Tag: open house podcast

The Art of Getting a Home Market-Ready with Andee Zeigler | Open House: Everyday Excellence

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

In a world where selling a house can feel like a rush to hit the market, Andee Zeigler reminds us: sometimes the most powerful thing you can do is slow down, organize, and orchestrate. In this episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, Andee — the listing‑prep specialist for one of our top‑performing teams at Living Room Realty — shares how thoughtful prep, smart scheduling, and design intention turn listings into homes that sell.

What a Listing Prep Specialist Actually Does

From the moment a client commits to list, Andee takes over. She handles everything from paperwork to physical prep — and all the big aesthetic decisions in between. But this isn’t just fluff. By specializing in prep, she gives each listing top-tier attention, removing the burden from sellers and giving them space to breathe.

As Andee puts it: “Clients get my A‑game every time. I’m not burned out; I’m giving my best ideas and attention to every listing.” That kind of consistency brings calm and clarity to what can otherwise be a chaotic time.

Why “All‑in‑One Agent” Is So Overrated

Early in her career, Andee did it all — sales, buying, listing, staging, marketing. But the breakdown between buyer‑agent work and listing prep felt real. She discovered that trying to do everything meant doing nothing really well.

Specializing allowed a division of labor that benefits everyone: clearer lanes, better communication, and consistently strong results. As she says, trusting someone else to manage this part of the process isn’t a compromise — it’s smart service.

The Prep Process — How She Doesn’t Miss a Detail

Once the listing appointment is done, Andee gets to work with the initial photos, a walk‑through, and a clear understanding of budget and timeline. There’s a thoughtful strategy behind every decision:

  • What improvements will yield the biggest return on investment

  • Which vendors to schedule and when

  • How to balance what’s “Instagram‑worthy” with what’s honest and market‑ready

For clients, that means no decision fatigue — just results. And for vendors, it means respect, clarity, and longevity. Andee treats contractors as collaborators, nurturing relationships with consistent communication and consideration.

Staging with Purpose — Picture It, But Realistically

What sets apart a good listing from a great one? In Andee’s eyes, it’s staging that feels cohesive, intentional, and true to the home — not a forced “show‑home” vibe.

She considers buyer demographic, the era and architecture of the house, and how photos will be taken. She balances aesthetics with honesty: no overselling, no false promises — just a real space elevated with intention. When budgets are limited, she adjusts — sometimes staging small condos herself with curated furnishings.

Core Listing Prep Tips from Andee

If you’re getting ready to list, here are the prep must‑dos she recommends:

  • Condition first. Fix anything that could be a deal breaker for buyers or create financing issues.

  • Paint + lighting = big impact. Even modest homes shine with fresh paint and thoughtful lighting.

  • Curb appeal matters. The exterior sets an expectation before buyers even step inside.

  • Don’t skip the vendor relationships. Good, trusted contractors make smooth work, and investing in respectful partnerships pays off long‑term.

Making Real Estate More Human

Selling a home isn’t just about the sale — it’s a big life change. And often, that means stress, uncertainty, and emotional weight. By handling the prep, Andee frees sellers from the overwhelm. She gives them back mental space to focus on what really matters: the decisions that shape their next chapter (offers, timelines, their future).

As she puts it, “Listing prep is a renovation for your life. It’s not just about paint and staging — it’s about creating calm when a big decision is on the line.”

Who This Episode is For

  • Homeowners thinking about listing soon and wanting to understand the prep process

  • Real estate agents who feel stretched thin and are curious about specialization or building a team

  • Anyone looking to see behind the scenes: staging, prep, scheduling, and vendor coordination

Why It Matters

Slow, deliberate prep isn’t extra — it’s essential. In a real estate market that often feels chaotic and fast-moving, having a calm, experienced professional pay attention to details can make the difference between a quick sale and weeks on the market.

At Living Room Realty, we believe a home is more than a listing number. It’s a house with history, with potential — and with heart. When you approach it with intention, respect, and a little strategy, it doesn’t just sell. It shines.

🎧 Listen to the full episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence with Andee Zeigler now — available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or your favorite podcast platform.

