In this episode of the Be The Solution Podcast, Maria interviews Britt McLaughlin, founder of She Moves Philly, who went from tech operations to building a thriving real estate business known for systems, excellence, and grit. Britt shares how she started from zero, built her brand through rentals, and eventually managed the lease-up of a 250-unit portfolio generating millions of dollars in revenue 

Her journey is one of discipline, personal growth, systems thinking, and the truth about what it really takes to succeed in real estate today.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

1. From Tech to Real Estate—Systems Were the Bridge

Before real estate, Britt was Director of Ops for a SaaS company, where she mastered systems, automation, and customer experience—skills that transferred directly into building a scalable real estate business. 

2. “Trial by Fire” Lease-Up That Changed Everything

Britt’s early break came from handling 350 leads per week and leasing 250 units—forcing her to build automation, follow-up systems, and showing processes at lightning speed. “Tenants will call 20–30 places… whoever answers the phone gets the showing.” 

3. Real Estate Success Takes Actual WORK

She says the industry’s real problem is simple:

4. Her Business Cadence Today

Britt follows a structure built on human connection:

• 30 touch points/week to past clients & database
• 3 listing appointments/week
• 1–2 buyer consults/week
• Daily meetings with her admin
• 1–2 networking events/week
  This cadence keeps her pipeline healthy—even in tough markets. 

5. The Market Reality (and What’s Coming)

• Affordability challenges
• Liquidity issues
• Fewer first-time buyers (down from 32% to 21%)
• Sellers out of touch with today’s pricing
• Inventory with heavy deferred maintenance
   Britt expects 2026 to require adaptability, realism, and strong financial discipline. 
  
  

6. Work-Life “Balance” Is a Myth—It’s Time Allocation

Britt says it plainly:

7. Success Comes From Growth & Discomfort

If you're not uncomfortable, you're not growing. The industry rewards the agents willing to push through the discomfort, stay consistent, and build systems. 

MEMORABLE QUOTES

Maria’s Best Quote:

Britt’s Best Quot

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

In this powerful new episode of the Be The Solution Podcast, host Maria Quattrone sits down with Caleb Christopher, founder of Creative TC, a national consulting company specializing in creative financing and complex non-traditional real estate deals. Caleb handles the “weird stuff” in real estate — creative structures like Subject-To, Hybrid Financing, and Seller Finance Combinations — closing 30–50 creative deals monthly nationwide

Maria and Caleb unpack how these deals really work, why most agents don’t understand them, what risks sellers and buyers must know, and how agents can identify when creative financing is actually the best (and sometimes only) solution for their clients.

💡 Key Takeaways

1. What Creative Financing Really Is

2. Why Sellers Choose Creative Financing 

3. Why Investors Love Creative Financing

4. How to Structure Sub2 Deals Safely

5. Why Agents Say No — And When They Should Say Yes

6. When Agents Should Call Caleb

🗣️ Memorable Quotes

Maria’s Best Quote:

Caleb’s Best Quote:

📞 Guest Contact Information

Caleb Christopher
Founder, Creative TC
📌 Nationwide creative finance consultant
🌐 Website: CreativeTC.io
📩 Free Consult: Book directly on the site
 

Creative financing isn’t mainstream — but it’s a critical solution for sellers in distress, investors seeking opportunity, and agents wanting to deliver options beyond the conventional.

As Maria says, “This is what it’s all about — Being the Solution.”

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

In this episode of the Be The Solution Podcast, Maria Quattrone welcomes Simon Westfall-Kwong, CEO and Team Leader of the LuxeLife Group in North Jersey. Simon shares how he built one of the most admired real estate relationship systems in the region — his SOI Playbook — focused on authentic connection, consistent communication, and community-driven events.

From hosting 11 years of pumpkin patch gatherings to creating detailed systems of follow-up, Simon reveals how to build a thriving referral-based business that grows year after year. Maria and Simon also discuss consistency, intentional follow-ups, and how to serve your clients in meaningful ways that extend far beyond the transaction.

💡 Key Takeaways

• Your database is your goldmine. Stay top of mind by consistently engaging your sphere of influence (SOI).
• Community events create connection. Host authentic, value-based events like pumpkin patches, pie giveaways, or Mother’s Day flower stations to strengthen your relationships.
• Consistency beats intensity. Execute a few well-chosen activities regularly, instead of chasing every new idea.
• The FORD Model Works: Family, Occupation, Recreation, Dreams — a simple framework for meaningful conversations.
• Give Back Often. Align your business with local causes to build community goodwill and deeper purpose.
• Plan Ahead. Use Q4 to gear up for the next year — every conversation you have today plants a seed for future growth.
• Start Small, Then Scale. Pick one initiative and go all in. Excellence compounds.

