Builder Rep To Top Agent: Insider Secrets Buyers & Sellers MUST Know About New Construction
Release Date: 01/26/2026
Why Listings Sit, Buyers Hesitate, and Top Agents Still Win | Alexis Gamel
Real Estate Excellence
If buyers finally have more leverage again, are they prepared to use it wisely or are they still waiting for a crash that may never come? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Alexis Gamel. Alexis is a Northeast Florida real estate agent with deep roots in development, construction, residential strategy, and beach market expertise. In this conversation, she shares how her background in land sales, custom homes, and family life shaped the way she now helps buyers and sellers make smarter decisions. The episode explores pricing strategy, the...
info_outline
How The Listings Lab Can 10X Your Business With Jess Lenouvel
Real Estate Excellence
What would change in your business if you stopped chasing ready now leads and started building trust with people much earlier in their decision-making journey? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jess Lenouvel. Jess is the founder of The Listings Lab, author of More Money Less Hustle, and a real estate marketing strategist known for helping agents build scalable businesses through digital marketing, systems, and psychology. In this conversation, she explains why outdated prospecting methods are failing, why most agents misunderstand branding, and...
info_outline
Jacksonville Relocation, New Construction, Beach Luxury and Pricing Right with Taylor Diaz
Real Estate Excellence
What does it really take to make it in real estate when the flexibility everyone talks about turns out to be one of the biggest myths in the business? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Taylor Diaz. Taylor is a Northeast Florida real estate agent who shares how she went from working in the medical field to building a career in real estate through discipline, mentorship, and long term relationship building. In this conversation, she opens up about getting licensed during COVID, joining Sarah Rocco’s highly structured team, and learning how...
info_outline
How to Sell Luxury Real Estate in 2026: Leigh Howe Amelia Island
Real Estate Excellence
What do luxury buyers need to understand about owning on Amelia Island that most agents never explain? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Leigh Howe. Leigh shares a career path that started far from traditional real estate. She moved from teaching, nursing, retail, and sales into land development and homebuilding after she and her husband took on a 100 acre project in Gainesville. That experience gave her deep knowledge in zoning, infrastructure, construction, customer selections, and the human side of real estate. She explains how surviving...
info_outline
How To Successfully Build A Top Producing Real Estate Team: Megan Jernigan
Real Estate Excellence
What happens when you stop chasing commissions and start obsessing over service, systems, and solving problems before they explode? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Megan Jernigan shares how she built a high performing real estate business in Nashville by committing to service, discipline, and relentless follow through. She explains that strong vendor relationships are not about perks or kickbacks, but about responsiveness, trust, and doing what is best for the client every single time. She also opens up about leaving the security of a...
info_outline
Mindset In Motion with Debbi DiMaggio
Real Estate Excellence
What if the only thing standing between you and your next breakthrough is the decision to move before you feel ready? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Debbi DiMaggio. Debbi shares how clarity, belief, and relentless action shaped her 35 year career in real estate and her life beyond it. From writing down ten things she wanted at age 25 to building a thriving business during the Great Recession, Debbi reveals how mindset in motion became her secret weapon. She explains why most agents do not need more motivation. They need movement. Debbi...
info_outline
NEFAR President Kim Knapp: 2026 Playbook for Florida Realtors | AI, Contracts & Leadership
Real Estate Excellence
If you had to prove your value to every buyer before showing a single home, what would you change first in your process? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Kim Knapp. Kim shares her vision for leading the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors in 2025 with a focus on doing it right and keeping it real. She talks about building stronger volunteer leadership systems, reconnecting members through local councils and training, and pulling top producers closer with a Top Five Forum featuring an NAR economist and business coaching. The...
info_outline
Tina Priest: Military Spouse to Real Estate Agent Star
Real Estate Excellence
If you had to lose the paperwork and keep only one habit to grow your business this year would it be answering the phone or following up? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Tina Priest. Tina shares how her service first mindset shaped her path into real estate through military life social work and operational leadership. She explains why Hover Girl Properties focuses on boundaries transparency and real relationships so clients feel seen not processed, especially when timelines are tight and emotions are high. You will hear practical habits...
info_outline
How Christina Swyers Built a Cross-Market Real Estate Business Through Relocation, Leadership, and Grit
Real Estate Excellence
What would your real estate career look like if you stopped learning and finally acted? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Christina Swyers breaks down the mindset, systems, and discipline that transformed her from a brand-new agent into a multi-state real estate leader. She shares how she rebuilt her entire business after relocating 1,000 miles to Florida, proving that success follows those who take action, stay uncomfortable, and relentlessly meet new people. Her story reveals how the right network, the right brokerage, and the right habits...
