What really separates thriving Realtors® from those just getting by? Is it timing, market knowledge, or something deeper?
In this mini episode of Do Epic $h*t, your hosts Colleen Basinski and Kimberly Neill step in as guest speakers on Real Estate 101 with Todd Probasco. Together, they pull back the curtain on what’s happening in today’s markets—Chicago and Florida—while sharing the timeless truths that have fueled their decades of success.
Chicago Real Estate: The post-frenzy market is finding its rhythm again. Well-priced, move-in-ready homes still spark multiple offers, but buyers are more selective than ever when it comes to condition and value. With 30-year fixed mortgage rates hovering near 6.375%, stability may finally be returning to the market.
Florida Real Estate: Once the hottest region in the country, markets like Cape Coral are shifting. Insurance costs and HOA fees are putting pressure on affordability, but strategic buyers are still finding opportunities—especially those willing to think long-term.
Beyond the stats, Colleen and Kim keep it real about what actually drives long-term success in real estate: answer your damn phone, build authentic relationships, and show up with relentless consistency. As Colleen puts it: “This is not just a transactional business. This is a relational business.” And as Kim reminds us: “If I didn’t answer my phone, I wouldn’t make a living.”
Whether you’re buying, selling, or building a career in real estate, this episode delivers market insights, Realtor® mindset, and no-BS wisdom you won’t find in a headline. From the Midwest to the Sunshine State, Colleen and Kim share the unfiltered advice every client and every Realtor® needs to hear in 2025.
💡 Lessons we’ve learned about balancing it all—sometimes successfully, sometimes… not.
If you’re out here trying to do EPIC SH*T, this one’s for YOU. Hit play, tag a friend, and let’s do this thing together! 👇
🎧 Listen now on Spotify, iHeartRadio, Amazon Music & APPLE Podcasts!
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🎙️ Hosted by: Colleen Basinski & Kimberly Neill
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Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Todd Probasco (00:04):
All right, welcome to another edition of
Real Estate.
We've got a great show today.
We've got two guests.
We have Colleen Baczynski andKimberly Neal Ladies, how are
you today?
Colleen Basinski (00:16):
Great.
How are you Todd?
Todd Probasco (00:17):
Doing wonderful Love.
The pink boas Never had pinkboas here on the show.
We have an ass on the show, ToddKind of our signature trick
card right Nailing it up.
Let me tell you, Bo is here onthe show.
So we have an episode on theshow Todd kind of.
Yeah, you guys are dialing itup.
Let me tell you we're going upin that but, anyway, we're going
to talk about real estate today.
Exciting.
The three of us are in the bizand people who are listening and
watching want to hear what'sgoing on.
So, before we do that, whydon't we get a little, uh
(00:38):
background on both of you, alittle bit of your bios?
Uh, colleen, tell us a littlebit about you, your past, your
history, your career, and thenwe'll move over to Kim.
How's that?
Colleen Basinski (00:46):
Okay, sounds great.
25th year in real estate.
Todd Probasco (00:49):
Still got your sanity.
Colleen Basinski (00:51):
Some days, some days I don't.
So 25 years I've been alicensed broker, managing broker
salesperson.
Back in the day when we hadthose licenses, three states
currently have been, for I hadCalifornia, illinois, indiana
and Florida.
Now it's just Illinois.
Indiana and Florida.
I've been a broker owner, ownedmultiple franchise offices,
(01:12):
national real estate coach,trainer and presenter.
So and now I work with buyersand sellers and running our
group here, and I'm lucky enoughto have this lovely lady
helping me.
Todd Probasco (01:24):
Thank you Thanks Cool, that's quite a bit of
history in real estate You'vebeen doing it for a while.
Colleen Basinski (01:29):
Yeah, I mean there's more to it than that.
I mean lots of ups and downs.
I could tell you that that'sfor sure.
Todd Probasco (01:35):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
I think we've all seen that,that's for sure.
That's part Kim.
How about you?
Kimberly Neill (01:40):
We've known each other a while we have had and
it's good to see you again.
Todd Probasco (01:45):
Likewise.
Kimberly Neill (01:46):
So I've been licensed since 2012,.
So 13, 14 years.
I'm licensed in the state ofFlorida, in Illinois.
Obviously I'm a broker.
I don't know.
I work here at Ford Group withColleen, Founding partner.
Yeah, founding partner.
And that's really fun.
I feel like I'm still in thegrind, yeah making deals happen.
Todd Probasco (02:07):
You're buying and selling, helping people move in
and out, up and down.
Whatever it takes, you can makeit happen.
Colleen Basinski (02:14):
I think that's really important, though,
because there's so many peopleout there that like are like oh,
I'm an expert, this expert atthat, and they're not in the
trenches and you're in thetrenches every day, expert at
that, and they're not in thetrenches and you're in the
trenches every day.
Todd Probasco (02:23):
Absolutely, it's funny.
Even on the lending side, youknow, people move up and
somebody might be running amortgage group you know, maybe
in my role and they stop doingdeals and guess what?
They get removed from realityand no matter where you go in
your career, I think in the realestate biz, you got to always
be doing deals because thingskeep changing and you got to
keep your thumb on the pulseright and know what's going on.
So for sure, let's talk aboutthe market.
(02:45):
We're starting September, theunofficial start to fall the day
after Labor Day.
First of all, thanks for beinghere right after the holiday.
Let's talk about Chicagolandfirst and then we'll move on to
Florida.
But that's a whole nother story, I know.
But let's talk about Chicago.
What are you guys seeing, right?
Kimberly Neill (03:00):
now you know what I feel like the market, and
this has been over the pastcouple years.
I feel like October tanks justa bit, just goes down a little
bit, and then September seems topick up and I think if you keep
that momentum it'll carry youthrough the winter.
But I'm busy again.
Colleen Basinski (03:20):
Well, I think as an agent, you can be busy all
year, no matter what.
There's always people that needto buy yourself right.
Like people, life happens.
Babies are born, divorce, death.
You know all the things jobtransfers, all the things always
happen.
But in terms of the market as arule or whatever, you know 25
years we've seen usuallyseasonality, which is what Kim
(03:41):
said.
Usually it'll slow down in thefall.
I think when that changed forus significantly was post COVID,
or when COVID started 2020, allof a sudden, the market just
became this unruly beast that wenever saw a low and it just
kept going and going and going,and I would say that was
significantly consistent untillast October, I agree, last
(04:01):
September, october.
Kimberly Neill (04:02):
And.
Colleen Basinski (04:02):
I would say that initially I was like, okay,
are we finally seeing that slowdown of, like, the seasonality
again, when things come and go?
And not to say that we can'tsell properties those other
times we can.
It's just we have to employdifferent resources and
different strategies and reallyput our best marketing foot out
there.
I initially thought it was dueto the election, right, cause
you know, we had a pretty crazyelection cycle last year with,
(04:25):
you know, candidates coming inand out, just a lot of craziness
, right, like no matter whatside of the fence you fall on
politically, it was a verystressful time for everybody.
And so I thought, okay, is thisthe market changing?
Finally it's slowing down intowhere we're going to see a
little bit of seasonality.
Or is this due to the election?
And then January February wepicked right back up again.
(04:50):
So I'm like, oh, usually ourspring markets like February,
march, april.
End of February, march, April,right.
So I'm like, okay, well, maybeit was election based and not
seasonality based, but now I'mseeing a little bit of a
slowdown happening For sure.
In terms of seasonality securityand also I would say it's very
neighborhood specific and it'svery property specific, and what
I mean by that and youcontested this if the property's
(05:11):
a piece of junk, it's startingto sit.
