Messy In The Middle: Podcast for Realtors: Recent Episodes

View Details

In the latest Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi and Ed talk about generational wealth and its foundation within real estate. They discuss the challenges many face when navigating their financial future and the vital role structured budgeting plays in building wealth across generations. Jefi and Ed share various budgeting approaches - from detailed plans contrasting income and expenses to adaptable zero-based budgeting - showcasing that there's a suitable method out there for everyone.

Key Takeaways:

• Structured budgeting plays a critical role in establishing a pathway to generational wealth.
• People often grapple with budgeting due to the uncomfortable nature of examining and restructuring their finances.
• Various budgeting strategies can cater to different lifestyles and goals; finding what works personally is key.
• Automatic savings and targeting credit card debt are actionable steps that can significantly impact financial stability.
• Leveraging real estate for wealth creation, investment strategies, and protective measures can create a "nest."

Quotes:

“It's just a mindset. That is the goal guy in me. It's like, hey, I'm headed here. And then that is where that dream bucket comes in, and you get excited about it. Then things just kind of take care of themselves. It's amazing how much money you can save when you have a long goal you're working toward." -Ed

"But this is this whole attitude that everybody is where you think they are or everybody is where I think they are. That's not true. And the problem is there's so much shame based around not having things put together. we got to start somewhere, so let's just go get vulnerable. Let's, let's go figure this out." -Jefi

TIMESTAMPS

(01:38) Generational wealth

(06:25) The goal of financial security

(10:04) Vulnerability and financial conversations

(15:12) Budgeting

(22:20) Changes based on goals

(29:31) Pay yourself first: savings

(31:46) Up Next

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

In the latest Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi and Ed discuss the push toward sustainable design elements, highlighting nature-inspired solutions, and mixed materials that blend modernism with a touch of the past. They explore forward-thinking features, such as wellness inclusions in both the kitchen and bathroom areas and the importance of strategic window designs to incorporate natural light. Listen as Jefi and Ed talk about the vitality of understanding these trends not just from a personal enjoyment perspective but also for optimizing resale value.

Key Takeaways:

• Emerging home design trends are steering away from cookie-cutter models, embracing nature-inspired designs, and mixed materials for a more personalized and sustainable aesthetic.
• Wellness features are becoming prevalent in both kitchens and bathrooms, indicating a growing trend toward health-focused home environments.
• The resurgence of natural light through strategic window designs is on the rise, blending the outside with the inside for a more organic feel.
• It's crucial to balance personal style with resale considerations when implementing bold design choices, as certain features could impact future marketability.
• Consulting with an experienced designer can provide invaluable insights and ensure that homeowners are aligning with both personal tastes and emerging trends.

Quotes:

“I think part of the trend of what we're seeing is moving a little bit away from all the super modern stuff, but more into those modern features are buried in a retro look. Functionality. So kind of going back to knobs and poles and different things." -Ed

"One feature that comes up a lot, just to put into the pile of ideas, is that a lot of people that are empty nesters love to have just showers in their house. Getting rid of a tub, I think, is a bad idea for resale because a lot of times families love to have a tub for small children. So it's a very expensive feature to change. It's not paint, it's an actual fixture." -Jefi

TIMESTAMPS

(02:34) Discussion on the emergence of nature-inspired designs in kitchens

(06:15) The availability of design choices in the past vs. now

(11:51) Colors that support the spa bathroom trend: blues, greens, metallic accents.

(15:33) Designing homes with passive solar qualities for energy efficiency.

(19:57) Wallpaper as a way to add a punch of design to a space.

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

In the latest Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi and Ed discuss the impact of interest rates and the Federal Reserve on the real estate market in 2024. They explain how lower interest rates will lead to a surge in buyers, increasing competition and driving up prices. They advise buyers to act now before they get priced out of the market, and sellers to take advantage of the current low inventory and put their homes on the market. They also discuss the potential effects of zoning changes and increased housing density.

Key Takeaways:

• The Federal Reserve is expected to cut interest rates by mid-2024, potentially affecting mortgage interest rates and the real estate market.
• Buyers currently waiting on the sidelines may find themselves priced out as property values continue to rise while inventory remains low.
• Sellers currently enjoying low rates should consider listing their homes now due to the increased buyer demand, which may shift when rates drop.
• The episode emphasizes the urgency of getting into the real estate market and considering less-than-ideal property types as investment stepping stones.
• Local government zoning changes are creating opportunities for increased housing availability, potentially affecting market dynamics in certain regions.

Quotes:

“All the analysts are saying by June, plus or minus a month, rates are going to, they're going to start cutting their rates and they're going to come down and that's going to have effects for buyers and sellers." -Ed

"Your competition as a buyer is about to explode because once interest rates go down, the buying pool grows." -Jefi

TIMESTAMPS

(01:14) Importance of interest rates for sellers

(08:49) Shortage of buyer activity and lack of inventory

(14:22) Governments are changing zoning to allow for more housing inventory

(16:25) The impact of lower mortgage rates in 2024 and more homes on the market

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

In the latest Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi and Ed dissect the crucial process of finding the right mortgage lender. They delve into why choosing a compatible mortgage provider is as vital as finding the perfect realtor. They share the pillars of an effective lender-borrower relationship: clear communication, personalized guidance, competitive rates and fees, and efficient loan processing. Listen as Jefi and Ed give tips for navigating the often-overwhelming seas of mortgage options and coming out victorious.

Key Takeaways:

• The lender's role is paramount in the real estate transaction – an insightful look at why the mortgage match matters.
• Clear Communication Matters – the dangers of inadequate communication from lenders and its impact on the buying process.
• The Cost of Low Rates – a breakdown of how low advertised rates can be misleading and the true cost of inefficiency.
• The Value of Professionalism and Expertise – understanding the importance of working with a seasoned lender who excels in customer service.
• Future Considerations for Buyers – practical tips for buyers when evaluating potential lenders to ensure a smooth real estate transaction.

Quotes:

“Efficient processing is super important. It helps you get to the finish line when you have all these little questions coming up." -Ed

"Professionalism goes a very long way in this business, someone who has skin in the game, someone where this is their full-time passion and job." -Jefi

TIMESTAMPS

(04:41) Importance of clear communication with the lender

(06:26) The value of personalized guidance from a lender

(07:30) Consideration of competitive rates and fees

(09:32) Efficient processing and in-house underwriting

(11:12) Advice for buyers on choosing the right lender

(14:32) Value of good quality customer service

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

Discover why sellers should love buyer's agents in this engaging episode. Hosts Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of having an advocate for both buyers and sellers, the role of a buyer's agent in facilitating smooth negotiations, and how they attract more potential buyers. They also delve into the value of professional representation, creating win-win scenarios, and the benefits of having an open market. Don't miss out on this insightful conversation that sheds light on the crucial role of buyer's agents in real estate transactions.

Key Takeaways:

• Buyer's agents are key to maximizing exposure: They open up the seller's property to a wide pool of potential buyers, thus creating a competitive market.
• Smooth negotiations lead to successful transactions: Competent buyer's agents facilitate negotiations that are free of emotional bias and focused on the best outcomes for their clients.
• Professionalism matters: A professional buyer's agent prepares buyers well and works closely with reputable lenders, contributing to a transaction that progresses smoothly.
• Tactical empathy in negotiations: Understanding the underlying interests and priorities of both parties can help in creating agreements that satisfy everyone involved.
• Buyer's agents are invaluable: As the 'secret weapon' for sellers, they ensure a broad reach and professional advocacy that can drive success in real estate deals.

Quotes:

"If you have an advocate for you and you have an advocate for the seller, as long as they're both good advocates, it's a much more smooth transaction." - Jefi

"A great buyer's agent understands that they're the conduit between the buyer and the seller. There's no emotion, it's all business." - Jefi

"Buyer's agents are the secret weapon for sellers. They facilitate smooth negotiations and create win-win scenarios." - Ed

TIMESTAMPS

(00:00) Introduction

(02:26) Attracting more potential buyers

(03:39) Buyer's agents facilitate smooth negotiations

(06:04) Creating win-win scenarios

(09:47) Wrapping up

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle Podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the reasons and considerations for refinancing loans. They highlight the benefits of lower interest rates, shorter loan terms, and the elimination of private mortgage insurance. However, they caution listeners to consider the potential downsides, such as negative equity, poor credit, and high prepayment penalties. They also discuss the use of refinancing for home renovations and debt consolidation, but advise consulting a financial advisor. Listen this week as Jefi and Ed talk about the importance of individual circumstances in making refinancing decisions and consulting your trusted advisors.

QUOTES

• "Remember that rates rise like a rocket and they fall like a feather." -Ed Billings [02:09]
• “Whatever's best for you is what's best. Don't get caught up in the hoopla of the refi whirlwind.” -Jefi Moultrie [10:26]

TIMESTAMPS

(04:49) Lowering the Interest Rate

(06:18) Shortening the Loan Term

(07:22) Eliminating PMI

(10:11) Refinancing and Home Value

(11:10) Consider Your Long-Term Goals

(12:44) Factors to Consider Before Refinancing

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle Podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss conventional loans, mortgages that are offered by private lenders and are not backed by a government agency. They highlight the importance of understanding the difference between conforming and non-conforming loans, as well as the higher interest rates and credit/income requirements associated with conventional loans. Jefi and Ed share how conventional loans can be used for investment properties and the need for buyers and sellers to educate themselves about conventional loans.

QUOTES

• "So that also leads to credit and income requirements. So you're going to have to qualify for those loans. Right. So you're going to have to have a little better credit score and a stable source of income. So the lender is going to look at that because they got skin in the game." -Ed Billings [04:31]

• “The bottom line is that you should be open to all different kinds of loans because every loan structure is different.” -Jefi Moultrie [13:08]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:10] Difference between conforming and non-conforming loans

[04:31] Credit and income requirements for conventional loans

[10:22] Conventional loans offer flexibility in terms and options

[11:58] Flexible loan terms

[13:08] Difference between PMI on conventional and FHA loans

[14:17] Be open to different loan options!

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss FHA loans. They highlight the pros and cons of FHA loans, including lower down payments, lower credit score requirements, and higher income-to-debt ratios. They also mention the Mortgage Insurance Premium (MIP) and the loan limits that vary by county. Jefi and Ed emphasize the importance of understanding FHA loans as a buyer, seller, or agent, and recommend contacting a lender for more information. They also provide tips for agents on how to counsel buyers on choosing between FHA and conventional loans.

QUOTES

• "Something that's really interesting about FHA loans is they follow HUD Housing and Urban Development guidelines. Did you know that most loans and when I say most, almost all follow those exact same guidelines because they're such a great guideline to follow? So most banks follow those, too.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:02]

• "Here's a homework assignment for all you agents out there. Call your lender. And this is for me, too, because I don't know that number off the top of my head. Just check for the counties that you work, and what the current FHA limits are. That's a really good number to know." -Ed Billings [08:56]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:00] FHA loans

[02:45] Pros of FHA loans

[05:30] Cons of FHA loans

[09:31] FHA loan leniency

[09:59] Understanding the strength of an FHA buyer as an agent

[10:36] Strategy for choosing between FHA and conventional loans in multiple offers

[11:53] Always call your lender!

