The holiday season is in full swing and while it can be filled with magic and cheer, we know it can also be a source of stress for many people. Whether it be family gatherings, parties with friends, work related invites, or the end of year rush at work, there can be so many things to increase the pressure we feel to be everything for everyone. This week we are going to explore setting boundaries and how to gracefully decline commitments without feeling guilty. Join us as we share valuable insights on reclaiming control of your schedule, ensuring a more relaxed and joyful holiday experience. Say goodbye to overwhelm and hello to a more intentional and fulfilling celebration. Let’s dive in!

We can’t even believe it, but it’s already that time of year again! It’s Thanksgiving week, and once again this year we have so, so much to be thankful for. We are going to share some of the many things in our personal and professional lives that we are thankful for this year, and we even have listeners calling in and sharing what they are grateful for as well. We love this time of year, and this is a super fun feel good episode to accompany you while you are getting ready for the big day. Happy Thanksgiving!

Did someone press rewind? Get ready for our very first rewind episode because the first one was that good. On Episode 85 last year we shared how to connect with clients over the holidays and this year we are focusing on the same things The holidays are a fantastic time to connect with clients in a non-salesy way. There are many reasons to reach out and get together that have absolutely nothing to do with real estate or selling, and it can help you put yourself front of mind heading into the New Year. Instead of checking out you can actually have fun and continue to move your business forward. We all want a paycheck in January and this episode will give you the tips you need to serve your clients at the highest level this holiday season, and guess what? They might even be a little easier than you think. Let's dive in!

Is real estate investing something you’ve been considering? Or maybe you have clients asking you questions about getting into investing and you aren’t sure where to start. Real estate investing is a great way to create wealth, and even generate a monthly income if you’ve got the right strategies in place. This week on the podcast we are going to be discussing the BRRR method as well as house flipping and comparing and contrasting the two methods.    BRRR stands for Buy, Rehab, Rent and Refinance, and is a longer term strategy whereas property flipping is more of a short term game. Both methods are going to have a big emphasis on the “buy” portion of the transaction to try to maximize your returns. They are also going to be reliant on being able to renovate and improve the properties while trying to get the most bang for your buck on the improvements. This week Beth is going to share all her tips and tricks for how she squeezes the most out of her flips while still making them look beautiful and share her thoughts on the BRRR method. If real estate investing has been something you’ve been considering you won’t want to miss this episode. Let’s dive in!

Have you ever considered what truly defines a brand? If you think of logos and all things visually appealing you’re not alone. But a brand is not just about the aesthetics, it's about the emotions and experiences it evokes in people. Creating the feelings of wanting a very specific product, and refusing to accept an alternative is the result of branding. It’s what creates loyal customers. It’s why you drive past one coffee shop to go to another, or you always buy the same kind of shoes. We like the way a product or service makes us feel, and we like what it says about us for using it. These are just some of the reasons why people buy from brands rather than businesses.    In our latest podcast episode, we dive into the world of brands. We explored the idea that your brand might not be what you initially believed, and why this could be a significant setback with your clients, potentially hurting their trust in your brand. We discuss some of the ways that inconsistencies with the presentation of your brand can lead to confusion from your audience  and some of the ways you can fix that. This episode is a must-listen, especially if you're an entrepreneur. Let’s dive in!

Elly Cummings, the Executive Vice President at New American Funding returns to the podcast this week to discuss the burning questions surrounding the real estate market. Elly reveals some surprising insights, including the fact that 20% of their business currently consists of refinances, despite higher interest rates. She highlights how consumers often prioritize low home interest rates while struggling with high credit card debt at 24%. Elly, sheds some light on the financial shifts during the pandemic, where low interest rates led to increased consumer debt. This enlightening episode might shift your perspective on debt, where consumers carry their debt and how they could rebalance things to save themselves money on their monthly expenses.  If you are someone who has been sitting on the sidelines waiting to buy or sell, this episode might be the gentle nudge that you need to get back in the real estate game. Elly emphasizes that while interest rates have risen, there are still positive aspects to be found in the current market. We are betting some people might even start rethinking their current position. Let’s dive in!

During the pandemic, we discovered a positive change: we managed to work successfully without a physical office. Beth started her real estate career in the days when you went to an office every day, but sometimes being in the office actually hurt her productivity.  Now, our team excels in staying connected, being productive, and building relationships from wherever we are, thanks to tools like Slack, Zoom, Facetime, and video messages. We've embraced virtual meetings, coffee chats, team-building, and even happy hours. How has your perspective on office vs. remote work evolved in your business? Listen to our podcast this week where we discuss debunking myths about brick-and-mortar and building The BPR Experience without a traditional office. You might be surprised. Let’s dive in!