If it's one of these onesthat's got whether it's a real
remodel or an hgtv remodel, youknow where they just give it a
facelift.
Sure, the buyers that are outthere that are paying six, seven
percent, they want it to looklike how they want it to look
when they walk in the door, andthat's what I'm seeing Now.
Obviously, neither one of ushave a crystal ball, but there
(05:32):
you go.
Todd Probasco (05:33):
A little more.
Inventory I heard is on themarket More listings.
Are they up A?
Kimberly Neill (05:37):
little bit, but again I think there's a little
more for my buyers.
Colleen Basinski (05:41):
Anyway, I feel like there's a little more to
choose from than than there was,say, two years ago, but still,
like kim, anybody that you havethat's looking for something
specific we're still seeingmultiple offers.
Kimberly Neill (05:53):
Oh, god, yeah, I always tell my bike, if you, if
the house is presentable, ifit's nice, if it's priced right,
you're.
We're seeing multiple offers,so I feel like the ones that are
overpriced, and with anything,if they're overpriced, if
they're not up to par, peoplearen't buying them anymore like
they were two years ago I thinksellers are having a hard time
(06:14):
deciphering between what'spriced right, what's overpriced,
because they're looking atstraight across the board
neighborhood cops and conditionis so much more important now
than I think it was ever Now forsure, and mortgage rates have
stabilized a little bit.
Todd Probasco (06:27):
You mentioned the election that you know that
created a little turmoil.
Then the tariff talk reallysent the bond market into orbit.
Here we are in September 2ndand for the last couple of weeks
we've stabilized right around6.375 for a 30-year fix.
Yeah, when you look at thehistory of mortgage rates,
that's a good rate.
It's not the 3% during COVID,but it's a great rate.
(06:48):
We're not having the ups anddowns in the bond market like we
saw since the election.
So if there's a little moreinventory and rates have
stabilized, maybe we're going toget back to a little bit of a
better, more normal market whenit comes to buying and selling
in real estate.
I mean Chicago real estate isalways going to be in demand
based on jobs and the marketthat we live and work in.
(07:08):
But I know, like you said,anything decent that went on the
market when we'd have a clientpre-approved.
They're fighting with eightother people with offers within
the first 48 hours.
That's not normal and hopefullywe've started to see a little
bit of a stabilization.
Yeah, because you're rough.
Colleen Basinski (07:25):
Absolutely, I would agree with you, but we're
still seeing that.
So I've got a few buyers rightnow that you know they're
getting outbid, because you knowI can't in good conscience tell
my client to just go you bet.
Excuse my language balls out ona property bid if I don't feel
like it's going to be a goodlong-term decision or even an
interim term decision, becauseyou don't know how long they're
(07:45):
going to stay there Right Like,or they don't know how long
they're going to stay there,maybe you think they're going to
be there for 20 years.
But if things happen, lifehappens, and I was a little more
cautious, I think, with that.
And I want to go back tosomething that you said, todd,
because it it really resonatedwith me when you were talking
about, kind of like, where ratesare and the stability of it.
The challenge is that prices,though, have escalated and
(08:08):
inflated to such a point and Idon't believe that necessarily
salaries have inflated to thesame degree that everything else
has inflated, so buyers arejust a little more cautious in
what they're willing to do, Atleast the ones that are good,
solid buyers.
You know there are some peoplethat are desperate to be in a
property and they're like hey,yeah, whatever bid.
Todd Probasco (08:29):
I need a house.
Colleen Basinski (08:29):
I don't want to pay rent anymore, I want to
do this, or my landlord'sselling my house, and you know
that's a different situation.
I think that the motivationfactor plays into it as well.
And there goes the trade.
Todd Probasco (08:39):
Sure, and, like you alluded to earlier, there's
a thing called life.
I've had kids.
I'm upsizing, downsizing,divorced.
Those things are going tocreate deals, no matter what the
rates are.
But I will say this, watchingit every day we are like in the
I don't know if you read this,but we're in the best position
we've been this year when itcomes to interest rates.
Here we are in September 2nd,so that's good news.
(09:00):
I agree.
Prices of houses have justskyrocketed and incomes of net
kept up with that.
So you know, if we can justhave a little bit of things
calming down, I think we couldsee some really bright days
ahead when it comes to realestate.
Colleen Basinski (09:14):
Yeah, I think.
Yeah, I'm sorry, I was justgoing to say I think you're
right, I agree with you.
Todd Probasco (09:27):
Yeah, let's go to the flip side.
As a national lender I kind oflend in all 50 states and I know
you guys are doing businessdown in Florida.
We've seen a big change inFlorida.
We have a lot of clients thatbuy a second home down in
Florida and have and I'veenjoyed doing those deals, but
with the cost of insurance andHOA dues.
We've seen a change down inFlorida and Chicago is one of
the top destinations for peoplebuying down in Florida.
Why don't you guys give ourlisteners a little update on
what's going on down in Floridawhen it comes to real estate?
Kimberly Neill (09:47):
I think for sure the market has definitely
changed down in Florida.
I mean, two years ago youcouldn't find a place down there
, maybe you know.
I mean they were.
You want to talk aboutoverinflated and low inventory?
That was definitely Florida.
Todd Probasco (10:04):
Now.
Kimberly Neill (10:05):
I feel like I mean what I was reading,
something that one of theFlorida boards sent, and they
said Cape Coral, which was oneof the hottest areas during
COVID, you know, 2021 into 22 isone of the worst places to be
right now.
If you're, if you, you'reselling, if you're selling, and
I own a home in the tampa areaand they seem to be leveling.
(10:29):
They're not going down, butthey're leveling.
I feel like southwest florida,naples and and you know just
from what I see, naples, capecoral, fort myers I feel like
they've all dropped a little bit.
Colleen Basinski (10:40):
So, yeah, I would agree with you and I will
just add to that that you, youknow, when we saw it, when the
rest of the country saw crisissurging, 2020, on an inventory
training, florida was alreadyexperiencing that for about five
to 10 years before that.
It was just growing so rapidlyand it was attracting so many
people.
And I think that, like thatsurge, every up has a down right
(11:02):
Like, and it doesn't mean it'sa down like in the toilet down,
it means that you know it's astabilization or a levelization,
and I just feel that we'reseeing that now there.
On the flip side, though, I'vehad clients.
So I just had a client thatpicked up a great property in
Fort Myers for his daughter.
Kimberly Neill (11:19):
That was a good deal At a good price.
Colleen Basinski (11:21):
You know she's going to college down there
rather than renting a place orliving in the dorms.
She's got a great place and hegot a good deal on it.
Now the seller still made moneyshe didn't lose money but this,
our buyer, got a great deal ona place.
That's an investment and ifthey hold onto it long-term it's
going to it'll be fine.
It's not like it's.
So.
I think there's some goodopportunities out there for
buyers right now, whetherthey're looking for a second
(11:42):
home or they're looking for aninvestment type property or
whatever.
People still vacation there.
There's still good Airbnbopportunities.
I do think you have to becautious about watching for HOAs
and insurance and how close youare to the water.
But taking all those intoconsideration, there's still
some really great opportunities.
But sellers are just going tohave to be more realistic.
You know, think back to history, all of history, right Like
(12:04):
what was the averageappreciation rate over the last
50 years, and we've come toexpect way more than that as the
last few years have reallyspoiled us and I will just say
that you know modest, moderateappreciation.
If you bought a home you know afew years ago it used to be, you
have to stay in a property fiveto seven years in order to get
(12:25):
your impact back.
Todd Probasco (12:26):
That's the case now in Florida.
Well, cool, anybody listening,especially a lot of people here
in Chicago.
