
Built HOW
Welcome to the Built How Podcast
A podcast for the real estate industry.
Built HOW is a podcast dedicated to understanding the secrets behind how the most productive professionals in the real estate industry and beyond have built the businesses they have today.
Your hosts dive into the story behind these entrepreneurs' journey to the top and examine the innovative strategies they have used to build their influence and set themselves above the rest.
This podcast is made from a series of interviews taken from our live and virtual Built How events where Ben & Debbie dive into the strategies, systems, and models used by the very best to reveal how they built big real estate businesses.
We hope you enjoy this podcast and get tangible takeaways that you can put into practice in your business immediately.
Don't forget to leave a rating and review and If you would like to participate in one of our Built How events, just go to BuiltHow.com and you can register for our next event.
Latest episodes

Mar 12, 2024 • 26min
Dawn Burt - The Power of Building a Strong Network
Join host Lucas Sherraden as he interviews top real estate agent Dawn Burt from Navarre, Florida, on this episode of the Built How podcast. Dawn shares her journey from being a former military member to building a successful real estate team that sells nearly 200 units a year. She emphasizes the importance of surrounding yourself with the right people, implementing ideas, and maintaining a positive mindset. Dawn's focus on listings and providing value to her sphere of influence has been key to her success. Don't miss this inspiring conversation on building a thriving real estate business. Key Takeaways: Building relationships within your community can significantly boost your real estate business. Implementing advice from mentors and staying in constant learning mode can accelerate your career growth. Being selective in choosing clients based on mutual respect can enhance the service experience and lead to long-term success. Every conversation has the potential for lead generation if approached with the right mindset. Focus on obtaining listings and providing value through market reports for steady business in fluctuating markets. Connect with Dawn at https://www.teamburt.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Mar 7, 2024 • 27min
Kristen Meyer - The Importance of Building a Strong Team Culture
In this episode of the Built How podcast, host Lucas Sherraden welcomes Kristen Meyer, to share her journey from the music industry to rankings among the top realtors. The conversation reveals the makings of a successful real estate team and the significance of maintaining a vibrant and value-driven business culture. Meyer offers a candid glimpse into her transition from a decade-long music business career into real estate, attributing her initial industry success to a combination of luck and a supportive environment that championed the concept of business ownership and team cultivation. As a veteran with 19 years of experience, Meyer's narrative highlights the exhilaration of building her business, the strategic galvanization of her brand, and the nurturing of client relationships that form the core of her company's triumph. The second part of the conversation pivots to the more nuanced aspects of team leadership and culture preservation. Kristen discusses the challenges and rewards of evolving from a solo agent to a team leader. Listeners will take away a fresh perspective on industry shifts, the undiminished value of interpersonal connections, and the sometimes tough but essential task of fostering team camaraderie and coherence. Key Takeaways: Meyer's success is built on her ability to adapt from the cool music industry culture to the business environment of real estate while preserving her brand. The import of continuing education and the choice of brokerage can deeply influence a real estate career trajectory from the beginning. Building and maintaining a team is strongly tied to the concept of culture, ensuring a collective commitment towards a shared vision. Handling market fluctuations, as experienced from the Great Recession to present challenges, requires tenacity and an adaptive business approach. The joys of working in real estate come from the blend of professional passion and pleasure, where fun is an integral part of the journey. Connect with Kristen at https://www.sweetlivingrealty.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Mar 5, 2024 • 22min
Dave Berg - The Power of Collaboration: How Masterminds Can Propel Your Real Estate Business
