June 12, 2025 ā¢ 38 mins
šļø Ladies Kickinā Ass Podcast ā Episode #147
Title: Selling Dreams & Kickinā Ass with Yvonne McGee
š„ INTRO TIME!
What do you get when you mix financial savvy, real estate fire, and unapologetic authenticity? You get todayās guest ā and trust us, youāre going to LOVE her. In this episode, we're joined by a true badass in the Arizona real estate scene whoās not just selling homes ā she's selling dreams. Whether you're in the trades, service-based biz, or navigating your first home purchase, this conversation brings major value and laughs!
š MEET OUR GUEST
Meet Yvonne McGee, a former CFO turned real estate powerhouse! With a deep love for helping first-time homebuyers and a strong commitment to honesty, Yvonne brings heart, hustle, and humor to every transaction. Sheās the kind of realtor who knows her numbers, keeps it real, and builds genuine relationships that go far beyond closing day.
š„ WHY THIS EPISODE KICKS ASS.....
š„ Yvonneās transition from 30 years as a CFO into full-time real estate and how sheās redefining success
š„ The power of building a brand based on authenticity and connection
š„ Why first-time homebuyers have her heart ā and how she serves them differently
š„ Real talk on working in male-dominated industries and growing calluses (in the best way)
š„ How home service providers can build strong partnerships with real estate agents
š„ What to look for (and avoid) when building your network in the real estate world
š„ Hilarious stories from inside homesāincluding artful nudes and mold inspections gone wild!
š Resources & Links:
Want to connect with Yvonne? Find her on FaceBook https://www.facebook.com/YvonneMcGeeRealtor
Learn more about how to partner with real estate pros through WeSERV: https://weserv.realtor
Are you a service-based biz ready to connect with a community of badass women? Join us inside the Badass Inner Circle!
š¬ Kickass Affirmation from this Episode:
āEither we will be magnetic with each other, or we wonāt. Thatās the beauty of being authentic.ā
š§ Until next time, own the hell out of your dreams and keep kickinā ass.
Learn more about ASCEND - Applications being accepted through June 25th!
Connect more with Tanya & Ladies Kickin Assā¦
Mark as Played
Transcript
Episode Transcript
Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Tanya (00:02):
Welcome to Ladies Kickin' Ass, the no BS podcast for
fierce, unstoppable women in theservice industry.
We're here to talk bold moves,big wins and real talk on what
it takes to build the life andthe business you love.
Let's get fired up.
Welcome back, badasses.
Thank you for tuning back in toanother episode of Ladies
Kickin' Ass.
(00:22):
Today's going to be a fun one,because I have an amazing
partner in crime with me againtoday.
Her name is Yvonne McGee andshe is a local real estate agent
and just overall badass.
So today we're going to haveconversations about what it
looks like to work in the areawhere she does, which is real
estate, which is different thanwhat we've had on the podcast
(00:43):
before, but that's a homeservice as well.
So we're going to talk shopabout what it feels like to be a
woman in real estate differentthings that we go up against
with that.
What it feels like to build abrand in real estate.
What it feels like to beworking.
There's a lot of dudes in thisindustry still and a lot of like
really power hungry ones.
So I want to talk all the shitwith her and I know she will.
(01:05):
So, yvonne, go ahead andintroduce what you do and what
you, why you love to do what youdo in real estate.
Yvonne (01:13):
Well, thank you, it has taken me a little bit to get
here, I'm sorry.
Tanya (01:17):
Yeah, two years two years , but this is going to be the
best podcast you got me.
Yvonne (01:22):
She finally just held me down and said do it now.
Yep, so what I do?
I sell the American dream.
Oh, I like that.
That's what I'm told.
But yeah, I love to help peoplefind the homes that they are
dreaming of.
My most favorite client is thefirst time home buyer.
(01:44):
Seeing the smiles on theirfaces when they get to have that
home, whether they are in their40s, 50s, 20s, 30s it's just
amazing.
It makes me feel so good andfull inside that they finally
got to have that one big dreamthat we all want.
Tanya (02:00):
Yeah, that's a big one.
Yvonne (02:01):
It is big.
Tanya (02:02):
I've never bought a house yet Never.
But you will, I will, and yourphone's a big one.
It is big.
I've never bought a house yetnever.
But you will, I will, and yourphone's gonna help you get there
.
I keep buying pump trucksinstead of houses, so I just
keep stacking up houses.
I want to buy a house bigenough we can just put the shop
in the back and then you knowyou have all that together.
That'd be awesome.
Let's start now.
Yeah, we gotta find some land.
(02:22):
You gotta find some.
We can do it, which is let'sstart now.
Yeah, we've got to find someland.
Yvonne (02:25):
We've got to find some land, we can do it.
Tanya (02:26):
Which is super fun in the Phoenix market to try to find
that doesn't cost $17 million.
Yvonne (02:32):
We have a lot of land.
Tanya (02:33):
Yeah.
Yvonne (02:34):
We do have a lot of land , but how far do you want to
live?
Tanya (02:36):
Yeah, my kids will probably kill me if I'm like I
want to live in Buckeye.
We're not taking you to Buckeye.
Yvonne (02:44):
I love Buckeye, by the way, but I want you over here
with me.
Tanya (02:48):
Yeah, east side, not so far away.
Not so far away, correct?
So when let's talk about howyou got into real estate to even
begin with, so you say you sellthe American dream to people, I
love that.
What makes you want to serve inthe real estate profession,
because this is not an easyindustry to be?
Yvonne (03:09):
in.
It is not.
I kind of came into thatnaturally by my past career.
I was actually a CFO of acredit union for 30 years so it
was just a natural thing to gointo for a financial institution
professional to move into thattype of career where you're
(03:29):
helping somebody financiallymove into something that they
want and dream.
So for me it just felt like anatural progression to go to
real estate.
But for me it is dominantlymale, but so was the career I
was in before as well.
Sure, for me.
I have to stop.
(03:53):
Can't remember your question.
Tanya (03:56):
You're a tough girl from Wyoming.
You can take working with abunch of dudes, you know.
You have obviously been arounda bunch of them.
Yvonne (04:04):
Oh yeah, Absolutely In previous positions that you've
had.
Tanya (04:08):
What was it that made you want to leave your CFO career
to become real estate?
Was it like time freedom?
Was it just like to giveyourself a new challenge?
What is it that you wanted toaccomplish by doing that?
Yvonne (04:20):
Time and freedom, time and freedom.
I'm a grandparent now, so itgives me that freedom to go back
and see my grandchildren, aswell as my children back in
Wyoming.
Yeah, but I'll be honest withyou.
Um, I enjoyed my previouscareer and thankfully that I've
had it and it brought me towhere I am today.
Um, but honestly, I think thatbeing in the male dominant field
(04:44):
, as it was, and as well as inreal estate, it makes you a
pretty tough woman.
It does Makes you grow thosecalluses because you need to
have them to deal with that.
Yeah for sure.
Tanya (04:56):
So, with your background as a CFO, how do you feel like
that helps you be a better realestate professional?
Yvonne (05:09):
you be a better real estate professional.
I think just the confidencethat you know what you know and
you deliver what you do know.
But you also know when you needto defer to the other experts
of different questions that youcan't answer.
Tanya (05:18):
Sure.
Yvonne (05:19):
And I think, being honest with those people your
clients letting them know thatyou know I just don't know that
answer, with those people yourclients letting them know that
you know I just don't know thatanswer and I will get it for you
.
I think is is probably thebiggest thing that I took from
my previous career into this one?
Tanya (05:32):
Sure, yeah.
So you can't know it all?
No, you can't.
And anybody that says that theyknow all of it is full of shit
in the first place, totally fullof it.
So I would love to ask you,because a lot of the women that
listen to this podcast areobviously probably vendors of
real estate professionals,meaning they provide services to
(05:52):
real estate professionals In myarea of septic real estate
professionals is the gift thatkeeps on giving?
Absolutely, they're nice tobring you excellent, you know
repeat clients because you'vegot home after home after home
that needs a septic inspection,right.
Absolutely.
So we love to work with greatreal estate agents that actually
(06:13):
understand or willing to beeducated on what it is that we
do and like, help them be evenbetter when they're selling a
home that's on a septic system,so that they sound like they
know what the hell they'retalking about.
Yvonne (06:24):
Cause, most of them don't.
I don't want to know what goeson in a septic system, so I
would certainly love to have apartner to do that for me.
Tanya (06:31):
Like hey, I have a partner, her name's Tanya.
She will talk you through thisentire thing.
She's going to take great careof you.
They'll let you know, becausemy job as an inspector is to let
the new buyer that you're outthere, you know, trying to find
the American dream for know whatis going on with the shit tank
outside, because it'sunderground and people think if
the toilet flushes then theseptic must be good and there's
(06:54):
a lot of inspectors that will dothose.
Drive by, pick up an extra 400bucks bullshit.
