On this episode of Keeping It Real, Theresa Bastian is back with us in person at Pouch 6 Studios in Austin.

Theresa shares her takeaways from the proposed NAR settlement, including: 

• NAR as a lobbying group

• Corporate home ownership

• How the NAR settlement could make it harder for individuals to get into homes

• Tough conversations we need to be ready for that may not even occur

• As an industry, we’ve not done a good job of showing our value to the media, our consumers, and the general public  

• How we are not taking a good job of articulating the value we bring 

• That this could be healthy and level the playing field 

• Fears surrounding buyers rep agreements 

Tune in to hear about what parts of the settlement you need to be aware of, take seriously, and will have the most impact on your day to day.  

The announcement of the NAR settlement has caused quite a stir in the real estate world, leaving many agents unsure about their futures in the industry. In this episode of Keeping It Real, Todd Tramonte is back to share his insights on how this will affect the future of our industry and how to turn this into a major win.

If you can provide value and communicate it effectively, the opportunity is a massive. During our conversation we dive into:

•  The basics of the NAR settlement
• Why consumers view buyers' agents this way
• Why the consumer is right 
• How to turn this into an opportunity
• How to provide and communicate value
• How our industry has weathered much bigger storms than this one
• How NAR locked in higher compensation for higher-value agents
• And a whole lot more 

Todd has also generously provided a digital download PACKED with valuable information to help you get through these changes, which you can download here: https://hub.realgeeks.com/nar-settlement-with-todd

If you aren’t sure what to do to prepare for these upcoming changes or just want to get ahead of them you’re going to want to tune in.

In this episode of Keeping It Real, Darren Woodard shares his journey in real estate and how he leveraged SEO to generate leads.

From door knocking and using a reverse directory book to find phone numbers to his first real estate website in 2006 which he quickly started optimizing for SEO with neighborhood-specific content and has been crushing it with SEO since.

Some of the topics we explore in this episode are:

• Creating neighborhood-specific content
• How his business took off during the 2008 recession
• What to do when you are hit with a Google penalty
• Why you need more than just a WordPress site
• Optimizing URL structure
• How technology has changed follow-up
• Recruiting opportunities

We also have a quick chat with Darren’s marketing director, Lisa Broussard, about going through a company rebrand.

Tune in to hear how Darren’s business has evolved and some of the lessons he’s learned along the way.

For this very special episode of Keeping It Real we are joined by Chicago based broker and podcast host D.J. Paris.

On D.J.’s podcast, also named Keeping It Real, he sits down and talks to real estate experts to share what is really working for them in their business and the state of industry.

In this episode, we dive into some of the hot button issues today including:

• The NAR lawsuit, including possible changes
• Portals like Zillow becoming major players in the real estate market
• The potential of A.I.
• Today’s interest rates

Tune in for some killer insights on some of today’s biggest concerns in real estate and also be sure to checkout D.J.’s Keeping it Real podcast at http://keepingitrealpod.com or wherever you get podcasts.

Click HERE to check out D.J.'s recent episode about the NAR lawsuit on his podcast. 

In this episode of Keeping It Real, Scott Vancea, the co-founder of Optimize5, joins us to explain why your Google Business Profile is even more important than you may realize.

Scott dives into:

• The key elements to optimize your Google Business Profile
• Why your Google Business Profile important 
• How to avoid common mistakes
• Ways to differentiate yourself by showcasing your unique offerings
• Additional tips to get your Google Business Profile to rank higher

If you want to get more organic leads and stand out above your competition, you will want to tune in for all of Scott’s killer tips.

To get a free branding consultation, go to https://optimize5.com/

A team is more than a group of people sharing a logo, a copier, and a website. Todd Tramonte is back to share his insights from almost 15 years of coaching and helping teams grow.

In this episode Todd goes beyond just sharing his essentials for launching a team.

Some of the topics we cover are:

• When to start a team
• How to have a healthy team
• Knowing when to subtract someone
• What systems your business needs no matter what
• Some differences between a brokerage and a team
• Leveraging technology you already have for recruiting

If you are considering building a team or just want some best practices that can help your team become more successful you’re going to want to check out this episode.