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi talk about Veteran Affairs loans and why they are underutilized. They highlight that VA loans have a lower interest rate and no private mortgage insurance. However, they caution that VA loans can be difficult to assume and that sellers and agents should fully understand the loan's terms before marketing it as assumable. Jefi and Ed stress the importance of having an advocate who understands VA loans and can convey the buyer's strength to the seller. They share why it is important to get fully underwritten and how you can provide proof of funds to demonstrate financial stability.

QUOTES

• "One of the biggest things that I have a hurdle with is my sellers when they are receiving a VA loan. They automatically think that the buyer does not have money. That is completely not true. Just because you see a loan come in with zero down doesn't mean the seller has no money. It just means they're exercising that option for this loan.” -Jefi Moultrie [03:13]

• "They're not going to be your advocate on that to the seller because they don't understand it. And what is not understood is feared. So agents that are working with VAs need to educate the other side so that they know what's going on." -Ed Billings [10:27]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:30] VA loans

[06:11] VA loans offer lower interest rates and no PMI

[09:46] Lack of understanding of VA loans by sellers and agents

[11:52] Requirements for a property to be eligible for a VA loan

[13:02] VA appraisers evaluate the physical conditions of the property.

[14:19] Tips for VA offers in multiple offer situations.

[16:22] Talk to your lender for details.

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed speak with John Schindel, a mortgage loan officer at Bay Equity. They discuss the importance of getting pre-approved before starting the home buying process and the common hurdles that buyers face. John shares why having a long-term financial plan and working with a financial planner to align homebuying goals with overall financial goals is valuable. He also explains the difference between a soft pull and a hard pull on credit and advises against making any major financial changes, such as quitting a job or taking on new debt, during the home buying process.

QUOTES

• "The number one thing for me is that anybody that buys a home, it's the number one precursor. Or statistically, it is the number one thing that means that your children are going to have a better life than you. Intergenerational wealth always comes with your parents owning their own home." -John Schindel [03:59]

• "Your reputation is on the line every time you write an offer. If you're going to write an offer with a non-approved buyer and put that listing agent through the process of presenting and possibly accepting, not knowing that that buyer can accept, you're not going to look too good as an agent at all. And the next time you write an offer for your beautiful buyer who didn't get the right information, you're not going to get your offer accepted.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:30]

TIMESTAMPS

[01:58] Importance of getting pre-approved before house shopping

[05:57] Biggest hurdle with buyers: meeting them after making offers

[10:53] Loan estimate and comparing lenders' costs

[12:44] Starting with a trusted lender before shopping rates

[14:19] The break-even point and the opportunity to refinance

[21:34] Considering the quality of life when determining budget

[25:32] Difference between hard pull and soft pull for credit checks

[28:08] Top three things not to do when getting ready to buy a house

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss how to handle a referral gone wrong in the real estate industry. They emphasize the importance of following up on referrals and checking in with both the person who referred and the person who received the referral. They also stress the need to have a backup plan in case the initial referral doesn't work out. Remember, not every fit is perfect it's okay if a referral doesn't work out!

QUOTES

• "I know this sounds like a lot of work. It's really not. What it is is you taking care of somebody you care about enough to share a referral with. So just checking in with them to see how it goes is great. And it might stop you from referring that person over and over and over again if you know that it's consistently not a good fit." -Jefi Moultrie [06:02]

• "Everybody complains about the deal they lost or didn't deal, and nobody ever complains about the home they bought or the property they bought, as long as they hold it long enough.” -Ed Billings [02:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:31] Lesson about missed opportunities in real estate

[03:12] Importance of checking in on a referral

[04:26] Handling a referral that is not a good fit

[05:51] Having a backup plan for referrals

[06:48] Not all referrals will work out

[07:52] Communication between agent and consumer

[08:11] Encouragement to continue giving referrals

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed share how to find a real estate agent to refer to someone who is looking to buy or sell in an area outside of your expertise. They emphasize the importance of reaching out to your trusted realtor, who will have a network of reliable agents across the country. By asking your trusted realtor for recommendations and providing them with specific details about the client's needs, they can do the research and vet potential agents to ensure a quality experience for the client.

QUOTES

• "Do you want your friend to end up with somebody like that? If you can think about it from a way that you're actually giving a gift to them by helping them find somebody that's the best of the best, that's a really great way to look at it instead of having it as a job." -Jefi Moultrie [05:41]

• "The key point here is that a trusted agent is going to be more than happy to do the research, and they're probably going to ask you very high-level questions.” -Ed Billings [06:57]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:37] Reaching out to your trusted realtor for referrals

[04:40] Key questions to ask your realtor when seeking a referral

[09:21] Finding the best match for a referral

[10:26] The Next Layer of work

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss the best way to give a referral. They emphasize the importance of personal endorsements and explain how to approach someone at a party or social gathering to recommend a realtor. They also address common objections and provide strategies for overcoming them. Jefi and Ed stress the value of early involvement and information gathering, as well as the benefits of interviewing potential realtors. Listen as they share great ideas that will allow for seamless communication.

QUOTES

• "If you have a friend or a family member, or Google a realtor, you don't know what you’re going to get. If you have a relationship with a good agent, they're going to be able to help you find one. ” -Ed Billings [03:25]

• "The very best way to give a referral is to actually link all the parties together in a text." -Jefi Moultrie [11:14]

TIMESTAMPS

[04:04] How to give a referral at a party or social gathering

[09:06] Interviewing referred agents for sale by owners

[11:35] The benefits of using text for referrals

[13:02] Action plan for giving referrals

[14:06] Two types of people when it comes to referrals

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in the Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed speak with Royce Branning, co-founder of ClearSpace. Royce joins the hosts to discuss the impact of phone addiction and how his app helps users regain control of their digital lives. They explore the role of dopamine in driving addictive behaviors and the need for intentional use of technology. Royce shares his journey of starting the company and the importance of serving others. The conversation also touches on the challenges faced by real estate agents in managing their phone usage and the potential benefits of using ClearSpace in the industry.

QUOTES

• "There is a war for your attention and you're bringing a knife to a gunfight and we're kind of arming you with at least equitable defense mechanisms.” -Royce Branning [04:43]

• "I think phone addiction is a really helpful term for us to understand the forces at play in our relationship with the devices." -Royce Branning [20:23]

TIMESTAMPS

03:16 Royce’s Intro

04:06 What is ClearSpace?

15:22 Growing awareness of the negative impact of devices

21:40 Dopamine and scrolling

30:47 Content creators struggle with phone distractions

43:44 The impact of ClearSpace app

RESOURCES

• ClearSpace
• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in the Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of seeking feedback and learning from others to improve and grow in your profession. They emphasize the need to have a beginner's mindset and be open to feedback from trusted individuals. By identifying your weaknesses and seeking guidance from those who excel in those areas, you can sharpen your skills and become a better professional.

QUOTES

• "I think sometimes we need to see the change that we need in someone else.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:29]

• "Where am I strong? Where am I weak? And then have those conversations with folks and say I'm struggling in this area. I'm really good in this area over here. How about you?" -Ed Billings [09:40]

TIMESTAMPS

[01:29] Importance of staying relevant and continuously improving

[02:18] Embracing the beginner's mindset

[03:59] Appreciation for listeners and a request for referrals

[06:10] Seeking feedback from trusted individuals and coaches

[08:44] Sharing strengths with others to enhance skills

[10:13] Conducting an honest assessment of strengths and weaknesses

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

This week on the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the concept of digital wellness and how to eliminate distractions in order to improve productivity. They emphasize the importance of actively participating in the war for attention and provide strategies for taking control of digital tools. They also discuss the distractions we seek and how to identify and overcome them. The hosts share their personal experiences and offer practical tips for implementing these strategies in daily life.

QUOTES

• "Attention is our most important tool in the task of improving the quality of experience." -Ed Billings [02:51]

• "You can't fight the war for your attention passively. I don't like the word war, but you have to be an active participant in changing these patterns.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:53]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:49] Eliminating distractions for productivity

[03:03] The deliberate design of digital tools to distract us

[06:29] Deleting all notifications

[13:16] Educating clients on response times and setting expectations

[17:36] Controlling distractions and being mindful of time wasted

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

View Details

What you measure grows! This week, Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of accountability partners in their real estate businesses. They share their personal experiences with accountability partners and how it has helped them stay focused and achieve their goals. Jefi and Ed also provide tips on how to choose the right accountability partner and how to make the most out of the partnership. Additionally, they talk about the concept of forming a personal board of directors and how it can provide valuable insights and feedback.

QUOTES

• "I am the queen of accountability, and here's what's interesting. I hate it, but I love it. It's like poking a bruise.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:19]

• “Review with your accountability partner and try and synchronize the things that you're doing." -Ed Billings [10:00]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:00] Queen of accountability

[03:00] Jefi's experience with accountability partners

[06:00] Importance of accountability in stopping drift and setting goals

[08:00] Sharing progress with accountability partners and creating a personal board of directors

[12:00] Encouraging listeners to find accountability partners in different areas

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Our jobs can be a catalyst for fulfilling our purpose and mission in life! Join Jefi and Ed as they continue their discussion on the power of purpose and how it can drive our goals and actions. They share personal stories and examples to illustrate the importance of finding what lights us up and aligning our goals with our purpose. Jefi and Ed also provide a step-by-step process for creating a mission and setting goals, emphasizing the need for coaching, accountability, community, and having skin in the game.

QUOTES

• "Your job usually is the catalyst to being able to do the things that fill a purpose and a mission in your life.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:02]

• “Purpose is represented by the specific goals we achieve." -Ed Billings [04:18]

TIMESTAMPS

[02:00] Importance of finding what lights you up internally and externally

[07:39] Aligning goals with purpose to create mission

[12:49] Thinking big and finding passion

[20:06] Setting goals for 2024

[27:30] Four key elements for a goal system

[32:02] Daily reviews of progress and adjustments for improvement

[35:42] Recap: Goal-setting process

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

View Details

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the power of purpose and mission. They explore the concept of power versus force and how aligning with a greater purpose can give momentum to your actions. Ed and Jefi talk about the importance of connecting your passions and values to something greater than yourself. The hosts share their personal experiences and reflections on finding their purpose, how it has shaped their lives, and practical tips on how to discover your purpose.

QUOTES

• "How you live your days is how you live your years. And a lot of times people don't realize that the compounding effect of what you do each day really does affect the years to come.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:11]

• “If you can make that connection of what you're doing being about something greater than yourself, you're going to get far more out of it, and far more out of life." -Ed Billings [08:09]

TIMESTAMPS

04:15 The power of purpose and mission

12:24 Reflecting on internal feelings and what brings joy

23:05 The importance of disconnecting to connect with your inner voice

29:58 It's okay to change course and redefine your purpose

36:27 Focusing on the mission for greater fulfillment

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of tapping into the power of play in your personal and professional life. They emphasize the need to know your passion, spend time in support of that passion, and make it fun. They provide examples of how to incorporate play into client interactions and share how you can embrace rest cycles and use them as an opportunity to recharge and explore your passions.