But we actually want to workwith people that truly are
interested in making sure thattheir clients aren't buying a
you know ship bomb that's readyto go off because there's been
one guy living there.
The septic's working fine, butthey're moving a family of six
into this house and don't workso well no more because it's old
(07:14):
.
So if women that are listeningto this podcast want to become
favored vendors, if you will, ofreal estate professionals,
what's the best way for someoneto contact a real estate
professional to get theirattention, to offer their
services?
Yvonne (07:33):
So for me, you know it's interesting you say that Even
as realtors we're wanting thosepartners.
Yeah right, so for us, for mepersonally, I like to go to
networking events to find thosepeople.
But if they can't go to any ofthose or they're not sure that's
the way for them, you can callthe brokerage and say, hey, I'd
like to come into your brokerageand see if I can do like a 30
(07:56):
minute spiel to all your, yourrealtors here, all your agents,
and see, you know, tell themwhat my services are so that
they can share all of that withus, and then, more than likely,
someone will probably need it.
Whatever it may be, you know,everybody does have those
partners.
You have your roofers, you haveyour home inspections
(08:19):
inspectors, you have yourplumbers and your electricians.
But there are times that youneed more than just one.
Yeah, right, for sure.
Obviously this is a big valley,yeah, and we all like to kind of
try to stay in our little hub.
But you can't all the time Likeright now I'm dealing with a
client that wants to be on thewest side, right, and I'm not
(08:39):
really primarily on the westside, but I'm going to go to the
West side.
But sometimes you need a realestate partner on the West side
to maybe help you as well, or aroofer or a septic person
possibly, or whomever.
So again, networking events,and I try to do networking
events all over the Valley.
I was just down the West sideabout three weeks ago at a
(09:00):
networking event and met allkinds of agents from that side,
as well as a new home inspector,so I might be using them in
Goodyear yeah, that's incredible.
Tanya (09:10):
I think that it's great to also, if you are a home
service provider and this issomething that you're looking
for is making sure that when yougo to these networking events,
there's always real estateagents there, always, always.
I don't think I've ever been toone that doesn't have one.
But don't get so isolated fromthat.
Make sure that you're talkingto the roofers, the electricians
(09:30):
and people like that, becausethose are huge referral sources
for you to be able to get morebusiness with stuff.
Yvonne (09:37):
And I can tell you everyone has a probably a real
estate agent in their family.
Yeah, but sometimes peopledon't want to use their family.
So don't back away just becauseyou know you may have that in
your family as well as theservices.
Sometimes you want to have aroofer outside of family.
Tanya (09:55):
Yes, I highly recommend that actually.
As an example From previousexperience.
Look to have some options.
Look to have some options,Options are good.
So I would love to talk to youabout, like, how you are really
differentiating yourself in this.
There's like how many tens ofthousands of real estate agents
(10:16):
in Arizona A lot, A lot how areyou approaching, bringing value
and really building an authenticbrand for yourself in such a
crazy saturated market of likethere's I don't know like 28,000
real estate agents or somethinglike that?
Yvonne (10:37):
Yeah.
So for me, I feel I'm just alittle bit unique in the fact
that I use my sphere, which isfrom a different state, and I
pull on that sphere a lot.
But from that sphere, I alsohave found out that they know a
lot of people down here in thevalley that have I have been
able to build that rapport withpeople, yeah.
(11:00):
However, the majority of myclients haven't come from there,
so that's kind of crazy.
Not yet, not yet, but we'rebuilding that and I'll be honest
with you.
My brand is just to be myself,yeah, honestly.
Well, it should be, and I dofeel that me being authentic.
Either we will be magnetic witheach other or we won't.
(11:24):
And I think it's important tohave that relationship with your
real estate agent, your realtor, um, because you are making a
big decision and if you don'thave that faith in them, or
whatever it may be, that rapport, um, then you probably don't
want to work with them.
Tanya (11:39):
Right.
Yvonne (11:39):
So I just try to be who I am and hopefully it works out
and for the most part it has andso my brand is just who I am me
.
Tanya (11:47):
That's the most, that's the best one that you can
possibly build.
Yvonne (11:50):
It is Cause it's the easiest.
Yeah, it's who I am and it'scrazy.
I just had a gal the other day.
I was on the phone with her foranother reason, not real estate
and she just told me how muchshe loved me because I assumed
and you're going to love this, Iassumed in our conversation
that her boss was a female,without knowing.
(12:12):
And she said I just love you, Idon't even know you, but you
are such a rock star because youthink my boss is female.
And I go oh, I didn't evennotice that, I said that, but I
did assume that.
And she goes, even though hereally is a male.
But I just think it's awesome,cause you thought she was, he
was female, cause you just wentstraight to the fact that you
(12:34):
think my boss is female.
Yeah, of course I do.
We're all rock stars.
Tanya (12:40):
We're all the boss.
That's awesome.
That's awesome so well.
I think you have an incredibleability to just build rapport
with people quickly.
I know when I first met you andwe just started having
obviously we're both fromWyoming which was like the
starter conversation ofeverything, but there's just a
relatability to people when youshow up authentically as
(13:01):
yourself.
It's not exhausting.
It's now the gift that we'llkeep on giving, because people
that feel authenticallyconnected with each other will
shout your name from therooftops in a room you're not
even in.
That's awesome, which makesthank you.
Is it super awesome?
It's really gotcha that we haveto celebrate with women because
(13:22):
they don't do it a lot.
I agree with that.
Yeah, I was just having aconversation with my friend
Nicole that we were just talkingabout the same thing.
Like you're not going to beeverybody's cup of tea, no, and
it's very interesting.
I work with a lot of realestate agents a lot and we have
a handful of them that we'vereally really connected with
(13:44):
because we have had, and I know,a lot of home service providers
that deal with this like theyfeel like they're so much better
than the septic guy that showsup.
We had a guy yesterday that didthe same thing, wrote this
nasty ass review, startedcussing at my guy over the phone
because he couldn't find theseptic tank, which ended up
(14:04):
being under the freaking house,but the records that we had said
it was 10 foot off thefoundation.
It wasn't it wasn't.
So ended up finding all thisstuff he calls, talks to the guy
and the guy just like startslighting him up, telling him how
fucking stupid he is, and justlike, on and on and on, and then
proceeded to call my office andtell him that he was going to
(14:26):
file a police report becausejustin had been yelling at him
oh my, the funny is is that mylines are recorded, so we just
kind of kiboshed there.
Yvonne (14:38):
You know, like his big.
Thing was.
Tanya (14:40):
I'm on a recorded line.
I'm like funny, are you?
I had my service manager reachout.
I'm like still livid about this.
Yvonne (14:48):
I can tell.
Tanya (14:50):
You're very passionate about it.
Oh, that's like telling me oneof my kids are.
Ugly is when you startattacking one of my service
technicians.
Yvonne (14:55):
And that's like telling me one of my kids are ugly is
when you start attacking one ofmy service technicians, and
that's awesome because you dofeel that way.
Tanya (14:59):
Yeah, I do like I don't hire just anybody that can drive
a truck or do something like tome.
They're trained.
You're going out to your mama'shouse and I wouldn't send some
crazy ex-felon that's you knowscary dude out there to
somebody's house.
You know, like I just know youshould not and when people leave
nasty reviews accusing peopleof stuff, I'm like I responded
(15:19):
to his review like instantly andI was like you know, you're
really screwing with some youngman's ability to provide a
livelihood for his family byaccusing him as well as yours
that he didn't do because he hadlike listed his name through
the whole entire review and Iwas like you cannot do this to
(15:40):
people just because it didn'tend up the way that you felt
like it should correct.
In my business, like we're 4.9,like almost 500 reviews awesome
it's always been like realestate professionals that are
mad that we won't pass theseptic system because they're
just trying to sell the house.
You know it's one of thosethings and so I know for a lot
of I bring this up not becauseyou're that person, you're the
(16:03):
polar opposite of that but therebecomes a big stigma with home
service companies working withreal estate agents.
I hear a lot of times they'relike I won't work with real
estate agents because all theywant is a free bid or they want
something like that.
What is something that homeservice professionals should
look for in with real estateagents or people to network with
(16:24):
or brokerages to network with?
That would get them some goodresults of good people.
Like is it you do research onthe people that you want to work
with?
Is it just kind of case by caseor do you have any inside
secrets?
Yvonne (16:37):
for that.
For me personally and youalready pointed that out I
probably am honest to a fault orloyal to a fault.
Right, and upbringing, yeah, itis, and I'll be honest with you
.
I have actually probably upsetsome clients of mine because I
have been honest about somethings within a home as far as a
(16:59):
negative blemish, but I wantthem to be in something that
they should be in.
Sure, right, I am not there.
Sure, I'm making money.
Yeah, we all want to make money.
Sure, but I am there actuallyto make them happy and that is
my driver and, like I said,first time home buyers have they
have my heart, like I loveopening that door up for them
(17:20):
the first time.