Let's face it, no matter how filled with creativity you may be on a given day, we’ve all faced sitting down to write something for a property listing, a social media caption, or e-mail and have been stuck with writer’s block.    You are staring at the screen and you’ve got nothing, or maybe you feel like you keep saying the same things and it’s getting stale. We feel you! It happens. Today Beth is sharing how she uses ChatGPT to help her when she's stuck. She isn't going to tell you to throw some prompts in and copy and paste, but she is going to share how she uses it as a tool to help her get out of a creative rut.   Using AI as a tool to help get some ideas going for you, or maybe give you some new adjectives can sometimes be all you need to get back on track and get your creative work done.    Ever get stuck in a creative rut? This one is for you. Let’s dive in!

Alright BusBenchBabes this week we’ve got a special guest with us, Leah Garcyznski, the owner and principal designer at 13th Avenue Interiors in Minneapolis, MN. Leah gives us a window into what it’s like to balance a corporate career and a side business, while also being a mom and a wife. She shares some of her tips for time management, and prioritizing tasks, and we talk to her about her design style, mom life and transitioning her life from a full time corporate career to full time solopreneur.  We connected with Leah through social media and the podcast and we had SO much fun getting to sit down with her in person and have this conversation. She is full of wisdom and wonderful advice and we can’t wait to share this with you! Let’s dive in! Make sure to check Leah out on Instagram @13thavenueinteriors and on her website www.13thavenueinteriors.com

It’s not a secret to anyone at this point that the real estate market the last year or so has been quite a challenge. High interest rates have led to stagnating sales and limited supply. In fact the National Association of Realtors has reported that 60,000 Realtors have left the business altogether in the first half of 2023. That’s over 300 per day! We don’t want that to be you.  This week we’ve got some Monday motivation to help you with adapting to the shifting market. Surviving and thriving during a difficult time in the market requires a multifaceted approach because you need business strategies for marketing and selling, but also you’re human and when times are tough you’ve got to find ways to keep motivated and inspired to carry on until you find the better times ahead. Nobody said this game was easy, but tough markets don’t last forever and if you can survive now you will be able to crush when the market eases a little bit. We are here for you and this week we share some tips on how to adapt to the market we are in. Let’s do this!

Okay BusBenchBabes, we are back with another birthday celebration episode! Beth is celebrating another trip around the sun, and we talked about everything that happened for Beth this year in life and business. Not gonna lie, this is an emotional conversation. It’s vulnerable, it’s real, and you might need to grab a box of tissues like we did. Beth also shares all she is looking forward to for the year ahead, and some of the lessons she learned along the way during this year. We hope you join us in celebrating Beth this week. Let’s dive in!

It’s hard to believe but fall is here, kids are back to school, and the fall real estate market is upon us. There are still many people worried about rising interest rates affecting the real estate market. However, despite higher rates, the market remains competitive with strong buyer demand and limited inventory. Most homes are still selling quickly, often with multiple offers. While more buyers are showing interest through purchase loan applications, they're still 20% shy of last year's numbers. That means less competition for those hunting for their dream home right now. But here's the twist—when interest rates decide to take a breather those cautious buyers on the sidelines will likely jump back into the game. Brace yourself for a resurgence of multiple offers and high prices. On the podcast this week, we’ve got a special guest, Annie, a top producer in the Kansas City metro area. We'll be dishing out insights, comparing market vibes, and spoiler alert: The sky's firmly in place in the world of real estate. Let's dive in to all the things!

Have you been on the Realtor summer break, slacking a little more than you should be and now the kids are already going back to school and you are not where you want to be with your real estate business? We are heading into the fall real estate market at full speed, but don’t freak out yet, you’ve still got time to put your foot on the gas to make sure you’ve got business this fall and winter. At the BPR Experience we planned ahead to take it easy this summer and enjoy the beautiful Minnesota weather, but we continued engaging with clients, sending out emails and prepped the business ahead of time so when we took our foot off the gas, we were able to stay front of mind for when our clients decided they want to make a move. This week we’ve got all our tips for preparing for the fall real estate market to make sure your business is on track and you have a paycheck come January.

It’s hard to believe, but we are in the final weeks of summer in Minnesota. Fall is right around the corner and if you are considering putting your home on the market before the year is over now would be a great time to get things moving to get your home on the market. We are still seeing very limited inventory in Minnesota and many parts of the country so if your home is priced well and prepared well it should sell quickly. Working with an experienced Realtor can make all the difference in having a successful strategy for marketing and selling your home.   One of the biggest things we will advise sellers on is making improvements that maximize your curb appeal and highlight outdoor spaces, especially this time of year, can really help buyers envision what they are buying before Winter arrives. Organizing and decluttering is another very cost effective way to highlight your living space. Also making sure that any needed maintenance and repairs are done so you don’t hit any snags in the selling process.    2023 has seen interest rates remain relatively high and inventory has remained low so while there are some challenges to buying and selling the sky isn’t falling and a trusted professional will be able to guide you through if you are ready to start the process. This week we’ve got all the tips and tricks to get you ready to sell your home. Let’s do this!

