Keeping It Real Podcast • Secrets Of Top 1% REALTORS ® • Interviews With Real Estate Brokers & Agents

Welcome to our series Better Your Business With Ben.

In this episode Ben Lalez explains why he calls Q4 “separation season” and why the agents willing to keep making calls, following up, working their database, and doing the uncomfortable things are the ones who will separate themselves from the competition. He breaks down how to analyze where your past business actually came from, identify the activities you can replicate, and use the next 90 days to plant the seeds for a stronger 2027.

Please follow Ben on Instagram and TikTok.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube! 

Ben Lalez can be reached at 312.789.4054 and ben.lalez@compass.com.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

In our October episode, Carrie McCormick breaks down what agents need to know heading into Q4. Carrie discusses rising mortgage rates, low inventory, increasingly selective buyers, and why pricing, presentation, and positioning are more important than ever in the current market. She also shares how luxury buyers are changing, how AI is influencing client decisions, and why agents need to bring real market knowledge and human expertise to the table. Finally, Carrie explains why Q4 is the perfect time to start preparing your systems and strategy for 2027 while still finishing 2026 strong.

Please follow Carrie on Instagram.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Carrie can be reached at carrie@atproperties.com or by phone at 312.961.4612.

This episode is brought to you by Real Geeks and Courted.io.

Brenton Miebach talks about how he built a $10M+ business in his first year in two different markets where he knew virtually no one. Brenton breaks down how he used paid leads, relentless responsiveness, and deep market research to build a network from scratch and why the real value of an internet lead is the referral business that can come from it. He also shares how he built AI-powered systems that automate everything from marketing and website content to detailed showing packets, and how he used AI-generated videos about Cape Coral’s history to grow his Facebook following from 150 to more than 3,000.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Brenton Miebach can be reached at (239) 990-7738 and brenton@brentonmiebach.com.

This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io.

Bill Melnick talks about his career transition from luxury merchandising at Ralph Lauren to real estate in Litchfield County. Bill shares how the Ralph Lauren approach of selling a lifestyle, not just a product, shapes the way he markets homes, from staging and photography to telling a property’s complete story. He also breaks down how he sold the $12 million Ivan Lendl estate, why luxury buyers care about much more than square footage, and how local knowledge, relationships, and authentic marketing can give agents an edge in an increasingly AI-driven industry.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Bill Melnick can be reached at 917-330-5241 and bill@harneyre.com.

This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io.

Alex Maldonado reveals a strategy many first-time buyers (and even agents) overlook: using seller and lender credits to help cover closing costs. Alex explains how he helps buyers who have saved for a down payment but are still short on the cash needed to close, and how he structures offers so those credits don’t automatically make them less competitive. He also breaks down how he generates leads through targeted marketing, SEO, bilingual content, and AI, and why becoming a better salesperson may be more valuable than simply making more calls.

Alex is offering a free marketing audit to a limited number of agents here.

If you’d prefer to watch this interview, click here to view on YouTube!

Alex Maldonado can be reached at (323) 688-4710.

This episode is brought to you by RealGeeks and Courted.io.