And it's just, it's a site youcan't even describe.
Yeah, because they're soexcited they they're owning
something of their own for thefirst time.
Yeah, but back to your question, you know I think it's for me
it's just that connection, likeyou said, the authenticity with
those people.
I have a home inspector I havehad from day one coming into the
(17:42):
business and it's just becauseI trust him and he has had some
things in the report, I'm like,oh boy, I'm not sure this house
is going to go and some haven'tand some have.
But I also want that honesty.
But that's me, um, even thoughI may not get that sell.
Yeah, I don't want to go laydown at night thinking, man,
(18:07):
they just got in that home andthat pool or the roof's gonna
collapse and I just made what Imade off of them.
I don't want to be that person.
I'm not that person.
I'm not.
So I would rather them not getthat home and sleep well at
night.
Tanya (18:23):
And you'll attract those kinds of people that appreciate
that.
Yvonne (18:31):
So for me, it's being again authentic and just
networking with the people thatwant to be with me, and I think
that for your home servicepeople, I think it is um go in
and see who you trust.
Yeah, I think it's a business.
You have to trust people andthere aren't all those people on
both sides that you can trustyeah, for sure.
Tanya (18:48):
I think you got to get in front of people, just like you
suggested too, calling thebrokerage where you do all the
broad of that, like go in.
Yvonne (18:52):
I'm like how much time do you have?
I have presentations of fiveminutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
Tanya (18:54):
You suggested to calling the brokerage, where you do all
the broad of that.
Like go in, I'm like how muchtime do you have?
I have presentations of fiveminutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
You want an hour of septiceducation?
We can give you whatever youwant, but just getting in front
of them I think you attract thepeople that are like, oh, they
know their shit, you know like Iwant to work with them.
They seem like trustworthypeople.
You've got to go in and buildsome rapport with people in
(19:15):
there.
Yvonne (19:16):
You do.
Tanya (19:16):
Because I think, on a whole you guys, it's like being
the devil's advocate from realestate professionals.
You've probably been burned bya bunch of shitty providers too.
Yvonne (19:27):
Absolutely Both ways right yeah.
As you have from real estateagents.
Yeah, another one I wasthinking of, tanya, when you
were talking was.
It was just at WeServe, whichis our association for realtors
here in the West and East Valley, and we have.
They just had their springconference where they had
(19:49):
classes all day long for twodays and they had vendors there.
We got to get into that, yes,you do, and so they presented
themselves prior to each classas well as they had a booth all
day Nice, so they were able totalk to every agent if they
chose.
And if the agents came, youknow they gave away whatever
they give away.
Sure, they could do with someof those, but WeServe had one
just now in the spring.
They may have a fall one, butthey have Zoom classes.
(20:10):
They'll have the vendors rightbefore the Zoom classes.
We've had movers in there,builders or not builders, but
roofers, you know all thedifferent things Pool people,
turf poop, scoopers that pick updog poop.
It's crazy.
Tanya (20:26):
That's a service, it's a big service.
I see there's a couple of themin Gilbert that I see driving
around sometimes and I'm likewhat is?
Yvonne (20:32):
that Well, think of the elderly people.
Tanya (20:41):
They don't want to get out and pick up their dog.
No, in Mesa, oh my gosh.
Yeah, I don't think anybodywants to.
Yvonne (20:44):
If I have boys, I'd hire that service in a heartbeat.
Yeah, so that's a way.
Yeah, that's definitely a wayit's, you know, finding out.
Tanya (20:49):
Like I don't sit down with you and have just
conversations what do you havecoming up?
What are some places, where aresome places that we could go?
You know, you can actuallyleverage and figure out with
each other like, how can I helpsupport your business?
What do you have going on thatcan help support my business?
One of the things that wealways do when we work with real
estate professionals too and wehave good experiences with them
(21:10):
is that we go on as a businessand we leave a review for them.
We ask them where's a greatplace that we can leave a review
for you?
Because I think it's reallycool to be able, from a service
providers perspective, be likethese are great people that we
work with.
We have a longtime real estateprofessional.
Her name's Dereese Tiffany andshe's the nicest lady ever.
(21:32):
I used to be part of ColdwellBankers like vendor concierge
program, yes, so we would go toevents when they would have
their continuing education stuffSame thing that you were just
talking about with WeServe andshe's just the nicest, nicest
lady and she's just.
Every time she's got one, shejust calls up and gives us the
address and, you know, just letsus handle stuff because she
knows we're going to take careof her.
(21:53):
And she sells like those biglike equestrian places like in
scottsdale and cave creek luxuryhomes, so yeah, like super
expensive ones which usuallyhave shitty septic systems.
But she never skips a beat.
She knows it's coming.
You know, sometimes you're outthere hunting and pecking from
like stall the barn to something.
They just threw shit in theground like they have no idea
what's going on, but she's onefor sure that we've been like,
(22:16):
hey, can you suggest us to someother real estate agents that we
can talk to?
And she's hooked us up with herpartner and some other people
that are in her office.
But every time we do a servicefor her, somebody leaves her a
review because it's just so niceto let other vendors know like
this is a great agent to workwith so that they can continue
to build a great portfolio ofservice vendors to use.
Yvonne (22:41):
I'll be honest, I've been pretty lucky.
That's awesome.
You know I've been in theValley since 2019 and an agent
since 2020.
And I've been pretty lucky withthe agents I've worked with.
Tanya (22:53):
I'll be honest with you.
Well, you attract people likeyou.
You realize that right.
Yvonne (22:58):
Well, but my clients are picking the homes right.
Sure, Not the agents, but Iactually have been pretty lucky.
That's awesome.
I really have.
Tanya (23:06):
I mean, I've come across a couple of tough ones, but I
got through it and I don't wantto paint the picture.
That's why I said devil'sadvocate the other way, because
obviously it's.
It can be negative things onboth sides and I don't want to
talk about that, because thepositive side of that is that
you can get in front of a roomof people and just like wow them
with what you know, andespecially if you're in a
(23:27):
specialty trade that peopledon't know a lot about,
absolutely Like yours, likeseptic, like, for sure People
always will be like, um, um, Ihave this question or I have
this question, you know, um, wecan, we can definitely help them
out with that stuff.
Like I mean, even like turfpeople like you were talking
about, like people don't knowhow that turf is laid down.
(23:49):
I know that I struggle withthat because we'll go out and
we're like septic tanks underthe turf.
They're like we'll just pull itback and then put it back.
I'm like, no, have you seen thestakes in this shit?
Like you need a special tool toput this back down and the
different types of turf are outthere.
Yvonne (24:03):
Yeah, did you know that?
No, oh, yeah, well, I know thatthe different things look
different which, of course, I'vehad to learn about.
It's like the things you haveto learn about to be a realtor.
We could have another podcast.
Tanya (24:16):
It's not just about selling the house.
Yvonne (24:19):
It's actually about, like, learning about septic
systems, learning about roofingdifferent types of windows and
doors and you're like, oh mygosh, yeah.
Tanya (24:26):
I'm sure every transaction you're learning
something new from that that isone thing that is a lesson I've
learned.
Yvonne (24:33):
It's almost like raising children.
How?
So?
Well, every client's not thesame.
True, your children aren't thesame, but you want to raise them
the same, right?
Yeah, the fundamentals ofraising a child is the same for
both, or all, but you have to dosome things different because
they're individuals, sure, andyou try to do that with clients
(24:53):
too, right?
Fundamentally, you have to dothe same things with them, but
then you have to do a lot ofthings different because they're
all not the same.
Sure and boy, every transactionis different and every
transaction is a challenge.
Yeah, in a way, different,different, different way.
Sure, this last one, I had to doa mold inspection.
(25:14):
Never, ever, have done a moldinspection, but those seem to be
on the rise.
Why, I don't know.
All of a sudden they're on therise Because I've talked to
several other agents when I wastrying to get one and they're
like rise.
Because I've talked to severalother agents when I was trying
to get one and they're like ohyeah, I just did one too, for
the first time.
I'm like what, how did thathappen?
Weird.
But mold inspections, I don'tknow, all of a sudden they're on
(25:35):
a rise, that's.
I learned a lot about mold,lots of things I've never kind
is bad, well, we knew that.
That's how much I know aboutmold and the different kinds of
levels, and wow, that'sinteresting.
Tanya (25:48):
What are some other like just weird things that have
happened during real estatetransactions or funny things
that have happened Funny things,I'm sure there's like memorable
shit that you're like I willnever forget this the things we
see in a house, oh, sure, yeah,like one time we sucked a dead
bird out of a septic tank.
Like how the hell did that getin there?
Like somebody, literallysomebody had to have like
(26:09):
flushed it in there.
Like we just kept thinkingwe're like, did it fall through
like the pipe, jack on the housebecause?
And get pushed all the waythrough to a septic tank?
I don't know.
Very random, weird stuff.