Hey BusBenchBabes! This week we are doing something that we’ve never done before. Back on our anniversary episode we gave away a one hour coaching call to one of our listeners and Amy was gracious enough to agree to using the call on the podcast! So this week we have Amy Anderson. Amy is a Realtor, a military spouse, a mom, and she and her family recently made the move from California to Arkansas. We talked to Amy about a variety of topics and we covered everything from building a real estate business in a new state, overcoming imposter syndrome, social media strategies, email list building and so much more! This was a really fun conversation. Amy was so great to talk to and we absolutely loved doing this, so we hope you enjoy it as much as we did, and we hope you will join us in cheering Amy on in her new journey! Let’s dive in!

Are you ready to buy your first home? First of all - Congratulations! Buying your first home is one of the biggest purchases you are ever going to make and while it is super exciting it can also be intimidating and overwhelming if you aren’t sure where to start. It is important to have the right professionals by your side to help guide you through the process. A great Realtor will hold your hand from beginning to end, and help to get you into a house that works well for you and your needs. In addition to a great Realtor you’re going to need an awesome lender. Your lender can make the process smooth and easy and help you figure out how much house you can afford and make sure you are getting into a mortgage that works well for you. This week we are going to walk you through all the steps to buying your first home and things that you should think about as you begin this process. We love first time homebuyers and we are so excited for you as you begin this journey! Let’s dive in! 

Happy Birthday Kristi! If you’ve been following us for a while you know Beth doesn’t mess around with birthdays so we are celebrating Kristi Clinton with a special episode this year and it is packed with excitement! Kristi is off living her best beach life right now in Holbox with her hubby Ryan, who also happens to be the producer of this podcast, but we are here celebrating this special birthday podcast episode with you. We did a year in review and asked Kristi about what she thought her year would look like versus how it actually did and got to know a little more about this creative entrepreneur. She shared about her highlights from the year, and what she's learned and how she celebrates the joys of getting older and views them as a gift.   There is a surprise giveaway at the end so you will want to stick around for that!  Let’s dive in!  Enter to win a FREE 1 hour coaching call with Kristi here: https://view.flodesk.com/pages/64c13e4e207ff6fa282b6ce6

Just in case you missed it over the last couple weeks, Meta has introduced a new social media app called Threads. It’s made a pretty big splash as a competitor of Twitter and while we normally recommend everyone not to go chasing the latest shiny thing we are actually pretty excited and intrigued about this new offering from Meta. There is no denying they are trying to overthrow Twitter with this release and while it is very similar in appearance and function there are some fun and interesting differences that currently make it stand apart. It’s definitely started out with a different vibe and while that could change right now it feels pretty casual and fun. It doesn’t come without some drawbacks of course, but it really does look like it has some promise and it is probably worth a look. This week Kristi is going to break it down and give her thoughts on all of it. Let’s dive in!

 Real estate is a relationship business, and we don’t just mean in the buying and selling process, or lead generation. Building meaningful connections between real estate agents can make all the difference in your success in this industry. Surrounding yourself with others that are doing what you want to be doing, and are successful can be incredibly beneficial to your long term goals. This week's guest is Chad Jeske and he is the ultimate connector. Chad is the Owner and Publisher of REAL Producers Twin Cities. REAL Producers is a social network that features the top 5% of real estate agents in the Twin Cities to help them connect and socialize and they also release a monthly magazine publication featuring top producing agents. Chad is amazing at helping others connect, and make meaningful relationships. He is passionate about what he does. We are also so so excited to announce that our very own, Beth Petersen Randall, of The BPR Experience here in the Minneapolis area  is currently featured in REAL Producers! This is a great conversation and we can’t wait to share it with you. Let’s dive in!

Can you believe we are already half way through 2023?!? We can’t either! This year has been flying by, and this week we are going to check in on our goals we set for the year and assess how things are going. We have had so much success and excitement this year, and a lot of positivity at the midpoint of the year. We were hoping for some ease and flow this summer and so far things are mostly going as planned. We hope that’s the case for you, but if it isn’t that’s okay too. We place so much pressure on the start of the year, but there is no reason you can’t evaluate where you are at now, reassess things and adjust your plans and get back on track. This week we are going to share where we are both at personally and professionally and what the rest of the year looks like.It just might inspire you to do the same! Let’s dive in!

