The Royal PalmCast
Episodes
On this episode, Fort Myers home stager Adriana Torres of Stage and Amaze shares her top 10 tips for Realtors and home sellers looking to get the best price for their properties. Among the topics she covers are the importance of room balance, lighting, wall color and decluttering homes that are occupied. And no, she says, you can't just move excess possessions to the garage and still expect good results. And put away those fami...
Staging can turn an empty, "sad, soulless home" into one with personality that is likely to sell more quickly, according to Adriana Torres, owner of Stag and Amaze home staging service in Fort Myers. But even a furnished, occupied home can be helped with staging, she says. In this episode, Adriana outlines what to expect during the home staging process, and how it impacts the sale. Over the past 10 years, she says she's...
Staging a property involves placing carefully selected interior furnishings and accessories in a home. The idea is to generate a higher price and quicker sale. And it works, according to our guest, Adriana Torres, owner of Stage & Amaze staging service in Fort Myers. In this episode, she offers tips and insights that every Realtor® and home seller should know about. For instance, she says staging is beneficial even in a hot rea...
There's nothing more frustrating — or heartbreaking — than working for weeks on a real estate deal only to see it blow up just before the scheduled closing. There is an infinite number of reasons why this happens, and real estate educator Josh Cadillac has developed strategies to prevent it. Managing the emotions of clients and working effectively with other real estate professionals with a stake in the transaction are just a c...
Realtors® regularly hear objections from clients and others who may not believe that a house — or a deal — is for them. Sometimes the objection is about the property. Sometimes it's even about the agent's commission. Nationally known real estate educator Josh Cadillac has some advice to offer: to overcome objections, first earn a seat at the table by establishing credibility and then really listening for what's behind t...
Can you really negotiate anything? Yes, you can, and you can WIN, says real estate educator Josh Cadillac. In this episode, Josh details proven techniques for Realtors® who want to achieve the best results for their clients. When negotiating price (of anything) for example, he recommends alerting the other party that you are working under the constraints of a budget. Another technique involves pointing out that you are restricted b...
Goodwill Industries is famous for its thrift store bargains and accepting donations of unneeded household items and clothing. But wait, there's more! In this episode, Goodwill's Carolyn Johnson discusses the many community-oriented programs and initiatives the organization offers in Southwest Florida. For example, Goodwill helps budding entrepreneurs with its MicroEnterprise Institute, which provides guidance for lower-inc...
On our last episode, we got so much useful information about trash and recycling from our friends at Lee County (Fla.) Solid Waste, we invited them back for more! Molly Schweers and Ray Sarracino tell us about the most common mistakes and misperceptions about putting the trash out, and also delve into the many services LCSW offers to residents at no cost. If you're a Realtor®, for example, you can get reusable recycling bags an...
If you like fun facts about trash, this episode is for you! Did you know that Lee County, Florida, leads the state in recycling? Or that Lee County Solid Waste converts enough trash to energy to supply electricity to power more than 30,000 homes year-round? Listen now for even more fun facts. Plus, Molly and Ray play our Lightning Round. Guests: Molly Schweers and Ray Sarracino. Part 1 of 2 shows about LCSW. Host: Jim Sanville. Pro...
What exactly is the Florida homestead exemption? How does it help with your taxes? How do you qualify? Find out the answers to these questions and others and learn all the benefits of this exemption from Real Estate Attorney Ned Hale. Originally published Aug. 19, 2020.
This week's episode of The Royal PalmCast is our holiday re-gift to you! In this classic episode, Cape Coral Realtor® Jennifer Desrosiers tells you how to convert social media fans into buyers. She also explains that using Facebook and Instagram is not just about pitching a house. Jennifer says that by authentically showcasing your personality, you can build your business and move more real estate. Plus, Jennifer plays The Ligh...
What happens when you donate items to Goodwill? Where do they go? Are there donations they will not accept? And what do you do if you donate an item by accident? (This happened to Jim!) This episode includes answers to these questions and more and Jim and Jerry welcome Michele Prox-Foos to the microphone. Michele is Director of Transportation and Donor Services for Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc., which includes Lee,...
Realtors®: What would you do if you were suddenly attacked while showing a property? Whether you have a weapon or not, there are actions you can take to thwart someone with bad intentions, says Dr. Kim Swanson of the Lee County (Florida) Sheriff's Office. In this episode, Dr. Swanson shares advice developed over a 25-year career at LCSO, and even offers her top three personal safety tips for Realtors®. When your spidey sense st...
Safety first! That's the message Dr. Kim Swanson wants all Realtors® to hear. As a crime prevention specialist and personal safety instructor with the Lee County (Fla.) Sheriff's Office, Dr. Swanson shares lessons learned over her 25-year career helping local citizens stay out of harm's way. In this episode, our guest details the best ways for real estate professionals to prepare for the unexpected when showing homes an...
For this episode, we’re doing something special — we’re replaying one of our favorite shows and one of the most downloaded. It’s also the very first episode of The Royal PalmCast. It’s a show that was recorded in mid-2019 with Sheena Reagan, who had just been named Florida’s Funniest Female. Because she’s also a Realtor® and a member of our association, we couldn’t resist inviting her into our studio to find out how she works her s...
If you think you know Goodwill Industries, there may be more to the organization than you realize. Carolyn Johnson from Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida, Inc., dispels some of the myths surrounding the organization and explains how it helped more than 25,000 disabled or disadvantaged people in Southwest Florida last year alone. Goodwill is about more than just bargain shopping and donating unneeded items, according to Carol...
In the final installment of our three-part conversation about advertising for Realtors®, we cut to the chase and ask each of our guests for their top five tips. If you're a real estate pro who wants to turbo-charge your business, listening to these tips is a great place to start. Guests: Tim Hennessy from Waterman Broadcasting and Wendy Payton of Payton Brands in Fort Myers, Florida. Both guests are members of the American Adve...
If you're a new Realtor® — or any business owner — you probably have a few questions about advertising. What's the most effective medium? Is social media the best place to start? How about TikTok? Do I need to work with an agency? The answers to these and other common questions may surprise you. Join us for our discussion with Tim Hennessy from Waterman Broadcasting and Wendy Payton of Payton Brands as we explore best pract...
Are you an advertiser or potential advertiser? What if you could pick the brains of two of Southwest Florida's most knowledgeable experts in that field? We did, and we bring you that conversation in this episode. This is the first of three shows with our ad pros. In this one, we talk about the basics of advertising, particularly as it relates to real estate professionals. Join us for our discussion with Tim Hennessy from Water...
In Southwest Florida, Realtors® sell water. Clean water in both coastal and inland areas is one of the biggest factors driving real estate purchase decisions among consumers. On this episode, we talk with two water quality experts who come at the issue from different perspectives. Dr. Michael Parsons is the head of The Water School at Florida Gulf Coast University and Andrew Rutledge spends his days in Tallahassee® advocating for w...