I don't know what's.
What's some weird stories orsomething.
Yvonne (26:26):
I'll tell you this last one that really I wanted to
laugh.
I was with a young family andthey had two 13 year old twin
girls Obviously they're two goodtwins and a five-year-old boy,
and we were going through thehome and we were in the bathroom
the primary bathroom and abovethe tub which was one of those
(26:51):
new tubs that they're kind offree form tub, not attached,
that everyone's putting in, andpictures of the homeowner above
the bathtub was pretty much nudephotos of the owner and I was
like hiding them, holding myhands up like don't look.
(27:15):
They didn't think about thatbefore they gave tours and that,
oh.
I even went back to the listing.
They're in the listing nobodycaught this.
Tanya (27:23):
It's art Yvonne.
Yvonne (27:25):
It's art I know, but when you have clients it feels
awkward, Very, that's funny.
It made me laugh.
But then I got conscious aboutit because I had them, kids and
the father.
I mean it was a family.
Like yes, I'm a woman and Iwonder if I was showing a man,
only a man, and me this home.
Tanya (27:46):
Yeah, awkward, awkward, super awkward, but funny You're
like.
So the owner decided to leavetheir art.
Yvonne (27:54):
I have to tell you I did go home and tell my husband,
like okay, here's a first,here's another one.
Tanya (28:01):
There's always.
I'm sure he thought that wasplenty funny.
He's like what?
Yvonne (28:06):
I think it was odd that is odd.
Tanya (28:09):
It's very odd.
The funny thing is is thatsomebody went and took photos
and no one was like hey, youknow, maybe you know it's like
when people go take photos ofhouses and it's like a literal
shit show in there.
Still, like you couldn't cleanthe counters off before you took
pictures in the kitchen.
Like it's hard for people toimagine living in a house that's
(28:30):
like, or like some of thoseolder homes that, like grandma
has like every square inch ofthe wall has a plate or
something decorative on ityou're like what the hell does
the wall even?
Yvonne (28:41):
look like, we don't know , in the heyday of 2020, 2021.
Yeah, oh, my People didn't evenbother.
They were just, they justsnapped pictures Snapped
pictures.
We're walking in literally ontop of clothes and oh yeah.
Tanya (28:54):
Oh yes.
It was crazy time Speaking ofthat what does the real estate
market look like now?
We've had crazy interest rates.
Then everybody was like, ooh,who's the president going to be?
Is he going to save us andwe're all going to be able to
own a house again?
Like what is the climate?
What's the banter right now inthe health of the real estate
(29:17):
market?
Yvonne (29:18):
I think we're all holding our breath.
To be honest with you, A lot oftalk about the tariffs, right,
Like that's a big talk right nowand I I really don't want to
get into a whole lot of thatstuff, but, um, you know, that
can affect us with the lumberright Coming from Canada and
such for home builders.
But I I don't want to say thatPhoenix is protected, but
protected we have a lot going onhere right.
(29:41):
At the chip company coming in,all those other things, Buckeyes
growing like a crazy, crazy,crazy.
It's like the fourth or sixthfastest growing city in the
nation.
Wow.
Tanya (29:51):
Wasn't that, gilbert like not too long ago.
Yvonne (29:53):
It was Gilbert.
They're running out of room,and then it was Queen Creek.
Tanya (29:57):
Yeah, I saw that there was like a study thing that said
that I was reading.
It was like on Apple News orsomething that was talking about
the most expensive cities, likereally like what's the most
expensive or most for homeowners, highest median income or
something like that that youneed to live in, like be
considered middle class right.
Okay, it was like over twohundred thousand dollars in
(30:19):
gilbert arizona, like it washigher than it is in scottsdale.
no, I was like I believe itthat's so crazy, because I think
everybody thinks Gilbert islike little farm town stuff.
Still in Scottsdale is like Oohthe flesh.
Yvonne (30:32):
I think it used to be, yeah, but I don't think it is
any.
Well, I know it isn't anylonger.
But again, just kind of back tothat.
There's a lot going on here.
I just don't think that thegrowth is going to slow down.
It might, but there's too muchgrowth happening that people are
moving here.
Sure, if you've been up anddown the Ironwood at all, you've
(30:55):
got Radiance going up.
That's a big master plancommunity.
I mean they have what five, sixentrances that they already
have?
They're big, it's crazy.
Monuments up and I mean I thinkthat's going to be six to 10
years before it's fully up.
And then you've got BlossomRock, across the street, across
the road there, and there's justso much happening out there.
Tanya (31:14):
And then everywhere they're bringing tons of big
manufacturing places out thereand I don't see that it's going
to slow down.
Yvonne (31:20):
I do know that a lot of those builders are giving a lot
of incentives.
They're getting a lot ofincentives and a lot of buy
downs on some of those rates,and so are some sellers.
Now we're seeing those in thelistings.
Yeah Well, they're teaming upwith, you know their lender,
yeah and um, help trying to helpthose buyers with some buy
downs on interest rates.
Tanya (31:39):
I've heard that like two to three year buy downs.
Yeah, one of my technicians wastalking about some of those off
of ironwood and like thepercentage rates they were
getting with stuff, which isvery interesting.
So if there's a new home buyerthat's like I want to buy a
house, I'm asking this selfishlyI want to buy a house.
(31:59):
What is?
What would you tell them to doas they're preparing to do that?
Say they've got six months tobuy a house.
Yvonne (32:13):
What should they be doing to prepare to purchase
that house?
First time home buyers.
First time home buyers.
So I'm going to stay in my lane.
Okay, like I said, I like tostay in my lane and have the
experts speak, so I'm not goingto speak too much.
When it comes to a mortgage loan, right, but from a first-time
home buyer, from a realtor, Iwould say you do need to make
sure you've got a good downpayment, but we also have
(32:34):
programs out there.
Again, you'll have to speak toa lender on those programs, yeah
, but what do you need to getprepared?
And that's probably one of themain things.
Right, it's money, money, money.
And figure out where you wantto be yeah, and then determine
what size you want to be.
Yeah, and then determine whatsize you want and how much
you're going to be willing topay.
Sure, but I don't see ratesgoing up.
(32:57):
I really don't.
That's my opinion, just from myexperience.
Sure, I also don't see a crashcoming, because the crash was
completely different than whatwe're doing right now.
Right, it really is.
These buy downs scare me alittle bit, just because of my
experience in my past.
Yeah, but because I don't wantto put people in homes that they
shouldn't be in.
That's what happened.
Tanya (33:18):
Yeah, yes, that's exactly what happened, yeah.
Yvonne (33:24):
So let's not do that again.
So let's not do that.
But for someone like you, tanya, I think it's important that,
um, yeah, you've got to buildthat equity up in your own home
as far as money to put down.
So that's what they're going tolook for.
Yeah, that's what they're goingto look for.
Tanya (33:39):
Very important.
So thank you so much.
This has been such a greatconversation.
This has been fun.
I love, love it.
I want to ask you, though, whatdo you find in value in having
a circle of women doing business, like you are in your life?
What is it about?
Like we have a great friendship, like I'm sure you have other
(34:03):
friendships with other womenthat are building businesses and
doing things like that.
Why is it important for you tohave those relationships?
Yvonne (34:12):
in your life.
Well, it's very importantbecause I think women, we love
community and we can have thatcommunity when other women are
doing the same things we'redoing.
And if we don't have thatcommunity, then we do feel like
an outsider right, because, nomatter what we're always going
to be in a man's world, it feelslike right.
(34:35):
So I think it's importantbecause then we can relate to
each other, we can help eachother.
We're always each other's fansand I think we need to be each
other's fans, to be supportive,and I love watching other women
be successful and just rock itand kick ass.
(34:57):
Yes, Like you.
I've watched you grow from thetime we got here and I'm just
like wow, this girl's kickingsome ass and I love where you've
taken your business.
Tanya (35:07):
Thank you, I appreciate that so awesome for you.
Sometimes I feel like I'mfucking crazy, but you know
you're not you're doing whatyou're supposed to do.
You know what I feel like if youdon't think that you're a
little bit crazy, then you mightnot be pushing yourself enough.
So I think that that's reallyawesome and thank you for that.
That means a lot to me.
I really truly believe and justknow, with the friendship that
(35:30):
we have with stuff.
We go to concerts together, wecan drink a beer together, we
can do whatever you know andjust sit around and shoot the
shit and have that kind ofrelationship with each other.
But we can sit here and talkshop about things too, and it's
really, really important that Ihave the women in my life that I
can do life and business with.
So thank you for that.
Yvonne (35:50):
I really do appreciate that Everything else.
Tanya (35:52):
Yeah, and talk kids, and you know all that good stuff.
Yvonne (35:56):
She's not there yet.
Tanya (35:58):
Oh well, in final and in closing, I always ask everybody
that's on the podcast thisquestion, because it's very,
very important to me and it'sthe relatability of this podcast
.