Here in Minnesota owning a lake home or a cabin is the ultimate dream for a lot of people, and even if you are located in another part of the country there is generally still some sort of equivalent dream wherever you are from. Actually making this dream a reality might be easier than you think if you have someone in your corner providing you with the right advice, and guidance on how to come up with financing, and how to make this work for you and your lifestyle. There are a lot of ways to pull it off, and things like using it as a short term rental, or AirBnB are becoming more common so that you can offset some of the expense of ownership. There are also a lot of things to consider when purchasing a cabin or a lake house and considering all the pros and cons so that you can ultimately make a purchase that really works for you. Today we break down all the ins and outs of purchasing a cabin, or vacation property and how you can make it a reality. Let’s dive in!

Branding and marketing in real estate have come a long way in recent years as agents are focusing more on showcasing who they are as a person beyond relying on just sold and for sale photos.   Developing a personal brand is a game changer for a real estate agent because it truly builds the know, like and trust factor that is crucial to marketing yourself as a Realtor.   We love to see this change and we are going to continue shouting from the rooftops on how this can continue to evolve with the times. One of the big misses we are still noticing is teams not allowing their agents to have a personal brand for fear that they will end up leaving the team.    The hard reality is that agents only stay with teams for so long anyways, so we say let them develop their brand as long as they represent the team in a positive way.   This week Beth interviews Kristi about operating a personal brand within a team, the mistakes we both see, the successes and disappointments we've seen firsthand and how to correct them.    This episode might piss off a few (or more!) team leaders, but we are all about bringing you the facts - so let's rip off the bandaid and do this. Are you ready for some truth? Let's dive in!

Summer has finally arrived in Minnesota, and we couldn't be more thrilled. If you reside in a state with cold winters, you understand just how precious our summers are. Even if you're tuning in from a warmer state, you're likely experiencing the joys of having your kids out of school, engaging in sports, planning summer vacations, and indulging in various activities. With so much happening, it's easy for the calendar to fill up quickly, and before we know it, the fourth quarter will be upon us. As small business owners, it's crucial for us not to neglect working on our businesses while we're busy working in them and enjoying our best lives during the summer. This week, we'll be sharing our summer bucket list and discussing some strategies to ensure a productive summer while also finding a balance between work and leisure. So let's dive in!

The summer real estate market is here and in full swing, and while the interest rates are still a huge topic of conversation we are seeing buyers and sellers getting into the game. Some of this is out of necessity but also there are a lot of people who were trying to wait out the interest rates and have just decided they have waited long enough and it’s time to make a move regardless of the rates. We are still in a sellers market due to the lack of inventory, but if that starts to shift things are going to start to balance out, and that could really cause the market to heat up. While the news is so often putting a negative spin on things and hinting at a big dip in the market we are just not seeing the signs of that happening. Many homeowners are sitting on a boat load of equity and are able to sell easily if they experienced some sort of hardship, and with that we are looking at good health in the market. This week we are covering all the hot topics and trends we are seeing out there this summer and getting you up to speed on all the things you need to know and be discussing with clients this summer. Let’s dive in!

When it comes to buying or selling a home, understanding mortgage interest rates is so important. Interest rates have continued to be a big topic of conversation this year as the real estate market continues to evolve, and rates play a significant role in determining the affordability of homeownership. Whether you are a buyer or seller, understanding mortgage interest rates can empower you to make informed decisions. By shopping around, considering credit worthiness, and analyzing down payment options, buyers and sellers can successfully navigate the home buying process.   On today’s show we have Jason Trout of JMT Mortgage to discuss everything about mortgage interest rates and the impact they are having on both buyers and sellers. Jason is one of our very favorite brokers to work with in the Twin Cities and he does a great job running through all kinds of scenarios you could encounter, and how to prepare yourself, whether it’s your first time buying a home, or you’ve done it many times. Jason is a true pro, and we love sitting down to chat with him about all things mortgages. Let’s dive in!

Back in March we attended the EXP Fast Forward conference in San Diego, and while we were there we heard a Realtor speak, and he wasn’t talking about real estate, sales, or marketing, he was talking about imposter syndrome. That Realtor’s name was Mike Proctor, and he’s a top producing agent on the Whissle team in San Diego, and while Mike is an amazing Realtor, what we believe is the truly important work he is doing is talking about imposter syndrome, vulnerability, mental health, and parenthood. His message is not one that is being shared all over, and it is certainly not one we hear being spoken from the stage of a real estate conference, and we hope that Mike is changing that. We talked with Mike about how imposter syndrome impacted him, and how he worked to overcome it, mental health and being in sales, fatherhood and family life, and so much more. This was a super vulnerable conversation and we are so grateful to be able to share this one with you. Let’s dive in!   You can find Mike @procdiesel on Instagram    Here is the link to the book Mindset that Mike talks about in the podcast:   https://www.amazon.com/Mindset-Psychology-Carol-S-Dweck/dp/0345472322/ref=tmm_pap_swatch_0?_encoding=UTF8&qid=1683899496

