312: Commission Conversations You Need to Be Ready For
Release Date: 07/28/2025
334: What to Say When Friends or Family Use Another Agent
Hustle Humbly Podcast
It’s happened to all of us at some point—your cousin, college roommate, or neighbor posts that they just bought or sold a house… but you weren’t the agent. Ouch. If you’ve ever wondered how to handle it when a friend or family member uses someone else, this replay of one of our most-loved episodes has the clarity and pep talk you need. Originally aired as Episode 165, this candid conversation dives deep into the reality of *working with friends and family in real estate*. From professional boundaries to emotional resilience, we share our personal stories—rejections included—and...
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333: Boundaries During a Busy Season
Hustle Humbly Podcast
Let’s talk about the guilt loop so many Realtors get stuck in: when you’re at work, you feel guilty about missing life — and when you’re at home, you feel guilty about stepping away from your business. In this special replay of our Hustle Humbly Community Live Zoom, we’re diving deep into how to set boundaries during a season that’s naturally full of busyness, distraction, and high expectations (hello, holidays). This conversation is packed with relatable stories, powerful mindset shifts, and real advice from agents like you who are trying to find a way to serve their clients *and*...
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332: The Mental Load of Real Estate
Hustle Humbly Podcast
The truth is: buying or selling a house can feel like a full-blown identity crisis. Realtors know it, clients feel it, and now we have a licensed therapist here to explain *why* it all gets so emotionally messy. In this episode we welcome Katy’s former client and current number one referrer, Mary Ruiz, LPC. She’s not just a real estate success story — she’s now a licensed professional counselor (and a great one at that). We chat about the mental health rollercoaster that often comes with real estate: from renovations and relocations to the unexpected triggers that show up when people...
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331: A Realtor Leaves Their Phone for a Week
Hustle Humbly Podcast
What if you left your phone behind… on purpose? In this episode we chat with top-producing Realtor Kim Lafleur, who did the unthinkable—she took a full-blown, out-of-the-country vacation *without* her phone. No calls. No texts. No Instagram scrolls. Just silence, sunshine, and serious boundaries. Kim walks us through what inspired the decision, how she actually pulled it off (yes, there was a team hand-off at the airport), and the powerful lessons she learned about control, trust, and rest. If you’ve ever felt chained to your phone or scared to take a break, this one’s for you. Kim has...
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330: Real Estate Cancellations: When Communication Could Have Saved the Deal
Hustle Humbly Podcast
Ever been blindsided by a cancelation that just didn’t make sense? This week we’re sharing a raw, real story about a transaction that went sideways—only to come full circle weeks (and $15,000) later. In this episode, Alissa opens up about a recent experience with a buyer who backed out of a deal in the eleventh hour. What followed was a perfect storm of assumptions, zero communication, and a text message that dropped a cancelation bomb—with no phone call to discuss it first. We’re diving deep into the best practices & etiquette for Real Estate Cancellations: when you should call...
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329: Real Estate Is Just Making Friends (Then Following Up)
Hustle Humbly Podcast
When we say “digital database,” we *don’t* mean your phone contacts or your Facebook friends list… but those people? They’re part of the journey. This episode is a mindset-reset and practical guide to growing your sphere the natural way—through actual conversations, genuine connections, and organic follow-up. Katy and Alissa are breaking down what it really looks like to be intentional with every person you meet, without overthinking it or trying to “convert” someone into a lead the moment they shake your hand. From pumpkin patch meet-ups to casual gym chats and birthday...
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328: Realtor Q&A: You Asked, We Answered
Hustle Humbly Podcast
Sometimes you just need another agent to say what everyone else is thinking. In this Q&A episode, Katy and Alissa are answering the real-life, in-the-trenches questions Realtors are navigating every single day. We’re talking client expectations, boundaries, broker advice that doesn’t make sense, and what actually works in today’s market. When y’all send questions to our inbox, you never disappoint. And this batch covers everything from inspections to communication issues to luxury listings to motherhood to what we’d do if we didn’t work in real estate. It’s honest, funny, and...