Everybody might not be a realestate agent, everybody might
not be a coach or a plumber or aseptic person, but the theme of
this podcast seems to beencompassing of all service
(36:20):
businesses.
So when you hear the phraseladies, kick an ass, what does
that mean to you in your life?
Yvonne (36:26):
is so when you hear the phrase ladies kicking ass, what
does that mean to you in yourlife?
Tanya (36:34):
That means we are strong, successful and fun loving women
.
So good, so good.
Thank you so much for beinghere and until next time, keep
kicking ass.
That's a wrap.
Ladies.
Now go out there, own the hellout of your dreams and keep
kicking ass.
Want to keep this fire going?
Connect with us on social.
All the links are in the shownotes and if you're ready for a
(36:55):
sisterhood that levels up lifeand business, be sure to check
out Badass Inner Circle.
Stay bold, stay fierce and beunapologetically you.
I'll catch you on the nextepisode.
Let's do this.
Welcome to Ladies Kickin' Ass, the no BS podcast for
fierce, unstoppable women in theservice industry.
We're here to talk bold moves,big wins and real talk on what
it takes to build the life andthe business you love.
Let's get fired up.
Welcome back, badasses.
Thank you for tuning back in toanother episode of Ladies
Kickin' Ass.
(00:22):
Today's going to be a fun one,because I have an amazing
partner in crime with me againtoday.
Her name is Yvonne McGee andshe is a local real estate agent
and just overall badass.
So today we're going to haveconversations about what it
looks like to work in the areawhere she does, which is real
estate, which is different thanwhat we've had on the podcast
(00:43):
before, but that's a homeservice as well.
So we're going to talk shopabout what it feels like to be a
woman in real estate differentthings that we go up against
with that.
What it feels like to build abrand in real estate.
What it feels like to beworking.
There's a lot of dudes in thisindustry still and a lot of like
really power hungry ones.
So I want to talk all the shitwith her and I know she will.
(01:05):
So, yvonne, go ahead andintroduce what you do and what
you, why you love to do what youdo in real estate.
Yvonne (01:13):
Well, thank you, it has taken me a little bit to get
here, I'm sorry.
Tanya (01:17):
Yeah, two years two years , but this is going to be the
best podcast you got me.
Yvonne (01:22):
She finally just held me down and said do it now.
Yep, so what I do?
I sell the American dream.
Oh, I like that.
That's what I'm told.
But yeah, I love to help peoplefind the homes that they are
dreaming of.
My most favorite client is thefirst time home buyer.
(01:44):
Seeing the smiles on theirfaces when they get to have that
home, whether they are in their40s, 50s, 20s, 30s it's just
amazing.
It makes me feel so good andfull inside that they finally
got to have that one big dreamthat we all want.
Tanya (02:00):
Yeah, that's a big one.
Yvonne (02:01):
It is big.
Tanya (02:02):
I've never bought a house yet Never.
But you will, I will, and yourphone's a big one.
It is big.
I've never bought a house yetnever.
But you will, I will, and yourphone's gonna help you get there
.
I keep buying pump trucksinstead of houses, so I just
keep stacking up houses.
I want to buy a house bigenough we can just put the shop
in the back and then you knowyou have all that together.
That'd be awesome.
Let's start now.
Yeah, we gotta find some land.
(02:22):
You gotta find some.
We can do it, which is let'sstart now.
Yeah, we've got to find someland.
Yvonne (02:25):
We've got to find some land, we can do it.
Tanya (02:26):
Which is super fun in the Phoenix market to try to find
that doesn't cost $17 million.
Yvonne (02:32):
We have a lot of land.
Tanya (02:33):
Yeah.
Yvonne (02:34):
We do have a lot of land , but how far do you want to
live?
Tanya (02:36):
Yeah, my kids will probably kill me if I'm like I
want to live in Buckeye.
We're not taking you to Buckeye.
Yvonne (02:44):
I love Buckeye, by the way, but I want you over here
with me.
Tanya (02:48):
Yeah, east side, not so far away.
Not so far away, correct?
So when let's talk about howyou got into real estate to even
begin with, so you say you sellthe American dream to people, I
love that.
What makes you want to serve inthe real estate profession,
because this is not an easyindustry to be?
Yvonne (03:09):
in.
It is not.
I kind of came into thatnaturally by my past career.
I was actually a CFO of acredit union for 30 years so it
was just a natural thing to gointo for a financial institution
professional to move into thattype of career where you're
(03:29):
helping somebody financiallymove into something that they
want and dream.
So for me it just felt like anatural progression to go to
real estate.
But for me it is dominantlymale, but so was the career I
was in before as well.
Sure, for me.
I have to stop.
(03:53):
Can't remember your question.
Tanya (03:56):
You're a tough girl from Wyoming.
You can take working with abunch of dudes, you know.
You have obviously been arounda bunch of them.
Yvonne (04:04):
Oh yeah, Absolutely In previous positions that you've
had.
Tanya (04:08):
What was it that made you want to leave your CFO career
to become real estate?
Was it like time freedom?
Was it just like to giveyourself a new challenge?
What is it that you wanted toaccomplish by doing that?
Yvonne (04:20):
Time and freedom, time and freedom.
I'm a grandparent now, so itgives me that freedom to go back
and see my grandchildren, aswell as my children back in
Wyoming.
Yeah, but I'll be honest withyou.
Um, I enjoyed my previouscareer and thankfully that I've
had it and it brought me towhere I am today.
Um, but honestly, I think thatbeing in the male dominant field
(04:44):
, as it was, and as well as inreal estate, it makes you a
pretty tough woman.
It does Makes you grow thosecalluses because you need to
have them to deal with that.
Yeah for sure.
Tanya (04:56):
So, with your background as a CFO, how do you feel like
that helps you be a better realestate professional?
Yvonne (05:09):
you be a better real estate professional.
I think just the confidencethat you know what you know and
you deliver what you do know.
But you also know when you needto defer to the other experts
of different questions that youcan't answer.
Tanya (05:18):
Sure.
Yvonne (05:19):
And I think, being honest with those people your
clients letting them know thatyou know I just don't know that
answer, with those people yourclients letting them know that
you know I just don't know thatanswer and I will get it for you
.
I think is is probably thebiggest thing that I took from
my previous career into this one?
Tanya (05:32):
Sure, yeah.
So you can't know it all?
No, you can't.
And anybody that says that theyknow all of it is full of shit
in the first place, totally fullof it.
So I would love to ask you,because a lot of the women that
listen to this podcast areobviously probably vendors of
real estate professionals,meaning they provide services to
(05:52):
real estate professionals In myarea of septic real estate
professionals is the gift thatkeeps on giving?
Absolutely, they're nice tobring you excellent, you know
repeat clients because you'vegot home after home after home
that needs a septic inspection,right.
Absolutely.
So we love to work with greatreal estate agents that actually
(06:13):
understand or willing to beeducated on what it is that we
do and like, help them be evenbetter when they're selling a
home that's on a septic system,so that they sound like they
know what the hell they'retalking about.
Yvonne (06:24):
Cause, most of them don't.
I don't want to know what goeson in a septic system, so I
would certainly love to have apartner to do that for me.
Tanya (06:31):
Like hey, I have a partner, her name's Tanya.
She will talk you through thisentire thing.
She's going to take great careof you.
They'll let you know, becausemy job as an inspector is to let
the new buyer that you're outthere, you know, trying to find
the American dream for know whatis going on with the shit tank
outside, because it'sunderground and people think if
the toilet flushes then theseptic must be good and there's
(06:54):
a lot of inspectors that will dothose.
Drive by, pick up an extra 400bucks bullshit.
But we actually want to workwith people that truly are
interested in making sure thattheir clients aren't buying a
you know ship bomb that's readyto go off because there's been
one guy living there.
The septic's working fine, butthey're moving a family of six
into this house and don't workso well no more because it's old
(07:14):
.
So if women that are listeningto this podcast want to become
favored vendors, if you will, ofreal estate professionals,
what's the best way for someoneto contact a real estate
professional to get theirattention, to offer their
services?
Yvonne (07:33):
So for me, you know it's interesting you say that Even
as realtors we're wanting thosepartners.
Yeah right, so for us, for mepersonally, I like to go to
networking events to find thosepeople.
But if they can't go to any ofthose or they're not sure that's
the way for them, you can callthe brokerage and say, hey, I'd
like to come into your brokerageand see if I can do like a 30
(07:56):
minute spiel to all your, yourrealtors here, all your agents,
and see, you know, tell themwhat my services are so that
they can share all of that withus, and then, more than likely,
someone will probably need it.
Whatever it may be, you know,everybody does have those
partners.
You have your roofers, you haveyour home inspections
(08:19):
inspectors, you have yourplumbers and your electricians.
But there are times that youneed more than just one.
Yeah, right, for sure.
Obviously this is a big valley,yeah, and we all like to kind of
try to stay in our little hub.