It’s pretty safe to say that script practicing, and lead generating are not most Realtors favorite things to do. We want to flip that script on its head (pun intended!) so that rather than treating this like some other drudgery you have to do, you can make it a positive and impactful part of your business. Picking up the phone and calling someone has become something of a lost art, and that is exactly why doing it is such a valuable skill, and like any other skill it takes practice.    Client interactions in real estate are everything, and having consistent communication with buyers and sellers is one of the reasons why someone will potentially choose you rather than someone else. It’s a contact sport after all! On this week's show Beth is going to give her tips and tricks for how to develop a positive mindset around scrip practice, and lead generation, and what you should be doing to help develop those skills. Let’s dive in!

  Back in March we attended the EXP Fast Forward Conference in San Diego and we finally got a chance to sit down and do a podcast about it last week. The conference was really well done and we had such a great time connecting with Realtors from all over the country. There were amazing speakers and the keynote was the author of Atomic Habits, James Clear. We learned all about habit formation, habit stacking, and the power of small habits, and it was so inspiring to hear about how small actions done consistently can net a big result. There were so many other great speakers discussing everything from geo farming in real estate, categorical farming, lead generation, and email marketing as well as plenty of real estate specific topics. We really just can’t say enough good things about the conference and it was both educational and enjoyable. We can’t wait to share our thoughts with you so let’s dive in!

The most important thing for the marketing of any business is consistency. Consistency is the driving force behind your brand ultimately reaching your ideal client. It doesn’t matter what platform you are using to reach your audience, consistency is the key. We believe that email marketing is the most impactful and reliable way to move your business forward. You don’t own your Instagram, you don’t own your TikTok, but you do own your email list. Oftentimes when we start talking about e-mail marketing the first question is "Where do I start?” This week Kristi goes through a nurture sequence, otherwise known as a marketing funnel. A funnel is the process of converting traffic using a freebie, coupon code, ebook, or whatever your lead magnet is. After the free content has been delivered a series of automated emails will follow that will educate about your mission, who you are and how you can serve this new prospective client. This is the heart of any good online marketing strategy. Kristi walks through a step by step guide on how to do this on this week's show. Let’s dive in!   Checkout our link for a discount on Flodesk if you’re interested in trying Flodesk.   https://flodesk.com/c/OAAMMZ  

Are you using TikTok as part of your social media strategy? It is currently the 3rd largest social media network behind Facebook and Instagram with roughly 834 million users worldwide and it has the highest average engagement rate of all social media platforms making it a fantastic tool in your social media strategy. It’s also unique in that you still have the ability to be one of the first agents in your area to build a big following on TikTok, you might even be the first real estate agent in your city to blow up!    This week’s guest, Lauren Taylor, is a Realtor, and business coach and she made it her mission for one year to focus on building her TikTok audience and grew her account to over 100,000 followers and 2.2 billion views! We sat down and talked to her about building a following on TikTok as a real estate agent, leveraging TikTok as an early adopter and using B-roll video to create engaging content. We really enjoyed this interview and Lauren shared a ton of great information on her personal journey and how you can leverage TikTok to reach more potential clients. Let’s dive in!    You can find Lauren on TikTok and Instagram @likelaurentaylor

We feel pretty safe in saying we’ve all heard a million times by now about doing videos for social, and how important it is and on and on. At this point this isn’t new, and you’re probably using at least some video in your marketing strategy even if it has been reluctantly. The hard part is showing up authentically, with confidence, and not wanting to cringe at every post. It’s not easy, at least not for a lot of us, and there is nothing wrong with that. We weren’t all born to be in front of a camera, and that’s okay too. We can still make video work for us, and in fact it’s a skill we can get better at and it doesn’t have to be a full time job.    Our guest this week is Chelsea Peitz, a real estate social media strategist, keynote speaker, author, and podcaster, who coaches camera-shy real estate humans to show up online with heart and humanity not hustle or hacks. Chelsea is absolutely wonderful at explaining why video is important, how it works on us, how we can and should be using it to connect with others, and best of all she removes the things that are simply excuses standing in our way to getting started. We absolutely love this conversation, it’s full of good energy, good advice, and Chelsea is supper uplifting. We will definitely be going back to listen to this one because she has tips anyone operating a business on social media will be able to put into action. Let’s dive in!   Check out Chelsea on IG @chelsea.peitz   Her website www.chelseapeitz.com   Her books are: What To Post and Talking In Pictures and you can find them both on Amazon.

