:20 – Chris acted as a mediator between the brothers
• 04:14 – They ended up having a lawsuit and selling the property; they made $1M each; the one brother was sabotaging his own equity in the property
• 05:00 – The lessons
• 05:24 – The brother’s parents didn’t have everything squared away when they passed which made for disagreements and difficulty down the line; trusts and wills are important
• 06:00 – When someone tells you who they are, trust them; the brother showed his true colors
• 06:40 – Both brothers ended up writing excellent testimonials for Chris because he was patient and supportive throughout
• 07:11 – An attorney can help you structure a will; many people don’t want to estate plan, but it will help your children immensely
• 08:00 – Chris’ neighbor
• 08:04 – His neighbor’s parents passed away but didn’t leave a will or trust, and they were hoarders
• 08:30 – The house was packed to the ceiling with paper and magazines; Chris offered to help clean it up but the parents had hid gold, stock certificates, and currency in the trash
• 09:15 – It took the family 9 months to go through everything
• 11:00 – Chris’ one piece of advice for new REALTORS®
• 11:12 – Get a mentor; everyone – new or seasoned – runs into unexpected scenarios and will need a mentor to help them navigate through
• 12:30 – How to contact Chris: His website https://epiclistingagent.com/
• 12:45 – Get a free copy of his book “Massive Abundance” through his website 

3 Key Points

• Families, make sure parents have everything squared away before they pass.
• Give your heirs a break and prepare!
• Get a mentor or coach to help you improve. 

Credits

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

Today we’ve got a special guest who is going to discuss the market and the one piece of advice that could save you from a sour sale. Casey Angel, Director of Communications at the Raleigh Regional Association of Realtors, has got high hopes for the real estate industry and is excited to see diversity spread in his community and throughout the country. He dives in and debunks common misconceptions about realtors and why neighborhoods flourish, and gives some quick resources that are just a click away. Listen in to hear Casey’s advice on when to pick an agent – and when you should let one go.

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

Time Stamped Show Notes:

• 01:50 – Casey’s work within the association
• 02:10 – The membership is diverse and cares about their community
• 03:23 – The diversity in South Florida and North Carolina
• 03:45 – It’s exciting to see diversity spread in the community and industries
• 04:30 – The things realtors unite on: The American Dream
• 04:56 – Private property rights, housing affordability, the idea that everyone should have a safe, flourishing place to live
• 06:05 – The economic study they performed in Raleigh
• 06:15 – They could see that the neighborhoods that were flourishing because of the communities and families in them
• 06:50 – The association used data to expel myths
• 07:30 – The myth that realtors are only in it for the money
• 08:00 – Realtors consistently have one of the highest rates of volunteerism; they are very active in their communities
• 08:30 – Consumers see that when they get more involved in their community
• 09:10 – Resources to get education on realtors
• 09:40 –The local Chambers of Commerce, municipal website, and public school
• 11:00 – The chamber has data on how long homebuyers stay in their home
• 11:45 – Casey’s one piece of advice for a buyer or seller of real estate when they pick an agent
• 12:20 – It’s important to sit down with someone and feel confident that they know what you want and where you want to go in the transaction
• 12:45 – It’s an emotional purchase; it’s important to have a professional realtor that you can be honest with
• 13:30 – Don’t sign paperwork with a realtor you don’t like – pick someone that suits you better; the NAR finds that over 70% of buyer/sellers use the first agent they find
• 15:30 – How to reach Casey or the Raleigh Association: rrar.com

3 Key Points

• Neighborhoods flourish because of the communities and families in them.
• Your local Chamber of Commerce holds data that can help you.
• Find an agent that understands you, your needs, and your goal in the transaction. 

Credits

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