But you can't all the time Likeright now I'm dealing with a
client that wants to be on thewest side, right, and I'm not
(08:39):
really primarily on the westside, but I'm going to go to the
West side.
But sometimes you need a realestate partner on the West side
to maybe help you as well, or aroofer or a septic person
possibly, or whomever.
So again, networking events,and I try to do networking
events all over the Valley.
I was just down the West sideabout three weeks ago at a
(09:00):
networking event and met allkinds of agents from that side,
as well as a new home inspector,so I might be using them in
Goodyear yeah, that's incredible.
Tanya (09:10):
I think that it's great to also, if you are a home
service provider and this issomething that you're looking
for is making sure that when yougo to these networking events,
there's always real estateagents there, always, always.
I don't think I've ever been toone that doesn't have one.
But don't get so isolated fromthat.
Make sure that you're talkingto the roofers, the electricians
(09:30):
and people like that, becausethose are huge referral sources
for you to be able to get morebusiness with stuff.
Yvonne (09:37):
And I can tell you everyone has a probably a real
estate agent in their family.
Yeah, but sometimes peopledon't want to use their family.
So don't back away just becauseyou know you may have that in
your family as well as theservices.
Sometimes you want to have aroofer outside of family.
Tanya (09:55):
Yes, I highly recommend that actually.
As an example From previousexperience.
Look to have some options.
Look to have some options,Options are good.
So I would love to talk to youabout, like, how you are really
differentiating yourself in this.
There's like how many tens ofthousands of real estate agents
(10:16):
in Arizona A lot, A lot how areyou approaching, bringing value
and really building an authenticbrand for yourself in such a
crazy saturated market of likethere's I don't know like 28,000
real estate agents or somethinglike that?
Yvonne (10:37):
Yeah.
So for me, I feel I'm just alittle bit unique in the fact
that I use my sphere, which isfrom a different state, and I
pull on that sphere a lot.
But from that sphere, I alsohave found out that they know a
lot of people down here in thevalley that have I have been
able to build that rapport withpeople, yeah.
(11:00):
However, the majority of myclients haven't come from there,
so that's kind of crazy.
Not yet, not yet, but we'rebuilding that and I'll be honest
with you.
My brand is just to be myself,yeah, honestly.
Well, it should be, and I dofeel that me being authentic.
Either we will be magnetic witheach other or we won't.
(11:24):
And I think it's important tohave that relationship with your
real estate agent, your realtor, um, because you are making a
big decision and if you don'thave that faith in them, or
whatever it may be, that rapport, um, then you probably don't
want to work with them.
Tanya (11:39):
Right.
Yvonne (11:39):
So I just try to be who I am and hopefully it works out
and for the most part it has andso my brand is just who I am me
.
Tanya (11:47):
That's the most, that's the best one that you can
possibly build.
Yvonne (11:50):
It is Cause it's the easiest.
Yeah, it's who I am and it'scrazy.
I just had a gal the other day.
I was on the phone with her foranother reason, not real estate
and she just told me how muchshe loved me because I assumed
and you're going to love this, Iassumed in our conversation
that her boss was a female,without knowing.
(12:12):
And she said I just love you, Idon't even know you, but you
are such a rock star because youthink my boss is female.
And I go oh, I didn't evennotice that, I said that, but I
did assume that.
And she goes, even though hereally is a male.
But I just think it's awesome,cause you thought she was, he
was female, cause you just wentstraight to the fact that you
(12:34):
think my boss is female.
Yeah, of course I do.
We're all rock stars.
Tanya (12:40):
We're all the boss.
That's awesome.
That's awesome so well.
I think you have an incredibleability to just build rapport
with people quickly.
I know when I first met you andwe just started having
obviously we're both fromWyoming which was like the
starter conversation ofeverything, but there's just a
relatability to people when youshow up authentically as
(13:01):
yourself.
It's not exhausting.
It's now the gift that we'llkeep on giving, because people
that feel authenticallyconnected with each other will
shout your name from therooftops in a room you're not
even in.
That's awesome, which makesthank you.
Is it super awesome?
It's really gotcha that we haveto celebrate with women because
(13:22):
they don't do it a lot.
I agree with that.
Yeah, I was just having aconversation with my friend
Nicole that we were just talkingabout the same thing.
Like you're not going to beeverybody's cup of tea, no, and
it's very interesting.
I work with a lot of realestate agents a lot and we have
a handful of them that we'vereally really connected with
(13:44):
because we have had, and I know,a lot of home service providers
that deal with this like theyfeel like they're so much better
than the septic guy that showsup.
We had a guy yesterday that didthe same thing, wrote this
nasty ass review, startedcussing at my guy over the phone
because he couldn't find theseptic tank, which ended up
(14:04):
being under the freaking house,but the records that we had said
it was 10 foot off thefoundation.
It wasn't it wasn't.
So ended up finding all thisstuff he calls, talks to the guy
and the guy just like startslighting him up, telling him how
fucking stupid he is, and justlike, on and on and on, and then
proceeded to call my office andtell him that he was going to
(14:26):
file a police report becausejustin had been yelling at him
oh my, the funny is is that mylines are recorded, so we just
kind of kiboshed there.
Yvonne (14:38):
You know, like his big.
Thing was.
Tanya (14:40):
I'm on a recorded line.
I'm like funny, are you?
I had my service manager reachout.
I'm like still livid about this.
Yvonne (14:48):
I can tell.
Tanya (14:50):
You're very passionate about it.
Oh, that's like telling me oneof my kids are.
Ugly is when you startattacking one of my service
technicians.
Yvonne (14:55):
And that's like telling me one of my kids are ugly is
when you start attacking one ofmy service technicians, and
that's awesome because you dofeel that way.
Tanya (14:59):
Yeah, I do like I don't hire just anybody that can drive
a truck or do something like tome.
They're trained.
You're going out to your mama'shouse and I wouldn't send some
crazy ex-felon that's you knowscary dude out there to
somebody's house.
You know, like I just know youshould not and when people leave
nasty reviews accusing peopleof stuff, I'm like I responded
(15:19):
to his review like instantly andI was like you know, you're
really screwing with some youngman's ability to provide a
livelihood for his family byaccusing him as well as yours
that he didn't do because he hadlike listed his name through
the whole entire review and Iwas like you cannot do this to
(15:40):
people just because it didn'tend up the way that you felt
like it should correct.
In my business, like we're 4.9,like almost 500 reviews awesome
it's always been like realestate professionals that are
mad that we won't pass theseptic system because they're
just trying to sell the house.
You know it's one of thosethings and so I know for a lot
of I bring this up not becauseyou're that person, you're the
(16:03):
polar opposite of that but therebecomes a big stigma with home
service companies working withreal estate agents.
I hear a lot of times they'relike I won't work with real
estate agents because all theywant is a free bid or they want
something like that.
What is something that homeservice professionals should
look for in with real estateagents or people to network with
(16:24):
or brokerages to network with?
That would get them some goodresults of good people.
Like is it you do research onthe people that you want to work
with?
Is it just kind of case by caseor do you have any inside
secrets?
Yvonne (16:37):
for that.
For me personally and youalready pointed that out I
probably am honest to a fault orloyal to a fault.
Right, and upbringing, yeah, itis, and I'll be honest with you
.
I have actually probably upsetsome clients of mine because I
have been honest about somethings within a home as far as a
(16:59):
negative blemish, but I wantthem to be in something that
they should be in.
Sure, right, I am not there.
Sure, I'm making money.
Yeah, we all want to make money.
Sure, but I am there actuallyto make them happy and that is
my driver and, like I said,first time home buyers have they
have my heart, like I loveopening that door up for them
(17:20):
the first time.
And it's just, it's a site youcan't even describe.
Yeah, because they're soexcited they they're owning
something of their own for thefirst time.
Yeah, but back to your question, you know I think it's for me
it's just that connection, likeyou said, the authenticity with
those people.
I have a home inspector I havehad from day one coming into the
(17:42):
business and it's just becauseI trust him and he has had some
things in the report, I'm like,oh boy, I'm not sure this house
is going to go and some haven'tand some have.
But I also want that honesty.
But that's me, um, even thoughI may not get that sell.
Yeah, I don't want to go laydown at night thinking, man,
(18:07):
they just got in that home andthat pool or the roof's gonna
collapse and I just made what Imade off of them.
I don't want to be that person.
I'm not that person.
I'm not.
So I would rather them not getthat home and sleep well at
night.
Tanya (18:23):
And you'll attract those kinds of people that appreciate
that.
Yvonne (18:31):
So for me, it's being again authentic and just
networking with the people thatwant to be with me, and I think
that for your home servicepeople, I think it is um go in
and see who you trust.
Yeah, I think it's a business.
You have to trust people andthere aren't all those people on
both sides that you can trustyeah, for sure.
Tanya (18:48):
I think you got to get in front of people, just like you
suggested too, calling thebrokerage where you do all the
broad of that, like go in.