🗣️ Quotes

Maria Quattrone:

Simon Westfall-Kwong:

🌟 Episode Highlights

• How COVID inspired a deeper focus on relationship-driven business
• The LuxeLife SOI Playbook — a 12-month calendar of client events
• Why Simon’s team measures connection calls instead of cold calls
• Turning small gestures (like whipped cream with a pie) into memorable brand touchpoints
• How to use philanthropy and community sponsorships to expand reach
• Why going “vertical” — focusing deeply on one system — outperforms multitasking across ten ideas
• How to build a business that feeds itself through relationships, not lead lists

💬 Guest Contact

Simon Westfall-Kwong
CEO / Team Leader — The LuxeLife Group
📍 North Jersey | Serving NJ & NY Metro Areas
🌐 www.luxelifegroup.com

📧 [email protected]

📱 Instagram: @luxelifegroup

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

This morning, I had the pleasure of sitting down with my longtime friend and industry legend, Jeff Quintin, CEO of The Quintin Group. Jeff and I go way back—over two decades of friendship, competition, and growth in this wild business of real estate.

In this episode, we dive into what’s really working in today’s market, what’s always worked, and how to combine proven old-school fundamentals with the modern tools that can skyrocket your business. We talk about the P-word that every agent avoids—prospecting—and why it’s still the heartbeat of success 30 years later.

This is a masterclass on consistency, adaptability, and leadership in an unpredictable market. If you’re serious about surviving the shifts and dominating 2026, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways (from me, Maria)

• 💡 Conversations create commissions. Every deal starts with a conversation. No conversation = no closing.
• 🔑 Adaptability matters more than ever. What worked in 2020 won’t work today. Learn, pivot, and master new skills.
• 💪 It’s not the market — it’s the mindset. Focus on what you can control: your effort, your consistency, and your communication.
• 📈 Be the professional. When markets tighten, the skilled agents rise. Sellers seek out results, not excuses.
• 🔁 Repetition is freedom. Consistency builds confidence and predictable income—prospect daily, even when it’s boring.
• 🧠 Skill beats shortcuts. Role-playing, objection handling, and listening are the non-negotiables of top producers.
• 📞 The Expired Goldmine. Expired listings are the fastest way to generate business—if you’re skilled enough to earn the call.

Quotes

• Maria: “If you think you need 10 closings, plan for 13 or 14. Control the controllables—because the market won’t control itself.”
• Jeff: “Small things done consistently over time lead to big results.”

Connect with the Guest

Jeff Quintin
CEO, The Quintin Group
📍 Ocean City, NJ & Surrounding Markets
🔗 jeffquintin.com
📱 Instagram: @jeffquintinteam

A bad month—or even a bad year—doesn’t make you a bad agent. What matters is what you do next. Build your pipeline daily, have real conversations, and remember: we aren’t our production—we’re people serving people.

If you want to dominate 2026, your work starts today.
 Keep showing up. Keep growing.
 And always—Be The Solution.

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

On this episode, I sit down with my longtime friend and industry peer, Tim Garrity—a Philly real estate leader known for relentless consistency, content-driven marketing, and building a business that serves both his clients and his life. We dig into the habits that actually move the needle (hello, 5 AM start times and “eat the frog”), why consistency beats intensity, how to win in a tough market, and the mindset shift every agent needs to make before Q1.

Key Takeaways

• Consistency is the advantage. 15 years of a monthly email—missed maybe two. The pros don’t stop just because results are delayed.
• Do the hard thing first. “Eat the frog” mornings: knock out the highest-impact work before lunch or it probably won’t happen.
• Content compounds. Newsletters, podcasts, YouTube, blogs—value out = opportunities in. Tim runs mornings like a content studio.
• Efficiency creates freedom. Home gym, home office, tight routines—minutes saved become hours invested in family and focused work.
• Tough market? Double down. Talk to more people. Follow up more. Use downtime to analyze, cut waste, and plan your next moves.
• Mindset > everything. It’s personal development in disguise. Who do you need to become to have what you want?
• Integrity never goes out of style. Do the right thing when nobody’s watching—clients feel it, results reflect it.
• End-of-year push matters. While others coast from Halloween to holidays, add gas. Fill the pipeline and jump-start Q1.

Memorable Quotes

• Maria: “It takes what it takes.”
• Tim: “Use your downtime to your advantage.”

