Breaking Barriers in Real Estate: How to Make Your Listings Accessible to All w/ Kathleen Lappe
Release Date: 11/19/2024
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“Secret agents don’t get found, and closed mouths don’t get fed.” It’s more than a catchphrase; it’s a survival strategy for today’s market. In an environment where inventory is scarce, clients are cautious, and other agents are everywhere, invisibility will keep you from earning more. If you aren’t proactively creating opportunities, asking for business, and showing up where consumers are, you’ll get overlooked every time. That’s why differentiation isn’t a luxury; it’s the core of winning in real estate right now. And the sharpest ways to position...
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The AI Playbook for Winning Buyer Loyalty in a Post-NAR Settlement World
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For a long time, buyer representation was an afterthought. Agents leaned on MLS commission notes, dodged tough conversations about compensation, and hoped clients would just go along. But after the NAR settlement, that safety net vanished. Now, if we can’t clearly show our value and lock in a signed buyer rep agreement, we’re at risk of losing clients, income, and even putting ourselves in a legal bind. Here’s the twist: AI isn’t just a cool extra. When we use it right, it can be our sharpest edge in this new reality. With ChatGPT, predictive analytics, and the right...
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The real estate world has shifted, and whether we like it or not, there’s no going back. Too many agents are still treating the changes as an extinction event, but here’s the truth: if you adapt, we still have the opportunity we’ve had to grow market share in years. Since the settlement, more agents have entered the industry. That means more competition, but also more proof that complacency kills careers. The new agents are hungry, willing to try what others won’t, and most importantly, they’re not afraid to embrace tools like AI to move faster and smarter. I’ve been in...
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If you’ve ever tried selling new construction, you know it can be a total headache. Dropbox links everywhere, builder calls that never get answered, and brochures that are already outdated by the time they reach buyers. It’s frustrating for agents, builders, and buyers alike. So many agents just skip new construction altogether, leaving hundreds of thousands of dollars on the table. But what if new build listings were as easy to access as homes on the MLS? That’s where NEO comes in. NEO cuts through all the chaos, helping you capture more buyer leads, keep them engaged, and...
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These days, it’s harder than ever for marginalized buyers to break into the market. Prices are high, lending rules are tighter, and misinformation is everywhere. The path to homeownership can feel impossible. Agents aren’t off the hook either. With all the changes to buyer representation and compensation, agents are being asked to prove their value in every single deal, while trying to serve clients who need more help than ever. That’s where Midwest Home M@tch comes in. We built an AI-powered referral network that connects agents with pre-approved, ready-to-go buyers. Especially those...
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In real estate, we’re expected to connect with every personality type under the sun. That usually means working really hard to match how someone else communicates. Most of us are doing it on the fly. Winging it. Pivoting mid-conversation and crossing our fingers that our style clicks with theirs. That might have cut it back in the day, but now it’s a liability. What if you could walk into every client meeting already knowing how to win them over? That’s exactly what myYenta gives you: the blueprint to connect, build trust, and close the deal, by aligning with your client’s psychology...
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Crabs in a Barrel: The Mindset Keeping You From Earning More
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If you think success is about hoarding your secrets, side-eyeing your peers, and treating everyone like the enemy, you're already losing. I see it all the time in real estate: agents wrapped up in rivalries, clinging to titles, licenses, and tasks that no longer serve them, all because they’re afraid to let go or let someone else shine. That “crabs in a barrel” mindset will keep you small, stuck, and exhausted. Here’s the truth: in today’s market, collaboration is the competitive edge. Instead of competing with other agents, we need to be around people who lift us...
info_outlineA lot of people are locked out of homeownership because the actual listings aren’t accessible to everyone. For disabled, impaired, neurodivergent and non-English speaking buyers, not having an audio option creates a massive barrier right from the home search stage.
What if the listing could be presented in a language and format they can easily consume?
The most valuable real estate agents understand the importance of being of service to EVERYONE.
In order to do this and expand our opportunities across any barrier or language, we have to make sure the information on the listing is packaged for a diverse array of people.
That’s where DirectOffer comes in. This tool leverages AI to bring accessibility to real estate information. Started by a mother with a neurodivergent child, this tool is something all agents should be using right now.
How does Direct Offer work? How does it knock down a huge barrier to homeownership? In this episode, entrepreneur in real estate technology and founder of DirectOffer, Kathleen Lappe shares her story, and how this tool makes real estate more accessible.
We often feel like AI technology will take away from the agent. As long as the agent learns to communicate in the way the consumer wants to be communicated with, it won’t. -Kathleen Lappe
Things You’ll Learn In This Episode
- Do the right thing, outearn other agents
Serving impaired clients and underserved people isn’t just the right thing to do, how does it make a real estate professional more valuable?
- How to leverage Direct Offer
Breaking down the barriers to homeownership should start at the home search stage. How is Direct Offer making it easier for disabled and neurodivergent buyers?
- A path to home ownership for all
If we’re only packaging our listings and real estate marketing materials for abled people, we’re cutting ourselves off from millions of potential clients. How do we make sure the information we’re putting out is accessible to everyone?
Guest Bio
Kathleen Lappe is an innovative entrepreneur in real estate technology known for her visionary leadership and commitment to accessibility. She founded DirectOffer, Inc., a pioneering software company that has secured multiple patents for real estate technology, specializing in multilingual solutions and ADA-compliant listings. Kathleen's entrepreneurial journey boasts four successful startups, three still thriving today. Her expertise led to the creation of DOAT (DO AudioTours), a global patent revolutionizing property listing by offering automated, ADA-compliant, multilingual audio-visual experiences. DOAT also streamlines communication through lead routing and direct agent contact integration. Kathleen Lappe's drive for innovation, inclusivity, and transformative technology has left an indelible mark on the real estate industry. To work with Direct Offer, visit https://directoffer.com/.
About Your Host
Licensed Managing Broker, REALTORS®, avid volunteer, and Major Donor, Marki Lemons Ryhal is dedicated to all things real estate. With over 25 years of marketing experience, Marki has taught over 250,000 REALTORS® how to earn up to a 2682% return on their marketing dollars.
Six-time REALTOR® Conference and Expo featured attendee, one of 100 speakers selected to speak the REALTOR® Conference & Expo five times, and an Inman closing Keynote Speaker. Marki’s expertise has been featured in Forbes, Washington Post, http://Homes.com , and REALTOR® Magazine.
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