Brad Leavitt Podcast

With the rest of 2021 expected to remain a strong seller's market, Samantha and Jenny comment on how realtors can best represent buyers and sellers around these unique market conditions.

The past year-and-a-half have introduced new challenges to real estate professionals across the country. Samantha and Jenny share how they are able to effectively communicate and set expectations with clients in a market that is uncertain and ever-evolving.

More generally, they speak on evergreen keys to success in the field, including the power of listening intently to your clients, why the answer to competition is actually to build relationships with your fellow realtors, how to reconcile a bank appraisal that is lower than your offer, why you should hold off celebrating until after close of escrow, and how to learn from your mistakes and gain confidence as a realtor.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [02:24] The current state of the real estate market
• [06:11] Going the extra mile to get a house ready to be listed
• [10:38] How Samantha and Jenny find their clients
• [14:12] What today’s clients expect
• [19:57] Working with investors
• [24:34] Why listening is key to any realtor’s success
• [28:20] The market beyond Phoenix
• [34:55] Dealing with competition by building relationships with fellow realtors
• [40:47] Using social media effectively
• [43:50] What to do when the bank appraisal is lower than your offer
• [46:37] Setting expectations upfront with buyers and having great lender relationships
• [52:58] Learning from mistakes
• [54:30] What makes certain neighborhoods more attractive to buyers than others
• [59:30] Samantha and Jenny’s foray into construction
• [1:03:14] How Samantha and Jenny got into real estate and why they love it

Connect with Samantha and Jenny :

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• YouTube

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Samantha and Jenny:

I think the biggest thing with representing buyers in this market is making sure that you’re upfront and that they understand what they’re getting into, because it’s not the typical market.

Anytime you go into a real estate transaction, typically there is a home inspection that happens. And I feel that, regardless of the market, you learn something new every time at home inspections.

It all comes down to a thoughtful floor plan. If you can walk into a home and it makes sense, you don’t need anything else to prove that to you.

The most important part of our job is listening. Just listen to what your clients want. By listening to them, it doesn’t matter who wants what—everybody feels heard.

Until it closes, you have not bought the house.

With confidence comes comfortability.

Build has since grown into a curated collection of the region's most talented and inspired tradespeople in the building industry.

Listen in as Ted reflects on the history of Build Magazine and his foray into the construction industry. He talks about the publication’s accompanying podcast, Friends of Build Magazine, and how it has served as a valuable tool for Ted to build and nurture relationships with the best of the best in the industry.

Speaking on the power of branding in the digital age, Ted touches on some of the most overlooked crucial keys to success for any builder or architect, including the importance of having a strong website with flawless photography.

Finally, Ted dives deep on one of his favorite topics: The American Dream, and why it’s achievable for anyone who dares to dream and take massive action in this amazing country.

Topics Discussed: 

• 01:56 How Ted got into the publication space
• 04:53 Ensuring that Build only highlights the cream of the crop
• 08:56 Deciding to go all-in on construction
• 11:29 The power of an abundance mindset and how to bounce back from setbacks
• 16:13 Why branding is job security
• 18:02 Embracing sales and improving your communication skills as a business
• 27:11 About Ted’s podcast, Friends of Build Magazine
• 29:55 How Build Magazine has changed since 2016
• 40:18 Why it’s vital that a builder or architect nail their bio, copy, and images
• 44:31 Why your website as a builder is more important than your social media
• 49:20 What Ted most enjoys about running Build Magazine
• 53:45 What Ted does for fun
• 58:16 Doing what you love and dropping expectations
• 01:04:06 Immigrating from Canada to the U.S.
• 01:05:36 What’s next for Ted and Build Magazine?

Connect with Ted Bainbridge & Build Magazine:

• Website 
• Podcast (Friends of Build Magazine) 
• Instagram
• Facebook

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram 
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes from Episode:

• In a market that most people say is dwindling, bad print is dying; good print, people love it.
• I never look at other magazines as competition. It’s just not my DNA. I can only be the best Ted I can be. [...] Just be the best you that you can be and let the competition do whatever they want to do. I’m a firm believer in abundance. There’s always room for somebody else to do a good job, and it just makes the whole playing field better.
• If you follow through on what you say you’re going to do, you’re going to have long-term relationships. I always tell people: “I don’t want you for a year. I want you for a decade.”
• It’s harder to be given an opportunity than it is to roll up your sleeves and just carve it out yourself.
• Photography, for any business, is critically important. They need to spend for that because that is the sex appeal that gets people’s attention.
• I love money, but money is not my driver. Money is the byproduct of doing a good job.