The Art of the CMA with Kim Parmon | Open House Podcast

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Pricing with Purpose: How Kim Parmon Builds a Smarter CMA

When most people think of a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA), they imagine rows of numbers and spreadsheets. For Portland top‑listing agent Kim Parmon, a CMA is not just about data. It’s a strategic tool that helps sellers understand how their home fits into the market now, and how to position it for maximum impact.

A Snapshot That Moves

“Your home doesn’t exist in a vacuum,” Kim says. A CMA is not a one‑time value but a dynamic snapshot of how the market is perceiving the house right now. With every new listing, price change or buyer shift the story changes. Kim starts by delivering a price range to her sellers. Then, just before the home goes live, she dives deeply into the active and pending comps to pick the exact list price.

Buyer Profile First

Kim doesn’t just look at square footage or bedrooms. Her first move is to ask: who will buy this property? What will that buyer compare it to? Whether it’s a walkable condo, a family home with a big yard or a fixer‑upper with upside, that buyer profile changes everything. From there she tours comparable homes herself and talks to listing agents to gather real‑world intelligence on what buyers are doing.

Strategy Over Guesswork

According to Kim, there are three pricing strategies. One is to list low and hope for competition. Another is to list at market value and find a serious buyer quickly. The third is to list high and wait, which in Portland can carry serious risk. Buyers here often get comfortable waiting for the right house instead of touring one priced too high. She uses the market data and her experience to propose the strategy she would choose if the home were hers—and then empowers her sellers to make the decision together.

Collaboration and Curiosity

Kim emphasizes that this process is not solo. She leans on her team, on other agents, on feedback from brokers and buyers. She treats every listing like a performance—prepared thoroughly, then adjusted based on real‑time audience reaction. Her advice to other agents? Break the pricing task into clear categories instead of chasing a single number. Stay curious. Ask questions. Use your peers.

The Takeaway

A CMA is more than just a number. It’s a plan, a story, a way to meet the right buyer at the right time. Kim Parmon brings creativity and data together to help sellers make confident decisions and reach their goals. Whether you’re selling now or just preparing for the future, her framework offers clarity and direction.

Episode 8 is live. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen. Search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and start with Mastering the CMA with Kim Parmon.

Mastering the CMA with Cristen Lincoln – Open House Podcast

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

When it comes to pricing a home for sale, there’s far more to it than crunching numbers. Portland broker Cristen Lincoln, who has been helping people buy and sell homes here for nearly 30 years, calls it both an art and a science. In a recent episode of Open House, Cristen shared her approach to crafting a Comparative Market Analysis (CMA) and why understanding the difference between a CMA and an appraisal is essential for both agents and sellers.

CMA vs. Appraisal: Knowing the Difference

“An appraisal determines value at a moment in time,” Cristen explains. “It relies heavily on data from past sales.” A CMA, on the other hand, is a strategic tool that helps agents position a property within the market to attract the right buyers and meet the seller’s goals.

That distinction matters. An appraisal is a snapshot, while a CMA is a strategy. It’s about understanding where a home fits in the current landscape of listings and how to market it to achieve the best possible outcome.

The Foundation of Every CMA: Seeing the Home

Cristen’s process always starts the same way: by visiting the property. “You can’t understand a home’s value without stepping inside,” she says. Data will tell you the basics, but what it can’t capture are the intangibles: the light in the living room, the flow of the floor plan, the way a home feels.

From there, Cristen layers in her research, combining data from the multiple listing service with her own experience and a constant awareness of what buyers are responding to in the market right now.

“It’s both art and science,” she says. “Part of it is in my head from being in homes every week, and part of it comes from diving deep into the numbers.”

Aligning with the Seller’s Goals

Every CMA begins with a conversation about the seller’s expectations. “My job is to help them execute their goals,” Cristen explains. “But if the data doesn’t support those goals, I have to be honest about that.”

Instead of guessing or sugarcoating, she takes a collaborative approach, walking sellers through the data, exploring what it says, and talking through the potential outcomes of different pricing strategies. “It’s not a big reveal anymore,” she says. “It’s a partnership.”

