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

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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

Are you obsessing over that listing that just won’t sell? Feeling like a failure even though you’ve done everything you possibly can for your clients? This episode is your mindset reset.

We’re getting honest about the hard truth so many Realtors need to hear: you can’t control everything. The current market is weird, unpredictable, and frankly, a little rude. And if you’re tying your value and self-worth to outcomes you can’t control — like a closing happening or not — then you’re setting yourself up for burnout.

Inspired by real conversations with stressed-out agents, our own challenging transactions, and the pressure we all feel to “make it happen,” this chat is for all the control freaks (hi, it’s us) who need a reminder about what actually is in our control.

We’ll walk through the things you can’t control, like:

• Interest rates, the economy, or inventory
  
  

• Whether your clients take your advice
  
  

• Another agent’s professionalism
  
  

• A buyer canceling due to a knee replacement (true story)
  
  

• Feedback (or the lack of it)
  
  

And the things you CAN control, including:

• How often you follow up and communicate
  
  

• The way you set expectations and share data
  
  

• Your systems, organization, and boundaries
  
  

• Your mindset and gratitude
  
  

• How many clients you take on at once
  
  

If you're feeling stuck, unappreciated, or just overwhelmed by this wild market, this pep talk will help you shift the focus back to what you can do—and let go of what you can’t. Because if you’re doing your job, communicating well, and staying professional, then you are a great agent... even if the house hasn’t sold yet.

• “You cannot tie your worth to whether or not the house sells.” — Alissa
  
  

• “If I’ve done my job, I sleep well at night. That’s what I can control.” — Alissa
  
  

• “You can’t control if they take your advice. But it’s your job to give it.” — Alissa
  
  

• “Client acquisition and client service are two different jobs.” — Katy
  
  

• “You deserve that Saturday phone call if you didn’t do your Friday update.” — Alissa
  
  

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

Hustle Humbly Community (private agent community) hustlehumblypodcast.com/membership

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

What do serial killers, mothballs, lawsuits, and staircases to nowhere have in common? Yep. They’ve all made an appearance in the world of real estate.

In this fun twist from our usual mindset or strategy-based content, we’re diving into the craziest, weirdest, and sometimes most horrifying real estate stories we’ve ever heard (or experienced). Some stories are viral legends — and we investigate whether they’re actually true or total internet myths. Others? Straight from real agents, and totally real (unfortunately).

We promise you’ll laugh, cringe, and maybe side-eye your next transaction just a little more carefully. From exploding cars and fake agents in boxers to the infamous Winchester Mystery House and a literal bag of 22 mothballs — we’ve got it all.

Don’t worry — we balance out the chaos with a reminder to stay safe, trust your instincts, and question everything you read on the internet.

And hey, Halloween is around the corner! Got a haunted house story? Send it in now to team@hustlehumblypodcast.com so we can include it in our upcoming Halloween episode!

Here’s what we cover in this episode:

• The infamous “spite house” and why it may not be built out of spite after all
  
  

• A listing appointment that turned into a literal crime scene
  
  

• The real story behind those $1 and $35 listings (yes, they’re real)
  
  

• An exploding car, a cashier’s check, and a shocking identity reveal
  
  

• A fake agent caught mid-makeout in a vacant condo
  
  

• Lawsuits over feedback: viral fiction or something to worry about?
  
  

• Why one house smelled like it had 22,000 mothballs
  
  

• An agent’s instincts about a creepy seller — and what happened after
  
  

• Staircases that lead to ceilings and doors that go nowhere
  
  

• The wild truth behind selling a house via raffle tickets

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Ozone machines (used for odor removal)

• Realtor.com and Inman articles (referenced in viral pricing strategy discussion)
  

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

Ever felt a little uneasy walking into a showing alone? This one’s for y’all.

It’s Realtor Safety Month, and we’re not here to give you a snoozy lecture; we’re telling REAL stories from our time in the field, including a downright chilling personal experience that’s forever changed how we approach safety.

In this episode, we’re getting honest about the scary stuff: being targeted by strangers, unsettling showings, and the sneaky ways scammers are taking advantage of Realtors and clients. It’s not about fear; it’s about awareness and professionalism. Because safety isn’t a luxury in this job. It’s a necessity.

We cover the 7 reasons why being a Realtor is more dangerous than people realize and the 7 most common real estate scams going around RIGHT NOW. You’ll also walk away with a practical safety checklist to implement today—whether you’re doing a solo open house or meeting a new client for the first time.

You’ll hear:

• Katy’s personal safety scare and why she NEVER parks in driveways anymore
  
  

• Why showing up early to a listing isn’t always the safest choice
  
  

• The real story behind that too-good-to-be-true moving company
  
  

• The $446 million scam that’s hitting buyers where it hurts most
  
  

• How to protect yourself (and your clients!) from wire fraud and fake listings
  
  

• What scammers are doing with AI and your social media content
  
  

• A safety checklist every Realtor should be using
  
  

Y’all, this is one of those episodes we hope you never need, but one you can’t afford to miss. Stay alert. Stay smart. Stay safe.

