Realtor Conversations

Rick Brama and Cheri Welle

In this episode we’re joined by guests Rick Brama and Cheri Welle of the Brama Real Estate Group at Keller Williams. They’re going to tell us about the paths they took to get into real estate, and why two heads are better than one in this business.

 

On this episode:

• How Rick got into the real estate business.
• Making the pivot from studying marriage and family counselling to real estate.
• How Rick’s area of study is actually an advantage for what he does.
• Rick’s background as a general contractor and how it informs his real estate business.
• Why you still need a realtor if you are buying a new build.
• About Cheri’s real estate journey.
• How Cheri and Rick met and ended up working together.
• Why Cheri’s daughter, Jordyn, came on board with the business.
• What Jordyn does as a new agent.
• The process of creating a family business.
• Why would you have a partner in the real estate business?
• The differences in Rick and Cheri’s personalities and how they work together.
• What Rick and Cheri say to those worried that there is no property to buy when they are looking to sell.
• Taking advantage of current market trends as a seller.
• Providing options, such as renting, as an in between option.
• Selling and buying properties that aren’t on the market.
• Why you shouldn’t try to sell without a realtor.
• Why deals are falling apart in this market.
• How the lenders you use can affect your deal.
• Why every buyer gets nervous after purchasing.

 

Contact Rick and Cheri:

Rick: email: rickbrama@kw.com phone 952-233-0125

Cheri: email: cheriwelle@kw.com  phone 763-742-3401

Sara Yocum, Jodi Klepac, and Amy Gutknecht

This time we’re joined by guests Sara, Jodi, and Amy, a team of sisters that work together as part of Yocum Real Estate Group with Edina Realty. Twins Sara and Jodi are the real estate agents, while Amy serves as marketing communications director. They join us today to discuss how they all ended up in real estate, their market predictions for the remainder of the year, and how seller equity is driving the market.

 

On this episode:

• What trends are they seeing in real estate right now?
• Explaining buying power and how it affects the market.
• About the staging process Sara, Jodi, and Amy offer.
• What they learn about the properties through staging.
• How Amy Gutknecht’s marketing expertise puts them ahead of the curve.
• The benefits of having a 3-person team for buyers and sellers.
• The importance of refining your listings.
• Sara’s background as an attorney and how it benefits the team.
• Jodi’s beginnings in real estate and how Sara joined her.
• Amy’s background in journalism and how she transitioned to marketing.
• Common questions that often come from fearful sellers.
• Why sellers are in the driver’s seat in this market.
• How inventory shortage is affecting the market.
• The importance of getting pre-approved non-contingent.
• How to get around owning 2 homes in the selling process.
• How seller’s equity is strengthening the market.
• Is there a cost attached to hiring Jodi and Sara?
• Why you are missing out on exposure selling without an agent.
• What the holiday period looks like for sellers and buyers.

 

Contact Yocum Real Estate Group:

Sara Yocum 651-334-4740 yocumrealestategroup@edinarealty.com

Jodi Klepac 651-226-2672 yocumrealestategroup@edinarealty.com

Jared Gruett

We’ve got Jared Gruett with us today, a local real estate expert with an office in Florida. Jared is going to talk with us about making the full-time move to Florida, transacting cross-country businesses work in synergy, and what it looks like for clients in Minnesota or Florida looking to work for with him.

 

On this episode:

• Is Jared considered a snowbird?
• Making the permanent move to Florida.
• About Jared, his background, his wife Sarah, and four children.
• How Jared’s wife shares the entrepreneurial spirit that he has.
• About Sarah’s hair salons in Wisconsin and Florida.
• Jared’s love of hockey.
• How Jared made the move from selling t-shirts to real estate.
• Jared’s several other business endeavors.
• What Jared has learned from owning multiple types of businesses.
• How being a business owner provides skills for being in real estate.
• About John R Wood brokerage in Naples.
• Why Jared was drawn to become a part of John R Wood.
• What makes Jared want to work with someone?
• What it looks like for a client looking to sell in Wisconsin and buy in Florida.
• How the pandemic has taught us that we can achieve more remotely than previously thought.
• Advocating for clients that have a property sitting for an extended period of time.
• The advantages of having an agent that is a transplant when looking to move.
• The best way to get a hold of Jared.
• About Jared’s war wounds from hockey – especially those inflicted by Brad.

 

Contact Jared:

Livinthedreamswflorida.com

Livinthedreamswflorida@gmail.com

FL number 239-776-5888

MN number 651-600-6731

Michael Stanton

Today we’re welcoming Michael Stanton from Keller Williams Realty Integrity Lakes. Before getting into real estate, Michael was one of the top reps around for medical device sales. He’ll explain how the experience he gained on that journey has helped him as a realtor, and also shares his views on the changes he has seen in the real estate market in thus far in 2021.