If you're interested, get ahold of one of the three of us.
We could help you get someinformation on a second home or
move to Florida.
I had, the first time this year, a reverse relocation Chicago
to Florida, they're likecraziness where they're at Out
of Florida back to Chicago.
(12:47):
I'm like who moves from Floridato Chicago?
I'm like do you see that?
Colleen Basinski (12:50):
We've had a few.
I've had a few.
You know people, weather thingsscare people, and then also
this famous family.
Kimberly Neill (12:58):
Mine was an older man who his wife was ill
and he had to.
You know they were in.
They were here, moved toflorida.
Now they're selling florida andcoming back here, so it could
happen so it could happen.
Todd Probasco (13:09):
I mean I, don't know if they're gonna do it in
january, but you know yeah, thatwould.
Colleen Basinski (13:13):
That would be a little rough, but it is hard.
Todd Probasco (13:15):
I could see him doing it in august, I don't know
about january.
All right, anyway, let's talkabout this firm.
You guys got a lot going on.
It's kind of cool.
Tell everybody about yourbusiness, your brokerage, your
firm.
What kind of makes youdifferent in such a part?
Fill us in what's going on overthere, name and a little bit of
the background on what you'redoing.
Kimberly Neill (13:31):
Yeah, fill us in , Colleen.
Colleen Basinski (13:32):
Oh, I was going to put that, I was going
to let you talk.
Yay, so we are, and we're witha national cloud-based firm
called Real Broker.
So it'll allow us to dobusiness in as many states as
we'd like.
We have to be licensed in thosestates, but we can affiliate
and bring on agents in any ofthe states.
It just gave us moreflexibility and freedom to help
(13:53):
more clients to do what we want.
And there's no fat like middlefranchise franchisor in the
middle so that we can pass thosesavings on to our clients as
well.
So it just made us morecompetitive.
I think it's a great, veryforward thinking.
A lot of video, a lot oftechnology that has been tech
with our real wallet.
You know just some of theability to be able to move on
(14:15):
our feet, and I think the waythat business is done now is so
different than it was Now.
I've been around 25 years inthis business and I think about
like when we first startedwriting contracts.
I remember like we couldn'teven email listings.
We had to like, print them out.
I remember those days, yeah, Imean.
So the industry as a whole hasevolved and I think that there's
a lot of, there's a fewcompanies, companies out there.
(14:35):
We still have physical spacefor our group, and you know,
some of the other groups aroundhere do as well, because I still
feel there's that value in you.
You know getting elbow to elbowwith people but it just makes
us so much more.
What's the word I'm looking for,kim?
Competitive I think competitive, flexible, flexible I think it
allows us to meet our clientswhere they are with their needs.
(14:58):
And so you know whether it's anolder client that wants us to
still do things on pen and paper, or if it's a younger client
that is, like you know,relocating, or you know, I look
at my kids right, so we both gotadult children and like how
they do business.
Now my son is looking for aplace in the city and I'm
thinking about, like, the waythat he's searching and the way
that he finds things and theinformation he sends me, and I'm
(15:20):
grateful that I have thoseresources and that I've learned
to be able to do that with thecompany that we're at Cool.
Todd Probasco (15:25):
Yeah, sounds pretty cool and you're not that
old.
Colleen Basinski (15:28):
Thanks, I feel it.
Todd Probasco (15:32):
All right, but I think it's cool and I think
everybody should take a look atwhat you're doing.
To kind of bring this alltogether.
You both have been doing it along time.
You've both had quite a fewsuccesses.
I know that in your career andsuccess can happen through a
couple ways, they say,especially when it comes to
sales and business.
It could be hard work, it couldbe timing and a little bit of
luck every so often.
(15:52):
So why don't we start with Kim?
Kim, you've had a great career.
I've watched you grow in thebiz, based on success, and I
mentioned those three thingsthat usually play into it.
What are your thoughts on whenyou look back to your career?
Hard work, timing and a littlebit of luck.
What has helped you get towhere you're at today?
Kimberly Neill (16:08):
I think it's all of those.
I think it's definitely hardwork.
I mean, I come in every day, orjust about every day, and you
know, I think I was taughtsomething early on Follow-up is
that's where your money is andI've become, you know just, I do
very well with follow up, Ithink too a lot.
It's when you surround yourselfwith.
(16:29):
Todd, too, has a lot to do withthat.
You know, I've alwayssurrounded myself with learning
based people, and you couldagree.
I feel like you always have togrow and learn in this business.
You know, when ego gets in theway, you're done, and I think a
lot of the people in thebusiness have been doing it for
this long.
This is what I do.
I have 20 million and I'm done.
(16:49):
Oh no, you know, I don't thinkit works that way.
I think for me, it's alwayslearning and who you surround
yourself with.
Todd Probasco (16:58):
You know you have to team with good people.
Really, yeah, the thing aboutsurround yourself.
There's one thing I heard, likeI don't know, 15, 20 years ago
If you want to know the successof your pipeline or what it's
going to look like, look at whoyou spend your time with.
Kimberly Neill (17:08):
What do they say ?
The five top, you become thefive people, the five people
that you hang around with themost, or what is the saying?
Yeah.
So I think there's a lot oftruth to that, wouldn't you
agree?
Colleen Basinski (17:19):
And I think you're incredibly humble too,
because you don't give yourselfenough credit for it.
I don't know an agent that worksas hard as you do, but that's
not to say that you don't havework-life balance.
Like, you have fun and you dothis, sure, but I think what I
see is agents get into thisbusiness and they think it's
going to be easy right out ofthe gate.
They don't realize the hoursthat we put in on the front end.
(17:39):
They're not willing to do thehard things that it takes to be
successful, meaning like comingin, calling people, following up
with people.
Um, you know all the openhouses every weekend, all the
things.
You know two of us let's see 20, 30, 40 years in the business
combined to the two of us andwe're still doing open houses
every weekend.
So I would say that, likeyou're, you're incredibly humble
(18:02):
, kim.
You don't give yourself enoughcredit.
The other thing that I see can Itoot her horn for a little bit
here?
Absolutely that he does reallywell is she is incredible with
relationships with people.
You know I called.
I called you the other day.
I was like, hey, and she textsme.
She goes, I'll call you back.
You know you have an auto text.
Yeah, can't talk.
I'm at breakfast with a clientand I'm like, oh, literally
(18:23):
almost every week or something,you're either lunch with a
client, shopping with a clientdoing something with a past
client.
Like you build relationshipsincredibly well with people.
It's so funny.
You're like, yeah, I was withthat lady.
I'm like, oh, so-and-so.
So the farmers yeah, I was atthe farmer's market and
breakfast with Darlene, yeah.
So I think that those are keythings, that this is not just a
(18:44):
transactional business.
This is a relational businessand I think that you have to put
in the hours.
So when you said hard work,yeah, hard work is important and
it's also not just working onbusy stuff, but it's working on
the right stuff and spendingtime in front of people.
Kimberly Neill (18:59):
That's true.
Colleen Basinski (19:00):
Even though, like you see, all these people
are like on Instagram orFacebook or whatever and we do
all of that, don't get me wrongyou still have to get face to
face with people or on the phonewith people.
And you still have to have that.
Kimberly Neill (19:11):
Like you said, you still have to build that
relationship, because this still, I don't care what anybody says
, this is a relationship basedbusiness.
I mean, the more I get into it,the more it's referrals, which
is nice, because I'm not, youknow.
I mean, don't get me wrong, Igrind every day but it's not as
hard as when I the first fiveyears I was doing it and Todd, I
(19:34):
think we've known each othersince at the beginning I came in
probably a couple of yearsafter.
