This week Jefi and Ed discuss the importance of ending the year strong in order to start the new year on a high note. They share their own plans for September through December and emphasize the need for intentionality and personalization in client interactions. Listen as they highlight the significance of staying connected with clients and share how you can celebrate them in unique ways!

QUOTES

• “I want to have a nice big event in February in person. I've been doing virtual events that kind of came about through COVID, but I think it's time to do a really big, fun event and coordinate it with a lot of other agents in the office.” -Ed Billings [28:57]

• "Do what resonates with you. You and I are going to name off a lot of stuff and these are all just ideas, but make them your own because your clients love you for who you are.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:26]

TIMESTAMPS

03:09 Being intentional and planning for year-end

09:18 Jefi’s plans for September, including pop-up events and walks

11:31 Ed’s plans for September, including UNC football watch party

23:27 Video follow-ups

26:30 January/February event ideas

30:31 How small gestures can help show client appreciation

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

This week Jefi and Ed discuss the bold predictions made by Brian Buffini, a renowned real estate expert. They emphasize the importance of listening to reliable sources, such as Buffini, rather than relying on media headlines for market information. They debunk the idea of an impending market crash and highlight the strength of the current housing market, with a significant percentage of homeowners having either paid off their mortgages or having substantial equity in their homes. Jefi and Ed stress the need for realtors to educate their clients about the market and discuss the increasing demand from millennials.

QUOTES

• “You want to make sure in your business that you've got the systems and the staff ready for this big surge in demand that's coming.” -Ed Billings [13:14]

• "This age group of 34 to 36 millennials is actually a larger consuming group than the baby boomers.” -Jefi Moultrie [09:50]

TIMESTAMPS

01:43 Brian Buffini's bold predictions

06:21 Misinformation in the media

08:38 Don't time your search around interest rates, find the right home!

13:30 Prepare systems and staff for a surge in demand

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

Don’t underestimate the power of having a morning routine! This week Jefi and Ed discuss why the real estate industry requires them to be intentional about setting aside time in the morning to fill themselves up before diving into work. They stress the need to separate personal time from work time and highlight the benefits of having a morning routine to set the tone for the day. They also provide practical tips for implementing a morning routine, such as setting an alarm, turning off notifications, and planning activities in advance.

QUOTES

• “You can change the ritual of the morning routine, but don't abandon the morning routine.” -Ed Billings [03:29]

• "Make sure that your time is on your calendar, because if your assistants look at our calendars and they're booking things for us or our business partners or whoever, and if you don't have that time blocked out, how is someone going to honor that for you?” -Jefi Moultrie [06:19]

TIMESTAMPS

02:40 Morning routines should be separate from work tasks

06:50 Set alarms and turn off phone notifications

07:43 Plan activities for the week in advance 

08:06 Don't give away the time 

09:58 Find a routine that works for you

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this episode of Messy in the Middle, Jefi and Ed tackle the top five questions that sellers ask real estate agents during listing presentations. Using the Chat GPT tool, they simulate an unrehearsed interview where they ask each other questions and discuss their responses. They emphasize the importance of being prepared for these questions and providing thoughtful answers to build trust with potential clients.

QUOTES

• "What I like to do is go and do a tour first if the house is brand new. So I want to go and lay eyes on it and walk through, get a feel for what's there, and then I follow up and come through on the back end with all my recommendations and the marketing plan.” -Jefi Moultrie [08:39]

• “Your photos are what is going to stop me. Price and photos are what makes me take a pause.” -Ed Billings [09:46]

TIMESTAMPS

03:30 Discussing experience in selling homes in a specific area 

07:08 Explaining the marketing plan for a home

09:27 Importance of price, presentation, and photos in selling a home 

21:26 Frequency and methods of communication with clients 

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this Ten-Minute Takedown episode, Jefi and Ed discuss the benefits of meditation and how it can help you achieve a balanced life. They emphasize that meditation doesn't have to be a specific practice and can be tailored to individual preferences. They also discuss the benefits of guided meditation and share their personal experiences with it, including increased focus, clarity, and energy.

Listen this week as Jefi and Ed share their favorite guided meditation apps and how this daily ritual can lead to creative insights and new ideas.

QUOTES

• "If you've never done meditation start with five minutes or less. Even a minute gives you benefits!” -Jefi Moultrie [05:31]

• “Flow and meditation are literally the yin and yang on a healthy brain and body” -Ed Billings [06:21]

TIMESTAMPS

02:17 Meditation forms

08:37 Focusing on breathing 

12:58 Guided meditation for beginners 

18:22 How meditation can lead to new ideas and clarity

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

In this episode of the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the concept of flow and its importance in achieving a balanced and fulfilling life. Flow state occurs when individuals are fully immersed in an activity, experiencing deep concentration and a sense of timelessness. Ed and Jefi share examples of flow-inducing activities such as skiing, mountain biking, surfing, tennis, dancing, and even real estate negotiations. 