Join host Lucas Sherraden as he interviews top agent Dave Berg on this episode of the Built How podcast. Berg shares his journey in real estate, from starting with just a few units to now closing 79 units a year. He discusses his strategies for lead generation, team building, and fostering relationships. Berg also highlights the importance of collaboration and masterminds in the industry. Don't miss this insightful conversation with a successful real estate leader. Key Takeaways: Effective leadership and providing continuous value are pivotal in cultivating a successful real estate team, as demonstrated by Dave Berg's experience. Starting and maintaining a mastermind group can significantly impact personal and professional development, fostering collaboration among industry peers. Creating strong relationships within the real estate community can bear fruit in unexpected and exponentially beneficial ways. Problem Button Plan and Rose Bud Thorn are methodologies that Dave applies for effective communication and strategy development within his team and during masterminds. Generosity and a service-first mindset, which Dave exemplifies, are core attributes that can drive success and reciprocity in the real estate industry. Connect with Dave at https://www.homesonthesound.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sin up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 29, 2024 • 25min
Nicole Canole - The Importance of Self-Development in Real Estate
In this episode of the Built How podcast, host Lucas Sherraden welcomes Nicole Canole to delve into the journey of building her successful real estate team. Nicole shares her experiences, the highs and lows of entrepreneurship, and the lessons learned from shaping a client-focused real estate business. From getting started in the industry to navigating partnerships and scaling operations, this conversation offers a transparent look into the challenging and rewarding aspects of growing a real estate team. Nicole candidly recounts the evolution of her business, from her early days as a rookie of the year to the tough decisions she made when partnerships did not align with her vision. Lucas and Nicole delve deep into the importance of listening to one's instincts, investing in personal and professional development, and the power of leading a team with love and empathy. This episode is rich with insights for anyone looking to build a robust and resilient team in the competitive field of real estate. Key Takeaways: Starting a real estate team involves not only business acuity but also an emphasis on personal relationships. Partnerships can make or break a business; alignment in vision and goals is crucial for a successful collaboration. Expansion and growth must be handled cautiously and mindfully, ensuring the business's infrastructure can support it. Emotional intelligence, self-awareness, and the ability to give oneself grace are essential traits for leadership. Leading with love and empathy can be a real estate leader's superpower, though it must be balanced with strategic business decision-making. Notable Quotes: "You listen to people when they tell you what they're going to tell you." - Nicole Canole "Learning how to connect with people and truly be there and self-regulation, emotional intelligence, really getting clear on all of that is going to make the biggest impact, not only on your business but on your life." - Nicole Canole "The more that you fail, the more that you're possibly going to succeed. The only reason why we've been able to succeed up to this point in our team's history is because I was willing to fail and just keep it moving." - Nicole Canole "Humans are inherently flawed. And whenever somebody is mean to you, it actually has nothing to do with you." - Nicole Canole "Just go and do it. And the more that you fail, the more that you're possibly going to succeed." - Nicole Canole Connect with Nicole at https://www.eastandivyhomes.com/ ----------0 Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 27, 2024 • 24min
Francesco Crisafulli - Breaking Records in Real Estate
Join host Jesse Garcia as he sits down with Francesco Crisafulli, the founder of Something About Santa Fe Realtors with Keller Williams Realty in the heart of Santa Fe, New Mexico. In this episode, Francesco shares his remarkable journey from a 20-year career in car sales to establishing a thriving real estate business that defied industry downturns. Despite challenging times, Francesco and his team achieved a record-breaking $33 million in sales volume in 2023, marking a significant milestone for their team. Tune in as Francesco reveals the secrets behind his success, the strategies he employed to build a million-dollar business within just five years, and the lessons he learned along the way. This episode offers invaluable insights for aspiring entrepreneurs and seasoned professionals alike, showcasing the power of determination, resilience, and innovative thinking in the competitive world of real estate. Connect with Francesco at https://www.sasfre.com/ ---------- VIsit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 22, 2024 • 27min
Gene Arant - Focus On Your Database
Gene moved to Austin at the age of ten and never left. He began his career in real estate after he and his wife and purchased their first home together. After that first transaction, Gene realized that he had a passion for real estate, and most notably, negotiating. Seven years after becoming a Texas REALTOR®, Genbe had the honor of launching and becoming part owner in the Lake Travis Market Center of Keller Williams Realty. They grew that office from a team of 5 to over 300 agents and growing. Gene then used that experience to hand-pick a select group of people to start the Gene Arant Team. Connect with Gene at https://www.austintexasrealestate.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 20, 2024 • 32min
