Real Estate Team OS

Brian Buffini started a real estate team before teams were a thing. Back in 1992. Back before brokerages had any idea what to do with a team.Today, Buffini & Company coaches and trains agents, team leaders, and broker owners around the world.All along, Brian’s viewed teams as “the future of real estate.” But team leadership isn’t for everyone and  aspirations for a mega team aren’t necessary.Brian was kind enough to be a guest on our show as I was a guest at his Buffini Coaching live event to share decades of insights, experience, and influence.With a live audience of hundreds of real estate professionals, Brian sat down with me to share what it took to sell 100 homes in a year in the late 80s, why teams emerged, who should (and shouldn’t) build a team, what the main team models are, where “Death Valley” is for team leaders, what leaders must stay focused on and watch out for ... and much more!A HUGE thank you to Brian and his entire team for welcoming me into their community in such an open and sincere way!Watch or listen for Brian Buffini’s insights into:Leading and managing yourselfWhat it took to sell 100 homes/year in the late 1980s with one assistantWhy and how he started a team in the early 1990s (and why he struggled initially)Why he’s long viewed teams as “the future of real estate” and who teams are best forWhy referring out excess business is a good first step toward a teamHow to find your first assistantWhat other stages of team maturity look like and the key to finding your right size (spoiler: 4-7 is a sweet spot)Why 80% of agents should keep selling (perhaps with a team to support them)What the hardest thing about real estate is (and what mistakes that leads to)How to restore connection with the people and relationships that matter most (your customers and your team)A leadership lesson from NFL and NASCAR champion Joe GibbsAt the end, learn about A and B teams, hotel soaps and sewing kits, and the power of ohana and the ocean.Connect with Brian Buffini:→ https://www.instagram.com/brian_buffini/→ https://www.instagram.com/buffiniandco→ https://www.buffini.com/solutions/realstrengths/→ https://www.buffini.com/solutions/blitz/Connect with Real Estate Team OS→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/

What happens when you invest so deeply in your people that they could leave today and find success starting their own business?The most likely outcome: they stay and you continue growing together.But the more common path: a more transactional approach for fear they’ll leave you.Jon Cheplak returns to Real Estate Team OS to explain why he thinks 90% of real estate team leaders shouldn’t be team leaders and to share what the 10% have in common.Jon’s been in the seat himself and he and his partners coach top-performing team leaders and operations leaders (many you’ve met here on the show).Scaling on principles, rather than on personality.Pouring into people without fear, limitation, or calculation.Developing people first and businesses second.Walking the talk as the key to leadership.Improving your copywriting and storytelling.Jon shares all that and more in a great conversation to set you up for a successful year ahead.Watch or listen for Jon’s insights into:Why community is so desirable and powerful right nowHow principles scale and why personality doesn’tHis four core principles, his eight core values, and the difference between themThe three ways to get people to take actionThe two ways to give people attention and why fear holds team leaders back from bothWhy 90% of team leaders shouldn’t be team leaders and four criteria to help you know for your yourselfTwo ways to find your operations leader and one way NOT to (spoiler: look inside your team)Why you’re already a better copywriter than you think, how and why to get better at it, plus the difference between marketing and salesAt the end, learn about pitchforking manure and the risk and payoff of committing to a 375-acre ranch.Four principles Jon lives by:→ Personal responsibility, accountability, commitment, contributionEight values Jon lives by:→ Fun, love, dignity, respect, humility, vulnerability, transparency, volunteerismMentioned in this episode:→ FUBCON Session with Jon Cheplak https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/jon-cheplak-real-estate-teams-traditional-brokerages→ 084 Living in the Leads with Lauren Bowen https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/real-estate-leads-systems-tools-increase-conversion-lauren-bowen-lpt-realty→ 037 Prospecting for Listings with Greg Harrelson https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/real-estate-prospecting-listings-greg-harrelson→ 082 Making Your First Operations Hire with Camila Rivera https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/team-leader-guide-making-your-first-operations-hire-camila-rivera→ Inside Whissel Realty Group https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJiXNo93cVqQmwl4tTOQYebBkBoL6ipzConnect with Jon Cheplak→ https://www.facebook.com/joncheplak/Connect with Real Estate Team OS→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/

We’re kicking off the calendar year in a familiar way on Real Estate Team OS - with Lauren Bowen sharing practical tips on lead sources and lead conversion for the third year in a row!A thoughtful and generous expert on this topic, Lauren now serves as SVP of Lead Generation and Conversion for LPT Realty. In the role, she consults with teams of all sizes. In this episode, she shares what she’s learning and teaching!For 2026, Lauren delivers for you a simple process to improve lead conversion and ROI, the most common issues she sees in the databases of small, medium, and large sized teams, specific tech recommendations by team size, the what, who, why, and how of “living in the leads,” and other ways to drive big results with incremental improvements.Watch or listen for the Jon Cheplak-inspired mantra: tiny hinges swing big doors.Watch or listen for Lauren’s insights into:The value of getting clear on your purposeHow she developed an expertise in lead sources and lead conversion, one small step at a timeA simple process to improve lead follow up (do this right now)Why and how she became SVP of Lead Generation and Conversion with LPT Realty after a decade with Robert Slack Real Estate The most common issue when she gets into a team leader’s CRM and database and how to solve it (note: the ROI of PPC)Primary issues team leaders and ops leaders face by team sizeSpecific tech for retargeting, texting, database, and accountability by team sizeThe what, who, how, and why of “living in the leads”What’s never changed about lead conversion in the decade she’s been in the businessAt the end, learn about Magic basketball, frivolous chickens, and physical books.Mentioned in this episode:→ Ep 011 Lauren Bowen on 16 Lead Sources for 800 Agents https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/lauren-bowen-robert-slack-coo-lead-sources-team-leaders → Ep 051 Lauren Bowen on Lead Quality vs Lead Quantity https://www.realestateteamos.com/episode/real-estate-lead-source-quality-quantity-lauren-bowen-robert-slack → Techtember and Julia O’Buckley: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJiXNo93cVoSlXhdFv_RC9V8G5tUw1QX → FUBCON Sessions and Jon Cheplak: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLCJiXNo93cVopyNz34nrcV-kVacpWjvAmConnect with Lauren Bowen:→ Email: Lauren.Bowen at LPT dot com→ Call or text: (352) 843 3434Connect with Real Estate Team OS:→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/