It was a grind, it was on thephones every day and you know
events.
I remember doing a ton ofevents like just it.
Colleen Basinski (19:50):
I mean I'm still grinding, but not it's a
different grind establishingyour hard work and your work
ethic at the get-go, buildinghabits, building systems and
follow-up, I would say, and yousaid, follow-up but like being
relentless with follow-up, Imean I you're you're worse than
(20:11):
I.
I'm obsessive, yeah, I'm likeyeah, they're filing a
restraining order yeah, that's agood word.
It's obsessive yeah, I mean I'm.
Because you know, let's face it, people aren't like sitting
around thinking like, oh, Iwonder what my realtor'm.
Because you know, let's face it, people aren't like sitting
around thinking like oh, Iwonder what my realtor is up to
today, you know.
So we have to stay in front ofmind so that when they're ready,
we're there for them, and Ithink the other thing is caring
(20:32):
about the person more than thetransaction.
Yeah, you are incredible atthis I like to think I'm good at
it, absolutely yeah.
My husband works with me andhe's talked people out of more
houses than he's talked theminto because he cares so much
about making sure that they geta good, solid home and it's
going to be a good purchase forthem and their family and their
future, and you know what?
(20:52):
I'm just going to add one morething.
I'm sorry, I'm like overtalking.
But I think about young peoplethat we are bringing on into our
team and our group and ourcompany and the ones that are
having a lot of success you betthey are are the ones that are
doing those same exact thingsand I just love pouring into
them and teaching them thosethings and like being there for
like, when they have thisquestion of this scenario, that
scenario.
But they're building therelationships they, you know.
(21:15):
I think about, like haiti,going over there and doing the
things for the estate sale forthe guy and helping them or
arriving the guy to the bank.
So that he can get his wirelike they're learning that the
relationships matter and thatthey're putting in the work and
doing the things.
And those are the ones that aregoing to be the successful
agents of the future, I believe.
Todd Probasco (21:31):
Yeah, there's.
There has been a shift withtechnology and social media in
the industry.
But you guys are right on trackwith saying that it's
relationships.
Because, guess what, when it'sall done, I don't care if there
are 25 or 45 people buy frompeople.
They might see you on socialmedia and they might find you
somehow some way, shape or form.
There's 50 ways to find us now.
(21:52):
But guess what, after thisinterview, who wouldn't hire
either one of you to help thembuy or sell?
Because you're people, you'regoing to listen, you're going to
help them, you're going to dothings that a website can't do,
by uncovering the needs andlooking out for their best
interests.
And I think you both hear it,like I do.
I went on the internet.
I saw this.
Okay, well, part of that istrue, but let's dive into the
(22:15):
whole story.
And you're hiring a licensedprofessional with experience for
a reason to guide you throughone of the biggest things you're
going to do in your life.
So the people thing andrelationship is huge.
And, colleen, the fact thatyou're taking time training the
young people on the importanceof that, versus just a click and
a text.
Kim, you're amazing at gettingback to people when I go to
invite people to do this, Imight not hear from them for
(22:36):
days.
You were like in three minutes.
Yeah, how do we do this?
It's like I mean like sometimesI'll get a call and I'll answer
my phone and the real estateagent I've heard it a couple of
times Wow, you answered yourphone.
What do you mean?
Wow?
Well, usually I have to leave amessage on here back in a day
or so.
If I didn't answer my phone, Iwouldn't make a living.
Colleen Basinski (23:02):
And people expect that you brought that up.
We have a couple of leadsources that our agents are
required to answer within 90seconds or they don't get the
lead.
It goes to the next agent.
So we have for our team and so.
But that's important because,if you think about it from a
consumer standpoint, ourconsumers don't.
They expect immediategratification, Like if you're
calling someone if you havethree numbers of three painters
to call and you call one andthey don't answer, then you call
(23:23):
the next one.
And then whichever one's thefirst.
I mean, I remember I sent to aclient three home inspectors,
because I try to send out acouple and I said, oh, how'd you
choose that one?
He's the only one that answeredthe phone.
I'm like, ok, well, that makesa difference.
Todd Probasco (23:38):
But you know, go ahead Whether you're buying a
house or a pizza.
You call the pizza guy, heanswers the phone.
You're buying a house.
Kimberly Neill (23:43):
We're not going to do it for a loaf of bread.
How do?
Todd Probasco (23:45):
you not answer the phone on a half a million
dollar deal?
Colleen Basinski (23:48):
Largest financial transaction someone
will ever make in a lifetime formost people and you can't even
pick up the phone.
Kimberly Neill (23:54):
That's shameless .
That's why I am the way I am,because I think, jesus, this is
the largest financial decisionpurchase you're ever going to
make.
And if I was a one and done andwas like whatever, why would
you refer me to somebody Like Iwant you to refer me?
I want you to say Kim was great, kim was, she was there, she
(24:17):
walked me through it, she spenttime with me, because I would
want somebody to do that for me,the only reason we should not
answer our phone is becausewe're spending time with someone
else at that moment and we'regiving them all of our attention
.
Todd Probasco (24:29):
Besides that, how do you not respond to somebody
who wants to buy, sell orfinance real estate?
It blows my mind and, like,when I get into a deal and we're
in the middle of one and Ican't get a hold of the broker,
they won't call me back.
I want to shoot myself.
It's like.
I'm like are you kidding me?
Where the hell are you?
We're talking about a $500,000deal.
I'm like okay, whatever.
(24:49):
But you know what's funny?
The people don't answer thephone.
Technology now shows the numberof deals we all do.
The person that doesn't answerthe phone.
I'm sure they're not even closeto you guys when it comes to
deals.
Kimberly Neill (24:59):
Everything's relative.
Todd Probasco (25:00):
I would agree with that.
So, on that note, I'm sure allof our phones are going off
right now.
We got to get back to people,so I'm going to try to bring
this all together for people whoare watching and listening.
These two ladies have beendoing it for a long time.
I'm not here doing a commercialfor them.
There's no incentive.
They didn't pay me, but I willtell you this.
I've known both of them for along time and if you're looking
to buy or sell in Illinois orFlorida and Colleen also has
(25:24):
Indiana I will have theircontact information listed at
the bottom.
You can reach out to them,whether it be an inquiry or call
or something in general aboutreal estate.
But to wrap it up, let's startwith Kim Kim.
What are your thoughts for thefuture?
What do you got planned for orwhat do you see real estate the
rest of this year into next year?
What are your thoughts and whypeople should maybe think about
(25:44):
buying or selling?
Kimberly Neill (25:45):
No, todd, I think there's going to be life
events happen.
You know people are alwaysgoing to need to buy and sell.
I think we'll close out theyear.
What do you think we'll do thisyear In?
Colleen Basinski (25:55):
terms of number of transactions, I think
we'll hit about 175.
That's amazing.
Yeah for our group.
Yeah for our group.
Kimberly Neill (26:01):
Yeah, I don't.
I personally don't see the realestate market.
I think it's going to be steady.
I think it's going to be good.
We work, we're licensedfull-time agents.
So I don't, for our group, Idon't see it going going down or
going away.
If not, we're just going tokeep going up.
Colleen Basinski (26:25):
Well, and I think you know, every single
person's situation is unique tothem.
So, having a consultation withsomeone like utah, who can give
the good financial advice, andsomeone like us where we can
look at the situation of what isyour house going to sell for,
where you're going to be able tomove to, what is this?
you know, is it a neighborhoodimportant for schools or for
taxes, like looking at all thosethings?
I think everyone's situation isso specific and so unique.