In 2006, one of Caribou Creek’s handcrafted log homes was named winner of the 2006 “Log Home of the Year” from Log Home Design magazine.

Listen in as David explains exactly what is meant by a “log home” or a “timber frame house’ and the unique processes that go into their construction. He speaks on the typical timeframe of a project and how he interacts and builds relationships with customers, contractors, and other partners involved in a build.

Topics Discussed: 

• [00:33] What is a timber frame house?
• [03:37] The process of building a log home
• [12:18] Insulating material in a log or timber frame home
• [14:14] The many benefits of living in a log home
• [18:16] The typical timeframe for building a log home
• [22:03] Knowing what species of timber to use depending on the region
• [25:06] Keeping pests away from the wood
• [26:40] How the current lumber craze and skyrocketing costs affected Caribou
• [29:06] Differences in cost between a log home and a timber frame house
• [32:20] Why Caribou sources its wood from Japan
• [36:12] How David develops relationships with lumber suppliers
• [38:14] David’s career and how he got into building log homes
• [41:02] How Caribou’s marketing strategy has evolved over time
• [43:45] David’s experience building a log home in New Zealand using local lumber
• [47:56] Partnering with builders working on their first log or timber frame home
• [51:07] Making sure the measurements are correct
• [57:05] Upcoming projects for Caribou Creek

Connect with Caribou Creek:

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 
• LinkedIn 

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Houzz 
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes from Episode:

• Timber frame houses are] very energy-efficient, very healthy, sustainable, and built with a renewable resource.
• It usually takes a day to set a thousand square feet of home.
• It’s really not that hard to keep anything out of the wood. It’s a little bit hard to get them out of there if you allow them to come in.
• Custom, handcrafted log homes often cost 20-30% more than a frame one with the same finishes. That cost is almost always in the roof system

Listen in as Alisha gives her thoughts on educating and setting expectations with clients. She explains why embracing the role of interior designer as facilitator is more important today than at any other time due to changes in the industry brought on by the turbulent circumstances of the last year-and-a-half. She and Brad unpack the reality that “there’s nothing more expensive than a cheap bid.”

Alisha then speaks on the importance of hiring the right designer no matter how “clear” the client’s vision of their dream home is. She describes how she conducts her first presentation of the proposed space to a client and why she always starts with the kitchen first and the master bath second.

She covers communication and dynamics with the client, the builder, the architect, and vendors throughout the project. She touches on her strategies to keep both her team and the client on-track from the initial meeting through to completion.

Finally, Alisha talks marketing and SEO, as well as finding and forming long-term relationships with vendors.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [02:06] Alisha’s biggest challenge at the moment
• [07:55] Educating clients so that they go with the most effective builder rather than the cheapest
• [11:14] Meeting the client’s vision while staying within realistic parameters
• [19:16] The value of doing hand sketches
• [23:05] How Alisha starts “touring” clients through the space in her initial design
• [26:48] Guiding clients to buy into the manufacturers you recommend to them
• [32:14] How soon and how closely Alisha works with her architect in the early stages
• [34:11] Alisha’s most successful project so far
• [37:38] The client is part of the team
• [38:54] Alisha’s ideal client
• [45:15] Alisha’s personal aesthetic
• [49:11] How Alisha finds her clients online
• [56:39] Navigating the chaos of today’s supply chain
• [59:05] Building relationships with cabinet, tile companies, and other vendors
• [01:01:58] Alisha’s advice to young/new designers

Connect with Alisha Taylor Interiors:

• Website
• Instagram
• Pinterest
• YouTube
• Houzz

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes from Episode:

• The perfect client understands that there’s no set number sometimes when we get started, and that they’re hiring a team—not a number or a bid.
• A home is much more than just tile, cabinetry, and drywall. It is a feeling. It should be felt. It should be experienced. It is where our clients relax at the end of the day. It is where they’re going to create family memories.
• We keep talking about the ideal team, meaning “professionals”; but, I tell the client they’re on the team, too, because they are such an important piece, and they bring something to the table. It allows them to take ownership and responsibility to work great with everyone and to communicate.
• Systems is key. The caliber and size of the projects we do aren’t possible without great systems.

Listen in as Mark shares his journey in breaking the cycle of generational poverty in his family and the series of events that inspired him to start his pool service company.

He dives deep into his secrets to success in building a brand on social media, particularly on TikTok where he very quickly grew his following through organic content alone. (He mentions how he doubled his numbers from one million followers to two million in a little under two months!)