To learn even more about building a team check out Todd’s Team Scale Live event coming up on Feb 5th and 6th in Dallas Texas. Details at https://www.teamscalelive.com/

Download "The Commoditization of Man" by Todd Tramonte HERE.

Chuck Richards is back again to go over some best practices for your website. In this episode, we will cover:

•  What information to include on your website
• Some of the pages you should build
• Tips for creating a positive user experience
• Basics for driving traffic to your site  Whether you are setting up your first website or want some tips on how to optimize it you’ll want to tune in. Want more guidance? Download Real Geek's Real Estate Playbook here: https://hubs.ly/Q02gR5Kn0

On this episode of Keeping It Real, Haris Hadziselimovic joins us to share his Triple Rs: Relationships, Reviews, and Referrals. Haris is a top selling broker covering Vancouver and Southwest Washington who has seen every kind of market since starting as a solo agent in 2004.

The backbone of his business is having authentic relationships with the people he works with even if it loses him a sale. He gives you advice on how to break the ice with new people and how to stay in touch even after the transaction.

Haris is not shy about asking for reviews, they are a great way to get other people to tell your story. He shares how he approaches the ask, follow ups, and how he utilizes reviews to get more business.

An impressive 87% of Haris's business is referral-based, a testament to the robust connections he forges with past clients and those he's assisted in various capacities. This episode offers listeners actionable ways to fortify their relationships and unlock new business opportunities.

Join us for an enriching conversation filled with practical insights on strengthening relationships and generating organic business growth.

Connect with Haris on Facebook at https://www.facebook.com/hariskhadziselimovic or at 360-521-1615

For more information on SEO Fast Track go to https://www.realgeeks.com/seo-fast-track

Michael “Mo” Oden joins us for a special episode of Keeping It Real, recorded live in person at the 2023 Unofficial Real Geeks User Conference, to share his unique approach to combining institutional investors and affordable housing.

Mo works with a diverse range of investors, from small groups and mom-and-pop ventures to institutional non-profits that have received funding from HUD and other institutional sources.

Many of these organizations possess the financial resources but lack the manpower to actively engage with communities.

He notes that often, there are opportunities within the MLS that people fail to recognize due to a lack of understanding of potential disposition strategies. Shedding light on an interesting angle, revealing that parcels where churches are situated can often be repurposed for residential use. By tearing down these emptied churches and navigating local municipal regulations, one can transform these spaces into viable housing solutions without the need for rezoning.

Tune in for our enlightening conversation with Mo as he walks us through how you can make multiple deals at once while also improving your community.

For this episode of Keeping It Real, we have assembled a panel of experts to discuss some of the unique challenges and differences when working in resort markets.

Susie Ellis, Greg Harrelson, and Marc Plotkin bring their wealth of experience to the table, offering invaluable insights into the intricacies of working in these unique environments.

Join us as our expert panel shares their expertise on various aspects, including:

• How they work with absentee owners

• Being intentional with PPC

• Using SEO to get out-of-state leads

• How to pull data to prospect absentee owners

• Talking to clients about secondary costs and insurance issues on the second home market

• Addressing buyer concerns specific to the second home market

Whether you're already immersed in resort real estate or considering venturing into this dynamic realm, this episode is a must-listen. Tune in to gain profound insights that will elevate your understanding and expertise in the ever-evolving landscape of resort markets.

Roger Wakefield is being modest when he says he’s “just a plumber”. Roger runs the #1 plumbing YouTube channel out there! On this episode of Keeping It Real, Roger sits down with guest host Todd Tramonte to dive into how he got started with YouTube and gives you insights and actionable takeaways to get you there too.

He shares with you:  - 3 easy tips to immediately improve your videos - The importance of posting on a consistent basis - How to repurpose your long-form content - Why every video needs to provide value Roger is making money and making an impact. If you want to hear more from Roger he will be speaking at the Real Geeks User Conference on Thursday October 19th. For more information on the Real Geeks User Conference go to urguc.com and for more of Roger check out his YouTube channel https://www.youtube.com/@RogerWakefield/