How To Make Real Estate Agents CEO's

Are you holding back your real estate growth because you’re afraid to let go of control?

In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with the sharp and candid Sasha Tripp, founder of Story House Real Estate in Central Virginia. Sasha opens up about her journey from independent boutique brokerage owner to partnering with Real and Place to scale her operations without sacrificing her brand. With a strong emphasis on leadership, systems, and strategic partnerships, she shares how she broke through growth plateaus and found new ways to elevate both her agents and her own career.

Sasha dives into the biggest roadblocks agents face when scaling: fear of hiring, delegation paralysis, and the unwillingness to systematize. She unpacks why mindset—not just skillset—is often the reason agents plateau. From firing her first assistant nine times (yes, really) to building a scalable machine supported by backend platforms like Place, this episode is a goldmine for any agent who’s tired of doing it all solo and ready to make a quantum leap.

Feeling stuck in your real estate business? Stop wearing every hat and start thinking like a CEO. Subscribe, leave a review, and share this episode with someone still trying to "do it all." Then ask yourself: Who do I need to hire next to level up?

 

Highlights:

00:00–06:15 From Boutique to Brand Powerhouse

• •        Sasha’s journey from independent brokerage to Real
• •        Keeping Story House branding through private label
• •        Why she chose Real and Place for scale
• •        Saving money while gaining backend leverage
• •        Layering national partnerships while staying local
• 06:16–13:45 Hitting a Plateau and Finding Leverage

•        Five years of stagnant growth despite experience

• •        Why doing more didn’t move the needle
• •        Creating scalable opportunity through Place
• •        Building an exit plan and long-term value
• •        Staying relevant in a shifting market

13:46–21:12 The Hiring Mistakes Most Agents Make

• •        Why most agents fail at hiring help
• •        Delegating without systems leads to chaos
• •        Overcoming fear of expense and loss of control
• •        Creating SOPs and screen recordings for training
• •        Cost of turnover vs cost of staying stuck

21:13–29:30 From Pantyhose to Property Pro

• •        Sasha’s start in staffing and sudden pivot
• •        Her eye-opening experience in warehouse HR
• •        Learning real estate out of curiosity
• •        Earning trust through education and networking
• •        The shift from focusing on homes to focusing on people

29:31–42:40 Mentorship Systems and Real Agent Growth

• •        Why most agents fail in their first year
• •        How Sasha mentors agents with structure and care
• •        What new agents should look for in a team
• •        The real impact of splits versus systems
• •        The role of video and authenticity in growth

42:41–58:00 Scripts Strategy and Seller Psychology

• •        Handling lowball offers with logic and empathy
• •        Sasha’s 10-minute listing appointment strategy
• •        Getting hired by offering a clear roadmap
• •        How to stand out in a 3-agent interview
• •        Teaching agents to prep like CEOs

58:01–01:12:30 Market Shifts Buyer Broker Rules and Confidence

• •        The impact of NAR rule changes on buyers and sellers
• •        Sasha’s approach to buyer broker agreements
• •        How it improved agent performance and professionalism
• •        Navigating commission conversations in today’s market
• •        What experienced agents still get wrong

01:12:31–01:18:10 Real Talk Rapid Fire

• •        What Sasha stopped doing that changed everything
• •        Building trust through clear systems and boundaries
• •        Why real estate is now an authenticity economy
• •        Sasha’s biggest leadership lesson
• •        How agents can prep for success in under 10 minutes

 

Quotes:

“You're just one ‘who’ away from your next leveling up.” – Sasha Tripp

“There are no bad hires—only bad employers and bad onboarding.” – Sasha Tripp

“People want to trust someone. They don’t need more info—they need authenticity.” – Sasha Tripp

“You can’t grow by accident, you grow with intention.” – Sasha Tripp

 

To contact Sasha Tripp, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website, Instagram, and Facebook.

 

Connect with Sasha Tripp!

Website: https://www.sashatripp.com/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sashacharlottesville

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/sashafarmer

 

Connect with me!
Website: toprealtorjacksonville.com  

Website: toprealtorstaugustine.com 

 

SUBSCRIBE & LEAVE A 5-STAR REVIEW as we discuss real estate excellence with the best of the best.

 

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