QUOTES

• “You want to be playful in the experience, like playful learning if you're teaching somebody or bringing them into an experience." -Ed Billings [14:13]

• "When you're in a rest cycle, you can really lean into things you’re passionate about, and you can do things that are filling you up for your next run cycle.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:49]

TIMESTAMPS

01:58 Embracing rest cycles

05:17 Know your passion

08:01 Spend time in support of your passion

10:19 Bring clients along on your passion journey

16:01 The need for fun and playfulness

19:40 Ideas for creating and playing with your community

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of ending the year strong in order to start the new year on a high note. They share their own plans for September through December and emphasize the need for intentionality and personalization in client interactions. Listen as they highlight the significance of staying connected with clients and share how you can celebrate them in unique ways!

QUOTES

• “I want to have a nice big event in February in person. I've been doing virtual events that kind of came about through COVID, but I think it's time to do a really big, fun event and coordinate it with a lot of other agents in the office.” -Ed Billings [28:57]

• "Do what resonates with you. You and I are going to name off a lot of stuff and these are all just ideas, but make them your own because your clients love you for who you are.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:26]

TIMESTAMPS

03:09 Being intentional and planning for year-end

09:18 Jefi’s plans for September, including pop-up events and walks

11:31 Ed’s plans for September, including UNC football watch party

23:27 Video follow-ups

26:30 January/February event ideas

30:31 How small gestures can help show client appreciation

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of ending the year strong in order to start the new year on a high note. They share their own plans for September through December and emphasize the need for intentionality and personalization in client interactions. Listen as they highlight the significance of staying connected with clients and share how you can celebrate them in unique ways!

QUOTES

• “I want to have a nice big event in February in person. I've been doing virtual events that kind of came about through COVID, but I think it's time to do a really big, fun event and coordinate it with a lot of other agents in the office.” -Ed Billings [28:57]

• "Do what resonates with you. You and I are going to name off a lot of stuff and these are all just ideas, but make them your own because your clients love you for who you are.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:26]

TIMESTAMPS

03:09 Being intentional and planning for year-end

09:18 Jefi’s plans for September, including pop-up events and walks

11:31 Ed’s plans for September, including UNC football watch party

23:27 Video follow-ups

26:30 January/February event ideas

30:31 How small gestures can help show client appreciation

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the bold predictions made by Brian Buffini, a renowned real estate expert. They emphasize the importance of listening to reliable sources, such as Buffini, rather than relying on media headlines for market information. They debunk the idea of an impending market crash and highlight the strength of the current housing market, with a significant percentage of homeowners having either paid off their mortgages or having substantial equity in their homes. Jefi and Ed stress the need for realtors to educate their clients about the market and discuss the increasing demand from millennials.

QUOTES

• “You want to make sure in your business that you've got the systems and the staff ready for this big surge in demand that's coming.” -Ed Billings [13:14]

• "This age group of 34 to 36 millennials is actually a larger consuming group than the baby boomers.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:50]

TIMESTAMPS

01:43 Brian Buffini's bold predictions

06:21 Misinformation in the media

08:38 Don't time your search around interest rates, find the right home!

13:30 Prepare systems and staff for a surge in demand

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Don’t underestimate the power of having a morning routine! This week Jefi and Ed discuss why the real estate industry requires them to be intentional about setting aside time in the morning to fill themselves up before diving into work. They stress the need to separate personal time from work time and highlight the benefits of having a morning routine to set the tone for the day. They also provide practical tips for implementing a morning routine, such as setting an alarm, turning off notifications, and planning activities in advance.

QUOTES

• “You can change the ritual of the morning routine, but don't abandon the morning routine.” -Ed Billings [03:29]

• "Make sure that your time is on your calendar, because if your assistants look at our calendars and they're booking things for us or our business partners or whoever, and if you don't have that time blocked out, how is someone going to honor that for you?” -Jefi Moultrie [06:19]

TIMESTAMPS

02:40 Morning routines should be separate from work tasks

06:50 Set alarms and turn off phone notifications

07:43 Plan activities for the week in advance

08:06 Don't give away the time

09:58 Find a routine that works for you

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi and Ed tackle the top five questions that sellers ask real estate agents during listing presentations. Using the Chat GPT tool, they simulate an unrehearsed interview where they ask each other questions and discuss their responses. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for these questions and providing thoughtful answers to build trust with potential clients.

QUOTES

• "What I like to do is go and do a tour first if the house is brand new. So I want to go and lay eyes on it and walk through, get a feel for what's there, and then I follow up and come through on the back end with all my recommendations and the marketing plan.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:39]

• “Your photos are what is going to stop me. Price and photos are what makes me take a pause.” -Ed Billings [09:46]

TIMESTAMPS

03:30 Discussing experience in selling homes in a specific area

07:08 Explaining the marketing plan for a home

09:27 Importance of price, presentation, and photos in selling a home

21:26 Frequency and methods of communication with clients

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten-Minute Takedown episode, Jefi and Ed discuss the benefits of meditation and how it can help you achieve a balanced life. They emphasize that meditation doesn't have to be a specific practice and can be tailored to individual preferences. They also discuss the benefits of guided meditation and share their personal experiences with it, including increased focus, clarity, and energy.

Listen this week as Jefi and Ed share their favorite guided meditation apps and how this daily ritual can lead to creative insights and new ideas.

QUOTES

• "If you've never done meditation start with five minutes or less. Even a minute gives you benefits!” -Jefi Moultrie [05:31]

• “Flow and meditation are literally the yin and yang on a healthy brain and body” -Ed Billings [06:21]

TIMESTAMPS

02:17 Meditation forms

08:37 Focusing on breathing

12:58 Guided meditation for beginners

18:22 How meditation can lead to new ideas and clarity

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the concept of flow and its importance in achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. Flow state occurs when individuals are fully immersed in an activity, experiencing deep concentration and a sense of timelessness. Ed and Jefi share examples of flow-inducing activities such as skiing, mountain biking, surfing, tennis, dancing, and even real estate negotiations.

Listen this week as Ed and Jefi share how you can incorporate nature, dynamic motion, and social interaction into daily activities to enhance the flow experience!

QUOTES

• “Flow state is achieved when there is a balance between the difficulty of the activity and your skill set.” -Ed Billings [07:54]

• "The harder you have to work on something, the more intense your brain gets in solving what you're working on.” -Jefi Moultrie [13:18]

TIMESTAMPS

01:18 Definition of flow state

03:34 Achieving flow through a balance of difficulty and skill

08:03 The importance of feedback and goal-based activities for flow

18:27 Examples of flow activities: mountain biking, surfing, dancing, real estate negotiations

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of staging in the home selling process. They emphasize the need to consult a professional stager who can help tell the story of the home and create an emotional connection for potential buyers. They also highlight the three Ds of staging: declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean. Listen as they share how staging can help buyers visualize themselves in the space and lead to higher offers!

QUOTES

• “Ninety percent of buyers cannot project themselves into the space. They go into an empty home and they're just confused.” -Ed Billings [09:10]

• "Every home has a story, or it should have one.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:49]

TIMESTAMPS

04:01 the importance of staging

08:44 staging tells the story of a home

12:25 Three key points: declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Messy In The Middle Ten-Minute Takedown, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of creating a buzz when selling a property. They highlight the three key elements of creating buzz: price, prep, and promotion. They emphasize the significance of pricing a property correctly to attract buyers and generate excitement. Ed and Jefi also discuss the importance of preparing a property for sale, including decluttering and staging, and explore various promotional strategies.

QUOTES

• “It doesn't matter what I think it is going to sell for or what you think Mr. and Mrs. Seller think it is going to sell for. It's what the buyer thinks.” -Ed Billings [06:20]

• "The consumer is so incredibly educated today by the tools that they have access to via the Internet on pricing.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:35]

TIMESTAMPS

03:50 Pricing a home correctly

11:42 Promoting open houses

14:01 Using social media to create buzz

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Messy In The Middle Ten-Minute Takedown, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of living in the now and focusing on what can be done in the present moment. They emphasize the need to let go of fear and uncertainty about the future and instead concentrate on the controllable aspects of their business. They highlight the significance of daily activities, such as making calls, sending notes, and doing pop buys, to maintain relationships with clients.

QUOTES

• “We tend to focus on bigger events and the ones that have bigger budgets. But a really successful one over the years has been just doing a pop up coffee or a pop up happy hour. You throw it out at the last minute, and whoever shows up, shows up, and they appreciate the invite.” -Ed Billings [06:09]

• "Knowledge about what is happening today is more powerful than what you think will happen tomorrow.” -Jefi Moultrie [06:27]

TIMESTAMPS

01:22 Living in the Now

05:14 Events and Finances

09:56 Planting Seeds Today That Will Impact Your Future

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Ed and Jefi discuss mid-year updates and the importance of tracking numbers. They explain how a mid-year update can provide a frame of reference for year-over-year comparisons, making it easier to analyze market trends. They also give examples of how to structure a mid-year update call with clients, including tracking the number of homes sold, active listings, and months of supply in their respective markets.

QUOTES

• “A mid-year update gives you a frame of reference, which gives even more power to the numbers. So jump on board, start tracking, and then you can be an expert. What we love to do is call our clients around mid-year and just say this is what is going on with the market.” -Jefi Moultrie [01:49]

• “When you're at a month's supply. You don't have enough product to meet demand and then prices go up.” -Ed Billings [05:16]

TIMESTAMPS

01:48 Frame of Reference

05:39 Micro Market

10:15 Mid-Year Numbers

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Ed and Jefi catch up with Jeremy Patterson, a mortgage expert and the owner of Fairway Mortgage in San Diego, California. With over 15 years of experience in the industry, Jeremy has helped numerous clients achieve their homeownership dreams. Jefi, Ed, and Jeremy discuss the current state of the mortgage market and how it has evolved over the past year. They also talk about current interest rates, loan application volume, and the impact of the pandemic on the real estate industry.

QUOTES

• “As loan officers and as realtors, we need to be having better conversations about where people are fiscally. Are they doing okay with inflation? Are they managing credit card debt? Do they need other services or help from us? Do they need a budget from us?” -Jeremy Patterson[13:49]

• “Supply and demand. Typical economics say with no supply and less demand, it doesn't matter because as long as demand is there to meet the supply, it will still go up. And that's the interesting part. We're not building enough homes. There's no way we're going to catch it.” -Jeremy Patterson [17:40]

TIMESTAMPS

01:16 The unpredictability of the past year

04:19 Explanation of the government's shift in buying mortgage backed securities

06:50 Advice for buyers and the unpredictability of the market

11:17 Needs-based clients and driving the market with first-time buyers and last-time sellers

17:40 Homeownership becoming a commodity due to lack of supply and high demand

21:02 Cash offers and need for agents to better represent clients with lending offers

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of finding creative solutions when things go wrong in real estate transactions. They provide key points and questions to ask when faced with difficult situations, emphasizing the need to have a solution-based focus and to think outside the box. Ed and Jefi also touch on the importance of knowing your creative process and environment when trying to find solutions.

