Contracts & Chaos

Hosted by Alyssa Currier & Brenna Stebbins

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Episodes

157

Latest episode

Oct 2026

Language

EN-US

About the show

Contracts & Chaos is the place to hear about what's happening to fellow Realtors like you. That crazy seller, the buyer who left at closing; we talk about it. How to stay relevant and thrive in a down market? We discuss it. Alyssa & Brenna are Realtors located in the Charlotte and Hickory, NC market who have built their businesses in communities they are transplants in, without buying leads or joining mega teams to make it happen. They've beaten the odds during a pandemic and are here to share their stories, tips and advice on how to survive a down market or start your business from scratch.

Listen to episodes

60 recent

October 20, 202637 min

158: The Stuff You're Missing In MLS

We spend so much time making sure the MLS has the right square footage, bedroom count, bathroom count and list of features... but what if we're leaving out the part that actually makes someone care about the house? Because “one owner home” is a fact. But “this family moved here in 1988 because they wanted to be close to the mountains and built a life here” is a story. And those are two very different things. In this episode, we're talking about the stories hiding inside our listings and the missed opportunity to connect with buyers on the emotional side of the sale. The little details about why the sellers chose the home, what they loved about it, what happened there, and why they're ready for the next chapter. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

October 13, 202638 min

157: Holiday Business BEFORE The Holidays

If you’re waiting until December to start thinking about holiday marketing, we need to talk. 😂 The holidays are not the time to suddenly remember your database exists. They’re the time to stay connected to the people you’ve been building relationships with all year. In this episode, we’re talking about what you can be doing now to build your holiday marketing, stay top of mind through the end of the year, and set yourself up for a strong first quarter. Because the goal isn’t to cram 47 touches into December and call it a marketing plan. It’s to be intentional now so that when January rolls around, you’re not starting from zero. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

October 6, 202625 min

156: Things Our Clients Will NEVER Know

You know the whole duck on the water thing? Calm on top, absolutely booking it underneath. 😂 That’s basically real estate. Our clients see the showing, the offer, the inspection, the closing. What they don’t always see is the 47 little things happening behind the scenes to keep the whole thing moving. The phone calls. The follow-ups. The problem solving. The “let me make one more phone call” moments. The things we fix before they ever become a problem for our clients. This episode is all about the behind-the-scenes work that good agents do quietly, because sometimes the best sign that we’re doing our job is that our clients never knew there was a problem to begin with. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

September 29, 202621 min

155: The Last 5%

We spend SO much time talking about getting the client, getting the offer accepted, getting to closing... and then suddenly the transaction is over and everyone moves on to the next thing. But what if the last 5% of the transaction is actually where some of the biggest opportunities are? The closing table isn't the finish line. It's the beginning of the relationship you could have for years. Referrals, repeat business, reviews, staying connected, checking in, celebrating the new house... there is a whole lot that can happen after the commission has already hit your account. We're talking about the stuff agents tend to forget once the paperwork is signed and the keys are handed over, and why the agents who keep showing up after the transaction are the ones building something bigger than a pipeline of one-time clients. Because good agents close transactions. Great agents build careers. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

September 22, 202622 min

154: Gratitude - Finding The Good When The Market Is Tough

Let's be real, some seasons in real estate are just harder than others. When the market feels slow, deals fall apart, clients are frustrated, and your pipeline isn't looking quite how you hoped it would, it's pretty easy to get caught up in everything that's going wrong. In this episode, we're talking about gratitude, not in the cheesy "just be grateful!" way, but as a real tool for getting through the tough seasons of this business. We're talking about finding the wins when the numbers aren't where you want them, appreciating the clients who trust you, celebrating the conversations that don't immediately turn into closings, and remembering why we chose this crazy career in the first place. Because a hard market doesn't mean there isn't good happening. Sometimes you just have to slow down long enough to notice it. This one is a little reminder that you can want more for your business and be grateful for where you are right now. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

September 15, 202640 min

153: Unwritten Rules Of Real Estate

There are the rules you learn in real estate school... and then there are the rules you learn after someone shows up to an occupied home with their entire extended family. 😂 In this episode, we're talking about the unwritten rules of real estate and all the little etiquette things that can make a showing, open house, or transaction go a whole lot smoother. We're getting into showing etiquette, following instructions, being respectful of someone's home, open house do's and don'ts, communication between agents, and those little things that maybe aren't technically in the rule book... but absolutely matter. Because yes, we're all here to buy and sell houses. But we're also walking into people's homes, their personal spaces, and sometimes their very chaotic lives. So let's talk about how to be the agent, buyer, or seller we'd all want to work with. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

September 8, 202631 min

152: The 90 Day Sprint

The kids are back in school, summer is winding down, and suddenly we're looking at the calendar thinking... how is it already Q4?! 😂 Instead of panicking and trying to reinvent our businesses before the end of the year, we're talking about a different approach: 90 days of doing more of what we already know works. We're breaking down a simple 12-week plan focused on conversations, follow-up, staying visible, and taking really good care of the people already in our world. No new CRM. No rebrand. No chasing every shiny new lead gen strategy. Just the boring, relationship-focused work that actually moves the needle. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

September 1, 202639 min

151: Back To School Back To Business

The kids are back in school, the backpacks are everywhere, summer chaos is mostly behind us, and suddenly we're looking at the calendar like... wait, how is it already almost Q4?! 😂 In this episode, we're talking about that weird transition from summer mode back into business mode, and how to actually get your real estate business back into a rhythm without trying to do ALL THE THINGS at once. We're talking about getting your calendar under control, setting boundaries around showings and family time, getting back into consistent lead generation, and figuring out what really needs your attention between now and the end of the year. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

August 25, 202623 min

150: But Would You Actually Trade Places? The Comparison Game

It's so easy to look around this industry and think, "I wish I had their business." Their listings. Their social media. Their awards. Their life. But would you actually trade places with them? In this episode, we're talking about comparison, jealousy, and the highlight reel that social media loves to show us. Because while it's easy to admire someone else's success, we rarely stop to ask what came with it. The long hours. The sacrifices. The pressure. The season of life they're in. We're chatting about how success looks different for every agent. For one person, it's 100 transactions a year. For someone else, it's working four days a week so they never miss a softball game. Neither one is wrong. The danger isn't admiring someone else's success. It's chasing a version of success that was never yours to begin with. This episode is a reminder to stay in your own lane, celebrate other people without shrinking yourself, and build a business that fits the life you actually want to live. Because the goal isn't to have someone else's business. It's to build one you'd never want to trade. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna

August 18, 202647 min

149: What Disney, Bartenders & Nurses Know That Realtors Don't

What do Disney cast members, bartenders, and nurses have in common? They're masters at making people feel seen. In this episode, we're borrowing some of the best customer experience strategies from professions outside of real estate and talking about how they can completely change the way you serve your clients. Because let's be honest... Realtors spend so much time learning contracts, negotiations, and marketing that we sometimes forget this business is really about people. We're talking about what Disney can teach us about creating memorable experiences, why bartenders are experts at reading a room and setting expectations, and how nurses have mastered calm communication, empathy, and showing up for people during stressful moments. The funny thing is, none of these careers sell houses... but they all understand something that's easy to forget in real estate. People may not remember every detail of the transaction, but they'll always remember how you made them feel. Like what you heard? Make sure to follow and review the podcast, and shoot us a message with your thoughts at contractsandchaos@gmail.com @YourHomeGirl_CLT @Real.Life.Brenna