Alright friends, this week's episode is all about you! Last week we celebrated 100 episodes, and this week just so happens to be the 2 year anniversary of starting the podcast. Since we already talked all about our podcasting journey last week, this week we are going to celebrate all of you for coming along on this journey with us! We are announcing two giveaways for our listeners, so let’s dive in!    Sign up to win a free 1 hour coaching call with Beth and Kristi!    https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6419c0188b2493e1ce9e4d48   Sign up to win one of 2 branded podcast Stanley mugs!   https://view.flodesk.com/pages/6419beefdc3789176b694388

Episode 100! Woot woot! We can hardly believe we have done 100 shows! This show is all about celebrating and we even have a special announcement for you at the end of the show! This week is a reflection on our podcasting journey; we share the surprising aspects of running a podcast, what has been the most fun and enjoyable parts of doing the show, and some of the lessons we have learned along the way. We are so grateful to everyone who’s come along on this journey with us. When we started the show one of the main goals was to build a community, and 100 episodes in we definitely feel we have succeeded at that goal which is so dang cool. We are still working on growing and building, and it has been so incredibly rewarding and it absolutely would not be possible without all of you. We can’t say thank you enough for tuning in each week, and we are so excited for all that the future holds. Let’s dive in!

We have been talking a lot about the spring market in recent weeks, and in addition to the spring market it’s also tax season. Tax time can be a stressful and anxiety filled time for a lot of small business owners, but it doesn’t have to be that way. This week we have Ashley Ford from Pretty Penny Accounting to talk about all things financial and small business. Ashley has a really unique approach to money management, and accounting she looks at not only the role it plays in your business but also the role it’s playing in your mental health and overall well being. We absolutely love this approach, and found so much of what she had to say super refreshing. No shame, no guilt, and lots of great ways to start changing habits to move yourself in a positive direction. Ashley gave us a ton of great tips on how to manage your money for your business and your life. Ashley has also taken a very forward approach to her marketing and social media presence which is very unique in the financial space which is sooo refreshing to see. This is a really great interview packed with a ton of great info. Let’s dive in!   You can find Ashley at her website   https://www.ppllcaccounting.com/meetashley   Find Ashley on IG @prettypennyaccounting

The spring market is officially upon us and with it we are already seeing more homes going into multiple offers. Nothing like what we were seeing two years ago, but low inventory, and cooling interest rates might be enough for things to get really competitive for buyers again this spring. As a buyer's agent, especially at ultra competitive price points, this is your time to shine! You’ve got to get creative, and really go to work to get your offer to the top of the pile. We’ve got some helpful tips and tricks for you so you can look like a true rockstar Realtor when you are in your next multiple offers situation. Let’s dive in!   Check out Beth's Top 5 Secret's to Win In Multiple Offers! https://view.flodesk.com/pages/640636449b153e72bb648e8b

Interest rates have been a hot topic in real estate over the last year. We saw historical lows the previous two years and when interest rates went back up it seems like people had a hard time adjusting their expectations. A lot of prospective buyers and sellers decided to wait and see how things played out, and while interest rates have come back down a little bit in recent months, in a lot of markets there is still low inventory so buyers are facing a lot of competition.    This week we have mortgage professional Lisa Wells to talk about all things mortgages and interest rates. She gives us all the stats, gives us her predictions for what’s to come and tells us why waiting it out is just costing you even more money in the long run. Lisa also shares an amazing breakdown of exactly what is causing the shortage in inventory. Lisa is super knowledgeable and a true professional. This is a very educational episode and will leave you with tons of talking points for clients and if you are thinking of buying or selling it will arm you with so much information. Let’s dive in!

If you are operating a brand 2023, whether that be in real estate or something totally different, you are almost certainly creating content. We yell it from the rooftops that if you have a business you need a brand, and your brand needs to be on social media.    Are you using a content calendar, or do you just post when inspiration strikes? Maybe you are doing a little of both, and that’s great. If you are not using a content calendar at all we encourage you to give it a go, because not only will it help to reduce your overall workload on managing your social media, it will also provide strategy and structure for your brand on your social channels. With organization and planning you will truly be able to use analytics as a tool to guide you in what is working, what is not working and hopefully streamline your process and reduce some of the friction that can come up when managing your social media.    This week we are diving into our process of how to build and create a content calendar. Kristi sits down with Karey White the administrator at the BPR Experience, and Karey asks Kristi anything and everything about developing a content calendar and marketing strategy. Kristi also touches on how to lean into your strengths and truly find your super powers, so that the real you can shine through. The best part is that you don’t need a bunch of tools to make this happen, Google docs, Google sheets, a notebook and a pen, or maybe even an actual calendar to write on. There is more than one way to make this work, but none of them have to cost you more than your time and creativity. Kristi absolutely loves this topic and we are so excited to share this with you. Let’s dive in!   Don’t forget to check out the BusBench Babes™ Insider bonus episode where we share 7 things you need to ask yourself before you create your personal brand:     https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63ee64eb0b1dac7001e93763

There is still snow on the ground here in the Twin Cities, but the spring real estate market is already starting to heat up. From what we have been seeing here it seems like a lot of people have grown tired of waiting to buy or sell and are starting to look at making a move. The high interest rates were really giving a lot of people pause, but interest rates have been cooling off, and in fact they’ve actually dropped 5 weeks in a row! This is really exciting news for buyers. Now depending on where you are located inventory may still be low like it is here in the Minneapolis area, and if that’s the case, if we end up seeing lower interest rates, low inventory, and increased buyer demand we have a recipe for another crazy spring like we’ve seen the last couple years. We’ve got you covered with everything you need to know about what’s going on in the market right now so you can be ready for the spring market. Let's dive in!

