The Agent Edge

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode #15! In this podcast episode, we are joined by Alexandra Pfeifer from our Pacific Palisades office. Alexandra is a self-made success, a fourth-generation Los Angeles Westside native, and a proud mother. You'll learn how Alexandra embraces her obsessive nature and why it has led her to be so successful, plus hear her tips for buyers and sellers in today's market. You'll also learn:

• Why photography and staging are so important when selling a home
• You have to be up to date with technology or it will negatively affect your business
• Why Alexandra loves representing buyers, and feels it is her strength

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Alexandra's bio - http://www.bhhscalifornia.com/real-estate-agent/alexandra-pfeifer/134
• Alexandra's website - http://www.alexandrapfeifer.com/meet-alexandra/
• Alexandra's Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/alexandrapfeifer11
• Alexandra's Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/pfeiferproperties/

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comments section below or a review on your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode #14: Rising Stars! In this podcast episode, we are joined by Jeff Katz, Kelly LeClair, and Craig Hothem. Relatively new to the real estate industry Jeff, Kelly, and Craig are forward-thinking agents who have had great success generating leads. Their strategies range from real estate education via video and social media, to hosting mega open houses, and a daily grind using traditional door-knocking and cold-calling techniques. In this show, you will learn three completely different approaches to generating leads in your community and farm, and take away tips that you can start to immediately implement. You'll also learn:

• How to leverage your listings and use them as an "office space."
• Why Craig isn't affected by rejection.
• The story behind this photo of Jeff fully dressed and submerged in a clients' bathtub.
• That, when starting a team, it's important to choose individuals who are notso similar to you.
• How Kelly's experience as a TV news reporter helps her stand out among the many real estate agents in Southern California.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Jeff's bio, website, and Instagram
• Kelly's bio, website, Facebook, and Instagram
• Craig's bio and website

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comments section below, or a review on your favorite podcast player. Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the show on iTunes.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode 12! In this podcast episode, we are joined by Gino Blefari, CEO of HSF Affiliates Inc. Gino is one of the most respected names in the real estate industry, and it's no secret why. In this show you'll learn that Gino sold 52 houses within 12 months after closing his first ever sale, even after promising himself he was going to quit the real estate business once he managed to close that first deal. You'll also learn

• Why you should never number your deals
• To always be very, very prepared
• The importance of never letting anyone out-work, out-study, or out-prepare you
• Why Warren Buffett was the only person Gino would let buy Intero, the real estate business he founded
• That you should always align yourself with people and businesses that share the same values as you

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Gino's Facebook page
• Gino's LinkedIn
• Gino's Twitter
• Inman.com article on Gino's arrival at HSF Affiliates Inc.

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or leave a review on your favorite podcast player. Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the show on iTunes.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode 12 In this podcast episode, we are joined by Ellen McCormick in our Pacific Palisades office. Ellen is a California native and resident of Pacific Palisades since 1985. A founding associate of her office in 1997, she consistently ranks among top Berkshire Hathaway HomeService agents nationwide. In this show, you'll learn how growing up in San Francisco during the 1970s and attending an all-girls Catholic school prepared her for just about anything and anyone, and that her career is driven by finding that moment a person falls in love with a home. You'll also learn:

• That listening and taking note of what is not said is just as important as what is said
• How important it is to take off one full day every week
• Why Ellen thinks that the most important type of advertising is online, but still spends for print advertising
• Her advice for homebuyers, sellers, and new real estate agents
• That houses have magic

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Ellen's bio
• Ellen's website

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or leave a review on your favorite podcast player. Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the show on iTunes.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode 11!

In this podcast episode, we are joined by Andrew Manning, a top-producing agent in our Sherman Oaks office who has won just about every real estate award there is. Hear Andrew talk about how his patience earns praise from his peers, why he'll take any listing--no matter the price--and share that his business is made of about 80 percent referrals.

You'll also learn:

• Why you should always be open to negative feedback
• How keeping your mouth shut could help you sell a house for tens of thousands of dollars over asking price
• That the harder you work, the luckier you get
• When you focus on your sphere of influence, it leads to referrals

Links and resources mentioned in this episode Andrew

• Manning's contact info
• Andrew Manning's website
• Sherman Oaks office

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or a review on your favorite podcast player.

Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the show on iTunes, Stitcher, or Google Music. Host of the show is Sam Guillen.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode 10! In this podcast episode, we are joined by Michael Calcagno and Nancy Hamilton from our Montecito South office in Santa Barbara County. Michael and Nancy recently joined our company and are already feeling right at home--literally. Michael and Nancy's six-person team and their office are located on one of the busiest streets in Montecito. You'll feel instantly welcome from the second you walk in, thanks to their living-room-style decor and warm hospitality. In this show, you'll learn how being adopted has helped Nancy want to help people find their homes, that managing actors in Hollywood is surprisingly similar to real estate, and how working in sales is really just about exchanging value and knowledge. You'll also learn

• If you can provide value to someone, you will be successful in business
• The importance of finding joy in every single day
• Why the team chooses to focus on their community and the people in it, and how that has helped their business grow
• How Michael and Nancy were able to be so successful for so many years without branding their business until recently
• Why new technology should never scare you

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Michael's info
• Nancy's info
• Michael and Nancy's website
• Montecito South office

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below, or leave a review on your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to The Agent Edge: Episode 9!

In this podcast episode, we are joined by Larry Young, a Chairman's Circle Diamond award winner from our Beverly Hills office. In this show, you'll hear how real estate sparked Larry's interest as a child, and why he majored in poetry as a UCLA undergrad, worked for his family's garment manufacturing company, and completed a master's program in marriage and family counseling--all before finally getting down to business as a real estate agent.

You'll also learn:

• How art + psychology + business acumen = real estate success
• The importance of setting boundaries and building your own schedule, even when technology makes us all a little too available
• Larry's most effective marketing strategies, including one that is more like a party than a business event
• The one key factor that has kept Larry going every day for the past 28 years, even through the occasional difficulties and disappointments in the life of a real estate agent

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

Larry's bio - http://www.bhhscalifornia.com/real-estate-agent/larry-young/1753 Larry Young website - http://larryyoungwestside.com Beverly Hills office - http://www.bhhscalifornia.com/real-estate-office/beverly-hills/101 Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Agent Edge! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or write a review on your favorite podcast player.

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In this podcast episode, we are joined by Colton Whitney from our Irvine office, and his partner and his longtime friend Frank Napoli. After graduating from high school and starting his real estate career at the age of 16, Colton has found massive success and and is a Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Chairman's Circle Platinum award winner at 25. In this show, you'll hear how these Las Vegas natives moved to Orange County two years ago to take advantage of a hot Southern California real estate market. You'll also learn:

• How Frank and Colton saw an opportunity during the 2008 housing bubble burst and found success by negotiating short sales
• Why door knocking and holding open houses can help establish agents in a new marketplace
• The importance of building an online presence and gaining valuable customer reviews

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Colton's bio http://www.bhhscalifornia.com/real-estate-agent/colton-whitney/3600
• Napoli & Whitney Group website http://napoliandwhitney.com/
• The Napoli Group website http://thenapoligroup.com/
• Irvine office http://www.bhhscalifornia.com/real-estate-office/irvine/119

Thank you for joining us for another episode of "The Agent Edge"! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or leave a review on your favorite podcast player.

Welcome to "The Agent Edge": Episode #7 In this podcast episode, we are joined by Marco Rufo from the Pacific Palisades office. Marco has been in the real estate industry for more than 20 years, and with our company for six of those years. He's a Legend award winner and an active member of his community. He volunteers his time to Habitat for Humanity, cancer fundraisers, AIDS research, and much more. In this show, you'll discover how Marco got started in real estate while attending UCLA, and why having a mentor was the catalyst that changed his career. You'll also learn:

• Why Marco appreciates the residential real estate business
• Why it's important to be established before starting your own career
• The importance of dressing for success
• How advertising has helped Marco grow his business
• Why Marco does not do direct-mail marketing

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• Marco Rufo's bio
• Marco Rufo's website
• Pacific Palisades office

Thank you for joining us for another episode of "The Agent Edge"! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below or leave a review on your favorite podcast player. Don't miss an episode!

Welcome to "The Agent Edge," Episode 6! In this podcast episode, we are joined by Maxine and Marti Gellens, a mother-and-daughter team from the La Jolla Arcade office. The duo became partners in 1994 and specialize in San Diego coastal communities with an emphasis on La Jolla and Del Mar. In this show, you'll learn how passion and not wanting to let others down drove the Gellens to build their business and become one of the leading real estate teams nationwide. You'll also learn

• How their business has grown throughout San Diego
• The benefits of being part of a family-run team
• The importance of referrals and word-of-mouth business
• How change and keeping an open mind have helped them to better market their business

Links and resources mentioned in this episode

• Maxine Gellens bio
• Marti Gellens bio
• La Jolla Arcade office
• Team website
• Tom Ferry

Thank you for joining us for another episode of "The Agent Edge"! We'd love to hear your feedback about this podcast. Leave us a note in the comment section below, or leave a review on your favorite podcast player. Don't miss an episode! Subscribe to the show on iTunes.