46 Yrs in Real Estate: Hustle, Faith & Honest Marketing w/Jim Manderfield | Michael & Ryley Podcast

Описание: If you think real estate is just “liking houses” and posting on Instagram, this episode will wreck that idea—in a good way.

In this episode of the Michael & Ryley Podcast, I sit down with Jim Manderfield of Iowa Realty, a veteran realtor with 46 years in the business, to talk about what actually matters in real estate today:
Why social media can make average agents look like “superstars”
How word of mouth and long-term relationships still win
Why some agents won’t invest in professional media or training
How emotional sellers and “yes-man” agents hurt their own results
What new agents MUST understand about work ethic, hours, and commitment
Where high-quality photos, video, and strategy truly change outcomes

Jim shares real stories—from flea-infested houses and hoarder homes to multi-generation clients and faith journeys sparked by a YouTube video. We also dig into:
The shift from the 1980s 13–18% interest rates
The COVID “anything sells” market of 2020–2021
Today’s tougher, slower market and what serious agents are doing differently

From my side, I talk about:
Starting my real estate media business during COVID
Shooting 7–10 listings a day in 2021
Learning advanced lighting and flambient techniques
Raising my prices, losing some clients, and being ghosted instead of getting honest feedback
Why I push agents to get on camera, use video, and think long-term about their brand

If you’re:
A home seller or buyer wondering how to choose a realtor
A realtor who wants real talk about hustle, media, and long-term success
Or a new agent trying to figure out if you’re really cut out for this industry
…this conversation will give you both perspective and practical advice.

00:00 – Why this podcast exists & introducing Jim
01:21 – How one YouTube video led to a home purchase (and a faith story)
02:50 – Passing the torch: Jim’s partnership with Matt & 46-year career
05:39 – Social media vs substance: agents who “look good” but don’t serve well
08:22 – My journey into real estate media & underpricing my work
11:20 – COVID, courses, and shooting 7–10 homes a day
12:37 – Upgrading technique, flambient lighting & raising prices
13:46 – Losing clients, ghosting, and craving honest feedback
16:01 – Teams, hustle, and why some agents avoid the grind
19:06 – Non-negotiables in a listing: motivated, teachable sellers only
20:03 – 2020–2021 vs today’s market: interest rates, inventory, and reality
21:10 – Knowing when to walk away from a listing (and why that’s healthy)
22:07 – Yes-men agents, emotional sellers & the danger of overpricing
22:52 – Two real examples of overpriced, emotional listings that sat
24:30 – Timing strategies: when agents choose to go live (and why)
25:32 – Why I’m more than “just a photographer” for my clients
26:25 – Pushing agents into video & out of their comfort zone
27:33 – Why most agents don’t invest in media, training, or themselves
29:03 – Phone photos, bad technique & educating agents on quality
31:25 – Portfolio consistency vs “one and done” transactional thinking
33:22 – Relationship-based business vs disappearing after closing
34:38 – Social media sizzle vs the reality of the work
34:55 – How working with Matt keeps Jim adapting and learning
36:15 – Seasonal slowdown, price reductions & pulling listings for holidays
37:27 – Craziest things Jim has seen at showings (fleas & hoarders)
37:57 – Jim’s advice for new agents in today’s tough market
39:25 – The truth about hours, sacrifice & what success really costs
41:23 – Working through hard markets so you’re ready when it turns
42:03 – Why this podcast exists & final thoughts

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