This week, you’ve got two episodes in one! Both were recorded live on stage at Unlock by Zillow in November 2025. The first half takes you inside Hiller Group on Florida’s Emerald Coast and Opt Real Estate in Portland, Oregon.MARK HILLERFinding and empowering the right person allowed Mark to double production as a solo agent, start a real estate team, and set it up to scale. He shares lessons from that person and process, explains how he preserved profits as his housing market slowed to a halt, and gives you specific tips for working successfully with virtual assistants.Go inside Hiller Group, a 12-agent, 5-staff, 8-VA team in Niceville, Florida.Watch or listen for insights from Mark on:What allowed him to double his transaction count and start his teamSpecific things his Director of Operations did to set them up to double agent count without adding any additional costHow they successfully integrated 8 VAs into their organization and how they’re taskedWhy quarter-to-quarter planning makes more sense for his team than annual planningHow he preserved profit while losing 100 transactions as the housing market halted back in 2022A top takeaway for you: “You can’t scale chaos. Get your people aligned and watch the business become fun again.”His top takeaway from Unlock (standards!)DREW COLEMANOpt Real Estate is a 100-person company on pace to for 1,000 transactions and more than $500M in sales. But for Founder Drew Coleman, that’s not a goal - it’s an outcome of a dedication to “fabled service” for agents and their clients.Be sure to listen for a great Olympics metaphor that serves as an important reminder and even a caution about recruiting and retention!Watch or listen for insights from Drew on:His goal of becoming “the best brokerage that’s ever existed,” how it’s like a team, and what “best” meansWho’s successful in the Opt systemThe transformative nature of FUB’s open API and how tools like Sisu, Rokrbox, StackWrap, and HouseWhisper helpThe value of in-house and offshore talentWhat they walk agents through for annual business planningAn AI solution they’re working on for 2026A top takeaway for you: “Success requires two things: a path for agents to grow and a culture that fuels, not drains, their momentum.”His top takeaway from Unlock (Zillow Pro!)Team Bot (free, always on):→ https://realestateteamos.com/botConnect with Mark Hiller:→ https://www.instagram.com/markhillerflConnect with Drew Coleman:→ https://www.instagram.com/drewcoleman→ (503) 351 3739Connect with Real Estate Team OS→ https://www.realestateteamos.com→ https://linktr.ee/realestateteamos→ https://www.instagram.com/realestateteamos/

Join Alexis and Tom Nickley, dynamic co-leaders of a thriving Orlando real estate team, as they dive into their unique culture and innovative strategies. They explore the bold shift from sales to leadership, share insights on nurturing agent success, and emphasize the importance of core values and accountability. Jen Stauter discusses scaling her Wisconsin team, the significance of her new Agent Success Coordinator role, and her innovative approach to training and recruiting. Together, they shine a light on the future of real estate with a focus on growth and support.

Matt Croteau, team leader at The Fernandez Group, shares insights on integrating technology with a human touch in real estate. He highlights best practices for leveraging AI in communications while maintaining personal connections. Learn about essential features of Follow Up Boss and specific automations that enhance lead engagement. Matt also discusses the importance of solid team culture, the balance between AI and personal touch, plus techniques for effective time management. His tips on using Custom GPTs for lead conversion are a game changer!

Matteo Zingales, Director of Operations at Team Zingales Realty, transitioned from architecture to real estate, crafting operations for a family-owned brokerage. He emphasizes the importance of clarity, alignment, and accountability in teams. Matteo shares the intricate process of turning a real estate team into an independent brokerage, using documented processes and tech stacks like FollowUpBoss and monday.com. He discusses the value of constructive criticism and strategic onboarding, along with plans for future growth and team collaboration.

Marissa Canario, a real estate leader and founder of Apex Realty Group, shares her journey from insurance to opening 168 markets. She emphasizes the importance of obsessing over agent and client experiences as drivers of success. Marissa unveils her segmented onboarding process, ensuring continuous engagement and communication. She discusses the signs for market expansion readiness and shares insights on leveraging mergers and acquisitions to streamline growth. With a keen focus on adapting coaching styles, she highlights the necessity of in-person connections while utilizing AI for efficiency.

Join Brad Nix, co-founder of Path & Post, as he dives into the world of real estate teams and independent brokerages. With a background in building a 30-person team-brokerage, he shares insights on transitioning from franchise limitations to independence. Discover the importance of a growth mindset in leadership, values-driven hiring, and innovative onboarding processes. Brad emphasizes making decisions based on core values and how focusing on client experience can transform transactions into life-enriching transitions.

Sam Khorramian, the founder of Big Block and a real estate entrepreneur, shares his journey from fix-and-flip investor to leading one of the largest real estate teams in the U.S. He discusses the power of 'pigheaded determination' and how it fuels his leadership. Sam details his innovative $300/month, 100% commission model that attracts agents and highlights creative strategies for no-money-down business acquisitions. His insights into targeting non-RESPA businesses and the benefits of roll-ups reveal why now is a prime time to invest in 'boring' industries.