 

On this episode:

• How Michael’s experience in the medical device world translated to real estate.
• An important lesson that was learned early in that career.
• A basic principle about honesty that Michael took with him into real estate.
• A townhouse deal that Brad and Stig were involved with alongside Michael.
• How the housing market has changed in the past few months.
• Michael’s definition of market value and why it’s okay to pay.
• Market value versus appraised value, and the uses for both.
• Why Michael decided to get Graduate Realtor Institute designation.
• What is involved in getting a Certified Residential Specialist designation.
• Always trying to better yourself to help your clients.
• Doing the right thing.
• Differences in transactions in Minnesota versus Wisconsin.
• The musical skills of Michael’s daughter Nicole.
• A gratitude party that Michael is planning to throw for people who have helped his career.
• Why Michael enjoys the flexibility of communicating through text.

 

Contact Michael Stanton with ‘Keller Williams Realty Integrity Lakes’:

michaelstanton@kw.com

(651) 206-9748

Dave Reed

Dave Reed is with us today from Remax Results. With over 20 years experience in real estate, Dave is going to give us a look at his journey to becoming a realtor, his experience in the military, and some of his tips on what to do when looking to buy rental properties.

 

On this episode:

• About Dave’s athletic family.
• How Dave became interested in becoming a realtor.
• Dave’s history in the military and what skills he learned there.
• Dave’s experience as a custom home builder.
• How Dave’s building knowledge helps him to prepare potential buyers.
• Transitioning from builder to realtor.
• Why you need to hire a realtor, no matter how hot the market is.
• How buyers’ agents are becoming more creative in drafting proposals.
• What can go wrong if you don’t hire a realtor.
• Common misunderstandings in paperwork when trying to sell without a realtor.
• The value of having a fellow veteran advocate for VA clients.
• Knowing how to write VA agreements and why they are different.
• The unfortunate trend of trying to take advantage of VA clients.
• The prevalence of lenders posing as VA specialists.
• Dave’s personal experience with rental properties.
• Understanding of the location requirements for rental properties.
• Working with a lender that can help you with the different requirements for rental properties.
• Why you shouldn’t learn as you go with rental properties.
• Keeping up with local legislation.
• What to do as tenants looking to buy and how Dave helps in these situations.
• The importance of having a strong team to work with.

 

Contact Dave:

www.davereedhomes.com

dave@davereedhomes.com

651-230-0251

Ron Steele

Ron Steele is with us in this episode. He is part of Steele Brothers Real Estate with Edina Realty. Today, he’ll be talking to us about his long and storied career in real estate, how Steele Brothers uniquely market their listings to create interest, and what it’s like to work with Steele Brothers as a buyer.

 

On this episode:

• Why Ron initially got into real estate.
• Making the switch from newspaper ad man to realtor.
• About the Steele Brothers team.
• Creating a great customer experience through a diverse team.
• The benefits of having a team versus being a one-man band.
• How the Steele Brothers maintain their volume of listings.
• A look at Luke’s marketing strategy secrets.
• Maximising the property exposure.
• What is the process of listing property with Steele Brothers?
• The benefit of maintaining property inventory.
• Tapping into withheld listing potential.
• Creating and maintaining a collaborative network of information sharing.
• Taking advantage of the current market as a seller.
• Predicting the levelling of the market.
• The increased current crop of educated buyers and how it is influencing the market.
• The buyer’s timeline and Ron’s role in that.
• Creating dress rehearsal offers for buyers and how they help.
• The importance of having patience in the process.
• About Ron’s wife and business partner Diane and her role in their business.
• Diane’s experience in design.
• Why it’s crucial to care about people in the realtor business.
• Building a real estate team that stays together.

 

Contact Ron and Diane May:

RonaldSteele@edinarealty.com 612-991-5710

DianeMay@edinarealty.com 612-961-7333

Cheryl Larson and Bryce Larson

Joining us today are Cheryl and Bryce Larson, a mother and son team from Cheryl Larson eXp Realty. They are here in this episode to discuss their move to eXp Realty, having a diverse team, and the unique considerations required when buying an older property along with why Bryce is particularly useful in this area.

 

On this episode:

• About Cheryl and Bryce’s move to eXp Realty.
• How eXp was poised to work online through the pandemic.
• What it’s like working with family members.
• Who Cheryl and Bryce have on their team.
• What specialties their team members have.
• The importance of having a team with diverse backgrounds.
• How having colleagues that have made big lifestyle transitions can help your clients.
• The difficulties in buying commercial buildings.
• How Team Larson works together to build a full picture for clients.
• About Bryce’s construction background and how it benefits real estate.
• Aiding clients in retrofitting older buildings.
• How Team Larson helps their clients find resources to help with renovating.
• What do people need to do when putting their house on the market?
• What is pristine editing?
• What is the difference between pristine editing and staging?
• Creating a fresh perspective for buyers and sellers.
• Various aspects to think about when buying an older property.
• Clarifying the big picture needs of the buyer.
• The importance of taking lifestyle into consideration.
• Providing resources to buyers during the buying process to help plan lifestyles.
• How YouTube has revolutionized learning skills for renovation.
• About Bryce’s current project house.