QUOTES

• “Your most highly motivated buyer isn't your best on paper buyer, but they will be more likely to get to the finish line.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:58]

• “When you come up with the idea, bring the other side into the solution. Let them join you for the journey to try and resolve it.” -Ed Billings [17:22]

TIMESTAMPS

01:10 Finding creative solutions when things go wrong

04:10 A solution-based focus

09:18 Be open to different outcomes

12:37 Collaborating and testing solutions

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Jefi and Ed are two realtors who recently had an interesting experience while discussing buying and selling a home. Jefi and Ed share their perspectives as realtors, discussing the buyer and seller viewpoints. Ed advises clients to take their time when making decisions and, if necessary, use tools to weigh pros and cons. He also emphasizes the importance of empathy when working with first-time homebuyers. Jefi and Ed discuss why it is important to slow down and be present in the process to build trust with buyers.

QUOTES

• “I think you can naturally start that process on the front end, and I think that actually would be really good discipline in the initial buyer consult to say, hey, this is a life change for you. We're in the life event business and be thinking about these things as what are the pros and the cons for your prospective move.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:45]

• “I tell all of my buyers and sellers, you’re going to go under contract today and you're going to have the biggest wave of buyers or sellers remorse you've ever felt in your whole life. That's normal. It will dissipate over time because you're just anxious about this. This is a humongous deal. It's like calling the elephant in the room out and just being like, here it is, let's talk about it.” -Ed Billings [09:50]

TIMESTAMPS

02:10 The Emotional Impact of Estate Sales

04:06 Self-Realization Through Real Estate Decision Making Process

05:40 Empathy in Real Estate: How to Support First-Time Home Buyers

11:16 Conveying Value to Clients

18:14 Balancing Emotions in Business Transactions

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in The Middle podcast, Jefi and Ed discuss their recent client events and how they build community through small and large-scale events. They offer key takeaways and tips for organizing successful events to connect with clients and colleagues. Jefi and Ed also discuss the power of food at client events and how it builds community.

QUOTES

• “Start small. If all of your guests invite one person, boom, your guest list grows and then you double it again and you're at that magic number. ” -Ed Billings [11:24]

• “I left two days after the event for a two-week trip out of the country. I normally would've called everybody right away and touched base with them. Instead, I did a video. But I think it's different than that voice to voice. This is the only time I could have done both the trip and the event. So, it's just a note to myself about how powerful it is to do follow-up calls afterward and to have that time to share the experience with your guests.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:39]

TIMESTAMPS

01:13 Events

06:15 Mountain Training Camp

10:45 Potential growth from events

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Ed catches up with Jefi across the pond! They discuss strategies for achieving work-life balance, including managing client expectations and communication. They highlight the value of having a reliable team member to support and assist in providing clients with timely information while you are away. Jefi and Ed share how implementing efficient systems and creating clear client expectations before leaving can reduce any potential confusion.

QUOTES

• “You're going to enjoy your time away from work when you set up your team for success. You're going to do the things you need to do, and then come home to some beautiful listings because your team has worked so hard and done great things for you.” -Jefi Moultrie [5:27]

• “Let the systems work, get out of your way. Do a good two-week prep going in so that everything that's running has potential and you're gonna have new potentials pop in while you're gone. But anything that is teed up or in process, you've had enough time to smooth out the bumps in your prep.” -Ed Billings [07:39]

TIMESTAMPS

01:10 Big Fat Hairy Goals

03:56 Setting Systems in Place

10:09 Trustworthy Colleagues

16:20 Making Sure Clients are Taken Care Of While You’re Gone

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Jefi and Ed sit down with Marc Goldin, a top-producing real estate agent in Atlanta and the founder of the Golden Group. He shares his journey from working with three other firms to starting his own successful agency. Marc discusses the importance of always playing up - surrounding yourself with people who are better than you to continuously grow and improve. He emphasizes the need for adaptability as an agent and why implementing systems is key to driving success.

QUOTES

• “When I'm networking and working with other agents that are really good at what they do, it helps bring my game up. I enjoy that. I look forward to those calls because I feel like I learn so much.” -Marc Goldin [15:46]

• “Nobody is a hundred percent successful all the time. You have to fail forward. You're not always gonna be successful. Learn your lesson and figure out what you did wrong and move on.” -Marc Goldin [31:04]

TIMESTAMPS

02:30 Marc’s Career Journey

15:20 The Impact of Professional Coaching

25:32 Utilizing Virtual Assistants

30:52 Learning from Mistakes

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode, Luz Daniels, a top-performing Keller Williams agent in Denver, Colorado shares her incredible journey, from her humble beginnings searching for opportunities in classified ads to her successful real estate career. She talks about the mentorship she received and how she learned the importance of providing good service and staying proactive even when business is slow. Luz shares her experience of growing her business through referrals, dealing with the 2008 market crash, and the challenges she faced as a disorganized agent, despite making a lot of money. Listen as Luz shares how she utilizes systems in her business to stay organized and efficient.

QUOTES

• “One of the things I do is make sure that 8 to 5, Monday through Friday at a minimum, I’m working very hard. Working, not playing, and not shopping. After 6, I am focused on my family.” -Luz Daniels [25:33]

• “You have to get back to the fundamentals. The grass is not greener on the other side. If I lose a sell, I lose. So I pick up that phone and get back to the basics.” -Luz Daniels [32:00]

TIMESTAMPS

00:30 Luz’s intro

07:43 Success in Real Estate Obstacles

14:47 Real Estate Career and Mentorship Lessons

26:49 Creating Systems and Client Relationships

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten-Minute Takedown, Jefi and Ed are talking about pre-list renovations and how you can spend money wisely when preparing to list a home. They suggest thinking about what buyers will see when they first walk up to the house, hiring a designer to help keep the colors neutral and modern, and adding small touches such as cleaning the windows and trim. Jefi and Ed also discuss how you can successfully stage your home.

QUOTES

• “When you're getting ready to have a client list their home, or if you're a consumer and you're getting ready to list your home, the biggest bang for your buck is paint. End of story. ” -Jefi Moultrie [01:24]

• “I think updating appliances can make sense. I try to encourage folks to do that. Doing a full kitchen remodel is just too expensive. And when we get those calls, Jefi and I both tend to say: ‘What's the timeline? What are we looking at? Is this for immediate resale?’. That puts us on a decision path.” -Ed Billings [07:05]

TIMESTAMPS

00:10 Pre-List Renovations: How to Maximize Your Home's Value

01:06 Home Improvement Priorities for Listing a Home

03:10 Tips for Cleaning and Updating Your Home

09:50 Designer Tips for Home Improvement on a Budget

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

The current state of the housing market can be difficult to navigate. This week, Jefi and Ed explain why the rate of transaction volumes is down, and why prices are up, indicating a lack of supply. They discuss how to create supply, by nurturing relationships with people in their database and looking for a home in their area that would be a good match for potential buyers. They also suggested ways to locate potential buyers, such as walking the dog in the area, door-knocking, and sharing details of recent sales.

QUOTES

• “Video is going to get you more exposure and more interaction. I think the mind shift for me on social media and video, and it might help other folks, is that you want to be creating content, not consuming content.” - Ed Billings [13:08]

• “I believe that you should start with your database because you know these people. They are intimate relationships. They're people that you would feel confident and comfortable calling and asking them anything.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:48]

TIMESTAMPS

01:57 Strategies for Creating More Inventory in a Low-Supply Market

03:21 Leveraging Relationships and Database to Find Potential Buyers

11:18 How to Find Real Estate Opportunities for Buyers

13:24 Social Media Strategies for Business Growth

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Jefi and Ed are discussing the concept of “fool or favorite” this week, which is taken from Chris Voss’ book Never Split the Difference. They share how realtors can provide clients with options that allow them to make wise decisions. At the same time, agents can remain the favorite option and be seen as trustworthy. Ed and Jefi discuss the difference between forecasting and hope-casting and share how you can give your clients the power of choice!

QUOTES

• “As realtors, we are getting things on the table, setting standards, and not going off on a hope forecast with clients. They're going and doing what they need to do. And we are sticking to our standards. This communication is a way to assess, are you the fool or are you the favorite?” - Ed Billings [08:40]

• “I don't mind giving information because I think it's really important for clients to have that. It's just the second, third, and then fourth time back. That's on me.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:49]

TIMESTAMPS

00:15 Chris Voss' Never Split the Difference

03:12 Fool or Favorite Role Play

04:50 Accusation Audits and Setting Non-Negotiables

08:03 Negotiating Sales

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

On this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed and Jefi discuss Chris Voss' book Never Split the Difference, which is all about negotiation and communication. They talk about why it's important to understand negotiation and communication, and they discuss how they have used the book and the additional class they took with the Black Swan Group to help improve their practices. They believe that if everyone had a better understanding of negotiation and communication, it would help them get to resolutions quicker and with less ego involved.

QUOTES

• “When you position your questions to someone so that they can say no, you're giving them the power, and it creates a sense of safety and security.” - Ed Billings

• “Ask open ended questions. What and why questions are probing. When you ask a question that end in a yes or no, you can answer it. That doesn't open it up for discussion.” -Jefi Moultrie

TIMESTAMPS

02:50 Negotiation Strategies: Active Listening

12:14 Tactical Empathy in Building Rapport and Trust

18:14 Negotiation Skills: Accusation Audit and Request for Repairs

22:36 Conversation on the Power of No in Sales Techniques

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

It’s time for a ten-minute takedown! This week Ed is challenging Jefi to participate in the preview challenge, which involves previewing all properties that come on the market in a 15-day period. Jefi and Ed emphasize the importance of challenges as a means of staying motivated and making progress. They discuss the benefits of previewing properties and how it can lead to increased activity in the market. They also share why in-person previewing of properties is a way to gain a better understanding of the property.

QUOTES

• “You can get a feel for the property and the overall picture of it, but when you actually go out and do the preview, it's a very different experience. You're going through it and you're experiencing the property. When I'm in it I can see what a person might be interested in and I begin to connect the dots.” - Ed Billings [03:07]

• “One of the things that put me off of this challenge was the thought of having to go see 23 homes in 15 days. But then Ed explained to me that I could just start with the last three days. So, If you're going to take this challenge, start small and start within the last three days.” -Jefi Moultrie [06:19]

TIMESTAMPS

01:34 Launching a Real Estate Preview Challenge

03:44 Property Previews and Deal Flow

09:46 Pop-By Follow-Up Strategy for Generating Churn in Real Estate

11:37 Real Estate Agent Success Story: Turning Prospects into Active Buyers

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Building a community around shared interests can be a powerful tool for bringing people together. This week, Jefi and Ed share tips and tricks on how to do something you love, share it with people you love, and build a community around it. As realtors, Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of organizing events to engage with your community and foster a sense of belonging. Whether it's through a running group or a casual get-together with friends, building community can be a valuable experience that can enrich your life in countless ways.