When the Data Doesn’t Match the Dream

Sometimes the numbers tell a story sellers don’t want to hear. Cristen sees honesty as the kindest response. “I’d rather have that tough conversation now than let them get their hopes up and have the market disappoint them later,” she says.

That’s where experience matters most, knowing when to adjust expectations and when to take a calculated risk on “going for gold.” As Cristen puts it, “My job isn’t to say yes because they like it. My job is to do the real work.”

The Emotional Side of Value

While data drives much of the conversation around pricing, Cristen never forgets that selling a home is deeply personal. Every house carries a story, and understanding that story helps her bring humanity into the process.

Pricing well means listening carefully, guiding honestly, and balancing emotion with expertise. For Cristen, that balance is what builds trust and leads to the best results.

Listen Now

Episode 7 is live. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen. Search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and start with Mastering the CMA with Cristen Lincoln.

Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay – Open House Podcast

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

We’re back with another episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, a podcast from Living Room Realty that explores how real estate agents can do their work with heart, skill, and creativity.

In each episode, we sit down with agents who are reshaping what it means to serve clients well. We talk about the practices, the challenges, and the lessons that help us grow both as professionals and as people.

🎧 Episode 4: Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay

This week’s guest, Lydia Hallay, believes that every home has a story. She shows us how important it is for agents to tell that story in a way that connects with people.

Instead of relying only on the basics like square footage or the number of bedrooms, Lydia goes further. She gives her listings names, creates playlists, stages with intention, and even brings fresh flowers. All of these details create an experience that allows buyers to picture their lives in the space.

In this episode, Lydia shares:

  • How persona marketing makes homes feel alive and memorable

  • Why talking with sellers about what they love helps attract the right buyers

  • Ways to build anticipation by pulling back the curtain on your process

  • How authenticity and joy set you apart in a crowded market

Who It’s For

This episode is for agents who want to move past the pressure of “selling” and instead focus on building stronger connections. If you have ever struggled to make your marketing feel authentic, or wondered how to bring more of your personality into the work, Lydia’s approach offers both inspiration and practical steps.

Why It Matters

Real estate is about more than transactions. It is about trust, imagination, and belonging. When we treat each home as a story worth telling, we help buyers and sellers feel seen and understood. We also create excitement and confidence about what comes next.

Lydia reminds us that joy and creativity are not extras. They are tools that can elevate your practice and make your work stand out. As she says: “Stay human.”

Listen Now

Episode 4 is live. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or anywhere you listen. Search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and start with Storytelling Through Persona Marketing with Lydia Hallay.

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Generational wealth in real estate starts with knowledge, community, and the courage to take the first step toward ownership.

In this episode of Open House: Everyday Excellence, Karim talks with Jessica Ward. Her journey shows how real estate can create stability, opportunity, and long-term change. She proves that success in this industry comes from purpose, not pressure.

From Event Work to Real Estate

Jessica began her career in event planning and modeling. Both roles required hustle and creativity. In 2020, she bought her first home. Two weeks later, the pandemic shut her industry down.

That sudden loss forced her to pivot. She already knew the steps of buying a home—credit repair, down payment assistance, and inspections. Because of this knowledge, she saw an opening. Real estate could be both a career and a calling.

Three Questions That Guide Her

Jessica grounds her work in three questions:

  1.  How many people can I guide to homeownership?

  2.  How many doors do I need to own for financial freedom?

  3.  Can I create generational wealth through asset preservation?

These questions serve as her compass. They remind her that real estate is about more than sales. It is about community impact, security, and opportunity.

Knowledge Creates Power – Real Estate and Community Empowerment

Wealth is not only about buying property. Holding on to assets and using them wisely matters just as much. Rental income and long-term planning create stronger foundations for families.

For this reason, Jessica teaches free first-time homebuyer classes. Participants don’t have to work with her. Her goal is to spread information as widely as possible. When more people understand the process, entire communities benefit.

Redefining Good Business

For Jessica, good business means fairness. She believes a deal is only successful when everyone feels respected. Sometimes that requires advising a client to walk away. Clear guidance today prevents regret tomorrow.

Her work also connects to a larger movement. Her cousin, Tiffany Ward, became the first African-American woman developer in Vancouver, Washington. Together, they show how real estate can build equity not only in homes but also in opportunity.