It's important to not look atthe market as a generalization
(26:47):
or as a whole, and look at yoursituation and what makes the
most sense for you and when youhave people that have as much
experience as we do and careabout their clients as much as
all of us do.
You can't go wrong Because we'regoing to say now is not the
time to sell, stay right whereyou are, ride it out, do this or
rent it out, do this or rent itout or tough it out another
year or there or whatever,because we want them to make
(27:07):
good long-term decisions forthemselves and their family and
what makes sense for them.
So I think that will guide whathappens into the future.
Markets are going to go up anddown, markets are going to be
crazy and not crazy.
Sometimes you can ride that,but ultimately buying or selling
real estate is a very personal,personalized decision and I
(27:29):
think that because we've made itpart of the core of what we do
to be so personalized and to bereally consultants and guidance
in that, that's what's kept usin this business for as long as
we have.
Todd Probasco (27:36):
Yeah, cool, all right, well, thanks, sounds like
a plan All right, have a greatday.
Kimberly Neill (27:39):
Thanks, you too.
All right, welcome to another edition of
Real Estate.
We've got a great show today.
We've got two guests.
We have Colleen Baczynski andKimberly Neal Ladies, how are
you today?
Colleen Basinski (00:16):
Great.
How are you Todd?
Todd Probasco (00:17):
Doing wonderful Love.
The pink boas Never had pinkboas here on the show.
We have an ass on the show, ToddKind of our signature trick
card right Nailing it up.
Let me tell you, Bo is here onthe show.
So we have an episode on theshow Todd kind of.
Yeah, you guys are dialing itup.
Let me tell you we're going upin that but, anyway, we're going
to talk about real estate today.
Exciting.
The three of us are in the bizand people who are listening and
watching want to hear what'sgoing on.
So, before we do that, whydon't we get a little, uh
(00:38):
background on both of you, alittle bit of your bios?
Uh, colleen, tell us a littlebit about you, your past, your
history, your career, and thenwe'll move over to Kim.
How's that?
Colleen Basinski (00:46):
Okay, sounds great.
25th year in real estate.
Todd Probasco (00:49):
Still got your sanity.
Colleen Basinski (00:51):
Some days, some days I don't.
So 25 years I've been alicensed broker, managing broker
salesperson.
Back in the day when we hadthose licenses, three states
currently have been, for I hadCalifornia, illinois, indiana
and Florida.
Now it's just Illinois.
Indiana and Florida.
I've been a broker owner, ownedmultiple franchise offices,
(01:12):
national real estate coach,trainer and presenter.
So and now I work with buyersand sellers and running our
group here, and I'm lucky enoughto have this lovely lady
helping me.
Todd Probasco (01:24):
Thank you Thanks Cool, that's quite a bit of
history in real estate You'vebeen doing it for a while.
Colleen Basinski (01:29):
Yeah, I mean there's more to it than that.
I mean lots of ups and downs.
I could tell you that that'sfor sure.
Todd Probasco (01:35):
Oh yeah, oh yeah.
I think we've all seen that,that's for sure.
That's part Kim.
How about you?
Kimberly Neill (01:40):
We've known each other a while we have had and
it's good to see you again.
Todd Probasco (01:45):
Likewise.
Kimberly Neill (01:46):
So I've been licensed since 2012,.
So 13, 14 years.
I'm licensed in the state ofFlorida, in Illinois.
Obviously I'm a broker.
I don't know.
I work here at Ford Group withColleen, Founding partner.
Yeah, founding partner.
And that's really fun.
I feel like I'm still in thegrind, yeah making deals happen.
Todd Probasco (02:07):
You're buying and selling, helping people move in
and out, up and down.
Whatever it takes, you can makeit happen.
Colleen Basinski (02:14):
I think that's really important, though,
because there's so many peopleout there that like are like oh,
I'm an expert, this expert atthat, and they're not in the
trenches and you're in thetrenches every day, expert at
that, and they're not in thetrenches and you're in the
trenches every day.
Todd Probasco (02:23):
Absolutely, it's funny.
Even on the lending side, youknow, people move up and
somebody might be running amortgage group you know, maybe
in my role and they stop doingdeals and guess what?
They get removed from realityand no matter where you go in
your career, I think in the realestate biz, you got to always
be doing deals because thingskeep changing and you got to
keep your thumb on the pulseright and know what's going on.
So for sure, let's talk aboutthe market.
(02:45):
We're starting September, theunofficial start to fall the day
after Labor Day.
First of all, thanks for beinghere right after the holiday.
Let's talk about Chicagolandfirst and then we'll move on to
Florida.
But that's a whole nother story, I know.
But let's talk about Chicago.
What are you guys seeing, right?
Kimberly Neill (03:00):
now you know what I feel like the market, and
this has been over the pastcouple years.
I feel like October tanks justa bit, just goes down a little
bit, and then September seems topick up and I think if you keep
that momentum it'll carry youthrough the winter.
But I'm busy again.
Colleen Basinski (03:20):
Well, I think as an agent, you can be busy all
year, no matter what.
There's always people that needto buy yourself right.
Like people, life happens.
Babies are born, divorce, death.
You know all the things jobtransfers, all the things always
happen.
But in terms of the market as arule or whatever, you know 25
years we've seen usuallyseasonality, which is what Kim
(03:41):
said.
Usually it'll slow down in thefall.
I think when that changed forus significantly was post COVID,
or when COVID started 2020, allof a sudden, the market just
became this unruly beast that wenever saw a low and it just
kept going and going and going,and I would say that was
significantly consistent untillast October, I agree, last
(04:01):
September, october.
Kimberly Neill (04:02):
And.
Colleen Basinski (04:02):
I would say that initially I was like, okay,
are we finally seeing that slowdown of, like, the seasonality
again, when things come and go?
And not to say that we can'tsell properties those other
times we can.
It's just we have to employdifferent resources and
different strategies and reallyput our best marketing foot out
there.
I initially thought it was dueto the election, right, cause
you know, we had a pretty crazyelection cycle last year with,
(04:25):
you know, candidates coming inand out, just a lot of craziness
, right, like no matter whatside of the fence you fall on
politically, it was a verystressful time for everybody.
And so I thought, okay, is thisthe market changing?
Finally it's slowing down intowhere we're going to see a
little bit of seasonality.
Or is this due to the election?
And then January February wepicked right back up again.
(04:50):
So I'm like, oh, usually ourspring markets like February,
march, april.
End of February, march, April,right.
So I'm like, okay, well, maybeit was election based and not
seasonality based, but now I'mseeing a little bit of a
slowdown happening For sure.
In terms of seasonality securityand also I would say it's very
neighborhood specific and it'svery property specific, and what
I mean by that and youcontested this if the property's
(05:11):
a piece of junk, it's startingto sit.
If it's one of these onesthat's got whether it's a real
remodel or an hgtv remodel, youknow where they just give it a
facelift.
Sure, the buyers that are outthere that are paying six, seven
percent, they want it to looklike how they want it to look
when they walk in the door, andthat's what I'm seeing Now.
Obviously, neither one of ushave a crystal ball, but there
(05:32):
you go.
Todd Probasco (05:33):
A little more.
Inventory I heard is on themarket More listings.
Are they up A?
Kimberly Neill (05:37):
little bit, but again I think there's a little
more for my buyers.
Colleen Basinski (05:41):
Anyway, I feel like there's a little more to
choose from than than there was,say, two years ago, but still,
like kim, anybody that you havethat's looking for something
specific we're still seeingmultiple offers.
Kimberly Neill (05:53):
Oh, god, yeah, I always tell my bike, if you, if
the house is presentable, ifit's nice, if it's priced right,
you're.