QUOTES

• “If we don't feed our community’s soul, then the community is not going to grow. We're not able to give back if we don't fill ourselves up also.” -Ed Billings [03:35]

• “If you have a group of people that want to experience something new, don't be afraid to reach out to somebody who's an expert in that field and have them come and work with you.” -Jefi Moultrie [12:40]

TIMESTAMPS

00:46 Tips and Tricks for Building an Incredible Event Around Your Passion

05:20 Community Building: Exploring the Possibilities

09:31 Choosing the Right People and Creating a Pioneer Mentality

13:51 Event Ideas

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

Are you in the market for a new home? Whether you're a first-time buyer or a seasoned homeowner, the process of finding the perfect property can be overwhelming. The real estate industry has undergone rapid changes in the past few years, and it can be challenging to keep up with the latest trends and technologies.

That's where knowledgeable and experienced real estate agents come in. In this week's episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings discuss why realtors need to create an organized experience for buyers.

QUOTES

• “As realtors, we want to make sure that we're intentional in the buyer experience and that we're providing the most value, which is around the ability to analyze a property and to negotiate transactions.” -Ed Billings [01:33]
• “I'm not just here to sell you this home. I'm going to be here when you need a gardener and when you need a plumber. When you're ready to sell your house in 20 years I'm going to be here for you. So I need to point out things in a showing because I don't want to catch you off guard when we have those conversations in the future.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:49]

TIMESTAMPS

00:59 Creating a Valuable Buyer Experience

02:21 Examining Price, Condition, Location, and Timing

03:05 Setting Expectations for Buyers

09:28 Negotiating the Home Buying Process

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings share how you can find balance, reduce anxiety, and thrive in the changing real estate market. They discuss the importance of having a routine, implementing a discipline plan, and sticking to it. Jefi and Ed share how routine can keep you on track and help ensure that you reach your goals.

QUOTES

• “Routine is going to help keep you on track. The danger is, if you don't stick with your routine it's really easy to fill your day with those non-work related items. We're realtors. We control our schedule and you can do a lot of C-level activity and not focus on more of the challenging A-level activity.” - Ed Billings [03:29]

• “There is this death by comparison happening with you, your friends, your cohorts, and your partners. The bottom line is that if you stick to your plan, the plan will bring business in due course, in due time.”- Jefi Moultrie [18:21]

TIMESTAMPS

2:34 Staying the Course During a Changing Market

8:17 Analyzing the Real Estate Market During the Traditional Season

12:09 Activity Begets Activity and Accountability Partnerships

18:34 Strategies for Managing Anxiety and Achieving Goals

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings talk with Mario Sikora, Founder and CEO of Awareness to Action International, which provides executive coaching and enneagram-based leadership programs. Mario discusses the three instinctual domains of human behavior: preserving, navigating, and transmitting. He shares how people's biases can affect how they interact with others and how understanding these biases can help build rapport.

QUOTES

• “Do you ever go up to a door and you go to pull it and it doesn't open? So what do we do? We pull harder and we pull harder, and then we see a little sign that says push. Right? This is what we all do. We don't necessarily say, ‘Oh, that didn't work, so let me do the opposite’. We repeat things and we do this with our instinctual bias as well.” - Mario Sikora - Mario Sikora [20:26]

• “Take a deep breath, don't fall into these habitual patterns, and watch for what is appealing to other people instead of projecting onto them. That is the biggest, biggest thing. The key to this is not to try and use it to manipulate people, but to build rapport so we can help them.”- Mario Sikora [24:04]

TIMESTAMPS

3:10 Adaptive Strategies

5:45 The Enneagram, Instinctual Biases, and Home Decor

19:11 Identifying Navigators and Transmitters in Professional Settings

20:51 Understanding Instinctual Bias and Building Rapport

25:17 Communication Strategies for Business Owners of Different Personality Types

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings share how you can avoid the fallout from rapid referrals and connect your clients with realtors they can trust. They discuss the importance of taking the time to assess your client’s needs, vetting the agents you refer, and leaning into the network of realtors you know.

QUOTES

• “You know everyone you need to know. If you need a good referral lean into your network and ask.” - Ed Billings [12:05]

• “Sometimes you refer people and it is not a match. That’s okay. It is how you handle it when it is not a match that matters. Keep communication going no matter what happens.”- Jefi Moultrie [14:25]

TIMESTAMPS

1:25 Resisting the Rapid Referral

4:01 The Right Referral Process

7:52 What to Consider When Making a Referral

12:06 Networking and Referrals

14:30 Keeping Communication Open Regardless of Outcome

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings discuss the process of selling a homestead and the unique challenges that come with it. They talk about why it is important for real estate agents to recognize and manage emotions in their clients so they can understand them and make the home-selling process smoother and easier.

QUOTES

• “If you understand your client’s fears, you can help bring light to those things. It’s good to find out who is resistant and who is pushing.” - Jefi Moultrie [6:25]

• “When you're dealing with situations where there is finality or a long-term relationship with the home, they are closing a door and moving to the other chapter, you have to be really respectful of the emotion in the room that is latent there.” - Ed Billings [13:28]

TIMESTAMPS

1:52 How to Handle Contention in Real Estate Transactions

4:26 Selling a Home with Aged Sellers and Family Involved

5:49 Working with Older Clients During Home Sales

13:14 Respecting Emotions During Real Estate Transactions

15:04 Navigating Family Dynamics in Real Estate Transactions

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings talk about the benefits and challenges of working with friends. They discuss different qualities you want to look out for in a realtor and share three questions that can help you make a great decision when considering whether or not to work with a friend.

QUOTES

• “When you hire a realtor that is a friend we are not going into business together. You are hiring me for my services.” - Ed Billings [02:05]

• “I have friends reach out to three friends that I have done business with to ask them questions about their experience working with me. This gives them a source to go and ask questions that isn’t me.” - Jefi Moultrie [06:55]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [03:45] Three questions to ask when choosing a realtor
• [06:48] Utilizing other friends as a source
• [11:55] Project-based engagement
• [12:44] Let your clients fire you!

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings discuss how Google Voice can be an asset for any realtor. They share how you can set it up, how it can be used as an organizational tool, and how you can use it to streamline communication. Ed and Jefi also explore strategies for business growth that can impact your whole team and keep you from missing out on opportunities and referrals.

QUOTES

• “If you don't have to handle the minutiae, then the minutiae can't pull you down.” - Ed Billings [12:37]

• “The 101st person is just as important as the first. They just happen to be calling you at a different time. When your bandwidth gets so low over the 100 calls before the 101st, tracking with Google Voice really helps because there's a team working to make sure that the consumer and the agent are being taken care of, and this means you're taking care of your client.” - Jefi Moultrie [09:55]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [05:09] How Google Voice can streamline communication
• [06:38] Utilizing a dedicated phone number for real estate marketing
• [10:34] Google Voice setup
• [12:04] Leveraging time and enhancing customer service

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s Messy in the Middle episode, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings talk about calendaring, its benefits, and challenges. They discuss how calendaring can help you stay motivated throughout the year. Jefi and Ed also share how having structure can create a sense of freedom in your life, protect your personal life, and allow you to work more efficiently.

QUOTES

• “Calendaring can become a gamification. When you are auto-tasking, linking, and delegating in your calendar you will find huge productivity gains as a result.” - Ed Billings [11:14]

• “If you don't know what you're doing, how are you going to be prepared? How is everybody going to be on the same page? I have a business partner and an assistant and they are trying to help me by scheduling appointments and calling clients back. It can’t all live in your head. Ultimately, calendaring makes you feel more in control of your day.” - Jefi Moultrie [04:43]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:37] Calendaring for Realtors: Freedom through organization
• [11:00] Calendar Hygiene: Auto tasking, Linking, and Delegating
• [14:36] Creating structure for a balanced life
• [15:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie, and Ed Billings continue their series on listings. Jefi and Ed discuss the purpose of MLS listings and why succinct, professional photos are important when showing a home. They also talk about MLS remarks and using genuine vocabulary to describe what you love about the property and feel a buyer would also appreciate about the space.

QUOTES

• “The purpose of the MLS posting is to get a scheduled showing. You are telling a story with photos. It is eye candy. You want to tease them, entice them, get them into the key areas and let them walk through.” - Ed Billings [03:02]

• “When it comes to MLS I ask myself ‘What would someone really love about this home?’ It doesn’t have to be this huge sentence or chapter in a book. It can just be points we use as buyer’s agents to sell the property.” - Jefi Moultrie [09:30]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [03:14] Being logical in the flow of MLS photos
• [06:26] MLS remarks
• [13:28] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie, and Ed Billings talk about pre-listing activities and why you shouldn’t negotiate twice. They discuss common issues you want to be ahead of and how you can control them. They also give examples of talk tracks you can use with both buyers and sellers and a checklist that can help you guide your clients and prepare them for whatever the home inspection report reveals.

QUOTES

• “Building the pre-listing activities list into your listing process shows you are professional and it is a great talk track to guide clients through what it involved to successfully sell a home in this market.” - Ed Billings [12:40]

• “All buyers experience buyer's remorse and sellers experience seller's remorse actually. But pre-inspections really tighten the curve of that. So their excitement level still stays high, which is important. We want clients to be happy when they get the keys!” - Jefi Moultrie [11:15]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:14] Pre-inspection
• [09:26] Talk tracks
• [11:38] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie, and Ed Billings take a look at the market and examine the facts. They discuss what is happening in their specific markets in North Carolina and California and advise on the best decisions you can now if buying or selling your home. Listen to this episode to hear Jefi and Ed unpack accurate facts about the current real estate market that might surprise you!

QUOTES

• “Take the time to run the numbers on your specific market. You have to know the facts and dig in because if you rely on the media generalities you are not providing your clients a service.” - Ed Billings [04:29]
• “Keep the eye on the supply. The sky is not falling. Know your numbers. Talk to your clients and educate them” - Jefi Moultrie [12:05]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [05:00] Big picture view of the market
• [07:45] Progress since 2020
• [09:40] Interest rates and low inventory
• [12:25] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie, and Ed Billings talk about the three key numbers you can manage to make progress in your business. They discuss how you can set specific goals for 2023, create friendly competition within your office, and measure your success week-to-week. They also talk about the importance of intentionally setting your focus on specific goals to produce results.

QUOTES

• “That is the bottom line. We are in control of the activities we focus on and we are in control of what we measure.” - Ed Billings [11:14]
• “Pick three numbers. Having three numbers makes it easier to stay on track. Having anything over three makes it more convoluted and makes it more difficult to stay focused on your goals. ” - Jefi Moultrie [09:34]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [03:00] Three important numbers
• [07:45] Buy a whiteboard!
• [10:40] Pitching it to your team
• [11:38] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie, and Ed Billings kick off a series that will explore the fundamentals of realty by discussing open houses. They share tips on how to increase the exposure of homes, maintain safety when holding an open house, engage people in the neighborhoods you are representing, and gather information on people with their consent, to deepen relationships and help them find the home they are looking for.

QUOTES

• “We have seen a trend of shorter showing times. It used to be that an hour was standard to feel a home out but now we are at about fifteen minutes. There is a great opportunity to do a deeper dive with clients.” - Ed Billings [02:23]

• “It is important to take advantage of showing open houses. Holding open houses, if done right, can be an incredible tool for not only selling your listing but for generating more business.” - Jefi Moultrie [14:13]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:30] Open house deep dive
• [03:43] QR codes and video tours
• [09:10] Gathering info
• [14:11] Generating business with open houses
• [14:50] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings reflect on their Thanksgiving parties and give an after-action report. They share what they felt they did well, what they could improve next time, and creative ideas they used to connect with their clients and celebrate them. They talk about the importance of loving on your people and committing to the events that allow you to do that as a realtor.