Yvonne (18:52):
I'm like how much time do you have?
I have presentations of fiveminutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
Tanya (18:54):
You suggested to calling the brokerage, where you do all
the broad of that.
Like go in, I'm like how muchtime do you have?
I have presentations of fiveminutes, 10 minutes, 30 minutes.
You want an hour of septiceducation?
We can give you whatever youwant, but just getting in front
of them I think you attract thepeople that are like, oh, they
know their shit, you know like Iwant to work with them.
They seem like trustworthypeople.
You've got to go in and buildsome rapport with people in
(19:15):
there.
Yvonne (19:16):
You do.
Tanya (19:16):
Because I think, on a whole you guys, it's like being
the devil's advocate from realestate professionals.
You've probably been burned bya bunch of shitty providers too.
Yvonne (19:27):
Absolutely Both ways right yeah.
As you have from real estateagents.
Yeah, another one I wasthinking of, tanya, when you
were talking was.
It was just at WeServe, whichis our association for realtors
here in the West and East Valley, and we have.
They just had their springconference where they had
(19:49):
classes all day long for twodays and they had vendors there.
We got to get into that, yes,you do, and so they presented
themselves prior to each classas well as they had a booth all
day Nice, so they were able totalk to every agent if they
chose.
And if the agents came, youknow they gave away whatever
they give away.
Sure, they could do with someof those, but WeServe had one
just now in the spring.
They may have a fall one, butthey have Zoom classes.
(20:10):
They'll have the vendors rightbefore the Zoom classes.
We've had movers in there,builders or not builders, but
roofers, you know all thedifferent things Pool people,
turf poop, scoopers that pick updog poop.
It's crazy.
Tanya (20:26):
That's a service, it's a big service.
I see there's a couple of themin Gilbert that I see driving
around sometimes and I'm likewhat is?
Yvonne (20:32):
that Well, think of the elderly people.
Tanya (20:41):
They don't want to get out and pick up their dog.
No, in Mesa, oh my gosh.
Yeah, I don't think anybodywants to.
Yvonne (20:44):
If I have boys, I'd hire that service in a heartbeat.
Yeah, so that's a way.
Yeah, that's definitely a wayit's, you know, finding out.
Tanya (20:49):
Like I don't sit down with you and have just
conversations what do you havecoming up?
What are some places, where aresome places that we could go?
You know, you can actuallyleverage and figure out with
each other like, how can I helpsupport your business?
What do you have going on thatcan help support my business?
One of the things that wealways do when we work with real
estate professionals too and wehave good experiences with them
(21:10):
is that we go on as a businessand we leave a review for them.
We ask them where's a greatplace that we can leave a review
for you?
Because I think it's reallycool to be able, from a service
providers perspective, be likethese are great people that we
work with.
We have a longtime real estateprofessional.
Her name's Dereese Tiffany andshe's the nicest lady ever.
(21:32):
I used to be part of ColdwellBankers like vendor concierge
program, yes, so we would go toevents when they would have
their continuing education stuffSame thing that you were just
talking about with WeServe andshe's just the nicest, nicest
lady and she's just.
Every time she's got one, shejust calls up and gives us the
address and, you know, just letsus handle stuff because she
knows we're going to take careof her.
(21:53):
And she sells like those biglike equestrian places like in
scottsdale and cave creek luxuryhomes, so yeah, like super
expensive ones which usuallyhave shitty septic systems.
But she never skips a beat.
She knows it's coming.
You know, sometimes you're outthere hunting and pecking from
like stall the barn to something.
They just threw shit in theground like they have no idea
what's going on, but she's onefor sure that we've been like,
(22:16):
hey, can you suggest us to someother real estate agents that we
can talk to?
And she's hooked us up with herpartner and some other people
that are in her office.
But every time we do a servicefor her, somebody leaves her a
review because it's just so niceto let other vendors know like
this is a great agent to workwith so that they can continue
to build a great portfolio ofservice vendors to use.
Yvonne (22:41):
I'll be honest, I've been pretty lucky.
That's awesome.
You know I've been in theValley since 2019 and an agent
since 2020.
And I've been pretty lucky withthe agents I've worked with.
Tanya (22:53):
I'll be honest with you.
Well, you attract people likeyou.
You realize that right.
Yvonne (22:58):
Well, but my clients are picking the homes right.
Sure, Not the agents, but Iactually have been pretty lucky.
That's awesome.
I really have.
Tanya (23:06):
I mean, I've come across a couple of tough ones, but I
got through it and I don't wantto paint the picture.
That's why I said devil'sadvocate the other way, because
obviously it's.
It can be negative things onboth sides and I don't want to
talk about that, because thepositive side of that is that
you can get in front of a roomof people and just like wow them
with what you know, andespecially if you're in a
(23:27):
specialty trade that peopledon't know a lot about,
absolutely Like yours, likeseptic, like, for sure People
always will be like, um, um, Ihave this question or I have
this question, you know, um, wecan, we can definitely help them
out with that stuff.
Like I mean, even like turfpeople like you were talking
about, like people don't knowhow that turf is laid down.
(23:49):
I know that I struggle withthat because we'll go out and
we're like septic tanks underthe turf.
They're like we'll just pull itback and then put it back.
I'm like, no, have you seen thestakes in this shit?
Like you need a special tool toput this back down and the
different types of turf are outthere.
Yvonne (24:03):
Yeah, did you know that?
No, oh, yeah, well, I know thatthe different things look
different which, of course, I'vehad to learn about.
It's like the things you haveto learn about to be a realtor.
We could have another podcast.
Tanya (24:16):
It's not just about selling the house.
Yvonne (24:19):
It's actually about, like, learning about septic
systems, learning about roofingdifferent types of windows and
doors and you're like, oh mygosh, yeah.
Tanya (24:26):
I'm sure every transaction you're learning
something new from that that isone thing that is a lesson I've
learned.
Yvonne (24:33):
It's almost like raising children.
How?
So?
Well, every client's not thesame.
True, your children aren't thesame, but you want to raise them
the same, right?
Yeah, the fundamentals ofraising a child is the same for
both, or all, but you have to dosome things different because
they're individuals, sure, andyou try to do that with clients
(24:53):
too, right?
Fundamentally, you have to dothe same things with them, but
then you have to do a lot ofthings different because they're
all not the same.
Sure and boy, every transactionis different and every
transaction is a challenge.
Yeah, in a way, different,different, different way.
Sure, this last one, I had to doa mold inspection.
(25:14):
Never, ever, have done a moldinspection, but those seem to be
on the rise.
Why, I don't know.
All of a sudden they're on therise Because I've talked to
several other agents when I wastrying to get one and they're
like rise.
Because I've talked to severalother agents when I was trying
to get one and they're like ohyeah, I just did one too, for
the first time.
I'm like what, how did thathappen?
Weird.
But mold inspections, I don'tknow, all of a sudden they're on
(25:35):
a rise, that's.
I learned a lot about mold,lots of things I've never kind
is bad, well, we knew that.
That's how much I know aboutmold and the different kinds of
levels, and wow, that'sinteresting.
Tanya (25:48):
What are some other like just weird things that have
happened during real estatetransactions or funny things
that have happened Funny things,I'm sure there's like memorable
shit that you're like I willnever forget this the things we
see in a house, oh, sure, yeah,like one time we sucked a dead
bird out of a septic tank.
Like how the hell did that getin there?
Like somebody, literallysomebody had to have like
(26:09):
flushed it in there.
Like we just kept thinkingwe're like, did it fall through
like the pipe, jack on the housebecause?
And get pushed all the waythrough to a septic tank?
I don't know.
Very random, weird stuff.
I don't know what's.
What's some weird stories orsomething.
Yvonne (26:26):
I'll tell you this last one that really I wanted to
laugh.
I was with a young family andthey had two 13 year old twin
girls Obviously they're two goodtwins and a five-year-old boy,
and we were going through thehome and we were in the bathroom
the primary bathroom and abovethe tub which was one of those
(26:51):
new tubs that they're kind offree form tub, not attached,
that everyone's putting in, andpictures of the homeowner above
the bathtub was pretty much nudephotos of the owner and I was
like hiding them, holding myhands up like don't look.
(27:15):
They didn't think about thatbefore they gave tours and that,
oh.
I even went back to the listing.
They're in the listing nobodycaught this.
Tanya (27:23):
It's art Yvonne.
Yvonne (27:25):
It's art I know, but when you have clients it feels
awkward, Very, that's funny.
It made me laugh.
But then I got conscious aboutit because I had them, kids and
the father.
I mean it was a family.
Like yes, I'm a woman and Iwonder if I was showing a man,
only a man, and me this home.
Tanya (27:46):
Yeah, awkward, awkward, super awkward, but funny You're
like.
So the owner decided to leavetheir art.