 

Contact Cheryl and Bryce:

Cheryl@CherylLarson.com 651-270-0213

Bryce@CherylLarson.com 651-233-7934

Anne Anderson and Kelly Lehmicke

We are welcoming guests Anne Anderson and Kelly Lehmicke from EXP Realty in this episode. EXP is an up-and-coming global real estate company which is the fastest growing brokerage globally. Anne and Kelly will talk about being a family team in a global company and what the current market looks like.

 

On this episode:

• The progressive nature of EXP as a company.
• Why Anne left her previous brokerage of 14 years to join EXP.
• How Anne and Kelly work together as a mother/daughter team.
• About the importance of referrals and the difference a global company makes.
• The vital need of being available in the real estate space.
• Anne’s niece Abbe Marchio and how she fits in to their realtor team.
• The benefit of working with Anne, Kelly, and Abbe at EXP.
• Why the realtor business is not just a transactional business.
• How Anne and Kelly have involved almost their whole family in their business.
• How growing up with a boutique builder as a husband and father has benefitted Anne and Kelly in their line of work.
• What are Anne and Kelly seeing in the market?
• Advice for someone that’s on the fence about listing or buying.
• About Bridge Loans.
• The importance of being tenacious in the current market.
• How to handle multiple offers as a seller.
• Why people are wanting to capitalize on their house more and why it’s causing overpricing.
• Why Anne got her realtor license in 2007, despite the economy.
• What to tell buyers regarding payment rate per $1000.
• Current rates and how they affect the market.

 

Contact Anne and Kelly:

anne@anneandersonhomes.com kelly@anneandersonhomes.com

https://www.anneandersonhomes.com

Richard McDonough and Megan Schmidt

Richard McDonough and Megan Schmidt, realtors with RM Realty, are featured in today’s episode. RM Realty acts as both a realtor and broker, making the experience seamless for their clients. Together, Richard and Megan, will be talking about their journeys into real estate, making philanthropy in their community a priority, and how technology is informing the client and agent experience.

 

On this episode:

• Why Richard got into realty and eventually decided to strike out on his own.
• Helping the community through RM Realty.
• How technology helps both agents and consumers.
• The importance of strong systems and processes.
• Why Richard wants to help other agents move away from transactional business.
• Creating a more predictive model of realty.
• The meaning of the acronym RM in RM Realty.
• How RM Realty creates room for their clients in every aspect of their experience.
• How Megan got involved in real estate.
• Megan’s experience in the construction industry.
• The benefits and disadvantages of being your own broker.
• How technology is informing the client experience at RM Realty.
• How social media is bolstering the real estate business.
• About Megan’s landscape painting.
• The importance of donating your time to meaningful causes.
• Creating experiences for the community.
• How Megan gets involved with the local story time for kids.
• How Bell Mortgage have helped RM Realty.
• One question that Richard and Megan see from their clients most often.
• The importance of having a great lender in your corner.

 

richardmcdonough@rmrealty.com and megan@rmrealty.com

https://www.rmrealty.com

651-472-8383

Danielle Yegge and Ayden Mains

On today’s episode we’re joined by guests Danielle Yegge and Ayden Mains. Danielle is the co-owner of Style and Structure, a building and remodelling company. Ayden is a realtor with Keller Williams and new home specialist for Style and Structure. Danielle and Ayden will talk about how they work together, what clients can expect when working with Style and Structure, and how they go about designing homes.

 

On this episode:

• How Danielle got into building.
• Danielle’s experience renovating and flipping houses along with doing new home sales.
• Why the interior design department is the largest at Style and Structure.
• Who is the ideal client for Style and Structure?
• How dream homes can vary from client to client based on their individual desires.
• How Style and Structure helps their clients to hone their vision.
• Helping people find the right builder for them.
• Creating dream homes, whether the most important factor is budget or style.
• How the design process works for clients.
• What radius do Style and Structure build in?
• About Style and Structure’s recent Parade of Homes Reggie Award win.
• Working with different design styles to get the ideal outcome.
• Getting inspiration for their design process.
• How people looking to sell can work with Style and Structure.
• Working with timing issues for different clients.
• About Ayden and her history in real estate.
• Ayden’s experience in interior and housing design.
• How Ayden and Danielle met and began working together.
• The traits that make successful designers and realtors and how they overlap.