Team or TC? CRM or Chaos? We’re Not Sugarcoating or Gatekeeping

Ever wish someone would just give you straight answers to the most common real estate questions without all the fluff? This is that episode.

Kristi and Kelcie are breaking down the things agents Google at 11 p.m., from how to get clients fast to whether it’s time to start a team. If you're juggling open houses, market updates, time blocks, and toddler drop-offs... you're in the right place.

✨ In this episode, we cover:

• How to get your first (or next!) client from your own network
• Open house strategies that actually lead to leads
• What you need to know about market trends and how to use them
• How to structure your day when your to-do list is never done
• Why a CRM isn’t optional (and how to pick one that doesn’t suck)
• What to do when your family’s needs clash with your business goals
• Our favorite free tools to streamline your marketing
• When to hire a transaction coordinator and what they can take off your plate
• What makes a brokerage actually the right fit for you
• Why training and mentorship will always beat bells and whistles

💡 Real Talk Takeaways:

• Your sphere is your fastest path to your first deal.
• Open houses work, but only if you know what to say.
• If you’re winging your pricing, your clients will feel it.
• Structure = sanity. Get a calendar that works for you.
• Investing in the right tech pays you back in hours and clarity.
• You can grow your business and be there for your people.
• A team isn’t a magic fix, but support can be.
• Don’t settle for a brokerage that doesn’t support your growth.

🎯 Chapter Markers
 00:00 — Intro: The Real Questions Real Agents Ask
 02:42 — Finding Clients Starts with Your People
 05:39 — Social & Open Houses: Building Your Pipeline
 08:43 — What Market Trends Really Mean
11:38 — AI & Tech: What’s Worth Using
14:52 — Your Ideal Daily Structure
17:47 — Real Talk on Time Management
18:05 — Balancing Kids and Closings
20:58 — Best Tools for Real Estate Marketing
25:23 — Choosing Marketing Tech That Works
30:19 — TC vs. Team: What to Do First
32:17 — The Right Way to Build a Team
37:32 — Brokerage Red Flags and Green Lights

If this episode gave you an idea you can implement in your business, don’t just listen — take it and run.

🎤 Book me to speak at your event/team meeting: 
kristijencks.com

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🎙️ About the Podcast

Take It and Run is the podcast for ambitious professionals—especially real estate agents—who want practical strategies they can implement immediately. Each episode delivers mindset shifts, frameworks, and real-world insights to help you move from thinking about it… to doing it.