There’s nothing quite like walking into a listing appointment prepared, only to have the seller slide an appraisal across the table before you can even share your thoughts. In this episode, we dive deep into the sometimes-helpful, often-headache-inducing world of pre-listing appraisals in real estate.

Alissa shares a couple of jaw-dropping pricing stories, including one where she was blindsided by an appraisal that came in a full $60K over her estimate—and how she ended up taking the listing anyway (spoiler: she regrets it). Katy and Alissa get real about the pros and cons of pre-listing appraisals, when they’re appropriate, and how they can be both a tool and a trap.

You’ll also hear two real-life case studies that show how appraisals can drastically impact seller expectations—and what happens when those numbers just don’t line up with the market. From lessons learned the hard way to advice you can use in your next listing appointment, this episode is packed with insight, encouragement, and some painful pricing truth.

If you’ve ever struggled to price a property—or convince a seller that their home isn’t worth what Zillow (or their appraiser) says—this one’s for you.

Here’s what we chat about in this episode:

• What is a pre-listing appraisal and why would a seller get one?
  
  

• Real-life pricing fails (and what we learned from them)
  
  

• Why appraisals aren’t always reliable in shifting markets
  
  

• How to talk to sellers about appraisals without losing the listing
  
  

• Why CMAs and appraisals rarely match
  
  

• Specific scripts and verbiage to use when appraisals go wrong
  
  

• The pros and cons of recommending an appraisal yourself
  
  

• How to position yourself as the pricing expert—even when the appraiser disagrees
  
  

• Tips for navigating seller emotions and stubborn pricing

“I should’ve gone in with my Alissa mentality: tell them the truth and let the chips fall.” – Alissa

“Appraisers are only using data from homes that actually sold. They’re not accounting for what’s sitting on the market today.” – Katy

“I prayed I was wrong, but the market proved me right—and the house sat for months.” – Alissa

“Sometimes the appraisal says 510 and your gut says 450… and you take the listing anyway. Don’t do that.” – Katy

“You can get five appraisers and five different values. Your job is to be the constant.” – Alissa

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Build Your Own Business 101 (BYOB)
  
  

• Email Templates 101
  
  

• Agent Systems 101
  
  

• Buyer & Seller Checklists
  
  

Want to chat with us?
Join the Hustle Humbly Community or send us a message at team@hustlehumblypodcast.com.

Don’t forget to grab our free resources at hustlehumblypodcast.com! Want to support the show? Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or share this episode with a Realtor friend who needs it!

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template

Email Templates 101: emailtemplates101.com

Build Your Own Business 101: hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

Agent Systems 101: agentsystems101.com

All Resources: hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas and toasts to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

Music:

Straight A’s by Conner Price

The Good Life by Summer Kennedy

How do you build a real estate business that lasts? Spoiler alert: it’s not with fancy tech or paid leads.

In this bonus episode, we’re sharing Alissa’s recent guest appearance on The Real South Agents Podcast with Jamie Knight. You’ll hear a fresh side of Alissa as she flips the mic and opens up about her earliest days in real estate — from waiting tables to handwriting 250 letters just to build a database.

Jamie does a great job pulling out valuable takeaways for both new and struggling Realtors, and you’ll leave this conversation with a renewed sense of purpose and plenty of real-life strategies that actually work.

You’ll hear the exact process Alissa followed to build her repeat and referral-based business, why she almost became a real estate appraiser, and the advice she’d give an agent who’s one bad month away from quitting.

If you’ve ever felt like giving up, or you’re stuck in the weeds of “what CRM should I use,” this is your pep talk.

Here’s what you’ll learn in this bonus chat:

• How Alissa went from Cane’s lemonade maker to top-producing Realtor

• Why your business “clock” might not have started yet

• The low-cost move that helped Alissa build her database

• How to consistently stay in touch without being pushy or salesy

• Why writing 250 handwritten notes changed everything

• What to do when you’re struggling and have no leads

• Simple follow-up strategies that still work in 2025

• The email tip that keeps you top of mind (and feels human)

• Why loving on your people always beats paid leads

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Jamie Knight, The Real South Agents Podcast

• Mailchimp (for email list building)

• Alissa’s spreadsheet-style CRM

• LSU Football Schedule Mailouts

• Hustle Humbly Community: hustlehumblypodcast.com/membership
  

• Freebies for Realtors: hustlehumblypodcast.com/freebies
  

When Stacie Rihl hosted her first first-time homebuyer class, only 10 people showed up and she had 15 pizzas. Fast forward a few years, and she now runs a national referral business built entirely around teaching buyers how the process works.

After gaining experience in both the real estate and mortgage industries, Stacie Rihl recognized a major gap in education and resources for first-time homebuyers. She went on to become an online educator for new buyers, offering free virtual classes that have helped over 20,000 people learn the home-buying process.

In this episode, we chat with Stacie about how she went from in-person flops to 50+ monthly referrals all while wearing yoga pants and working from her laptop.

She shares how her journey through real estate sales and mortgages gave her a unique perspective, why consistency mattered more than perfection, and how a simple Zoom class changed her entire career.

💡 If you've ever thought about hosting a class (and then chickened out)... this is your permission slip.

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• How one failed class turned into a full-time business
  
  

• Why educating buyers builds instant trust
  
  

• How to teach homebuyers without boring them
  
  

• Creating a scalable system from your passion
  
  

• The importance of strong follow-up systems
  
  

• How Stacie chooses the agents she refers to
  
  

• The unexpected power of being the “expert” early in the process
  
  

• What most agents get wrong about first-time buyer events
  
  

• Why she teaches live — and keeps it free
  
  

• The agent interview process she uses before sending leads
  
  

If you’ve been looking for a lead gen strategy that’s actually aligned with your values, this one’s for you.

“You have to have a way to turn class attendees into clients. It’s not just about showing up with snacks.” — Stacie Rihl

“I want people to come to me before they’re ready — that’s where the trust starts.” — Stacie Rihl

“Don’t give up because your first class was a flop. My first one was, too.” — Stacie Rihl

“You can teach homebuyers and still build a serious business.” — Katy Caldwell

“Consistency wins. It's not magic; it's a system.” — Alissa Jenkins

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Stacie Rihl on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/iamstacierihl/

• Free Database Template: http://hustlehumblypodcast.com/starthere

• Email Templates 101: http://emailtemplates101.com

• Agent Systems 101: http://agentsystems101.com

• All Resources: http://hustlehumblypodcast.com
  

Leave us a review at ratethispodcast.com/hustlehumbly

Get your FREE Database Template

Email Templates 101: emailtemplates101.com

Build Your Own Business 101: hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

Agent Systems 101: agentsystems101.com

All Resources: hustlehumblypodcast.com

Submit your topic ideas and toasts to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com

Music:

Straight A’s by Conner Price

The Good Life by Summer Kennedy