We're seeing multiple offers,so I feel like the ones that are
overpriced, and with anything,if they're overpriced, if
they're not up to par, peoplearen't buying them anymore like
they were two years ago I thinksellers are having a hard time
(06:14):
deciphering between what'spriced right, what's overpriced,
because they're looking atstraight across the board
neighborhood cops and conditionis so much more important now
than I think it was ever Now forsure, and mortgage rates have
stabilized a little bit.
Todd Probasco (06:27):
You mentioned the election that you know that
created a little turmoil.
Then the tariff talk reallysent the bond market into orbit.
Here we are in September 2ndand for the last couple of weeks
we've stabilized right around6.375 for a 30-year fix.
Yeah, when you look at thehistory of mortgage rates,
that's a good rate.
It's not the 3% during COVID,but it's a great rate.
(06:48):
We're not having the ups anddowns in the bond market like we
saw since the election.
So if there's a little moreinventory and rates have
stabilized, maybe we're going toget back to a little bit of a
better, more normal market whenit comes to buying and selling
in real estate.
I mean Chicago real estate isalways going to be in demand
based on jobs and the marketthat we live and work in.
(07:08):
But I know, like you said,anything decent that went on the
market when we'd have a clientpre-approved.
They're fighting with eightother people with offers within
the first 48 hours.
That's not normal and hopefullywe've started to see a little
bit of a stabilization.
Yeah, because you're rough.
Colleen Basinski (07:25):
Absolutely, I would agree with you, but we're
still seeing that.
So I've got a few buyers rightnow that you know they're
getting outbid, because you knowI can't in good conscience tell
my client to just go you bet.
Excuse my language balls out ona property bid if I don't feel
like it's going to be a goodlong-term decision or even an
interim term decision, becauseyou don't know how long they're
(07:45):
going to stay there Right Like,or they don't know how long
they're going to stay there,maybe you think they're going to
be there for 20 years.
But if things happen, lifehappens, and I was a little more
cautious, I think, with that.
And I want to go back tosomething that you said, todd,
because it it really resonatedwith me when you were talking
about, kind of like, where ratesare and the stability of it.
The challenge is that prices,though, have escalated and
(08:08):
inflated to such a point and Idon't believe that necessarily
salaries have inflated to thesame degree that everything else
has inflated, so buyers arejust a little more cautious in
what they're willing to do, Atleast the ones that are good,
solid buyers.
You know there are some peoplethat are desperate to be in a
property and they're like hey,yeah, whatever bid.
Todd Probasco (08:29):
I need a house.
Colleen Basinski (08:29):
I don't want to pay rent anymore, I want to
do this, or my landlord'sselling my house, and you know
that's a different situation.
I think that the motivationfactor plays into it as well.
And there goes the trade.
Todd Probasco (08:39):
Sure, and, like you alluded to earlier, there's
a thing called life.
I've had kids.
I'm upsizing, downsizing,divorced.
Those things are going tocreate deals, no matter what the
rates are.
But I will say this, watchingit every day we are like in the
I don't know if you read this,but we're in the best position
we've been this year when itcomes to interest rates.
Here we are in September 2nd,so that's good news.
(09:00):
I agree.
Prices of houses have justskyrocketed and incomes of net
kept up with that.
So you know, if we can justhave a little bit of things
calming down, I think we couldsee some really bright days
ahead when it comes to realestate.
Colleen Basinski (09:14):
Yeah, I think.
Yeah, I'm sorry, I was justgoing to say I think you're
right, I agree with you.
Todd Probasco (09:27):
Yeah, let's go to the flip side.
As a national lender I kind oflend in all 50 states and I know
you guys are doing businessdown in Florida.
We've seen a big change inFlorida.
We have a lot of clients thatbuy a second home down in
Florida and have and I'veenjoyed doing those deals, but
with the cost of insurance andHOA dues.
We've seen a change down inFlorida and Chicago is one of
the top destinations for peoplebuying down in Florida.
Why don't you guys give ourlisteners a little update on
what's going on down in Floridawhen it comes to real estate?
Kimberly Neill (09:47):
I think for sure the market has definitely
changed down in Florida.
I mean, two years ago youcouldn't find a place down there
, maybe you know.
I mean they were.
You want to talk aboutoverinflated and low inventory?
That was definitely Florida.
Todd Probasco (10:04):
Now.
Kimberly Neill (10:05):
I feel like I mean what I was reading,
something that one of theFlorida boards sent, and they
said Cape Coral, which was oneof the hottest areas during
COVID, you know, 2021 into 22 isone of the worst places to be
right now.
If you're, if you, you'reselling, if you're selling, and
I own a home in the tampa areaand they seem to be leveling.
(10:29):
They're not going down, butthey're leveling.
I feel like southwest florida,naples and and you know just
from what I see, naples, capecoral, fort myers I feel like
they've all dropped a little bit.
Colleen Basinski (10:40):
So, yeah, I would agree with you and I will
just add to that that you, youknow, when we saw it, when the
rest of the country saw crisissurging, 2020, on an inventory
training, florida was alreadyexperiencing that for about five
to 10 years before that.
It was just growing so rapidlyand it was attracting so many
people.
And I think that, like thatsurge, every up has a down right
(11:02):
Like, and it doesn't mean it'sa down like in the toilet down,
it means that you know it's astabilization or a levelization,
and I just feel that we'reseeing that now there.
On the flip side, though, I'vehad clients.
So I just had a client thatpicked up a great property in
Fort Myers for his daughter.
Kimberly Neill (11:19):
That was a good deal At a good price.
Colleen Basinski (11:21):
You know she's going to college down there
rather than renting a place orliving in the dorms.
She's got a great place and hegot a good deal on it.
Now the seller still made moneyshe didn't lose money but this,
our buyer, got a great deal ona place.
That's an investment and ifthey hold onto it long-term it's
going to it'll be fine.
It's not like it's.
So.
I think there's some goodopportunities out there for
buyers right now, whetherthey're looking for a second
(11:42):
home or they're looking for aninvestment type property or
whatever.
People still vacation there.
There's still good Airbnbopportunities.
I do think you have to becautious about watching for HOAs
and insurance and how close youare to the water.
But taking all those intoconsideration, there's still
some really great opportunities.
But sellers are just going tohave to be more realistic.
You know, think back to history, all of history, right Like
(12:04):
what was the averageappreciation rate over the last
50 years, and we've come toexpect way more than that as the
last few years have reallyspoiled us and I will just say
that you know modest, moderateappreciation.
If you bought a home you know afew years ago it used to be, you
have to stay in a property fiveto seven years in order to get
(12:25):
your impact back.
Todd Probasco (12:26):
That's the case now in Florida.
Well, cool, anybody listening,especially a lot of people here
in Chicago.
If you're interested, get ahold of one of the three of us.
We could help you get someinformation on a second home or
move to Florida.
I had, the first time this year, a reverse relocation Chicago
to Florida, they're likecraziness where they're at Out
of Florida back to Chicago.
(12:47):
I'm like who moves from Floridato Chicago?
I'm like do you see that?
Colleen Basinski (12:50):
We've had a few.
I've had a few.
You know people, weather thingsscare people, and then also
this famous family.
Kimberly Neill (12:58):
Mine was an older man who his wife was ill
and he had to.
You know they were in.
They were here, moved toflorida.
Now they're selling florida andcoming back here, so it could
happen so it could happen.
Todd Probasco (13:09):
I mean I, don't know if they're gonna do it in
january, but you know yeah, thatwould.
Colleen Basinski (13:13):
That would be a little rough, but it is hard.
Todd Probasco (13:15):
I could see him doing it in august, I don't know
about january.
All right, anyway, let's talkabout this firm.
