agentXcel with Chris Bowers

This week's guest, Brandon & Mary Snyder, got their real estate licenses because it was necessary for their current jobs at that time. They then left those jobs to form their own team two and a half years ago. Brandon & Mary discuss their roles in their business together and how they work with each other. We also discuss systems they have in their business and what they do for past clients. Brandon & Mary also go over their team values and what they do with agents on their team. We talk about growing teams and helping agents get started in real estate. They also discuss the role their virtual assistant plays in growing their social media followers. About Brandon & Mary: Website: https://sellingwiththesnyders.com Email: [email protected]

Our guest this week on the agentXcel podcast is Philip Pasma. Philip runs a digital marketing company for real estate agents called Asterisk Marketing. He started Asterisk Marketing in 2017 and has been growing the business since then. Philip discusses how he got into real estate marketing and what all he does with his company to help real estate agents with leads. We also go in depth about ppc leads and how the internet leads work. This episode will give you a better idea of how to get started with internet leads. It will also help give you ways to convert more leads and close more deals. Philip's Info: Email: [email protected] Website: asteriskmarketing.co Phone: 1-866-224-2226 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marketingasterisk Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/asterisk-marketing/

This episode is a little different than others, it's a solo episode. I sat down and just talked about my thoughts I have been having recently with everything going on in this market. The market is currently changing and us Realtors are going to have to shift with it. I talk about how to process everything from mindset and tactical standpoint. This episode will help you change your strategies to adjust to this new market and how to succeed in it.

Today, joining me on the show is Chris Lesmeister. Chris works with cost segregation for realtors buying investment properties. In this episode Chris & I discuss cost segregation. Chris discusses what cost segregation is and how it can benefit you. He also talks about how you can get started with it. Discussing the process of cost segregation will leave you with a better understanding how it can benefit you. About Chris: Phone: 262-358-5156 Website: cml.cssistudy.com Email: [email protected]

This week my guest is Missy Ellsworth. I met Missy in a broker class we both were in. After we met, she referred me a lot of short sales. Missy has been in real estate for 20 years. She opened her own brokerage in 2008. She talks about what she did before real estate and how she got started in real estate. Missy and I discuss marketing and what she does to market to her past clients and stay in touch. We discuss the current market and how it is evolving. Finding ways to make sure we are prepared for the changing market and how we will adjust our strategies.

In this episode I am joined with real estate agent Monica Klus. Monica is a successful real estate agent here in the valley. We talked about how she maneuvers the busy life as a Realtor while being a single mom. We also discuss her strategies with home buying and setting her buyers up for success. Monica also touches on getting referrals and keeping in touch with past clients. Monica's Instagram: @hailtothehome Monica's Website: hailtothehome.com Monica's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/hailtothehome/

This week on the podcast I interviewed Al Lewis. Al started his real estate career in Illinois in 1987. He then went on to start his own business in 2006 where he worked until 2016, when he moved to Florida. Around 2019 he started his real estate career in Florida which also became very successful. Al and I discuss how he was able to start over in another city and grow his business again. We talk about paperclick leads and starting good conversations with potential clients. Having systems put in place to have a strategy of what your process is when converting a lead is very beneficial for business. We discuss what we do to keep the conversation going with leads. Running a successful real estate business is a lot of work, but we discuss all of the positive outcomes our systems and hard work have brought us. Al's Website: http://www.searchcapecoralhomes.com/ Al's Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/al.lewis.587

This week my friend Brett Tvenge joins my podcast. I met Brett when he came to me to be his Realtor to purchase his first home he flipped. Brett is very successful in finding homes and flipping them. He talks about how he got started in flipping houses and his everyday routine that helps him find the right homes. He discusses how he got to where is and and made connections to find these homes to flip. We also discuss where he is with his business right now and the future goals he has for his business.

This week Dave Z and I join Kevin on the Kevin & Fred Show. We discuss the shifting real estate market in Arizona. Our market is quickly changing as more and more homes are starting to hit the market. Because of the market shift, this makes us as Realtors need to shift our strategies with it. We touch on creating effective strategies so our buyers and sellers are always prepared and know what is happening throughout their process. Talking about both ends, buyers side and sellers side. Each type of market has its own challenges. The three of us discuss the different markets there have been throughout our years in real estate. We each talk about different ways we can always be ready for whatever type of market comes our way, each providing different ideas of what can be done.