info_outline
Winning in New Construction Sales: Discipline, Builder Strategy & Buyer Wins with Jerry Strums
Real Estate Excellence
Are you using every resource in front of you or waiting for success to knock on your door? In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Jerry Strums of Richmond Homes to explore the world of new construction from the builder’s side. From military buyers to first-time homeowners, Jerry shares what it takes to succeed in Northeast Florida’s competitive housing market—and how agents can better partner with site reps for smooth transactions and happier clients. Listeners will discover the unspoken rules of registering buyers, the power of relationship...
info_outlineHow does emotional intelligence give real estate agents an edge in guiding clients through one of life’s most stressful decisions?
In this episode of the Real Estate Excellence Podcast, Tracy Hayes sits down with Robyn McIntosh, a top-tier real estate professional with a rich background in psychology and insurance. Robyn opens up about her unexpected path from working catastrophe claims at State Farm to becoming one of Florida’s most trusted names in real estate. Her ability to blend empathy with industry knowledge helps clients navigate not only deals but emotions, turning stress into strategy.
From navigating new construction pitfalls to educating buyers on insurance red flags, Robyn emphasizes the value of transparency, community, and staying informed. Whether it’s explaining roof replacement impact on home values or the critical timing of involving an insurance agent, she lays out the realities that every buyer and seller should hear. Her journey is a masterclass in resilience, customer service, and intentional business-building.
Enjoyed this episode? Share it with someone considering a move or career in real estate! Don't forget to subscribe and leave a 5-star review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify.
Highlights:
00:00 - 14:49 New Construction Exposed
- How Robyn’s builder background shaped her strategy
- Why agents should attend builder meetings
- Critical need for third-party inspections
- Permitting issues and layout mix-ups
- The communication breakdown in national builder pipelines
14:50 - 28:59 The Insurance Mindset Advantage
- Robyn’s State Farm experience in catastrophe claims
- How it shifted her approach to risk in real estate
- Explaining Florida insurance pitfalls to out-of-state buyers
- Why home age affects insurability
- Avoiding last-minute insurance deal-breakers
29:00 - 42:49 Roofs, Claims, and Seller Strategy
- When to address aging roofs before listing
- Educating sellers on repair ROI vs. reality
- How inspectors and insurance agents derail contracts
- Preparing buyers and sellers emotionally for negotiations
- The true cost of ignoring deferred maintenance
42:50 - 57:59 Pivoting from Setback to Success
- Robyn’s career curveball: from nuclear medicine to real estate
- Losing out on a medical program led to reinvention
- How real estate filled the service gap she craved
- Her “Come to Jesus” moment with her husband
- Turning rejection into redirection
58:00 - 01:12:29 Service, Community & Emotional EQ
- What “being of service” means to Robyn
- Why communication is more powerful than contracts
- Balancing emotion with education in transactions
- Her husband's public service and how it influences her work
- The mindset shift from salesperson to problem-solver
01:12:30 - 01:28:59 Broker Choices & Real Estate Realities
- Choosing the right brokerage for growth
- Online courses vs. classroom experience
- Learning curves and mentorship matters
- Brokerage fit vs. personal discipline
- Advice for new agents entering the market
Quotes:
“Before my feet hit the floor, I say: money flows to me easily and abundantly.” – Robyn McIntosh
“You don’t need an inspector because it’s a bad builder—you need one to cover everything.” – Robyn McIntosh
“Life is hard. If selling your home is the hardest thing you face, let me help you through it.” – Robyn McIntosh
“I love everything about homes—their stories, their challenges, their potential.” – Robyn McIntosh
To contact Robyn McIntosh, learn more about her business, and make her a part of your network, make sure to follow her on her Website.
Connect with Robyn McIntosh!
Website: https://www.christiesrealestate.com/real-estate-agents/robyn-mcintosh/35322/
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.
#RealEstateExcellence #RobynMcIntosh #RealEstatePodcast #HomeBuyingTips #FloridaRealEstate #WomenInRealEstate #ServiceDrivenSales #NewConstruction #RealEstateExpert #RealEstateJourney #CustomerExperience #HomeSellingTips #RealEstateMarketing #InsuranceTips #HomeInspection #EmotionalIntelligence #RealEstateLife #PodcastInterview #RealEstateMentor #RealEstateEducation #RoofReplacement #JacksonvilleRealEstate