You guys got a lot going on.
It's kind of cool.
Tell everybody about yourbusiness, your brokerage, your
firm.
What kind of makes youdifferent in such a part?
Fill us in what's going on overthere, name and a little bit of
the background on what you'redoing.
Kimberly Neill (13:31):
Yeah, fill us in , Colleen.
Colleen Basinski (13:32):
Oh, I was going to put that, I was going
to let you talk.
Yay, so we are, and we're witha national cloud-based firm
called Real Broker.
So it'll allow us to dobusiness in as many states as
we'd like.
We have to be licensed in thosestates, but we can affiliate
and bring on agents in any ofthe states.
It just gave us moreflexibility and freedom to help
(13:53):
more clients to do what we want.
And there's no fat like middlefranchise franchisor in the
middle so that we can pass thosesavings on to our clients as
well.
So it just made us morecompetitive.
I think it's a great, veryforward thinking.
A lot of video, a lot oftechnology that has been tech
with our real wallet.
You know just some of theability to be able to move on
(14:15):
our feet, and I think the waythat business is done now is so
different than it was Now.
I've been around 25 years inthis business and I think about
like when we first startedwriting contracts.
I remember like we couldn'teven email listings.
We had to like, print them out.
I remember those days, yeah, Imean.
So the industry as a whole hasevolved and I think that there's
a lot of, there's a fewcompanies, companies out there.
(14:35):
We still have physical spacefor our group, and you know,
some of the other groups aroundhere do as well, because I still
feel there's that value in you.
You know getting elbow to elbowwith people but it just makes
us so much more.
What's the word I'm looking for,kim?
Competitive I think competitive, flexible, flexible I think it
allows us to meet our clientswhere they are with their needs.
(14:58):
And so you know whether it's anolder client that wants us to
still do things on pen and paper, or if it's a younger client
that is, like you know,relocating, or you know, I look
at my kids right, so we both gotadult children and like how
they do business.
Now my son is looking for aplace in the city and I'm
thinking about, like, the waythat he's searching and the way
that he finds things and theinformation he sends me, and I'm
(15:20):
grateful that I have thoseresources and that I've learned
to be able to do that with thecompany that we're at Cool.
Todd Probasco (15:25):
Yeah, sounds pretty cool and you're not that
old.
Colleen Basinski (15:28):
Thanks, I feel it.
Todd Probasco (15:32):
All right, but I think it's cool and I think
everybody should take a look atwhat you're doing.
To kind of bring this alltogether.
You both have been doing it along time.
You've both had quite a fewsuccesses.
I know that in your career andsuccess can happen through a
couple ways, they say,especially when it comes to
sales and business.
It could be hard work, it couldbe timing and a little bit of
luck every so often.
(15:52):
So why don't we start with Kim?
Kim, you've had a great career.
I've watched you grow in thebiz, based on success, and I
mentioned those three thingsthat usually play into it.
What are your thoughts on whenyou look back to your career?
Hard work, timing and a littlebit of luck.
What has helped you get towhere you're at today?
Kimberly Neill (16:08):
I think it's all of those.
I think it's definitely hardwork.
I mean, I come in every day, orjust about every day, and you
know, I think I was taughtsomething early on Follow-up is
that's where your money is andI've become, you know just, I do
very well with follow up, Ithink too a lot.
It's when you surround yourselfwith.
(16:29):
Todd, too, has a lot to do withthat.
You know, I've alwayssurrounded myself with learning
based people, and you couldagree.
I feel like you always have togrow and learn in this business.
You know, when ego gets in theway, you're done, and I think a
lot of the people in thebusiness have been doing it for
this long.
This is what I do.
I have 20 million and I'm done.
(16:49):
Oh no, you know, I don't thinkit works that way.
I think for me, it's alwayslearning and who you surround
yourself with.
Todd Probasco (16:58):
You know you have to team with good people.
Really, yeah, the thing aboutsurround yourself.
There's one thing I heard, likeI don't know, 15, 20 years ago
If you want to know the successof your pipeline or what it's
going to look like, look at whoyou spend your time with.
Kimberly Neill (17:08):
What do they say ?
The five top, you become thefive people, the five people
that you hang around with themost, or what is the saying?
Yeah.
So I think there's a lot oftruth to that, wouldn't you
agree?
Colleen Basinski (17:19):
And I think you're incredibly humble too,
because you don't give yourselfenough credit for it.
I don't know an agent that worksas hard as you do, but that's
not to say that you don't havework-life balance.
Like, you have fun and you dothis, sure, but I think what I
see is agents get into thisbusiness and they think it's
going to be easy right out ofthe gate.
They don't realize the hoursthat we put in on the front end.
(17:39):
They're not willing to do thehard things that it takes to be
successful, meaning like comingin, calling people, following up
with people.
Um, you know all the openhouses every weekend, all the
things.
You know two of us let's see 20, 30, 40 years in the business
combined to the two of us andwe're still doing open houses
every weekend.
So I would say that, likeyou're, you're incredibly humble
(18:02):
, kim.
You don't give yourself enoughcredit.
The other thing that I see can Itoot her horn for a little bit
here?
Absolutely that he does reallywell is she is incredible with
relationships with people.
You know I called.
I called you the other day.
I was like, hey, and she textsme.
She goes, I'll call you back.
You know you have an auto text.
Yeah, can't talk.
I'm at breakfast with a clientand I'm like, oh, literally
(18:23):
almost every week or something,you're either lunch with a
client, shopping with a clientdoing something with a past
client.
Like you build relationshipsincredibly well with people.
It's so funny.
You're like, yeah, I was withthat lady.
I'm like, oh, so-and-so.
So the farmers yeah, I was atthe farmer's market and
breakfast with Darlene, yeah.
So I think that those are keythings, that this is not just a
(18:44):
transactional business.
This is a relational businessand I think that you have to put
in the hours.
So when you said hard work,yeah, hard work is important and
it's also not just working onbusy stuff, but it's working on
the right stuff and spendingtime in front of people.
Kimberly Neill (18:59):
That's true.
Colleen Basinski (19:00):
Even though, like you see, all these people
are like on Instagram orFacebook or whatever and we do
all of that, don't get me wrongyou still have to get face to
face with people or on the phonewith people.
And you still have to have that.
Kimberly Neill (19:11):
Like you said, you still have to build that
relationship, because this still, I don't care what anybody says
, this is a relationship basedbusiness.
I mean, the more I get into it,the more it's referrals, which
is nice, because I'm not, youknow.
I mean, don't get me wrong, Igrind every day but it's not as
hard as when I the first fiveyears I was doing it and Todd, I
(19:34):
think we've known each othersince at the beginning I came in
probably a couple of yearsafter.
It was a grind, it was on thephones every day and you know
events.
I remember doing a ton ofevents like just it.
Colleen Basinski (19:50):
I mean I'm still grinding, but not it's a
different grind establishingyour hard work and your work
ethic at the get-go, buildinghabits, building systems and
follow-up, I would say, and yousaid, follow-up but like being
relentless with follow-up, Imean I you're you're worse than
(20:11):
I.
I'm obsessive, yeah, I'm likeyeah, they're filing a
restraining order yeah, that's agood word.
It's obsessive yeah, I mean I'm.
Because you know, let's face it, people aren't like sitting
around thinking like, oh, Iwonder what my realtor'm.
Because you know, let's face it, people aren't like sitting
around thinking like oh, Iwonder what my realtor is up to
today, you know.
So we have to stay in front ofmind so that when they're ready,
we're there for them, and Ithink the other thing is caring
(20:32):
about the person more than thetransaction.