Lessons for Agents and Clients

Jessica’s story offers a roadmap for both agents and buyers. Agents can learn the value of staying true to their “why.” Clients can see the difference it makes to work with an agent focused on service, not sales.

Her core belief is simple. Real estate is more than transactions. It is a tool for empowerment, education, and lasting impact.

Listen Now
Hear the full conversation with Jessica Ward on Open House: Everyday Excellence. Available on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and all podcast platforms.

Building Community, Not Just Sales | Lydia Hallay on Authentic Real Estate | Open House

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Welcome to Open House: Everyday Excellence—the podcast where we talk with agents who do real estate with heart, skill, and honesty.

Each episode looks at the lessons, challenges, and moments that shape how we serve clients and support each other. We focus on the everyday choices that make a real difference.

🎧 Episode 4: Building Community, Not Just Sales

For many agents, the word “sales” feels uncomfortable. The pressure to “always be closing” does not match why they started this work.

In this episode, I talk with Lydia Hallay about another way forward. With her background as a union organizer, Lydia shows how real estate can be about helping people, building community, and finding joy—rather than just making deals.

She shares:

  • How her organizing work shapes the way she helps clients

  • Why buying or selling a home should feel more like leadership than pressure

  • How care, authenticity, and advocacy can build stronger client relationships

  • Why choosing collaboration over competition helps everyone succeed


Who This Episode Of The Open House Podcast Is For

This episode is for agents who love real estate but dislike the “salesperson” label. If scripts feel fake or forced, and you want to build a business based on relationships, this episode will inspire you.

You’ll get simple, practical ways to bring more advocacy, confidence, and heart into your work.

Why It Matters

Clients want more than someone who can sell. They want an advocate. They want an agent they can trust.

As Lydia reminds us, we don’t have to follow one standard path. By being authentic, kind, and helpful, we can create a business that fits our values—and serve better in the process.

Listen Now

Episode 4 of the Open House Podcast is live! Find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. You can also watch the video version of the podcast on our YouTube Channel.

Elevating the Value Conversation in Buyer Representation with Jessica LeDoux | Open House

Posted on by Jenelle Etzel

Welcome to Open House: Everyday Excellence, the real estate podcast where we bring you real conversations with agents who work with thought, skill, and heart.

Every episode looks at the moments that define us as professionals. We talk about the shifts, the challenges, and the lessons that shape how we serve our clients and how we support one another.

🎧 Episode 3: Elevating the Value Conversation in Buyer Representation with Jessica LeDoux

The real estate industry is in the middle of one of its biggest changes in decades. The NAR settlement is reshaping buyer representation. Agents are now asked to lead clear and sometimes difficult conversations about value, compensation, and trust.

In this episode, Jessica LeDoux shares how she approaches those conversations with clarity and confidence. For her, this shift is not about defending a commission. It is about raising the standard of the profession and helping both clients and colleagues grow.

Jessica explains:

  • What the NAR settlement means for buyer agents and the opportunities it brings

  • How to frame your value early so fee conversations feel natural

  • Why agents may be struggling more than their clients

  • How experience, both personal and brokerage-wide, builds confidence and trust

  • Why clarity always works better than fear

Who This Episode Is For

This conversation is for agents learning to navigate the new world of buyer representation. If you have ever felt unsure about how to explain your fee, wanted to show your worth without sounding like a résumé, or hoped to shift tense conversations into collaborative ones, this episode is for you.

You will leave with language you can use right away. You will also gain a mindset shift: when you own your value, you create more trust, wisdom, and leadership.

Why It Matters

The NAR settlement is forcing all of us to rethink how we talk about our work. For some, it creates fear. For others, it brings frustration.

Jessica reminds us that this is not a time to shrink back. It is a chance to step forward. Clear and confident conversations raise the bar for everyone. They create better-informed clients, more collaborative colleagues, and a stronger profession.

As Jessica says, “Don’t let this moment make us reactive. Let it make us wise.”

Listen Now

Episode 3 is live. You can find it on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen. Search for Open House: Everyday Excellence and listen to “Elevating the Value Conversation in Buyer Representation with Jessica LeDoux.”