Yvonne (27:54):
I have to tell you I did go home and tell my husband,
like okay, here's a first,here's another one.
Tanya (28:01):
There's always.
I'm sure he thought that wasplenty funny.
He's like what?
Yvonne (28:06):
I think it was odd that is odd.
Tanya (28:09):
It's very odd.
The funny thing is is thatsomebody went and took photos
and no one was like hey, youknow, maybe you know it's like
when people go take photos ofhouses and it's like a literal
shit show in there.
Still, like you couldn't cleanthe counters off before you took
pictures in the kitchen.
Like it's hard for people toimagine living in a house that's
(28:30):
like, or like some of thoseolder homes that, like grandma
has like every square inch ofthe wall has a plate or
something decorative on ityou're like what the hell does
the wall even?
Yvonne (28:41):
look like, we don't know , in the heyday of 2020, 2021.
Yeah, oh, my People didn't evenbother.
They were just, they justsnapped pictures Snapped
pictures.
We're walking in literally ontop of clothes and oh yeah.
Tanya (28:54):
Oh yes.
It was crazy time Speaking ofthat what does the real estate
market look like now?
We've had crazy interest rates.
Then everybody was like, ooh,who's the president going to be?
Is he going to save us andwe're all going to be able to
own a house again?
Like what is the climate?
What's the banter right now inthe health of the real estate
(29:17):
market?
Yvonne (29:18):
I think we're all holding our breath.
To be honest with you, A lot oftalk about the tariffs, right,
Like that's a big talk right nowand I I really don't want to
get into a whole lot of thatstuff, but, um, you know, that
can affect us with the lumberright Coming from Canada and
such for home builders.
But I I don't want to say thatPhoenix is protected, but
protected we have a lot going onhere right.
(29:41):
At the chip company coming in,all those other things, Buckeyes
growing like a crazy, crazy,crazy.
It's like the fourth or sixthfastest growing city in the
nation.
Wow.
Tanya (29:51):
Wasn't that, gilbert like not too long ago.
Yvonne (29:53):
It was Gilbert.
They're running out of room,and then it was Queen Creek.
Tanya (29:57):
Yeah, I saw that there was like a study thing that said
that I was reading.
It was like on Apple News orsomething that was talking about
the most expensive cities, likereally like what's the most
expensive or most for homeowners, highest median income or
something like that that youneed to live in, like be
considered middle class right.
Okay, it was like over twohundred thousand dollars in
(30:19):
gilbert arizona, like it washigher than it is in scottsdale.
no, I was like I believe itthat's so crazy, because I think
everybody thinks Gilbert islike little farm town stuff.
Still in Scottsdale is like Oohthe flesh.
Yvonne (30:32):
I think it used to be, yeah, but I don't think it is
any.
Well, I know it isn't anylonger.
But again, just kind of back tothat.
There's a lot going on here.
I just don't think that thegrowth is going to slow down.
It might, but there's too muchgrowth happening that people are
moving here.
Sure, if you've been up anddown the Ironwood at all, you've
(30:55):
got Radiance going up.
That's a big master plancommunity.
I mean they have what five, sixentrances that they already
have?
They're big, it's crazy.
Monuments up and I mean I thinkthat's going to be six to 10
years before it's fully up.
And then you've got BlossomRock, across the street, across
the road there, and there's justso much happening out there.
Tanya (31:14):
And then everywhere they're bringing tons of big
manufacturing places out thereand I don't see that it's going
to slow down.
Yvonne (31:20):
I do know that a lot of those builders are giving a lot
of incentives.
They're getting a lot ofincentives and a lot of buy
downs on some of those rates,and so are some sellers.
Now we're seeing those in thelistings.
Yeah Well, they're teaming upwith, you know their lender,
yeah and um, help trying to helpthose buyers with some buy
downs on interest rates.
Tanya (31:39):
I've heard that like two to three year buy downs.
Yeah, one of my technicians wastalking about some of those off
of ironwood and like thepercentage rates they were
getting with stuff, which isvery interesting.
So if there's a new home buyerthat's like I want to buy a
house, I'm asking this selfishlyI want to buy a house.
(31:59):
What is?
What would you tell them to doas they're preparing to do that?
Say they've got six months tobuy a house.
Yvonne (32:13):
What should they be doing to prepare to purchase
that house?
First time home buyers.
First time home buyers.
So I'm going to stay in my lane.
Okay, like I said, I like tostay in my lane and have the
experts speak, so I'm not goingto speak too much.
When it comes to a mortgage loan, right, but from a first-time
home buyer, from a realtor, Iwould say you do need to make
sure you've got a good downpayment, but we also have
(32:34):
programs out there.
Again, you'll have to speak toa lender on those programs, yeah
, but what do you need to getprepared?
And that's probably one of themain things.
Right, it's money, money, money.
And figure out where you wantto be yeah, and then determine
what size you want to be.
Yeah, and then determine whatsize you want and how much
you're going to be willing topay.
Sure, but I don't see ratesgoing up.
(32:57):
I really don't.
That's my opinion, just from myexperience.
Sure, I also don't see a crashcoming, because the crash was
completely different than whatwe're doing right now.
Right, it really is.
These buy downs scare me alittle bit, just because of my
experience in my past.
Yeah, but because I don't wantto put people in homes that they
shouldn't be in.
That's what happened.
Tanya (33:18):
Yeah, yes, that's exactly what happened, yeah.
Yvonne (33:24):
So let's not do that again.
So let's not do that.
But for someone like you, tanya, I think it's important that,
um, yeah, you've got to buildthat equity up in your own home
as far as money to put down.
So that's what they're going tolook for.
Yeah, that's what they're goingto look for.
Tanya (33:39):
Very important.
So thank you so much.
This has been such a greatconversation.
This has been fun.
I love, love it.
I want to ask you, though, whatdo you find in value in having
a circle of women doing business, like you are in your life?
What is it about?
Like we have a great friendship, like I'm sure you have other
(34:03):
friendships with other womenthat are building businesses and
doing things like that.
Why is it important for you tohave those relationships?
Yvonne (34:12):
in your life.
Well, it's very importantbecause I think women, we love
community and we can have thatcommunity when other women are
doing the same things we'redoing.
And if we don't have thatcommunity, then we do feel like
an outsider right, because, nomatter what we're always going
to be in a man's world, it feelslike right.
(34:35):
So I think it's importantbecause then we can relate to
each other, we can help eachother.
We're always each other's fansand I think we need to be each
other's fans, to be supportive,and I love watching other women
be successful and just rock itand kick ass.
(34:57):
Yes, Like you.
I've watched you grow from thetime we got here and I'm just
like wow, this girl's kickingsome ass and I love where you've
taken your business.
Tanya (35:07):
Thank you, I appreciate that so awesome for you.
Sometimes I feel like I'mfucking crazy, but you know
you're not you're doing whatyou're supposed to do.
You know what I feel like if youdon't think that you're a
little bit crazy, then you mightnot be pushing yourself enough.
So I think that that's reallyawesome and thank you for that.
That means a lot to me.
I really truly believe and justknow, with the friendship that
(35:30):
we have with stuff.
We go to concerts together, wecan drink a beer together, we
can do whatever you know andjust sit around and shoot the
shit and have that kind ofrelationship with each other.
But we can sit here and talkshop about things too, and it's
really, really important that Ihave the women in my life that I
can do life and business with.
So thank you for that.
Yvonne (35:50):
I really do appreciate that Everything else.
Tanya (35:52):
Yeah, and talk kids, and you know all that good stuff.
Yvonne (35:56):
She's not there yet.
Tanya (35:58):
Oh well, in final and in closing, I always ask everybody
that's on the podcast thisquestion, because it's very,
very important to me and it'sthe relatability of this podcast
.
Everybody might not be a realestate agent, everybody might
not be a coach or a plumber or aseptic person, but the theme of
this podcast seems to beencompassing of all service
(36:20):
businesses.
So when you hear the phraseladies, kick an ass, what does
that mean to you in your life?
Yvonne (36:26):
is so when you hear the phrase ladies kicking ass, what
does that mean to you in yourlife?
Tanya (36:34):
That means we are strong, successful and fun loving women
.
So good, so good.
Thank you so much for beinghere and until next time, keep
kicking ass.
That's a wrap.
Ladies.
Now go out there, own the hellout of your dreams and keep
kicking ass.
Want to keep this fire going?
Connect with us on social.
All the links are in the shownotes and if you're ready for a
(36:55):
sisterhood that levels up lifeand business, be sure to check
out Badass Inner Circle.
Stay bold, stay fierce and beunapologetically you.
I'll catch you on the nextepisode.
Let's do this.
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If you've ever wanted to know about champagne, satanism, the Stonewall Uprising, chaos theory, LSD, El Nino, true crime and Rosa Parks, then look no further. Josh and Chuck have you covered.
Dateline NBC
Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com
The Breakfast Club
The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy, Jess Hilarious, And Charlamagne Tha God!