Yeah, you are incredible atthis I like to think I'm good at
it, absolutely yeah.
My husband works with me andhe's talked people out of more
houses than he's talked theminto because he cares so much
about making sure that they geta good, solid home and it's
going to be a good purchase forthem and their family and their
future, and you know what?
(20:52):
I'm just going to add one morething.
I'm sorry, I'm like overtalking.
But I think about young peoplethat we are bringing on into our
team and our group and ourcompany and the ones that are
having a lot of success you betthey are are the ones that are
doing those same exact thingsand I just love pouring into
them and teaching them thosethings and like being there for
like, when they have thisquestion of this scenario, that
scenario.
But they're building therelationships they, you know.
(21:15):
I think about, like haiti,going over there and doing the
things for the estate sale forthe guy and helping them or
arriving the guy to the bank.
So that he can get his wirelike they're learning that the
relationships matter and thatthey're putting in the work and
doing the things.
And those are the ones that aregoing to be the successful
agents of the future, I believe.
Todd Probasco (21:31):
Yeah, there's.
There has been a shift withtechnology and social media in
the industry.
But you guys are right on trackwith saying that it's
relationships.
Because, guess what, when it'sall done, I don't care if there
are 25 or 45 people buy frompeople.
They might see you on socialmedia and they might find you
somehow some way, shape or form.
There's 50 ways to find us now.
(21:52):
But guess what, after thisinterview, who wouldn't hire
either one of you to help thembuy or sell?
Because you're people, you'regoing to listen, you're going to
help them, you're going to dothings that a website can't do,
by uncovering the needs andlooking out for their best
interests.
And I think you both hear it,like I do.
I went on the internet.
I saw this.
Okay, well, part of that istrue, but let's dive into the
(22:15):
whole story.
And you're hiring a licensedprofessional with experience for
a reason to guide you throughone of the biggest things you're
going to do in your life.
So the people thing andrelationship is huge.
And, colleen, the fact thatyou're taking time training the
young people on the importanceof that, versus just a click and
a text.
Kim, you're amazing at gettingback to people when I go to
invite people to do this, Imight not hear from them for
(22:36):
days.
You were like in three minutes.
Yeah, how do we do this?
It's like I mean like sometimesI'll get a call and I'll answer
my phone and the real estateagent I've heard it a couple of
times Wow, you answered yourphone.
What do you mean?
Wow?
Well, usually I have to leave amessage on here back in a day
or so.
If I didn't answer my phone, Iwouldn't make a living.
Colleen Basinski (23:02):
And people expect that you brought that up.
We have a couple of leadsources that our agents are
required to answer within 90seconds or they don't get the
lead.
It goes to the next agent.
So we have for our team and so.
But that's important because,if you think about it from a
consumer standpoint, ourconsumers don't.
They expect immediategratification, Like if you're
calling someone if you havethree numbers of three painters
to call and you call one andthey don't answer, then you call
(23:23):
the next one.
And then whichever one's thefirst.
I mean, I remember I sent to aclient three home inspectors,
because I try to send out acouple and I said, oh, how'd you
choose that one?
He's the only one that answeredthe phone.
I'm like, ok, well, that makesa difference.
Todd Probasco (23:38):
But you know, go ahead Whether you're buying a
house or a pizza.
You call the pizza guy, heanswers the phone.
You're buying a house.
Kimberly Neill (23:43):
We're not going to do it for a loaf of bread.
How do?
Todd Probasco (23:45):
you not answer the phone on a half a million
dollar deal?
Colleen Basinski (23:48):
Largest financial transaction someone
will ever make in a lifetime formost people and you can't even
pick up the phone.
Kimberly Neill (23:54):
That's shameless .
That's why I am the way I am,because I think, jesus, this is
the largest financial decisionpurchase you're ever going to
make.
And if I was a one and done andwas like whatever, why would
you refer me to somebody Like Iwant you to refer me?
I want you to say Kim was great, kim was, she was there, she
(24:17):
walked me through it, she spenttime with me, because I would
want somebody to do that for me,the only reason we should not
answer our phone is becausewe're spending time with someone
else at that moment and we'regiving them all of our attention
.
Todd Probasco (24:29):
Besides that, how do you not respond to somebody
who wants to buy, sell orfinance real estate?
It blows my mind and, like,when I get into a deal and we're
in the middle of one and Ican't get a hold of the broker,
they won't call me back.
I want to shoot myself.
It's like.
I'm like are you kidding me?
Where the hell are you?
We're talking about a $500,000deal.
I'm like okay, whatever.
(24:49):
But you know what's funny?
The people don't answer thephone.
Technology now shows the numberof deals we all do.
The person that doesn't answerthe phone.
I'm sure they're not even closeto you guys when it comes to
deals.
Kimberly Neill (24:59):
Everything's relative.
Todd Probasco (25:00):
I would agree with that.
So, on that note, I'm sure allof our phones are going off
right now.
We got to get back to people,so I'm going to try to bring
this all together for people whoare watching and listening.
These two ladies have beendoing it for a long time.
I'm not here doing a commercialfor them.
There's no incentive.
They didn't pay me, but I willtell you this.
I've known both of them for along time and if you're looking
to buy or sell in Illinois orFlorida and Colleen also has
(25:24):
Indiana I will have theircontact information listed at
the bottom.
You can reach out to them,whether it be an inquiry or call
or something in general aboutreal estate.
But to wrap it up, let's startwith Kim Kim.
What are your thoughts for thefuture?
What do you got planned for orwhat do you see real estate the
rest of this year into next year?
What are your thoughts and whypeople should maybe think about
(25:44):
buying or selling?
Kimberly Neill (25:45):
No, todd, I think there's going to be life
events happen.
You know people are alwaysgoing to need to buy and sell.
I think we'll close out theyear.
What do you think we'll do thisyear In?
Colleen Basinski (25:55):
terms of number of transactions, I think
we'll hit about 175.
That's amazing.
Yeah for our group.
Yeah for our group.
Kimberly Neill (26:01):
Yeah, I don't.
I personally don't see the realestate market.
I think it's going to be steady.
I think it's going to be good.
We work, we're licensedfull-time agents.
So I don't, for our group, Idon't see it going going down or
going away.
If not, we're just going tokeep going up.
Colleen Basinski (26:25):
Well, and I think you know, every single
person's situation is unique tothem.
So, having a consultation withsomeone like utah, who can give
the good financial advice, andsomeone like us where we can
look at the situation of what isyour house going to sell for,
where you're going to be able tomove to, what is this?
you know, is it a neighborhoodimportant for schools or for
taxes, like looking at all thosethings?
I think everyone's situation isso specific and so unique.
It's important to not look atthe market as a generalization
(26:47):
or as a whole, and look at yoursituation and what makes the
most sense for you and when youhave people that have as much
experience as we do and careabout their clients as much as
all of us do.
You can't go wrong Because we'regoing to say now is not the
time to sell, stay right whereyou are, ride it out, do this or
rent it out, do this or rent itout or tough it out another
year or there or whatever,because we want them to make
(27:07):
good long-term decisions forthemselves and their family and
what makes sense for them.
So I think that will guide whathappens into the future.
Markets are going to go up anddown, markets are going to be
crazy and not crazy.
Sometimes you can ride that,but ultimately buying or selling
real estate is a very personal,personalized decision and I
(27:29):
think that because we've made itpart of the core of what we do
to be so personalized and to bereally consultants and guidance
in that, that's what's kept usin this business for as long as
we have.
Todd Probasco (27:36):
Yeah, cool, all right, well, thanks, sounds like
a plan All right, have a greatday.
Kimberly Neill (27:39):
Thanks, you too.
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