Episode Highlights

• Daily rhythm: 5 AM start, home workout, school drop-off, content blocks 8AM–noon
• Why 20 real conversations a day still wins—and how long it actually takes
• “Tiny hinges swing big doors”: coffee, commute, and micro-saves that add up
• How to plan now if next year is slower: cut dead spend, play to your strengths, get accountability
• Content as a magnet: show up with real value, not noise—then let the flywheel spin
• Market reality check: prices high, costs high, buyers stretched—be the adult in the room with data and strategy
• Year-end directive: blinders on—content, calls, texts, emails—stack the deck for Q4 closings and a strong Q1

Guest — Contact & Links

Tim Garrity — Founder, The Tim Garrity Team (Licensed in PA & NJ); Associate Broker at Real.

 Areas served: Philadelphia & Suburbs, Southern NJ Shore & Suburbs.

• Licenses: PA Associate Broker; NJ Broker Salesperson.

Consistency isn’t sexy—it’s decisive. Do the work, day in and day out. If you’re serious about finishing the year strong, now’s the time to tighten your routine, increase your conversations, and make your follow-up unmissable. Be the Solution—to your clients, your team, and your future self.

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

I sat down with my longtime friend (and friendly competitor) Chris Somers, CEO of The Somers Team. We’ve both been in this wild real estate world for 22 years, and today we went straight at it—adaptability, leadership, and getting deals to the finish line when the market isn’t giving anyone freebies. I opened with a line that anchors me: “The most successful people are those who accept and adapt to constant change.” That’s been our story—from the financial crisis to zero rates, inflation, and a tougher transaction environment. If you’re ready to control the controllables and lead, this episode is for you.

Key Takeaways (from me)

• Adaptability is survival. Markets shift. Stay flexible, humble, and decisive—or get left behind.
• Plan for fallout. Termination rates are up. If you think you need 10 closings, plan for 13–14. Do more than you think you need.
• Teams accelerate growth. New agents have a much higher success rate on a team—skills, systems, and support matter.
• Control what you can. Double down on contact, follow-up, sales skills, and daily consistency.
• Lead in your market. We are community leaders—advocate for homeownership and sensible policy; protect property rights.
• Mindset first. Gratitude, boundaries, and listening are performance multipliers. Protect your time and your focus.
• Cycles turn. With rates easing and pent-up demand building, be the person who’s already prepared when activity lifts.

Standout Quotes

• From me (Maria): “It’s time to hunker down—blinders on. Add 30% to what you think you need, control the controllables, and let the results follow.”
• From Chris: “Small things done consistently over time lead to big results.”

Connect with Chris Somers

• Guest: Chris Somers, CEO — The Somers Team (Philadelphia)
• Connect: LinkedIn: Christopher Somers • Instagram/Facebook: The Somers Team
  (Share exact handles/links and I’ll insert them.)

We don’t wait for easy markets—we be the solution. Do the work, lead your people, and keep your mindset clean. Survive first, then thrive. I’m grateful you’re here with me on this journey—now let’s get to work.

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

In this dynamic episode of Be the Solution, host Maria Quattrone sits down with powerhouse real estate leader Kevelyn Guzman, a woman who's not only reshaped how brokerages operate—but how leaders lead.

As Regional Vice President at Coldwell Banker Warburg, Kevelyn has spent more than two decades building innovative, people-first solutions for New York City’s most competitive real estate environment. She played a pivotal role in the firm’s 2021 acquisition by Coldwell Banker and has since redefined agent support by treating agents as clients—championing their growth with technology, strategic positioning, and mentorship across generations.

Kevelyn’s leadership philosophy is rooted in empowerment, honesty, and impact. From launching the NYC chapter of What Moves Her, to being named a 2025 Inman Power Player, she has shown what it means to lead with heart and results. In this conversation, Kevelyn and Maria get real about what it takes to grow a business, empower teams, and stay relevant in an industry constantly in flux.

If you’re ready to future-proof your business and lead with purpose, this episode is your roadmap.

💡 Key Discussion Points:

• Why Q1 starts NOW: Planning forward like a true operator
• Smashing the traditional model: Agents are clients, not subordinates
• Leadership without ego: The power of listening and humility
• How to scale your personal brand—with boundaries and clarity
• Daily productivity tips: handwritten lists, calendar blocking, and weekly resets
• Real talk on AI tools: ChatGPT, CapCut, CRM automation
• Growing as a Latina in real estate: Representation, responsibility, and resilience
• Navigating multi-generational teams with grace and structure
• Setting boundaries as a leader—why saying “no” unlocks greater “yeses”

🗣️ Featured Quotes:

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

What happens when the name on the door stops feeling like success and starts feeling like a cage? Craig Lurch, a Philadelphia real estate veteran and son of a broker, tells the raw story of smashing his “snow globe”—leaving his own brokerage, confronting ego, and rebuilding a career around three simple funnels: change lives, make money, have fun. It wasn’t tidy. It cost real money, pride, and a few tears. But it delivered clarity, scale, and a daily rhythm that protects energy and multiplies impact.