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327: Avoiding Surprises with Seller Net Sheets & Buyer Cost Sheets
Hustle Humbly Podcast
We’ve all heard the horror stories: buyers showing up to closing short on cash, or sellers shocked at their proceeds. Yikes. The truth? These moments don’t have to happen — not if you’re consistently using buyer cost sheets & seller net sheets. In this episode, we’re breaking down exactly how we use these powerful tools with our clients to build trust, confidence, and calm. And here’s the good news: it’s not complicated, it’s just math + mindset. We’re talking through every single line item on a net sheet, what to include, when to deliver it, and how to tailor it to each...
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326: Managing Sellers with Confidence
Hustle Humbly Podcast
Managing your sellers doesn’t have to feel like herding cats — or losing your mind. In this episode, we’re diving deep into seller client management and giving you the tools (and mindset) to confidently take charge of every stage of the listing process. From deciding whether you even want the listing, to coaching your seller through prep, pricing, updates, negotiations, and closing — this episode covers it all. And yes, we even tackle what to do when your seller flat-out ignores your advice or refuses to clean up their clutter (it happens). This episode was born from your questions —...
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325: Haunted Houses and Realtor Horror Stories
Hustle Humbly Podcast
Haunted house season is here, and we’re back with more of your haunted house real estate stories! This annual episode is equal parts creepy, hilarious, and deeply memorable — and we’re sharing everything from friendly ghosts to record players spinning in power-less foreclosures. Real estate is wild on a normal day, but when things start slamming, whispering, and levitating? That’s next-level spooky. These stories come straight from our listeners and fellow Realtors, and we’ve got it all: haunted listing appointments, ghost dogs, creepy dolls, unexplained cold spots, and even a spirit...
info_outlineEver been asked—by a client or another agent—to cut your commission mid-deal? Or worse, right before closing? It’s happening more and more, and in this episode we’re sharing how to respond, how to prepare, and how to protect your paycheck without losing your professionalism (or your cool).
Inspired by multiple messages and agent stories, we’re diving into what we’re calling the age of commission cutting. We’re not talking about negotiating commission upfront—we’re talking about after you’ve already agreed to terms, done the work, and someone wants you to just... give some of it away.
We walk through real examples of buyer and listing agents being pressured into taking less, how to handle those phone calls in the moment (especially when you feel totally caught off guard), and why “just being nice” can cost you big time.
Whether it’s guilt-tripping, bad math, or a last-minute closing crisis, Katy and Alissa share how to protect yourself before it happens, why mindset and boundaries matter, and some super helpful scripts and phrases you can keep in your back pocket when you need to stand your ground.
You’ll also hear:
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Why commission is not part of the buyer/seller negotiation
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What to say when someone tries to guilt you into a cut
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The biggest mistake you can make when you're feeling bad for your client
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The difference between being kind and being a pushover
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How to do the math on what your time is really worth
Get ready for a pep talk, some wild stories, and practical advice on how to stop treating your income like a favor.
Products, People & Previous Episodes Mentioned:
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Episode 295: Why Buyer Agents Struggle to Get Paid
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Episode 232: Buyer Brokerage How-Tos
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Daryl Davis quote and article referenced
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Episode 296: Peaceful Partings
Key Quotes/Takeaways
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“You’re not a victim in a real estate transaction. You agreed to the terms—stand by them.” —Katy
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“Poor planning on your part does not constitute an emergency on mine.” —Alissa
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“Your commission isn’t a bargaining chip. It’s the price for the service you already delivered.” —Katy
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“Be kind, but stand firm. Those aren’t mutually exclusive.” —Alissa
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“I don’t need to pay you to stay in this deal. That’s not my job.” —Alissa
CTA:
If this topic hit home, take a minute to revisit your buyer consults and listing presentations. Are you clearly outlining your value? Are your clients crystal clear on how and when you get paid? Don't wait until you're put on the spot.
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