QUOTES

• “A speech outline is really great. Express gratitude. Tell stories. Ask for a referral and be specific. Close with a genuine expression of gratitude. This helps give your speech purpose and will flow from the heart.” - Ed Billings [05:24]

• “Don’t make excuses to not do something. Do what you need to do to make it happen, even if it isn’t exactly how you want it to be. You can commit to it and you can do it.” - Jefi Moultrie [02:22]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:30] Pre-party calls
• [04:06] Speeches
• [06:19] Professional photos
• [15:37] Gift giving
• [17:18] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie and Ed Billings talk about the power of doing all things with intention. They discuss what intentionality looks like in your personal and professional life and how consistent daily activities can make a huge impact on your long-term goals. They also reflect on the past year and evaluate what they desire to improve in their business approach next year.

QUOTES

• “You don’t want a have a bad case of “pretend busy”. You want to look at your activities and ask what are the most important ones that can drive your business and then go through and be honest with yourself about where you have been unintentional.” - Ed Billings [12:58]

• “I would challenge our listeners to pick one thing they can commit to. The compounding effect of that one thing you choose to commit to makes the biggest difference in the long run.” - Jefi Moultrie [21:59]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:30] Working with intention
• [05:13] Daily activities that generate revenue
• [14:00] Gratitude
• [13:10] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie continues the discussion on asking for referrals with Alex Varela, a loan officer based in the Dallas/Ft. Worth market. Alex shares methods that he utilizes when asking for referrals that can help generate leads and create genuine connection between you and your clients. He also talks about the importance of consistency and following through with referrals to build rapport.

QUOTES

• “I like to edify realtors at least six times in the referral process. It feels genuine. Clients are more likely to give you more information, like a referral, when you are edifying someone else and not just talking about yourself.” - Alex Varela [05:19]

• “You can ask for as many referrals as you want but if you don’t follow through and you don’t do a good job, those referrals can potentially slip through the cracks.” - Jefi Moultrie [08:23]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [00:55] Alex’s background
• [04:30] Asking for referrals
• [08:45] P3
• [11:30] Consistency
• [13:10] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings talks with Scott Wurtzbacher, a Charlotte, NC-based realtor at W Realty Group. Ed and Scott discuss the value of being relational and not transactional with clients. Scott shares how referrals can help realtors work smarter and why building trust can stretch throughout your referral trees and create long-lasting relationships.

QUOTES

• “The key is to maintain relationships with our clients and build trust. If we don't then we miss out on being a part of our client's lives as they evolve.” - Scott Wurtzbacher [06:59]

• “There is no magic way to make referrals happen. You have to put the work in long term and build your business one relationship at a time.” - Ed Billings [12:18]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:22] Scott’s background
• [04:00] Built-in trust
• [07:10] Maintaining client relationships
• [12:50] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi Moultrie talks with Brian Yampolsky, Owner of Orion Mortgage in Phoenix, Arizona. Jefi and Brian discuss three different ways to ask for referrals. Brian shares the importance of having genuine conversations with clients and how getting to know them personally can enable you to ask for referrals with ease.

QUOTES

• “You don’t have to sell yourself over other agents. It doesn’t matter what you say or how you ask for a referral. What matters is that you have a genuine conversation with people and you are present with them.” - Brian Yampolsky [09:07]

• “Once you find out what a person needs, it is really easy for us as realtors and givers to give them what they want. You can give clients what they desire and at the same time ask for referrals. It is a beautiful reciprocation that happens.” - Jefi Moultrie [07:14]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [00:45] How to ask for referrals
• [05:30] Giver’s game mentality
• [08:35] Getting to know your clients
• [11:07] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about the elements of a great business plan and why you need one. They discuss the importance of client referrals, setting transaction goals, and making calls to clients throughout the year. Ed and Jefi share strategic initiatives that have helped them grow their business and equipped them to develop critical skills.

QUOTES

• “Having a business plan is important. Keep it simple. Keep it activity based. Focus on the action plan that drives your goals. Focus on the particular skills you want to improve and the networks you want to build.” - Ed Billings [07:00]

• “One small step in the right direction is still a step. You don’t have to build Rome in a day. Do this one step at a time. If you have an idea for your business plan, start with the next thirty days. Keep it smaller and you can attain more.” - Jefi Moultrie [10:40]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:57] Creating a great business plan
• [05:13] Tracking your calls
• [07:50] Strategic initiatives
• [11:46] Start small
• [16:30] Business plan timing
• [18:11] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about pricing listings in Q4 and as the new year approaches. They discuss why realtors need to have a price reduction plan upfront with clients and why sellers need to hire agents that know how to price homes.

They also talk about the value of working with an appraiser and how realtors can utilize price reductions as a talk track with their clients.

QUOTES

• “When you talk to your sellers it is important that you have talked to an appraiser already. It separates you from other agents. It shows that you are professional and that you are seeking advice from the people who will appraise it after the sale.” - Ed Billings [04:54]

• “Sellers need to make sure that they are hiring an agent that knows how to price right now is very important. By the time you do your price adjustments, you will have missed an entire thirty to forty-five days of market activity and your house could possibly go have gone down.” - Jefi Moultrie [03:04]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:15] West Coast vs. East Coast market
• [04:13] Appraisers
• [07:02] Analyzing the micro market
• [10:19] Recap
• [11:35] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share how you can prepare for power shifts in the market as a realtor. They discuss how to evaluate buyer's agents when you get offers, how to shorten the contingency removal period, and how to handle seller expectations in the current market. They also share how you can evaluate the market accurately regardless of what the media is reporting.

QUOTES

• “A successful transaction is paved with mutual concessions.” -Ed Billings [07:09]

• “We are in a market currently where we need to sharpen our skills as realtors. We need agents that are working professionally to make sure that clients are being taken care of.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:36]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:26] Media coverage and actual market numbers
• [04:03] Buyer agent offers
• [09:08] Shortening due diligence periods
• [16:10] Gauging motivation
• [22:25] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this week’s episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share how you can prepare for power shifts in the market as a realtor. They discuss how to evaluate buyer's agents when you get offers, how to shorten the contingency removal period, and how to handle seller expectations in the current market. They also share how you can evaluate the market accurately regardless of what the media is reporting.

QUOTES

• “A successful transaction is paved with mutual concessions.” -Ed Billings [07:09]

• “We are in a market currently where we need to sharpen our skills as realtors. We need agents that are working professionally to make sure that clients are being taken care of.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:36]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:26] Media coverage and actual market numbers
• [04:03] Buyer agent offers
• [09:08] Shortening due diligence periods
• [16:10] Gauging motivation
• [22:25] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this ten minute takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share the three most important things you can do in the fourth quarter. They share their methods to the madness and how you can set up your “harvest” for the next year.  QUOTES

“Being in touch with folks in the fourth quarter is the most important quarter to contact them in because it sets up the next year. You’re planning your harvest.” -Ed Billings [00:59]

“Quarter four is the time to clean up your client information database. It is the time to weed your garden and plant new seeds.” -Jefi Moultrie [06:44]

TIMESTAMPS [00:20] Intro [02:18] Parties [04:03] Call your clients      [05:55] Database calls [09:18] Outro

RESOURCES https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-of-Team-audiobook/dp/B000079XXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K8YKIPSDZO07&keywords=the+five+dysfunctions+of+a+team&qid=1666035665&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjM2IiwicXNhIjoiMi4wOCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMTgifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+five+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1 (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) https://win.buffiniandcompany.com/events/peak-experience/ (The Peak Experience) https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/05/housing-market-slowing-down-recession/629901/ (The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked) https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2022/05/17/why-rising-mortgage-rates-push-buyers-off-the-fence/ (Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence) https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2022/05/19/the-one-thing-every-homeowner-needs-to-know-about-a-recession/ (The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession)

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: https://messyinthemiddlepodcast.com/ (messyinthemiddlepodcast.com) Ed Billings: https://edbillings.com/ (edbillings.com) Jefi Moultrie: https://jefisrealestate.com (jefisrealestate.com)

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie discuss the key statistics that every realtor should know and break down the current market for the third quarter of the year. They talk about the current status of inventory, pricing, and sales. They also share tips on how to position yourself well as a buyer or seller and navigate the market creatively. 

QUOTES “The numbers should be lower this time of year but the opposite effect is happening because of rising interest rates. Inventory is up. Which means more choices for buyers.” -Ed Billings [04:01]

“Date the rate. Interest rates go up really fast and come down really slowly. So having a creative way like an adjustable mortgage gives you the opportunity to allow those rates to come down slowly and still be in a good position when you are buying.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:11]

TIMESTAMPS [00:20] Intro [01:55] Inventory [06:14] Sales    [08:29] The two one buy down [11:57] Educating your clients [13:24] Outro

RESOURCES https://www.amazon.com/Five-Dysfunctions-of-Team-audiobook/dp/B000079XXR/ref=sr_1_1?crid=2K8YKIPSDZO07&keywords=the+five+dysfunctions+of+a+team&qid=1666035665&qu=eyJxc2MiOiIyLjM2IiwicXNhIjoiMi4wOCIsInFzcCI6IjIuMTgifQ%3D%3D&sprefix=the+five+%2Caps%2C162&sr=8-1 (The Five Dysfunctions of a Team) https://win.buffiniandcompany.com/events/peak-experience/ (The Peak Experience) https://www.theatlantic.com/newsletters/archive/2022/05/housing-market-slowing-down-recession/629901/ (The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked) https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2022/05/17/why-rising-mortgage-rates-push-buyers-off-the-fence/ (Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence) https://www.keepingcurrentmatters.com/2022/05/19/the-one-thing-every-homeowner-needs-to-know-about-a-recession/ (The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession)

CONTACT Messy in the Middle: https://messyinthemiddlepodcast.com/ (messyinthemiddlepodcast.com) Ed Billings: https://edbillings.com/ (edbillings.com) Jefi Moultrie: https://jefisrealestate.com/ (jefisrealestate.com)

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie discuss key topics from the book “The Five Dysfunctions Of A Team”, by Author Patrick Lencioni. They talk about the five necessary elements to becoming a successful and impactful team. From healthy conflict to building trust, they share how understanding these five elements have helped them as business leaders and teammates. 

They also discuss what leaders are responsible for and the power of their commitment to their team.

QUOTES

“If you have a team that is working together, everybody needs to know that they can say what is important to them, own their mistakes, own their successes, and be in an environment where they can share that. It is really important.” -Ed Billings [03:50]

“I think that no matter what when you are asking your team to be vulnerable you always have to be vulnerable first as the leader. Every time you do that or say I am sorry I let you guys down, you are creating trust and it helps them know it is ok to make a mistake.” -Jefi Moultrie [13:18]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:20] Intro

[02:05] Absence of trust

[04:25] Fear of conflict

[06:29] Commitment 

[07:35] Avoidance of accountability 

[09:30] Results

[18:04] Passivity

[24:35] Jefi and Ed’s experiences with this model

[28:13] Outro

RESOURCES

The Five Dysfunctions of a Team

The Peak Experience

The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked

Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie discuss the current state of the real estate market and the fundamentals of navigating a constantly shifting market. They talk about the power of having a coach, the importance of having emotional intelligence, and why you need to consistently engage your clients.

