The House-Rich Podcast: Recent Episodes
James Walters
Dedicated to the development of all professionals engaged in guiding clients through the home buying and selling experience.
Could you imagine being in business with your spouse or significant other? How would you balance your work time with downtime and keep your relationship strong? How would you avoid feeling like you are merely co-workers? Today I'm talking with Jim and Lori Hill. They're both real estate agents in the Triangle, NC area and often team up to help their clients.
They've also been married for over 35 years, so they must be doing something right. Our talk reveals some sage advice for those of us who have considered working with a spouse on any level. We talk about relationship goals and good advice. I also share exactly how I really feel about a particular Mariah Carey song.
Today, I'm talking with Frankie and Emily Sheffield of Heights Digital, a marketing company in Raleigh, North Carolina that specializes in custom web design, video marketing, and social media content creation.
They help brands, businesses, and even real estate agents cut through the noise and stand out ahead of their competition. We talk about some of the top marketing mistakes they see agents make on social media, and why you should fix that ASAP.
In my role as a lender, I have to admit, waiting on an appraisal report gives me anxiety. Right now, a lot of buyers are willing to take the risk of making offers well above market value and that's cool IF they have the cash to back it up.
Working with an agent who is skilled at evaluating comps and determining a market value is vital for me. I depend on their expertise to give me the best info available, so I can advise our mutual client on the best strategy based on their financial position.
Ultimately though, a home's fair market value is determined by a licensed appraiser. Because I'm a lender, I'm legally not allowed to have direct contact with appraisers, but that doesn't stop me from sending them my positive energy each morning and hoping they all woke up in a good mood and are ready to write some big numbers on their reports
That's why today I'm talking with Ruth Payne. A seasoned Real Estate agent who runs her own firm in the Raleigh and Wake Forest areas. She also serves on the Wake County Board of Equalization and Review. (AKA, the appraisal review board)
We talk appraisals, crazy due diligence, and where this whole seller's market train could be headed in the near future. Stick around till the end, because this episode is packed with wisdom.
I'm excited to share my conversation with the one and only MaryLou Dingman. She packs a ton of value into this episode. MaryLou has worked in the real estate space for over 20 years as an agent and trainer. For the past several years, her focus has been coaching real estate teams on the methods and mindset necessary to dial their success all the way up!
My guest today is Nick LaGrange, founder and creative director of The Broker Story, a brand marketing company that produces documentary-style video content for real estate professionals.
Like so many of us, Nick's 2020 was going great... until it wasn't. The evolution of both his personal and professional lives in the months during and after quarantine is a masterclass in adaptability and mindset, which makes this episode full of powerful takeaways.
Halloween brings out the kid in a lot of us. As a kid, I grew up watching Scooby-Doo every Saturday morning. That show filled my imagination with all sorts of spooky possibilities. As a grownup, I've always wondered if ghosts are real. I've never seen one, but it wasn't for lack of trying. I've spent the night in plenty of supposedly haunted places on purpose and left with no spooky stories to tell.
Welcome to the House-Rich Podcast. Most other weeks, this show is dedicated to the personal and professional development of those who help people buy or sell a home. Not this week though. This week I got curious about haunted houses and decided to reach out to the folks who visit more houses in a year than I'll ever step inside. I wanted to know if they have experienced anything they couldn't explain.
It's no tricks and all treats today as five real estate professionals share stories that will give you goosebumps.
A huge thanks to all of my guests today for sharing their stories.
Kelly Reynolds
Frankie Hagan
Brian Dyer
MaryLou Dingman
Caren Fried
Today's guest is a REALTOR and expert on home staging. Rachel Z is a native of Durham, North Carolina, and sells homes all over the triangle area. We talk about why home staging and even virtual staging are a good idea for sellers to consider, even when the market is hot. So, if you're an agent who has sellers on the fence about staging their home, this episode is a good one to send their way.
Known as the Bowtie House Hunter, JC Moore owns his brand like no other agent I've ever seen. People recognize him from his social media presence and community involvement. We talk about what sparked the idea and what it's like to live and breathe your brand in the world of real estate.
Paul Holt is the owner of the Holt Group at Pillar to Post in Fayetteville, North Carolina. We discuss a ton of topics related to home inspections, including why they are a good idea for buyers even if the home is fairly new. If you're an agent having a conversation with your client who questions the value of getting an inspection, this might be a good episode to forward to them for an insider's perspective.