While it may feel like 2023 just started, the spring real estate market is already upon us. Things are already heating up, and with the possibility of interest rates dropping off just a little bit, and some parts of the country still having low inventory the market could get a little crazy. We hope you used the holiday season to shower love on your clients and work on networking, but if you took the end of the year off, fear not, you can still kick it into gear now and try to catch the coming wave. This is the time to make sure you’ve got everything dialed in with your website, you’ve got some kind of social media presence and you are providing valuable content, and of course make sure you have an email going out regularly. You’re also going to have to get back to the basics, and get out networking and making genuine connections to find leads and build connections with other agents as well as buyers and sellers. If your pipeline is not looking how you want it to the first week in February we’ve got all the tips to help you execute and get things where you want them to be in 2023. Let’s dive in!

We are back this week with another episode talking about goals and intentions, but this week we are taking a little different approach. We have Katrina Widener with us to talk about setting goals and intentions that are actually in alignment with your life, with what you truly want out of your business, and how to go about assessing what you truly want to aim for. Setting your goals and intentions for the year can be such a pressure filled task whether it be for you in your personal life or for your business, and then once the goals have been set trying to meet them can add a whole new set of pressures. Katrina is so great at breaking down how to go about finding the things that are working the best for you naturally and setting your goals around that, and finding ways for you to maximize ROI while also finding ease in your day to day so that you can get the most out of your work, and feel good while doing it. Katrina is full of wisdom, and this show is so great even if you already have your goals and intentions set for the year. You may even want to revisit them through this lens and make adjustments! Let’s dive in!   Check out Katrina on IG @katrina.widener, on her Badass Business Squad Podcast, and on her website. We included a link to her Personal Development Workbook and her Year End Audit Podcast below.    https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/badass-business-squad-podcast/id1547844802   Workbook: https://www.katrinawidener.com/new-products/personal-development-workbook   Year End Audit Podcast: https://www.katrinawidener.com/badass-business-squad-podcast/the-first-step-to-successful-goal-setting

With the blazing hot real estate market we’ve experienced over the last few years a lot of us are fortunate to be sitting on a nice amount of equity in our homes. Rather than just let that equity sit there doing nothing, why not put it to work for you? A home equity line of credit, or HELOC, is a great way to make use of the equity you have built up in your home. There are creative ways to put that to use, like buying a cabin, buying a rental property, using it to purchase a flip, or even buying a property to use as an Airbnb. You can also just use it to do updates on your home which will just increase the value of your house if or when you choose to sell down the road.    Even if you have never considered doing any of this, getting that line of credit when you don’t need it can be a great advantage to you if you happen to want that money for something in a hurry. Tom Ferry always said it’s nice to have access to money when the world goes on sale. If you don’t end up using it it’s not hurting anything just sitting there. Now saying all of this we are definitely not encouraging anyone to go out and use that home equity like an ATM. A lot of people fell victim to this back when the market crashed, and we certainly don’t want that for anyone. What we are talking about is using that home equity to help you build wealth for yourself and your family. If a home equity line of credit is something you’ve been curious about we’ve got all the info for you right here. Let’s dive in!

The new year always brings about resolutions, goals and intentions, and we are here for all of it! We did just do a goal and intention setting episode after all! But with all that can also bring the pressure to do do do! It can also lead to shame if we slip up, have a setback, or don’t achieve our goals exactly as we set out to when the year started.That drive to accomplish all our goals and tackle everything can also lead to toxic productivity. Now I’m sure we’ve all heard of toxic positivity, but there is also something called toxic productivity. Maybe you’ve heard of that also! Well last year we did an episode about this time, Episode 45: Productivity Hacks That Create Freedom. Sounds great right? We all want to be more productive. Well, sometimes with all the best intentions we push ourselves to constantly be checking things off, over scheduling, and always working on something, and this week we are here to say it doesn’t have to be this way! You can have all your goals, all your scheduling, and crush those to do lists and still leave yourself some space to just be, and see what the universe hands you. So this week's episode we go back and touch on last year's episode to share some of the ways you can be more efficient and then use that extra time you save just to be. Let’s dive in!    For all the info on productivity hacks that we shared last year be sure to go back and check out Episode 43 if you missed it or give yourself a refresher!