We dig into practical frameworks that any pro can steal: 90-day planning with big rocks, outcome-based calendars that kill knee-jerk decisions, and the discipline of saying no so your best yes can find you. Craig makes a case for kindness as a competitive edge—random acts that change someone’s day and quietly compound your reputation. He lays out today’s market reality with no spin: tight inventory, buyer agency agreements with teeth, and why insisting on alignment is not arrogance, it’s stewardship. If you’ve ever battled pricing delusion, boundary pushers, or the threat of a one-star tantrum, you’ll find scripts and stances that keep you sane and effective.

There’s heart here too. Behavior never lies, mastery takes time, and fun isn’t optional; it’s fuel. We talk Philly grit, unscripted radio, Italy’s calming effect, and a pink flamingo legacy from Craig’s mother—a reminder to leave people better than you found them. If your “success” feels small for who you’ve become, consider this your nudge to shatter the glass, build a blue ocean, and work with more intention and joy.

If this conversation moved you, follow the show, share it with a friend who needs courage, and leave a quick review—what’s one snow globe you’re ready to smash?

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

What if your clients didn’t need you in the room to feel fully served? We sit down with Guillermo Salas—born and raised in Philly, now raising four kids in Madrid—to unpack how he moved abroad, kept his real estate business thriving, and actually got closer to the life he wanted. The surprise isn’t that remote real estate works; it’s that leading with transparency and well-documented systems can grow your business while you live where you feel most alive.

Guillermo walks us through the pivotal lessons from COVID that shattered the myth of mandatory face time and opened the door to video-first service, no-attendance closings, and on-demand showing assistants. We explore the power of authenticity as a differentiator, the ego trap that keeps agents glued to tasks others can do, and the concrete SOPs that make “boots on the ground” reliable and repeatable. From time-zone routines that reserve afternoons for U.S. calls to morning rhythms built around family, we map a workday that respects both clients and life.

We also get practical about visas, first-week logistics, and why you shouldn’t move to your vacation. Spain won for language immersion, culture, and cost of living—but the family still pivoted from a sleepy coastal town to Madrid’s energy to match their actual needs. On the business side, Guillermo shares how global referrals, virtual brokerages, revenue share, and stock can stack durable wealth on top of deal income. We talk financial literacy for agents, lowering fixed costs, and turning expertise into products—courses, coaching, and playbooks—that travel anywhere.

If you’ve felt the pull to live abroad or simply design a saner, more option-rich version of your career, this conversation gives you the blueprint: systems over heroics, honesty over posturing, and multiple income streams over endless hustle. Subscribe, share this with a friend who needs a nudge, and leave a review to tell us where you’d build your life if the “how” stopped holding you back.

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535

Ever wonder what's really happening during those crucial hours of a home inspection? In our eye-opening conversation with returning guest Corwin Jackson, we pull back the curtain on this pivotal moment in the real estate transaction that can make or break a deal.

Corwin dismantles the common misconception that home inspectors are "deal killers," explaining their true purpose is to provide an objective assessment of a property's current condition. We explore why those aging roof systems, hidden foundation issues, and outdated HVAC equipment matter so much in negotiations, and why the typical visual, non-intrusive inspection has important limitations every buyer should understand.

The game-changing takeaway from our discussion centers on pre-listing inspections. For just about $450, sellers can transform their negotiating position by identifying issues before listing their property. This strategic approach prevents the dreaded scenario where a home sits on the market for weeks, goes under contract, fails inspection, and returns to market with a damaged reputation. As Corwin puts it, "It's penny-wise and pound-foolish" to skip this crucial step.

Beyond transaction strategy, we discuss how home inspections serve as valuable educational opportunities for new homeowners. From locating water shut-off valves to understanding maintenance schedules, this knowledge transfer helps buyers properly care for what is likely their largest investment.

Whether you're buying your first home or selling your fifth, this conversation will arm you with the insights needed to approach inspections strategically. Ready to be the solution in your next real estate transaction? Listen now and discover how proper home inspections can save you thousands and prevent headaches down the road.

Connect with Maria Quattrone:
Facebook: Maria Quattrone
Facebook Page: REMAX at Home Facebook
Facebook Page: Rise in Real Estate Facebook
LinkedIn: Maria Quattrone
YouTube: Maria Quattrone
Instagram: @maria_quattrone
TikTok: mariaquattronerealestate
Website: MQrealesate.com
Office number: 215- 607-3535