This week, I joined my friend Kevin on his podcast. We talk about how I got started in real estate and turned it into a successful career. Also about referrals, starting a team and buying rental properties. Doing real estate for 17 years has taught me so much and I am excited to share my journey to how I got to where I am today. I have grown so much and I am constantly learning new things and systems to help my business grow and evolve.

In this episode I'm joined with real estate agent Anna Houck. Anna became a real estate agent in 2016 and immediately hit the ground running. She found ways to get herself out there and speak with as many realtors as she could. Anna and I discuss making connections in real estate with both other agents in the valley and clients. We also touch on getting started and how to navigate getting yourself out there to grow your network. Getting started when you first get your license can have its challenges, but Anna offers some advice on how to build relationships with other agents and clients. Creating connections with other agents in the valley has many benefits. Anna discusses all the benefits of growing relationships with other agents in the industry, and everything she does to keep the connections growing. About Anna: Anna became a licensed real estate agent in 2016. She is originally from San Diego but moved out to Arizona in 2005. Before she was licensed she began buying rental properties, which inspired her to get her license and officially become a realtor. Ever since she became licensed she started making connections and building her network with other agents and clients. Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AnnaHouckRealEstate/ Website: https://westusaagents.com/agent/anna-houck/?aid=222

When we find any kind of success in our business, we tend to stick to what we know to keep ourselves in the black. But sometimes to reach those levels of success we started out looking for, it takes a whole change of perspective. My guest this week is Dave Zajdzinski, and he's all about sharing his superpower of scaling our business to reach those superhuman numbers we all hear about. One part of that perspective shift is ridding yourself of that limiting belief that you as the rainmaker need to do everything yourself, or that your clients expect and demand to do business with only you. Having a team is about building truest, not only with your associates but with your clients as well. Dave and I have a great conversation about what scaling looks like, how we apply it to our teams, and what it's done for our business and our work/life balance. Listen in! About Dave Z: Dave Zajdzinski brings 13 years of real estate experience to home buyers and sellers throughout Arizona. He has helped hundreds of sellers and buyers meet their real estate goals and is consistently ranked one of the top realtors in the Valley. As a Certified Distressed Property Expert, Dave specializes in short sale transactions as well as traditional home sales, from raw land to multi-million dollar properties. Quotes and Takeaways: "What I want to do is deliver is an amazing experience for our people. I've realized that I can do that through other people. But instead of making it so that somebody else handles all of it, you still retain control of it when you are using a showing partner. You're delivering a high-quality experience for that client, and that's what they really want. It's really all about what the consumer wants." – Dave Using this system, I tell people that this will inspire you to go prospect. Once the process becomes so much more enjoyable, it'll inspire you to get more clients." – Dave "It's just a mindset shift. When you find out that this is an option then how do you execute it? When do you execute it? How do you build that right model? I'm a big believer in the process, so I'll only build with somebody who wants me to help them build a team, because there's only one way I'm going to do it." - Dave You can reach out to Dave though his team's Facebook page at: https://www.facebook.com/ZTEAMAZ/