Alright it’s 2023 and we are back! Happy New Year to you all, and as much as we feel like a broken record saying this, 2022 went by so fast! If we are being completely honest, 2022 didn’t go exactly as envisioned for us in some ways, but we finished out the year with a lot of positive momentum, and we are so dang excited for all that this year has in store. In a lot of ways nothing has changed for us about how we go about setting our goals and intentions from last year, but this episode we reflect on how we handled adversity last year, what didn’t work, and how we are taking lessons learned and using them in 2023. So whether you set resolutions, goals, or intentions, or however you approach the new year this one should give you some ideas and inspiration on how to be your best self heading into 2023. Let’s dive in!

It’s hard to believe it has been another whole year of doing the podcast. We can’t thank all of you enough for all your support. We have had so much fun building and growing this community and we couldn’t do it without all of you. We had so many great shows and guests this year, but we put together a list of our personal favorites from 2022 and we are closing out the year by sharing our highlights. Thank you all again, and we can’t wait for all that 2023 has in store. Happy New Year!   Episode 54: Navigating Small Business Pivots, Motherhood Through Adoption And Home Renovation with Melissa Oholent Episode 80: Mortgage Interest Rates and Predictions For The Housing Market 2023 with Elly Cummings Episode 77: How To Use Facebook For Business Episode 72: 10 Easy Ways To Repurpose Content Episode 68: Staying In Touch With Customers Episode 62: Building A Real Estate Brand Episode 63: Building A Real Estate Brand Part 2 Episode 58: Women In The World of NFTs Episode 47: What Is Human Design And How It Can Change Your Life with Katrina Weidener  Episode 78: Navigating The Housing Market During Inflation

Alright friends, this is one of our favorite things we do on this show all year, and once again we asked you, the community, to call in and share your favorite Christmas and holiday memories with us. This episode was so much fun! We had a lot of laughs sharing our memories, and we received some great messages as well! We hope you enjoy this episode while you are finishing up your shopping, and getting ready to enjoy Christmas this year! Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays everyone! Let’s dive in!

Are you feeling stuck or unsupported on your current real estate team? Maybe leads are drying up, your business has stagnated or you just aren’t feeling in alignment with the team. This can feel so isolating and we totally get it. This week we’ve got our top 10 signs why it’s time to switch real estate teams. The end of the year is a great time to give this some serious thought if you’ve been feeling like maybe it’s time to make a change, you can get a fresh start and start off the year with some positive momentum. If you’re seeing signs it’s time to move on, it might be time to consider making a switch. Let’s dive in!

Creating a brand, we talk about it here all the time, and if you’ve been listening to the show for a little while you know our belief that you need a brand to be successful in your business whether you’re in real estate or not. Well today’s guest, Amy Barton Cotney, has built a brand that is so truly, authentically her it’s almost like she’s not even trying. Amy is a Realtor in Auburn, Alabama. She has built a following on TikTok of over 1 million people, and if you haven’t checked out her page yet we definitely think it’s worth a look. She and her husband, Curt Cotney (who undoubtedly looks like Jack Black) are hysterical and so much fun to watch. Whether she’s sliding across countertops or what she likes to call them, bars, working on dance moves with a glass of wine in hand, sporting her Bad Ass Realtor t-shirt (no joke, she even has her own merchandise line!) or dressing in every color of the rainbow and being dubbed Rainbow Brite by her husband. Amy’s social media presence doesn’t stop there, she’s on all the channels, Instagram, Facebook, YouTube, and according to her she’s just having so much fun it’s not even work. Amy shares how she deals with haters and difficult people on social media, what it looks like to have an authentic social media presence and how she is taking @sweethomeauburnal social handle and making it something like we’ve never seen before. Realtor or not, this episode will have you laughing your butt off and feeling inspired to be so authentically you. Let’s dive in!   You can find Amy on Instagram @sweethomeauburnal and on TikTok @amybartoncotney 

Are you coming into the holidays with the real estate market shifting and seeing your business slowing down drastically? Maybe you were coasting for a little while and now the panic is setting in. We feel you, and it’s okay. Don’t beat yourself up too much. This is actually a great time to get back in the game and start reaching out to clients and checking in. The holidays give so many ways to reach out without selling, and make contact with a warm “hello” to let people know you are thinking about them and start planning for 2023. We’ve got you covered with some tips and creative ways to engage your clients around the holidays that aren’t salesy, and will help get you set up for success and start strategically planning your Q4. Let’s dive in!   Also don't forget to check out our free holiday decorating guide! https://view.flodesk.com/pages/63768828ab25b621ba22f8e7