Finally, Mark speaks on how he is navigating his sudden popularity and how the power of leveraging relationships in the industry has been one of the biggest keys to his success.

Brought to you by Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [02:32] Mark's tipping point on social media
• [10:39] Why it’s so important to protect and retain full control over your brand
• [13:33] How to grow your following on social media
• [18:01] Getting around the trolls and haters
• [22:25] Mark’s content creation strategy on Instagram and TikTok
• [28:39] How Mark’s social media presence has impacted his business
• [33:32] Mark’s professional background and his very recent entry into the pool industry
• [39:49] The power of leveraging relationships and building your network
• [44:37] How Mark’s priorities in business may change within the next few years
• [49:39] Where the name “Blue Street” came from
• [51:02] What Mark likes to do outside business
• [53:03] Breaking the cycle of generational poverty and becoming an entrepreneur

Connect with Mark Jones of Blue Street Pools: 

• Website
• TikTok @poolpromj
• Instagram - @poolpr0mj 
• YouTube 
• Blue Street Pools Merch.

Connect with Brad Leavitt: 

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest 
• YouTube 

Key Quotes from Episode:

• With TikTok—if you can provide value to somebody in any area, and you can edit it up and post it on TikTok, you’ll be surprised at how many people follow you.
• Whatever the trend is, if it makes sense, I’m going to ride that trend. I’m not afraid of a change. I’m not afraid to switch up my content for a different platform.
• I talk to people all the time who have a business and are on social media. I tell them, “You have to find a way to provide value to people. You have to give them a reason to want to watch you.”
• Cleaning pools is not that deep. You just have to understand what you’re doing.
• The sky is not the limit when it comes to where we can go with social media. It’s past the sky.

Resources & People Mentioned: 

• Pool Chasers 105 with Brad Leavitt 
• The Tipping Point by Malcom Gladwell 
• Complex Re-post 
• Real Houses of IG 
• NIL
• Mark Jones on CNBC
• BlueRay XL
• Leslies Pools 
• NBA All-Star Celebrity Game
• The Secret to Success Podcast with Eric Thomas 

Since early childhood, Tyler has been immersed in the trades, having been involved in the family construction business growing up. He graduated from Drexel University with a degree in Construction Management and decided to pursue a career as a craftsman carpenter.

Today, Tyler works alongside his wife, Rachel, an interior designer by trade. Their projects have been featured in the Philadelphia Inquirer, Fine Homebuilding Magazine, and on Design Sponge.

Listen in as Tyler describes his unique approach to business, including how he manages TRG as its owner while actively working in the trenches, onsite, for every project he takes on.

He shares that he never sells a job based on how TRG’s prices compare to other companies’, but rather on TRG’s unique design philosophy, and process, execution.

Tyler then explains how he built his confidence as a professional in the industry by defining his niche and embracing his unique strengths as a business owner and tradesman.

Finally, he speaks on how this confidence translates to how he negotiates and interacts with clients, by setting expectations and being comprehensive in the planning stage while at the same time always staying flexible with the timeline on every project.

Topics Discussed:

• [00:02:44] Tyler’s responsibilities on a project
• [00:07:34] How Tyler is able to effectively manage his business while working onsite
• [00:13:12] How Tyler interacts with his designer and clients throughout the process
• [00:18:17] How Tyler vets his clients and the importance of listening to your gut
• [00:25:55] Why Tyler never sells a job based on price alone
• [00:30:10] Why Tyler recommends that industry professionals reprioritize pricing
• [00:33:21] How Tyler has built his confidence as a professional in the industry
• [00:42:04] How Tyler manages his schedule and sets expectations with clients
• [00:47:50] Why Tyler does not guarantee timelines after the client has made the deposit
• [00:52:48] How to deal with labor or material cost increases while in the middle of a project
• [00:56:14] Tyler speaks on his hiring preferences
• [01:02:16] Finding personal time
• [01:04:50] How The Modern Craftsman Podcast impacts Tyler’s brand and business
• [01:07:14] What’s next for Tyler?

Connect with Tyler Grace of TRG Home Concepts:

• Website 
• Instagram 
• Facebook 
• Pinterest 
• Houzz 
• The Modern Craftsman Podcast 

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• AFT Construction Website
• AFT Construction Podcast Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest 
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Tyler:

• I’ve really tried to work only for customers who want us to do the work. I have to offer them something more than just a dollar sign. Whatever I’m bringing to the table has to be more valuable than whoever is going to come at a lower price than me.
• If you put a number on something upfront, it’s never going to be apples to apples no matter what. If you say, “Build me a cabinet,” and you go to three different people, that cabinet is going to be completely different. [...] It’s not fair to make a judgement or make a selection based on a price if you don’t know what goes into it.