Our whole business is helping people settle into a place where they can set down roots and build memories. But what happens when we decide to move ourselves and our business to a whole new state? That's what my guest Desireé Cosby did when she decided to relocate from The Land of Enchantment to the Grand Canyon State! But while she was starting new here in Arizona, she still had a team and a successful business running in New Mexico. What she's learned since is a power that we all could learn from: having the confidence to trust your team and your clients that no matter where you are, they and their business is your number one priority. We have a great conversation about not letting Limiting Beliefs drive our practices and embracing success even when it's in a different time zone. About Desireé: Desireé has been primarily serving the Chandler, Gilbert, and Queen Creek communities since 2017—while simultaneously managing a team in Albuquerque, New Mexico. One of Desireé's favorite parts of the business is helping people make such a significant purchase. The process can be confusing and overwhelming, so Desireé likes to ensure that her clients' best interests are always front and center. As a member of The Santistevan Group, Desireé is incredibly proud of the New Mexico team she built and honored to be part of such a successful and client-oriented team. You can connect with Desireé Cosby at https://www.facebook.com/DesireeCosbyRealEstate/ Quotes and Takeaways: "I think we all get in the habit of thinking that everything is happening because of strictly us and if we are gone, then that no longer happens. I mean, to some degree I'm still guilty of thinking that my clients are wholly dependent on me and if I wasn't there answering their calls and showing the property that they would just find someone else. What I've learned is that your people are ultimately your people as long as you take care of them. If you can put people on your team in place that will treat your clients as well as you treat them, then your clients trust that you're looking out for them, and they'll continue to trust you to help them with real estate." - Desireé "I was just kind of tripping myself up by saying too much. I found that my clients didn't want to know all the details, they just want to know that they're being looked out for, and they trust me to do that for them. In turn, they trust the people that I trust with them. The foundation is trust." - Desireé "I think when you've built a reputation that you do right by people, agents are comfortable referring you. And so I built a different type of referral business, you know, as in regards to Arizona." – Desireé

To make it in our chosen profession, it takes hard work and dedication to get through the tough times that we all are eventually going to face. While staying the course might be the right thing to do at first, when do you make the decision that the course that you're working on just isn't working for you? My guest this week is Fred Weaver, and he's been faced with that decision many times in his career. His superpower is knowing that change can be a good thing and not something to be afraid of. For him, change is just a reality of the business when things aren't working the way expected. It's finding what works for the market and for himself that is important, and it's a lesson that we can all use on our own paths to success. About Fred: Fred is a founding co-owner of Group 46:10. He has been working in the financing and real estate industries since 2001. Fred began his real estate career by working for a large wholesale bank as a processor and rate/lock specialist for home mortgages. After 2 years in the business, Fred transferred from the banking side of home loans to the mortgage side. In February of 2008, partnered with Kevin Kauffman and founded Group 46:10. For over 10 years, Group 46:10 was one of the most successful real estate teams at Keller Williams Realty. In 2018, Group 46:10 partnered with eXp Realty to continue the growth of their company. You can reach out to Fred through his website at https://group4610network.com/ Quotes and Takeaways: "I think the teams that have the longest standing track record of success are those that have an owner operator who at one point or another generated more business than they knew what to do with and they were forced to go out and hire more people out of not wanting to cap their business. The people that say, I just don't like this anymore, maybe I should start a team, or they just love leading and coaching and mentoring, I think that's a harder road to go down. An owner, operator, lead generator, who at one point or another just generates more business, those type of teams, in my opinion, typically find a little more success." – Fred "Too often people are trying to model their entire world after somebody that they look up to or just take one person's approach to investing. But rather than trying to copy a person or their methods, what people should be asking themselves is, 'what can I emulate,' or 'what do I want to take away from this person?'' – Fred "If there's a way for us to collaborate and work together and maybe improve your life then we should probably explore that. I would hope that somebody else out there that like is listening that thinks they can improve my life would reach out and like want to explore something as well. I'm open to opportunities and possibilities and I think that's what it's about: giving back and helping other people and kind of paying it forward." - Fred

There's a good chance that if you were to ask any professional real estate agent what motivated them to get their license, it was because this is one of the best ways to make money through hard work. While this might be true for most of us, what keeps us is the chance to work together and build networks and community and share that success with other working professionals so that we all can make money together. My guest this week is Marshal Nathe, a good friend and collaborator who believes, like I do, that our true strength as agents is not going it alone to reinvent the wheel, but sharing what works so that we can all get the most out of this crazy market we love to work in. About Marshal: Marshal is the CEO and founder of Bridgestone Homes, and also part of the Hague Partners of Real Estate Agents. His company is involved in domestic sales as well as international development in Costa Rica, as well as an investment division which operates on long term rentals, Airbnb's, and fix and flips. He is also a former offensive lineman for the Arizona State Sun Devils. You can reach out to Marshal through his Instagram at www.instagram.com/marshal_nathe Quotes and Takeaways: "I'm comfortable saying that I originally started real estate because I wanted to make a lot of money, but I knew I had to be good at what I did. I knew I had to take care of people and really have a passion for providing value that they wouldn't have otherwise. When I achieved that, the money came." - Marshal People tend to think about real estate as almost a competition, like it's you versus me. What you and I understood from day one when we started our transaction is that this is a group effort. We're trying to get you a good situation and we're trying to get my buyers a good situation. So, it boils down to: how do we make that happen? We work together." - Marshal "With the market how it is, and how difficult it can be, if you can make money now and you're successful now, just wait until it goes back to normal, and you should really be kicking ass." - Marshal