Ramon Casaus - Be a Problem Solver
Ramon has sold over 1,700+ homes in the last 6 years and successfully built + scaled real estate teams across the Southwest . His real estate sales team has locations in Arizona, New Mexico, Colorado and California! Ramon is partnered with the Industry’s #1 real estate technology platform & community, PLACE. Ramon has had the opportunity to speak on some of the largest stages in the industry, collaborate with celebrities, and coach thousands of agents to financial freedom! Connect with Ramon at https://ramoncasaus.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 15, 2024 • 32min
Vernoica Figueroa - Creating Deeper Relationships
Veronica Figueroa is an award-winning Real Estate influencer, keynote speaker, and known for her vivacious personality. Veronica leads the #1 Team for Homes Sold in EXP - The Figueroa Team. Veronica regularly engages with other team leads to share her unique techniques that fuel her teams' success. As a result, the Figueroa Team continues to scale and grow as one of the nations' leading teams serving 2,000+ families and clients in 2021 and over 646 million in sales volume. Veronica has sat on Zillows Advisory Board since 2016. She has been named an Inman Influencer, and in 2017, The Figueroa Team won The Most Innovative Team of the Year by Inman for their bold partnership with the I-Buyer movement and Instant Offers. As a Keynote Speaker, Veronica has shared the stage with many influencers, with one of her highest achievements being her most recent interview with Venus Williams at eXpcon 2021. Veronicas' true passion is to inspire and help others with directional wisdom and to amplify their communication, connection, and confidence to run a successful real estate business. She mentors passionately, guiding her clients to strengthen and elevate their leadership vision to new heights. She will inspire you to take action and become the leader you were always meant to be! Connect with Veronica at https://www.thefigueroateam.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next lived or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 13, 2024 • 24min
Shannon Schmitz & Morgan Smith - Building Empires
In this inspiring episode, Jesse Garcia engages in a captivating conversation with Shannon Schmitz and Morgan Smith, the dynamic co-founders of the Schmitz & Smith Group based in Austin, TX. In 2023 alone, the group accomplished an impressive feat, closing 80 transactions with a staggering $60 million in sales volume. Tune in to discover the secrets behind their success, from fostering an incredible team culture rooted in a hive mentality to their unwavering commitment to helping each other succeed. Learn how this powerhouse partnership thrives through strategic division of tasks, unwavering focus on its mission, and a genuine passion for giving back to the community. Join us for an episode filled with insights, inspiration, and the blueprint for creating a thriving real estate empire. Connect with Shanon & Morgan at https://www.austinportfoliorealestate.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network

Feb 8, 2024 • 26min
Jamie Estes - The Power of Relationships
In this episode of the Built How podcast, host Lucas Sherraden interviews Jamie Estes, a successful real estate agent and team leader. Jamie shares his journey in the industry, starting with property management and transitioning into real estate sales. He discusses the importance of building a team and leveraging the strengths of others to achieve success. Jamie emphasizes the value of deep relationships and personalized service in a digital age. He also shares his insights on the future of real estate and the need for a return to more personal, face-to-face interactions. Key Takeaways: Building a team and leveraging the strengths of others can lead to exponential growth in real estate sales. Deep relationships and personalized service are crucial in a digital age where technology can sometimes hinder genuine connections. Partnerships and collaboration can enhance the client experience and help agents achieve more together. Focusing on small touches and thoughtful gestures can have a lasting impact on clients and build long-term relationships. Real estate professionals should prioritize face-to-face interactions and genuine connections to stand out in a crowded market. Notable Quotes: "Having a partner made me show up. I can let myself down quicker than anybody, but I'm not going to let you down." - Jamie Estes "We need to go back to 1970, where we have to go door to door, be in a relationship, know about their kids, know about their wants. The small things will matter." - Jamie Estes Connect with Jamie at https://www.bktcentralmissouri.com/ ---------- Visit www.builthow.com to sign up for our next live or virtual event. Part of the Win Make Give Podcast Network