Today Brad speaks with professional MMA fighter Ryan Bader. He is the current Bellator Heavyweight Champion, the former Bellator Light Heavyweight Champion, and the winner of The Ultimate Fighter.

Listen in as Ryan dissects his success by reflecting on his path as an athlete, from football player to wrestler to the UFC and, finally, to Bellator.

For Ryan, a solution-oriented mindset and the discipline to stay consistent are his two keys to his massive, ongoing success as a fighter.

Having never taken more than two weeks off, Ryan shares why he believes so strongly in the power of the mind as well as the power of association in helping one level up in whatever field they are in.

He also touches on the parallels between entrepreneurship and his training as a professional fighter, and his foray into business and joining the Kill Cliff team.

Sponsors:

• Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [01:01] Ryan’s journey as an athlete
• [05:12] What separates the top wrestlers from everyone else
• [07:34] Where the nickname “Darth Bader” came from
• [08:52] Ryan’s introduction to MMA
• [12:33] The road to the UFC
• [15:52] How Ryan made his own luck
• [18:48] Turning the fighter mentality on and off as the situation demands
• [20:29] How his first win at the UFC changed the trajectory of Ryan’s career
• [22:15] What Ryan’s UFC contracts covered in the way of living and training expenses
• [26:25] How Ryan balanced work and family life as a professional fighter
• [30:14] Which part of MMA training Ryan enjoys the most
• [32:32] How Ryan and his team prepare and strategize before a fight
• [36:18] How it feels win a fight
• [38:28] How Ryan stays focused in the high-emotion environment of fight day
• [44:15] How Ryan got involved with Kill Cliff
• [49:15] Ryan’s final thoughts on success and his upcoming fights

Connect with Ryan Bader:

• Instagram @ryanbader
• Ryan Bader Wikipedia

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• AFT Construction Website
• AFT Construction Podcast Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest 
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Ryan Bader:

• Having the mindset together with being consistent will take you far in whatever you do.
• A lot of people quit or give up way before they have the chance to reap any rewards.
• One thing I live by is not only to have good people around me, but also the right people around me.
• I’ve waited for this moment for two to three months. I’m prepared. Why not go out there and win? Why not go out there and allow myself to be successful?

Today Brad speaks with Michael McCurdy, President of McCurdy Construction, LLC; Structures Cabinet & Design, LLC; and Noblessa Phoenix.

An entrepreneur at heart, Michael shares why he decided to make the foray into the construction industry and why he specifically chose to start not one, but three businesses in Phoenix.

Michael explains his rationale behind encouraging his team to own every win and every loss in the business, and at the same time taking full responsibility for every failure as President of the company.

He talks about setting expectations with clients and the importance of keeping them informed throughout the process to maximize their freedom of choice over their home’s final outcome.

Finally, Michael calls for more “sophistication” in the planning and implementation of systems and processes in more construction companies in order to raise all ships and, by extension, raise standards across the industry as a whole.

Sponsors: 

• Ledge Lounger
• Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed: 

• [02:39] What makes a good business owner?
• [03:53] Managing the high risks of managing a construction company
• [06:06] Recovering from business mistakes
• [07:55] McCurdy Construction’s process from client onboarding to project completion
• [09:22] Motivating employees in different departments all working toward the same goal
• [12:00] Keeping all parties in a project on the same page with regard to pricing
• [20:24] The toughest part about running a business and keeping your team motivated
• [25:23] Why Michael almost never allows himself to talk business outside business hours
• [27:24] Why Michael decided to start a second business, and then a third
• [32:02] How Michael developed his expertise with cabinetry
• [40:40] Becoming a distributor in Phoenix
• [45:10] Helping clients choose an aesthetic for their cabinetry
• [47:49] How a great showroom translates into great sales
• [49:58] Why Michael decided to go into construction

Connect with Guest:

• McCurdy Construction
• Structures Cabinet & Design
• Noblesa
• LinkedIn

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook 
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Key Quotes from Episode:

• If you’re giving your employees what they need to have to do their jobs, that’s what makes a good owner. A good owner owns their mistakes and encourages their employees to do better. Generally, if the company wins, everybody wins.
• I love construction; but I’m in love with business.

