Real Talk with Leigh Brown

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

Real estate is not what you ever expected it to be, until you end up in the middle of something fun. Power-house broker Sher Powers tells us about the worst experience she ever had viewing an investor property in Nashville, when she opened the door to hundreds of cockroaches. Sher has worked in both normal and investment real estate, and she's learned to expect the unexpected. Tune in to find out...

Summary: Early in Leigh York's colorful career, an eventful sale involving missed medication, a fire, and a rolled pickup taught her to keep calm in the midst of craziness. She has learned that however she reacts to a situation is exactly how her client will react, so it is best to model level-headedness. Leigh is also working to at the National Association level to set industry standards for real...

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

Sometimes you've gotta keep a secret. And sometimes Mercury Retrograde impacts your client's decision to sign any contracts (dang you, Mercury!). Isabel Affinito, a young realtor in central Austin, knows this all too well. Listen to her Crazy Shit in Real Estate story that involves Mercury Retrograde (if you don't know what that is, you'll just have to tune in to find out!), a divorce mid-sale tha...

Guess who's joining us from the land down under? Rachael Goldsworthy! Rachael is a long-time realtor with a brokerage in Hawkesbury, Australia, and she's got a knack for visualizing potential and opportunity when others don't. Inspired by her less-than-ideal experience when she bought her first home, Rachael launched her real estate career with a mission to improve the consumer service experience...

I see London I see France, I see...someone's underpants? That's right, this IS Crazy Shit in Real Estate, after all! Broker and coach Anthony Lamacchia shares with us the crazy story of when he took a buyer through a home and a nearly-naked woman made a surprise appearance. Anthony leads his own brokerage now and, having switched from the family landscaping business, he truly knows what it takes t...

Today we're discussing a topic that is often overlooked in real estate: Safety. And not just in regards to realtors, but consumers, too! In today's episode, Angela Shields, CEO of The Tennessee Realtors, provides us with some case studies that act as perfect examples of why safety should always come first. Tune in to hear Angela tell the story of a realtor who barely made it out of a home showing...

Have no fear, the Real Estate Superhero is here! Jeremias "J-Man" Maneiro, a realtor in Rochester, NY, tells us the story of when he carried a client through her entire home tour, and how that moment officially bestowed him with true superhero status. But this superhero's not just muscle. Tune in to hear how he cared for his client before and after her broken ankle surgery, despite how motivated s...

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

What can be messy and smelly and furry all over? Foreclosures! Especially the ones Sharon has seen. Sharon Alters, a second-generation realtor from Jacksonville, shares her craziest real estate stories which include none other than stubborn hoarders and house-squatting horses! Although she no longer does foreclosures, Sharon recognizes that they can be fun – like a box of chocolates where, "ya nev...

Not all Crazy Shit in Real Estate stories have to be bad-crazy! We've got some good-crazy ones, too! Dawn Kayano, a realtor in Honolulu, warms our hearts with a real estate story full of generosity, surprises, and the true meaning of "ohana." It's refreshing to hear a story about good people in the world coming together. Dawn tells about how a heartfelt story, an ambitious young woman, a killer co...

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

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

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

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

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

Sticks and stones may break bones...but they won't stop a good realtor from taking a call from a client! Kellie Tinnen, Training Administrator for the Greater Albuquerque Association of Realtors, shares the story of when her friend was –literally– beat with a stick by an unruly child. Now that Kellie does broker outreach and in-office trainings, she teaches new brokers how to treat clients, other...

Crime scene showing, anyone? Despite any caution tape in her way, Shakeima Chatman knows how to hustle. At the lowest point of the recession, she decided to leave her stable corporate job and take the leap into real estate. She said it best: "It hasn't always been easy, but it's always been worth it." Today, Shakeima has her own team, The Chatman Group, is brokered with Carolina Elite Real Estate,...

Dog? What dog? When Linda Devlieg, realtor of 25 years and ex-dog groomer, tells you to pay attention to a "Beware of Dog" sign, LISTEN! Tune in as Linda tells us about how she singlehandedly stopped two attacking dogs, how her clients ran off when they saw a bull snake sunning on a porch, and – if you haven't noticed yet – how real estate is nothing like what you see on TV. Linda also sheds some...

This is real estate church, and we're preaching some truth! Early on in her real estate career, Kim Knapp learned what it takes to be successful. It's very simple: Just be above average. After selling $6 million in her first year, Kim landed among the stars and now instructs other realtors on how to do the same. Powered by hustle and grit, Kim discusses the importance of doing what it takes – even...

Kynse Leigh is a trooper. In 2014, she opened her own brokerage –just to find out two years later that she had a failing kidney and would need a transplant. That didn't stop Kynse from documenting her journey with Facebook Live videos, continuing her work, spending time with her son, and creating awareness around the transplant journey and the importance of being a donor. Tune in to hear how Kynse...

Stephanie White has worn many hats in the real estate world. She's gone from realtor, to broker, to managing and regional broker, to working in the association world – and not necessarily in that order. Stephanie gets into the problem of new shiny things on the market when realtors should just focus on what's tried and true. Tune in to hear how you can't buy likeability, why authenticity always wi...

Laura Fangman, realtor of 10 years and micro-farmer, gives us the dirt on some drama that ensued when she showed a home to a buyer who had recently gotten into a fight with the seller, unbeknownst to her. Laura reflects on her experience as a new realtor and how she learned to select her clients carefully from that point on. Tune in to hear how Laura insists on asking better questions, receiving b...

Clint Skutchan, recovering association CEO, consultant, and podcast show host, digs deep into the struggles of association life, including having to deal with people who seem to just be "riding it out." Whether it be unmotivated volunteer leaders or members that fear change and use their power for the not-so-good, Clint seems to have dealt with it all. Tune in to hear what it takes to create real...