I have two guests on today's show and they're both named Derek. Derek King is founder of King Group, a real estate firm out of Raleigh, NC. We talk about his transition from serving 20 years in the elite forces of the military into civilian life and then into real estate. He has a ton of valuable perspective to share with us about work and life balance and how his personal development has shaped his professional success. We also talk about how he used his experience with training green berets to create the most robust new agent training system out there.
His business partner, Derrick Smith witnessed many of the daily routine and habit changes Derek made over the past year and weighs in on the personal and professional transformation and how their business has grown as a result.
This one gets deep quick, so strap on your seatbelt and get ready to be inspired.
My guest today is John Carter, a Real Estate Broker with EXP realty out of Raleigh, North Carolina. John has an extensive background in video production, photography, and acting. That led us to a conversation about how the skills perfected in completely different career paths can often translate well into the world of real estate and some of its peripheral specialties.
If you're new to real estate, John's perspectives might just be the boost you need to take your growth up a notch or two. If you're not new to the game, he's got some good advice at the end you won't want to miss, so sit back and enjoy this interview with John Carter.
My guest today is an avid believer in serving the community where she does business! She's President of the Johnston County Chapter of the Triangle Area Networking Group. She's a Rotarian, serves on Clayton's Chamber of Commerce, AND also the Programs Chair of the Women in Networking organization for the town of Clayton, North Carolina
As a financial advisor with Edward Jones, she helps her clients make their money work for them and reach their life goals. She has some great advice and be sure to listen to the end because her final lightning round answer is a great reminder for anyone at any stage in their career.
Today I'm talking with Harlan Accola. Harlan has been in the mortgage industry for over 20 years and is the National Reverse Mortgage Director for Fairway Independent Mortgage Corporation. He says the most rewarding part of his career has been working with clients who are 62 and over. In the last 18 years, he's helped upwards of 1,000 clients with their Reverse Mortgages.
Harlan is also the author of the book, Home Equity and Reverse Mortgages, the Cinderella of the Baby Boomer Retirement. We'll cover myths, misconceptions and talk about why a reverse mortgage could make a big difference toward achieving a comfortable retirement.
My guest today is Don Steichen, a financial advisor with Edward Jones in Raleigh, North Carolina. Don has been helping clients identify and move toward their financial goals for over 15 years. In our conversation, we cover planning strategies for real estate agents, and when you need to start investing to live the life you want in your retirement years we also discuss at what age it might be too late to start.
Whether you're having your biggest year ever, or if this market has your numbers on the struggle bus, you'll get some good insights, so be sure to stick around for the entire episode.
Today I'm talking with Allen Smith, a REALTOR with Team Encompass in Raleigh North Carolina. Allen has been helping people buy and sell homes for over 17 years and is proud to have earned the designation of Certified Residential Specialist.
This year, Allen serves as president of the North Carolina chapter of the Residential Real Estate Council. We talk about the educational opportunities available and why becoming a CRS designee became part of his professional development game plan.
We also discuss, networking and tackle a few myths about the best ways to take control of your professional development plan.
Imagine your clients call to tell you they've been selected for an HGTV house hunting show. It starts filming next week and will take you away from your other clients for four days in exchange for a few seconds of face time on screen and your name in the credits.
Would you do it? Would you be excited about it?
Rebecca Ferguson of Keynote real estate in Durham, North Carolina. We talk about the time she was approached to be on an HGTV house hunting show and dive into just how much reality there is in reality TV. Spoiler alert, it turns out that your instincts were correct.
A broker at Fonville Morisey in Raleigh, North Carolina, Warren began his career in real estate over 20 years ago as an appraiser and In 2013 he became a broker so he could work more directly with clients in guiding them through buying and selling their homes.
We sat down this week to talk about Zillow's recent acquisition of Showing Time and the stir it's caused among agents nationwide. Warren delivers some uncomfortable truths in this episode, so be sure to stick with us until the end.
If someone showed up at your door with a guaranteed offer on your home, with no repairs and no showings, would you go for it?
Rick Mangrum of Remax United in Cary North Carolina began his career in real estate over three decades ago. He's also the president of Mangrum building Custom Homes which makes him uniquely qualified to drop some serious knowledge on us about potential costs of convenience with online home sellers.
You have to start somewhere, and Simon Sinek suggests we should Start With WHY, so that's what I'm doing here.
Every person you meet knows something you don't and if you give them the gift of your attention, you are likely to be better for it.
I believe in giving value with no useless fluff. So here is a four-minute manifesto
Here's the important bit This is NOT a podcast about the mortgage business. That would be dreadfully boring. This show is about professional development for everyone related to the business of buying and selling homes.