Listen this week as Ed and Jefi share how you can incorporate nature, dynamic motion, and social interaction into daily activities to enhance the flow experience!

QUOTES

• “Flow state is achieved when there is a balance between the difficulty of the activity and your skill set.” -Ed Billings [07:54]

• "The harder you have to work on something, the more intense your brain gets in solving what you're working on.” -Jefi Moultrie [13:18]

TIMESTAMPS

01:18 Definition of flow state

03:34 Achieving flow through a balance of difficulty and skill

08:03 The importance of feedback and goal-based activities for flow 

18:27 Examples of flow activities: mountain biking, surfing, dancing, real estate negotiations

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this episode of the Messy in The Middle podcast, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of staging in the home selling process. They emphasize the need to consult a professional stager who can help tell the story of the home and create an emotional connection for potential buyers. They also highlight the three Ds of staging: declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean. Listen as they share how staging can help buyers visualize themselves in the space and lead to higher offers!

QUOTES

• “Ninety percent of buyers cannot project themselves into the space. They go into an empty home and they're just confused.” -Ed Billings [09:10]

• "Every home has a story, or it should have one.” -Jefi Moultrie [07:49]

TIMESTAMPS

04:01 the importance of staging

08:44 staging tells the story of a home

12:25 Three key points: declutter, depersonalize, and deep clean

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this Messy In The Middle Ten-Minute Takedown, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of creating a buzz when selling a property. They highlight the three key elements of creating buzz: price, prep, and promotion. They emphasize the significance of pricing a property correctly to attract buyers and generate excitement. Ed and Jefi also discuss the importance of preparing a property for sale, including decluttering and staging, and explore various promotional strategies. 

QUOTES

• “It doesn't matter what I think it is going to sell for or what you think Mr. and Mrs. Seller think it is going to sell for. It's what the buyer thinks.” -Ed Billings [06:20]

• "The consumer is so incredibly educated today by the tools that they have access to via the Internet on pricing.” -Jefi Moultrie [05:35]

TIMESTAMPS

03:50 Pricing a home correctly

11:42 Promoting open houses

14:01 Using social media to create buzz

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this Messy In The Middle Ten-Minute Takedown, Ed and Jefi discuss the importance of living in the now and focusing on what can be done in the present moment. They emphasize the need to let go of fear and uncertainty about the future and instead concentrate on the controllable aspects of their business. They highlight the significance of daily activities, such as making calls, sending notes, and doing pop buys, to maintain relationships with clients. 

QUOTES

• “We tend to focus on bigger events and the ones that have bigger budgets. But a really successful one over the years has been just doing a pop up coffee or a pop up happy hour. You throw it out at the last minute, and whoever shows up, shows up, and they appreciate the invite.” -Ed Billings [06:09]

• "Knowledge about what is happening today is more powerful than what you think will happen tomorrow.” -Jefi Moultrie [06:27]

TIMESTAMPS

01:22 Living in the Now

05:14 Events and Finances

09:56 Planting Seeds Today That Will Impact Your Future

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com

In this episode, Ed and Jefi discuss mid-year updates and the importance of tracking numbers. They explain how a mid-year update can provide a frame of reference for year-over-year comparisons, making it easier to analyze market trends. They also give examples of how to structure a mid-year update call with clients, including tracking the number of homes sold, active listings, and months of supply in their respective markets. 

QUOTES

• “A mid-year update gives you a frame of reference, which gives even more power to the numbers. So jump on board, start tracking, and then you can be an expert. What we love to do is call our clients around mid-year and just say this is what is going on with the market.” -Jefi Moultrie [01:49]

• “When you're at a month's supply. You don't have enough product to meet demand and then prices go up.” -Ed Billings [05:16]

TIMESTAMPS

01:48 Frame of Reference

05:39 Micro Market

10:15 Mid-Year Numbers

RESOURCES

• Never Split the Difference
• The Five Dysfunctions of a Team
• The Peak Experience
• The U.S. Housing Market Has Peaked
• Why Rising Mortgage Rates Push Buyers off the Fence
• The One Thing Every Homeowner Needs To Know About a Recession

CONTACT

Messy in the Middle: messyinthemiddlepodcast.com

Ed Billings: edbillings.com

Jefi Moultrie: jefisrealestate.com