So often when you're a working professional, you feel the need to take on all aspects of your success upon yourself. How often are we told that opportunity is waiting for those who are willing to seize on it, as if it's only sheer willpower that is needed to be successful? My guest this week is here to tell you that seeking help and realizing you're not alone is crucial to realizing your own truth and truly finding the success you're looking for. Dustin Runyon is a Psychological Coach and Real Estate guru who's made it his mission to help professionals realize how we're all in this together, and seeking help is not a crutch, but a crucial element of finding achievement and serenity in our chosen careers. About Dustin: Dustin works both as the head of a Real Estate team and as a Psychology Coach who specializes in results coaching for working professionals. With 7 years of coaching experience, Dustin is focused on helping his clients create the mindset for constant success. He is also the founder of the Dustin Runyon Real Estate team out of Lake Havasu City, AZ, where they are the Real Estate Company for agents and customers that is dedicated to delivering the dream of home ownership. You can reach out to Dustin through his website, www.dustinrunyon.com Quotes and Takeaways: "Asking for help is a superpower." – Dustin "The advice I would give to an agent who is struggling in their profession is, straight up, get with a team. The fastest way to success is to get in an environment where people are already succeeding." – Dustin "I have a desire for things to be easy, and asking for help makes things easier." – Dustin

It didn't take Kyle long after getting his real estate license to realize that if he put in the good work, it was a great way generate wealth. But he still wondered, was hard work going to be enough to give him the financial independence that he wanted for his future? My guest this week is Kyle Keller, team leader for the Kyle Keller Team, and he's sharing with us his business superpower: generating passive income through solid real estate investment. Our conversation takes us from his early days reading Rich Dad Poor Dad between college classes, to his thoughts on market supply and the future of real estate in Maricopa County. Kyle is here to help with some solid real estate know how on this week's agentXcel Podcast! About Kyle: Kyle is the Team Leader of the Kyle Keller Team and has been selling Real Estate here in the Greater Phoenix Area since 2001. He is also an Associate Broker at Keller Williams Realty Professional Partners. A native of Arizona, Kyle is also an active real estate investor who has fixed and flipped over 70+ homes and owns 10+ rental properties. His focus is providing his clients with the highest level of customer service. For Kyle, communication is key! You can reach out to Kyle at https://www.instagram.com/kylekellerteam/ Quotes and Takeaways: "I want passive income. I mean, most agents are just helping people buy and sell real estate. We don't have 401K's, or we don't have retirement plans. So, unless you've built a team and sell it at some point, or you're buying rental properties and building wealth for yourself, you're probably going to have to keep working. You're going to be a realtor forever." – Kyle At some point until you have to figure out when is enough, right? I'm kind of at that point, trying to decide that right now: I'm 42 years old, my kids are 13 and 10. And so, trying to just put things into perspective. I want to be at all the games for my kids and not be so focused on real estate all the time that you miss out on everything else. It's easy to do. But, if the market changes and it goes down, and with-it real estate income goes down, if I have rental properties, I'm going to be protected that way." – Kyle