They also discuss the value of working with a team and maintaining open communication with them.

QUOTES

“A successful transaction is paid with mutual concessions. Sometimes you give and sometimes you take. You remember that as you walk down the road. It is an important skill to develop.” -Ed Billings [20:07]

“As an agent, if you’re going to spend money on anything the next couple of months, it should be coaching. Full stop.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:35]

TIMESTAMPS

[00:20] Intro

[05:00] State of the market

[08:16] Drifting through the market

[11:25] Check on your clients

[16:30] Emotional intelligence

[22:10] Outro

RESOURCES

The Peak Experience

Buffini Coaching

The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked

Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence

The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk to Ryan McMullen from MetPro, a program focused on Nutrition, Fitness, and Lifestyle Coaching. Ryan shares his personal journey with weight loss and his passion for helping people reach their goals in a healthy way. He talks about the importance of life balance and why we need it.

They also discuss many of the variables that inhibit weight loss and how coaching can open your mind to new approaches in your pursuit of wellness.

QUOTES

• “We live in a very short-term focused society. We want 6-minute abs versus the long-term approach and managing things through that.” -Ed Billings [13:15]

• “Being coachable means coming in with an attitude that you don’t know anything.” -Jefi Moultrie [10:45]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [03:40] Ryan’s background
• [09:19] Staying open to help
• [14:14] Short-term and long-term goals
• [17:55] Realistic expectations
• [26:33] Motivation
• [22:10] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about working remotely and the systems and technology that help your clients feel taken care of when you are working out of the office.

They also discuss the biggest challenges they have faced when working remotely and the solutions they have discovered.

QUOTES

• “It is important to have a single point of contact for the client so there aren’t these nebulous handoffs about who they are working with. It establishes who the point person is and the fill-in person.” -Ed Billings [06:25]

• “Your clients need to know the roadmap. They need to know what is going on so nothing catches them off guard. So does your team. It all needs to be in one place.” -Jefi Moultrie [06:50]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [03:40] Building systems
• [05:20] Restructuring your team
• [10:31] Technology
• [12:55] Biggest challenges
• [16:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about how you can create a backup system when a crisis comes up in your business or when you step away for a much-needed break. They discuss the importance of creating structure ahead of time and utilizing your team members.

They also talk about how a backup plan can create longevity in your business.

QUOTES

• “You never want to waste a good crisis. Crisis comes up. You are fighting the fire but it is good to think about the measures you need to take to keep this fire from breaking out next time.” -Ed Billings [06:49]

• “Utilize your tribe. Explain to your tribe and your clients what you are doing when you are on vacation. Having that dialogue down is really important.” - Jefi Moultrie [05:35]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:08] Timing is everything
• [04:24] Getting a virtual assistant
• [04:51] Boots on the ground
• [06:50] Don’t waste a good crisis
• [08:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about the important tasks that help nurture your business. They discuss how you can work on your business, navigate the intense shifts of the real estate market with ease and find balance in it all.

They also share why strategic planning and taking time for yourself are both necessary for the success of your business.

QUOTES

• “You can’t fake the harvest. So you have to be planting the seeds and making sure your tools are nice and sharp.” -Ed Billings [09:38]

• “It is about getting back to the basics. Working on the business. Cleaning it up. Making it work. Doing what you need to do so that you are doing all the preemptive things that you possibly can to make a smooth transition back into heavy transactions and business.” - Jefi Moultrie [06:26]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:20] Working ON your business
• [06:00] Staying on top of organization
• [08:26] Touches- connect with your clients
• [10:03] Working IN your business
• [10:56] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about the number one lead generation tool for your business: Calling your clients. They discuss why clients want to hear from you, the benefits of setting personal objectives, and why it is important to connect with your clients as the market keeps shifting.

Jefi and Ed also discuss call resistance, a fear we all have in making calls to clients, and tips and tricks that can help you overcome it.

QUOTES

• “Like any fear, you have to recognize it. Call resistance is a real thing. There is no shame in it. There are ways and tricks to power through that. The first is that you are not imposing. Surveys say that calls are the number one thing our clients want. So what is the fear about?” -Ed Billings [06:01]

• “I connect with my clients then I ask: “Hey do you mind if I put my business hat on? My clients always laugh but it is a great transition. And then I ask if they know any friends or family looking to buy a house.” -Jefi Moultrie [14:20]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [02:11] The number one lead generation tool
• [05:01] Closing transactions
• [08:56] Send a text to set up a call
• [14:31] Switching from personal to business
• [18:30] Setting objectives
• [21:01] Make the ask
• [23:08] Build in rewards
• [25:00] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about their summer party ideas. They share their top takeaways like how to create party budgets, the importance of having a social media presence, and ways you can foster personal connections with your clients at events.

Jefi and Ed also discuss what they would do differently and the areas they consistently grow in by throwing parties.

QUOTES

• “My main takeaway was that people like to participate in charitable events. They get a sense of giving and it benefits other things.” -Ed Billings [04:21]

• “Steal like an artist. Take ideas that work for you. You don’t have to have a brand new idea. That is why we present these ideas because if something works for us we want you to know and use it.” -Jefi Moultrie [01:44]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [00:58] Summer Parties
• [05:00] Party take-aways
• [06:45] What Ed and Jefi would do differently
• [09:14] Gift drawing
• [10:00] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk about the exact numbers every realtor needs to know, especially with the current state of the market. They share how you can define the market you want to track, spot trends over time, and better understand actives and pendings.

Jefi and Ed also discuss how to have productive conversations with buyers and share a spreadsheet tool they utilize to help them understand the market they represent.

QUOTES

• “You run into somebody and what’s the question they always ask? “How’s the market?” You want to be able to have that really specific answer and tell them exactly what is going on in the market. It allows you to demonstrate your expertise.” - Ed Billings [03:15]

• “It takes me five minutes. I set up a search in the multiple listing. I have my spreadsheet ready to go and I literally just transfer information from one place to the next.So when I see people I can actually have a great conversation about the numbers with them.” - Jefi Moultrie [06:10]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:48] Intro
• [03:08] Choosing your zip codes
• [05:12] Spotting trends over time
• [07:26] Define what you’re tracking
• [10:50] Pending numbers
• [15:16] The spreadsheet
• [20:53] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share a roadmap they created for the home buying journey. They talk about how home buying has become more complex over time. It can be confusing for buyers but also an opportunity for a realtor to stand out. They discuss how you can educate your clients, define who your clients will be working with, and position yourself as a trusted advisor.

Jefi and Ed also discuss tools that have helped their business grow and deepened their relationships with clients.

QUOTES

• “The more I can get shoulder to shoulder with the agent on the other side, the smoother the transaction is usually gonna go. It makes it less toxic when you have a problem and you recognize you are both working together.” - Ed Billings [12:37]

• “We need to be better at leading our team and leading our clients. Because they are looking to us as trusted advisors. We need to be better. In this market, as the cream rises to the top, the better you are the more business you will have.” - Jefi Moultrie [08:36]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:19] Intro
• [01:58] The road map
• [05:12] The changing realtor landscape
• [08:29] Leading your team and clients
• [11:06] Be open to technology
• [13:30] The human element
• [17:29] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie share their top three takeaways from Brian Buffini’s Peak Experience, a capstone event for the coaching program they both utilize. They talk about personal areas for potential improvement, how to help clients navigate inflation, and the importance of knowing their needs as a realtor.

Jefi and Ed also discuss how to build your agent network and deepen those relationships.

QUOTES

• “I think we all know a lot of people that have a lot of resources but are spinning around and they don’t seem to be super happy because they don’t have a lot of time. Being wealthy is having time.” - Ed Billings [05:32]

• “How we spend our day, is how we spend our life.” - Jefi Moultrie [03:36]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:19] Intro
• [01:03] What Jefi and Ed learned at Peak Experience
• [03:15] Jefi’s top three take-aways
• [05:15] Ed’s top three take-aways
• [10:14] Inflation
• [15:09] End of year ideas
• [17:24] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

SUMMARY

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings, and Jefi Moultrie talk with Jeremy Patterson, a lender at Fairway Mortgage in San Diego. Jeremy shares his passion for educating people about financial literacy. He talks about the benefits of having home ownership in your financial portfolio and how it can be a way to protect your family for generations.

Jeremy also discusses the current real estate market and how to help clients navigate fears amid a recession.

QUOTES

• “Equilibrium is six months. So it is still a very healthy market. It is just not pants on fire hot. It’s hot. So it’s resetting expectations.” - Ed Billings [13:23]

• “These things are all so intertwined. It’s beautiful because you are leveraging an amazing asset, which is your home, to do something that sets you up for your future.” - Jefi Moultrie [20:33]

• “My job is not knowing mortgages. It is serving people and helping people make great decisions. I don’t care what the decision is. I think it is more important to give them the data.” - Jeremy Patterson [10:11]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:30] Intro
• [01:00] Jeremy’s “why?”
• [03:17] Buydowns
• [08:09] Recession and the real estate market
• [11:03] The current state of loans and the ability to qualify for them
• [14:06] Home Equity Conversion Mortgage
• [20:11] Financial planning
• [24:25] Starting the conversation: Reverse Mortgages
• [27:54] Jeremy’s market predictions
• [29:37] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk with Julie Pergola, a Business Coach at Buffini & Company. They talk about the value of business coaching and the importance of generating leads and referrals.

Julie shares solutions for three common struggles her clients encounter: systems, discipline, and growing your business.

QUOTES

• “Your business starts growing from when you started out, and if you’re not being coached through those transitions you’re gonna hit a ceiling and you’re not gonna be able to punch past it.” -Ed Billings [06:59]

• “Calendaring for me is always a constant check in for me because I feel like I get smushed into time frames. But when you say that it creates freedom it changed my brain into thinking this gives me time to do what I want to do.” -Jefi Moultrie [14:14]

• “Sometimes we think we can push ourselves but it is not always the best thing to do. Having that outside accountability partner, that person that will push you to the next level.. think of it in terms of sports. Everyone has a coach to push them to that next level.” -Julie Pergola [07:22]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:30] Intro
• [03:09] Systems
• [13:09] Disciplines
• [18:25] Growing your business
• [19:24] Hiring an assistant
• [23:46] Keep your focus
• [24:50] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
• Buffini & Company

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie share tools that contribute to a healthy work-life balance, so you don't FSBO yourself.

They discuss the importance of having a list of goals and passion projects, how you can work towards them and the benefits of seeking help from a life coach.