Today Brad speaks with Christopher Anderson, Founder and CEO at Ledge Lounger. The Houston-based company offers a line of in-water furniture built to withstand harsh pool chemicals, outdoor elements, and up to 16,000 hours of direct, overhead sunlight.

Ledge Lounger has enjoyed four consecutive years on Inc. Magazine’s Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in America and three years on Houston Business Journal's 100 Fastest Growing Companies in Greater Houston.

Christopher describes how Ledge Lounger found success in the pool industry, having started out as being named for the original “Ledge Lounger” product to growing its brand to the point that, much like the word “Xerox” has become a sweeping term for photocopiers, “Ledge Lounger” has become its own category of furniture.

He also discusses how Ledge Lounger was able to stay nimble in the past year and a half, having been focused on practicality over aesthetics, growing their internal resources, and solidifying their B2B cycle especially as COVID changed the nature of demand in the pool industry.

Sponsors: 

• SweetProcess
• Ledge Lounger
• Pella Windows

Connect with Christopher Anderson & Ledge Lounger:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Pinterest 
• LinkedIn
• Houzz
• Download Ledge Lounger 2021 Catalog

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest
• YouTube

Topics Discussed:

• [03:17] An introduction to Ledge Lounger and its growth beyond a product into a brand
• [10:15] How Ledge Lounger nurtures its customer-centered company culture
• [13:11] How Christopher got into the outdoor furniture space
• [22:57] Staying versatile and on-trend as a business while having a specialty or niche
• [28:19] How Ledge Lounger found the perfect balance of style and durability
• [29:47] Choosing between speed, quality, and price
• [34:10] Where Christopher developed his appreciation for product quality
• [40:15] How COVID has changed Christopher’s business
• [48:14] Keeping the supply chain intact as the business scales
• [55:07] Staying innovative by focusing on the B2B cycle
• [58:06] Christopher’s favorite Ledge Lounger product

Key Quotes by Christopher Anderson:

• You’ve got to stick with your core [as a business]. You’ve got to stick with what got you here. In my case, it was the pool—it got us into the backyard. But what else could I do in this space?
• As designers, we know that there’s practicality and function, and then there’s aesthetics. The further you go with aesthetics, the less practicality and function there is. You can’t have the extremes of both.
• We’re trying to touch on the emotions and engage the purchase through that, as opposed to a consumer that is just shopping through best price. Speed, quality, price: Pick two. You cannot pick three.
• Work on your business and not in your business. You work in your business all the time. Step away from it and work on it. Get out of it and think about it.

Dash reflects back on a childhood in Hawaii filled with turmoil and uncertainty, from being abandoned by his own parents literally without a name, to growing up around fight clubs and never having a home he could call his own. He then describes the turning point in his life when he was adopted by the Wong family.

Down the road, Dash was inspired to join the Navy and, later, the SEALS. He talks about the challenges he faced as a scrawny kid surrounded by formidable athletes at BUD/S and how he was able to come out on top despite all odds.

He touches on his near-death experience with adenocarcinoma as a young father and his departure from the military, and how it all led to his current involvement with Kill Cliff.

Sponsors:

• SweetProcess
• Ledge Lounger
• Pella Windows & Doors

Topics Discussed:

• [04:06] The unique story behind Dash’s name and his turbulent upbringing
• [11:29] Going into foster care after his mother’s arrest and becoming adopted
• [16:22] Growing up in an Asian family and deciding to join the military
• [21:32] Lessons learned in the military
• [30:16] Why Dash decided to join the Navy specifically
• [31:28] The most challenging moments of training for BUD/S
• [36:52] Getting diagnosed with cancer and leaving the military
• [47:15] Starting a new chapter in life and joining Kill Cliff
• [55:22] What Dash loves most about Kill Cliff

Connect with Dash Wong:

• Website
• Instagram
• LinkedIn

Connect with Brad Leavitt:

• Website
• Instagram
• Facebook
• Houzz
• Pinterest 
• YouTube

Key Quotes by Dash:

• Love the person, not the action.
• Trust is the big one. You can’t expound upon a relationship without trust.
• You can sit there and wallow and hate on the world or your circumstances and where you’re at; or you can make the decision to grind. Change is never easy because it causes forced reflection upon yourself to get better. You’re going to have to dig deep.
• At Kill Cliff, we do know we have the best beverage, but that’s not the foundation that we stand on. We stand on something so much bigger and so much stronger. It’s the American spirit that we stand behind.
• The struggle will make you stronger, but you have to want it. You just have to keep wanting to push the limits.