What if your superpower was convincing people that you had a superpower? I'm talking with Frank Klesitz, founder of Vyral Marketing about using effective marketing to get your foot in the door with clients. Being able to successfully market yourself and your business is only the first step of being in business, once you do get that bite, you also have to be able to follow it up with an effective pitch to help the client understand all of their options that you, as the professional, are able to provide them with. Our conversation even has a few examples of his ideas in practice, an added bonus to a great conversation. About Frank: Frank Klesitz founded Vyral Marketing, an Inc. 5000 awarded advertising agency for entrepreneurs in professional services (mostly real estate), leading 65 employees to help 500+ clients stay in better touch with their database to increase sales with education-based video marketing. Connect with Frank: https://www.getvyral.com/ Quotes and Takeaways: "The marketing funnel and the sales funnel are essentially trust, need, help, and hurry, We must have a way to build trust within the market so we got to put out videos we got to have reviews, we got to have all this soft fuzzy stuff that as business owners we hate because they don't drive sales now, but like you got to actually build trust with people over the long term. A lot of getting there is by doing a podcast like this or putting out videos and working things out." – Frank "If someone's going to give you money, they'll be online checking you out, seeing your competence and how you present yourself, how you speak, and seeing what you have to say. The way you sell the intangibles through certainty, like the more certain someone has been buying the intangible, the service is usually the higher price of elasticity of what they're willing to pay." – Frank

This week I have Bobby Lieb, the mayor of Central himself! Bobby is a veteran in the industry and has been a valuable mentor and teacher to me over the years. There's been a lot of changes in the real estate market recently, each side advocating to do things 'their way.' It can be good to see what's been proven to work and to get some rock-solid fundamentals, and Bobby is an expert in that. His superpower is sticking to and intimately knowing a certain geographic area. Bobby knows this neighborhood inside and out, but it didn't come without hard work and dedication. Getting your name out there through constant marketing, doing the work and being contactable as an expert in your area will get you the kind of respect Bobby has accumulated over the years. About Bobby: Bobby Lieb's name is synonymous with North Central Phoenix real estate. He has been the top-selling realtor in North Central Phoenix since 2001, having served the market since 1993. He has also ranked as HomeSmart's #1 Top Performing Realtor every year since he joined them in 2011. This includes his sales not only in North Central Phoenix, but also in the Biltmore, Arcadia, Scottsdale, and Paradise Valley areas. Connect with Bobby https://homesmart.com/real-estate-agent/arizona/phoenix/5171-bobby-lieb/Welcome Quotes and Takeaways: "Selling homes on busy streets is not an easy challenge. But when you sell one, and you can put a sold sign on that busy street that has 75,000 cars going by day, you couldn't pay for that advertising. It does pay and people see the signs, and even if they haven't talked to you a little while, if they see your sign, they know you're still in business." – Bobby "I know every house in this area that's sold, I know the schools, I know all the churches, the restaurants, you name it. Hire the best person that area, and don't go for the glitzy ads and the papers and TV because you're just getting an agent that doesn't even knows your area doesn't care. They're just there to sell your house, make some money and move on to the next one. Whereas I think there's a lot you can value having an agent that really knows the market in your area." - Bobby

On this week's episode, I'm excited to be joined by my friend Kevin Kauffman. Kevin's been in the industry for a long time, and has had many starts and stops, but he's always been able to see the bigger picture and push ahead. That's where his superpower lies: his ability to build connections and to realize when something isn't working, and the aptitude to shift to something different. His whole career has been about using the connections that he has to build success, and further expanding upon those connections to include the best in the business. Kevin is a prime example of a working professional who is not afraid to try something new, but keeping perspective to know when it might not be the right fit for him and his priorities. About Kevin: Kevin Kauffman is the co-founder of The Group 4610 Network with eXp Realty, host of the Kevin and Fred Show, a podcast for real estate industry. Kevin and his business partner Fred Weaver have a reputation for connecting people through their mastermind and large group style events for the outsiders & mavericks who want more and are willing to think differently than everyone else. Connect with Kevin https://www.facebook.com/KevinandFred https://www.instagram.com/kevin_kauffman/ https://kevinandfred.libsyn.com/ Quotes and Takeaways "I don't go into relationships asking questions for pure personal gain. There is a genuine curiosity and just wanting to know. People respond well to that." – Kevin "I've realized that I'm a resource for realtors. I can help agents and brokers explore areas of their business where they're leaving money on the table, or they're leaving opportunity on the table, or they're just not aware of something. I'm not the Mr. Fix it for all of it, but I probably know who is." – Kevin

Most realtors have a superpower when it comes to running their business - one thing that they are REALLY great at. On the agentXcel podcast, Chris Bowers is interviewing some of the top-performing agents across the country as well as agents who are on the rise. Selling real estate is what we're good at, but investing in real estate is our passion.