QUOTES

• “The big picture of what we are talking about is looking at your life and saying what are things that are important to you that you want to work on. You start that process by making a list of goals.” -Ed Billings [03:03]

• “Take the time to hire somebody to help you do the fun stuff, or get better at the fun stuff. That is where I think the magic happens with balance in your life.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:41]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:30] Intro
• [02:50] Make a list of your goals
• [03:30] Categorizing your goals
• [06:55] Give yourself a deadline
• [09:27] Life balance and coaching
• [13:03] Invite your clients into the things you enjoy
• [14:37] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie share how you can communicate with your clients using a mid-year update. They discuss how to prepare your clients with information that can help them navigate the current market and make confident choices, whether selling or buying a home.

QUOTES

• “When you track numbers over time you can see the trend line. Talk to your clients from knowledge. Remember that articles are designed to be clicked on with salacious headlines. Track numbers and pay attention to the FACTS.” - Ed Billings [16:53]

• “The more educated you are in what is happening, the better you can lead your clients. They are hiring us to be an expert at what we do.” - Jefi Moultrie [01:51]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:30] Intro
• [01:40] How to give a mid year update
• [04:40] The number of homes for sale is likely to grow
• [10:52] Mortgage rates will likely continue to respond to inflationary pressures
• [17:30] Home prices are projected to continue to climb
• [20:17] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss what stagflation is, what it means, and how you can become a trusted advisor to your clients on the topic. They share how you can educate your clients and walk them through stagflation's unpredictability.

QUOTES

• “Work through that stagflation talk track with your clients. Talk about the fundamentals of your market. Like politics, all real estate is local.” -Ed Billings [08:37]

• “Talk with your clients about stagflation. The more information they have that comes from you, their trusted advisor, the more calm they will be. That will have a ripple effect in your community.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:57]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:15] What is stagflation?
• [02:15] What does stagflation mean for your clients?
• [04:33] What can your client do?
• [08:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss the value of having an accountability partner. They share how you can find a good accountability partner, hold each other accountable and establish new rhythms in your life by remaining curious.

QUOTES

• “I’m not an every day kinda guy. But, Jefi and I committed to talking once a week. We have been checking in once a week and it has CHANGED our businesses.” -Ed Billings [01:02]
• “Set goals and then challenge each other’s goals. We often don’t believe in ourselves as much as other people do. So when you set a goal, share that with your accountability partner and let them hold you to it.” -Jefi Moultrie [03:33]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:22] Intro
• [01:15] How to find a good accountability partner
• [03:52] How do you stay accountable?
• [04:28] Learn from your accountability partner
• [06:00] Be curious!
• [07:00] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession
• Enneagram Test

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss a productivity hack called “1A”. They share how this hack can help you focus on emails that are important, lower your stress levels and keep you organized.

QUOTES

• “All I look at is the 1A. Stuff is getting done. Things are filed correctly. It has changed things for me so much in a two week period, I cannot tell you what a difference it has made, because the stress level is down.” -Ed Billings [03:48]
• “When I open my email and there is 50,000 emails, I only look in my file “1A”… it is a game changer.” -Jefi Moultrie [02:23]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [00:53] 1A: Jefi to Complete
• [02:57] Ed’s 1A hack
• [05:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie share creative ideas for summertime parties. They discuss why it is crucial to create exclusive parties for your clients and how to find the right venue no matter the time of year. They also talk about how you can include a charitable component to benefit an organization in your events.

QUOTES

• “I would encourage you all to brainstorm and see how you can connect the dots in your spheres of influence and the things you are interested in. You will be surprised what comes up. ” -Ed Billings [10:31]
• “This is a deep dive for us and we are committed. We are going in knowing we are gonna love on these people and make them feel special.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:41]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:20] Intro
• [01:50] Party ideas
• [05:00] Creating exclusive invitations
• [06:38] Finding the right venue
• [07:23] Charitable component
• [11:30] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss how the current real estate market has peaked. They talk about the key factors that are causing this peak to educate sellers and buyers on how to prepare for the next phase.

QUOTES

• “It’s not the sky is falling. We’re not going back to 2008, and that’s something really important to tell your clients.” -Ed Billings [11:45]
• “You need to have a really good plan. You need to go back to the basics of being an A+ agent.” -Jefi Moultrie [17:34]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [01:17] The housing market has peaked

• [04:37] Key factors at play
• [08:04] Interest rates increase
• [12:31] The stock market decreasing
• [14:25] Watch your inventory
• [20:14] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk about taking time off. They share tips and tricks on how to completely detach and what they can look like through their personal experiences.

QUOTES

• “Having a team that has your back, that has systems in place, so that you can detach is how you make it happen.” -Jefi Moultrie [04:41]
• “When people start to not live in the moment, they lose their confidence. They start worrying about things that are way down the line and outside of their control.” -Ed Billings [13:33]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [03:11] How Jefi detached during vacation

• [08:06] Ways to prep
• [10:33] Live in the moment
• [19:05] Believe that you can
• [25:07] We’re the calm leader
• [26:42] Cross those bridges when you get there
• [29:08] Outro

RESOURCES

• Vacation by The Go-Go's
• Messy in the Middle: Jefi’s Got A Burner
• Trello

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this Ten Minute Takedown of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie follow up on their previous episodes about reaching out to clients and what it looks like behind the scenes when planning events. They share event ideas that have been successful, ideas that have gone wrong, and how they like to follow up with their clients in a personal way after events.

QUOTES

• “When you express gratitude from your heart with that many people, it just fills you up.” -Ed Billings [10:56]
• “I like more in-depth conversation. Small talk isn’t exciting to me. I really like to connect with people more.” -Jefi Moultrie [10:18]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [02:25] Reach out

• [05:10] Behind the scenes
• [08:44] Wins and "wackadoos"
• [12:03] Follow-ups

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

SUMMARY

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle podcast, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk about the value of parties and "pop-bys" in growing your business. They discuss why it is important to engage your clients on a personal level and how to put in effort when it comes to planning events for your business. Jefi and Ed share some of the successful events they have hosted in the past and a few behind-the-scenes logistics that help with planning.

QUOTES

• “Part of why it is really important (to do pop-bys), is one of the challenges we all face as realtors is that where you are sitting today can be very difficult to see where your business is coming from 90 -120 days out. When you work the referral way, by getting in front of your people letting them know you are still alive, still a realtor and bearing a gift, having that discussion, it is a really powerful way to do it.” -Ed Billings [03:30]
• “When you pop by to see someone. You get these little snippets into their lives…

it allows for real beautiful organic conversation. It helps you as their trusted advisor to know what it is that they actually need.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:53]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro
• [03:53] The value of hosting events to grow your business
• [05:08] The benefits of events
• [08:45] Jefi’s personal story with a client party
• [13:30] What happens if nobody shows up to an event?
• [21:44] Planning and putting in effort
• [25:30] Raffle drawings
• [31:45] Budgeting
• [33:22] Party ideas
• [42:11] Tracking events to know what is working for you

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this 10 Minute Takedown of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie follow-up on their previous episodes about dealing with surplus. They share what they are doing to handle the current surplus in their business through three key points.

QUOTES

• “You’re going to seek feedback from other folks, and sometimes you’ll get the feedback of ‘No, don’t do that,’ or “Yes, but do that.’ And it can mess with you, but when you seek that silence out and that quietness and your gut is saying, ‘Do it,’ that’s what leadership’s about. And you have to just move it and move forward and explain why you’re doing it.” -Ed Billings [03:38]
• “Just do it. You can always go back in and change what you put out there.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:18]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [01:06] What Jefi is doing to overcome surplus

• [02:19] Listen to your gut
• [04:56] The job description
• [08:08] Take action and modify
• [09:23] Outro

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk about handling surplus in the real estate industry. They discuss three points: what it means to have a surplus, how to identify when you’re in a surplus and how to hire through your surplus.

QUOTES

• “Obviously life in real estate right now is surplus. There’s just so much going on, but also on a deeper level, a lot of my relationship clients are coming and saying ‘It’s time to buy. It’s time to sell. It’s time to do whatever,’ and I only have one head and two hands. And so it’s been a lot.” -Jefi Moultrie [01:39]
• “In this case on the listing side, it’s like I have my standards of communication I like to hold, and I realized I was unable to do that. And then also like I need to rework systems. Like I’m getting too many notifications from showing times.” -Ed Billings [08:05]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [02:01] Recent experience with surplus

• [06:07] The after action
• [07:44] What is surplus
• [10:39] Hiring through the surplus
• [20:25] Indeed profiles
• [23:16] Outro

RESOURCES

• Buffini & Company: Real Estate Coaching & Training
• Indeed

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk about the perils of overpricing listings. In this rapidly rising market, they discuss how they educate a seller on how to develop a winning strategy that doesn’t involve a high list price.

QUOTES

• “My famous line is ‘Well, unfortunately, you and I don’t get to decide what your home is going to sell for. The buyer does.’ The buyer is going to tell you what your home’s worth. They might say it’s worth less than you think, and they might say it’s worth more, but you can have a general idea, but that’s about it. At least in this market.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:09]
• “Overpriced listings are soul sucking. They’re just costly in time, money and most important, your energy.” -Ed Billings [21:05]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [03:37] What is someone willing to spend?

• [06:14] Slightly under value for better pricing
• [10:17] Accusation audit
• [13:51] When listings stay on too long
• [17:57] Communicating with other agents
• [20:02] Overpriced listings are costly
• [26:12] A pricing nightmare
• [31:27] Outro

RESOURCES

• Zillow
• Never Split the Difference: Negotiating As If Your Life Depended On It by Chris Voss with Tahl Raz
• Real Estate Success with Never Split The Difference

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this 10 minute takedown of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie talk about taking a zero day when you find yourself with some free time.

QUOTES

• “I’m a horrible Zero Day taker, so let’s talk about that.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:16]
• “This is the kind of business that we’re on all the time and we’re always pushing, and it’s ok to have a little gap and to just take that time for you and to recognize it.” -Ed Billings [06:03]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [00:37] The burner phone

• [01:48] Having a zero day
• [05:16] How to not fill every moment
• [07:01] A challenge: Look for a zero moment
• [08:05] Outro

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

View Details

In this episode of the Messy in the Middle, hosts Ed Billings and Jefi Moultrie discuss separating business life from personal life by having two cell phones. Jefi shares how she came to own two phones and how it has helped her with this separation. She also discusses how she implements this and manages the crossover with clients and friends.

QUOTES

• “That is kind of the underbelly of everything that has to do with a burner. It’s the time that we need in our profession to be the best that we possibly can by having time to regenerate.” -Jefi Moultrie [18:28]
• “If you had a sales job where it wasn’t that way, you would never be blending your personal phone calls with your business. You’d have two separate phones for that, but I think it’s the default for our business is that it’s just blending over.” -Ed Billings [18:58]

TIMESTAMPS

• [00:00] Intro

• [01:26] Meeting at a bar

• [03:42] Her dad’s phone number
• [07:02] Separating business from personal life
• [08:40] How she implemented this
• [11:31] Pros and cons
• [16:38] It’s freeing
• [19:45] Joe got a burner too
• [23:43] Weekend use?
• [24:36] Ed is getting a burner too
• [25:06] Retraining personal relationships
• [30:32] Outro

RESOURCES

• The Peak Experience
• Challenged Athletes Foundation

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com