1. “You don’t need to be scared, but you do need to be prepared.” — Katy
   
   

2. “Realtor safety isn’t about fear—it’s about boundaries and professionalism.” — Alissa
   
   

3. “Scammers are getting smarter. AI makes it easier than ever for someone to pretend to be you.” — Katy
   
   

4. “If something feels off, leave. Don’t be polite. Just go.” — Alissa
   
   

5. “The job looks glamorous, but there are real risks people don’t talk about.” — Katy

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• SafeShowings App
  
  

• Forewarn App
  
  

• Like360 App
  
  

• The Close article on 7 Real Estate Scams
  
  

• Episode #190 on wire fraud
  
  

• Episodes #6 & 7 with Carl Carter
  
  

• Safety Episode #161 with Tanner (Alissa's husband & Law Enforcement Officer)

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

Is your database collecting dust while you chase another shiny lead?

This episode is the mindset reset you didn’t know you needed. We know the word database might not sound fun or flashy, but trust us; this is the foundation of your business. If you’ve been avoiding working on your database because it feels “salesy,” overwhelming, or just plain boring, this is your episode.

We’re breaking down how your database isn’t a static list. It’s alive, y’all, just like sourdough starter (seriously). You have to feed it, prune it, and use it if you want it to work. This is not a one-and-done task. It’s an ongoing, evolving system that, when done right, will eventually help you get off the hamster wheel of paying for leads or chasing strangers.

We share exactly what we do to maintain our databases, from real-life workflows to browser hacks and what we do at every closing. Plus, we’re dishing on all the ways agents waste time thinking they're being productive. Spoiler alert: endlessly tweaking your logo is not it.

We also chat through:

• Why having a database doesn’t mean sending one card a year
  
  

• What Alissa’s CPA said that totally validates the database strategy
  
  

• The database math trick to test the health of your contacts
  
  

• Our favorite real-life success story of a lead-to-referral database strategy
  
  

• The list of time-wasting “busy work” agents confuse with productivity
  
  

• Why letting go of instant gratification is key for long-term success
  
  

• How overprepping, overthinking, and over-networking can keep you stuck
  
  

• Why we’re teaching our Build Your Own Business course LIVE this fall
  
  

Let’s be real: if your only job was to maintain your people, what fluff would you cut out?

Let’s make your business more efficient, intentional, and referral-based — without the overwhelm. You don’t have to start from scratch, but you do have to start.

1. “The health of your business is a direct reflection of the health of your database.” – Alissa
   
   

2. “If your database is working, you don’t have to keep chasing strangers.” – Katy
   
   

3. “Your database is not done. It’s alive. It has to be fed, and it has to be pruned.” – Katy
   
   

4. “People avoid the database because it’s not instant. But the payoff is long-term and real.” – Alissa
   
   

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Build Your Own Business course (Live version starts September 2, 2025)
  www.hustlehumblypodcast.com/byob

• LSU football schedule magnets

• Trello & Google sheets

• Previous episode #212: Does Time Blocking Work in Real Estate?

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

Feeling stuck between representing your client and not looking crazy with the co-op agent? This episode is for you.

We’re hearing from a lot of y’all lately that you are feeling lost when it comes to presenting low offers, rough repair requests, and those fun times when your clients want you to ask for things that make zero sense. If you are nodding your head; you’re not alone.

In today’s chat, we’re diving deep into the art of negotiating, communicating clearly, and most importantly, setting and managing client expectations in this shifting market. Whether it’s an offer you're embarrassed to present, a buyer asking for $15k in closing costs, or a seller who thinks their 90s carpet is just fine—this episode is packed with real stories, actual scripts, and mindset shifts that will help you show up with confidence.

We’re not here to sugarcoat. We’re here to help you keep your professionalism intact, even when your clients are testing your patience.

In this episode, we’ll cover:

• What your fiduciary duty actually means (and why it matters)
  
  

• How to present lowball offers without cringing
  
  

• What to say when a client’s expectations are unrealistic
  
  

• When (and how) to push back while still representing your client
  
  

• Why “I think” needs to leave your vocabulary
  
  

• Real stories of negotiation wins and losses
  
  

• How to use market data as your superpower
  
  

• The secret to staying calm and confident, even when a builder tells you they hope to never work with you again
  
  

If you’ve ever worried about what other agents think of you, or if you’ve felt torn between doing what your client wants and what you know is right, this is your pep talk.

Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:

• Book: Never Split the Difference by Chris Voss
  
  

• Hustle Humbly Email Templates: https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/emailtemplates
  
  

• Join the Community: https://hustlehumblypodcast.com/membership
  
  

1. “You’re not just a messenger. You’re their agent. That means you have to offer advice.” – Katy
   
   

2. “Just because a client asks for the moon doesn’t mean you have to present it without question.” – Alissa
   
   

3. “Professionalism always wins, even when you're delivering bad news.” – Katy
   
   

4. “Data gives you confidence. Use it to lead the conversation instead of saying ‘I think.’” – Alissa
   
   

“You can present a ridiculous offer and still be professional about it.” – Katy

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