What if your next real estate deal isn't coming from Instagram, Zillow, or another expensive lead source? What if it's already sitting in your phone?

In this episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim are talking about one of the most valuable assets in your real estate business: your database.

From client events and thoughtful follow-up to meaningful gifts, CRM systems, and staying connected long after closing, Meredith and Jenny share what they've learned about turning past clients into lifelong relationships and a consistent source of referrals.

They also get honest about the pressure to constantly find new business, why asking for referrals can feel uncomfortable, and how to stay top of mind without coming across as salesy.

Whether you're a newer agent building your database or an experienced agent looking to strengthen your referral business, this episode is a reminder that growth doesn't always mean finding more people. Sometimes it means taking better care of the ones you already have.

In this episode:

• Why your database might be more valuable than your social media following
• How to stay connected with clients without feeling salesy
• Client events and small gestures that make a lasting impression
• Using your CRM to build stronger personal relationships
• The importance of becoming a connector in your community
• How to generate more repeat and referral business
• Where to start if you haven't contacted your past clients in years

The Counter Offer is hosted by Austin real estate professionals Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim, sharing candid conversations about real estate, entrepreneurship, branding, and building a business that lasts.

Connect with us:

Meredith Alderson | @meredithalderson.heyday

Jenny Kim | @jennykimatx

Produced, written, and edited by Adam Walding | @adamwalding.heyday

Subscribe to The Counter Offer for more real conversations about building a better real estate business.

Can You Afford to List? The Costs Nobody Talks About

Everyone talks about what real estate agents make when a house sells. But nobody really talks about what it costs before that house even hits the market.

In this episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith and Jenny are pulling back the curtain on the real cost of taking a listing to market. From photography, staging, and marketing to the countless hours spent preparing a property, the investment can add up quickly. We're talking thousands of dollars before a single showing, with absolutely no guarantee of a sale.

So who's actually paying for all of this? What should sellers be prepared to spend? And which investments are really worth it?

We're sharing the expenses we've learned to prioritize, the costly mistakes we've made along the way, and the uncomfortable reality of what happens when a listing doesn't sell. Plus, we're going rapid-fire on everything from professional photography and staging to Instagram ads, printed brochures, and open houses.

Whether you're an agent trying to run a smarter business or a homeowner wondering what it really takes to sell, this is a conversation you don't want to miss.

Because getting a house on the market is one thing. Getting it sold is another.

ABOUT THE COUNTER OFFER

Hosted by Austin real estate agents Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim, The Counter Offer is an honest, unfiltered conversation about real estate, business, and everything that happens behind the deals. From industry insights and market trends to the realities of building a business, we're sharing what we've learned, what we're still figuring out, and everything in between.

MEET YOUR HOSTS

Meredith Alderson | Principal Agent, The Heyday Group

Instagram: @meredithalderson.heyday

Jenny Kim | Austin Real Estate Agent

Instagram: @jennykimatx

BEHIND THE PODCAST

Produced, Written & Edited by Adam Walding

Instagram: @adamwalding.heyday

Follow The Counter Offer for new episodes and conversations about the business of real estate, life, and everything in between.

Is the market actually bad, or does your strategy need to change?

In this episode of The Counter Offer, Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim break down what it really takes to sell a home in today’s real estate market. From pricing and days on market to showing activity, buyer feedback, price reductions, and seller expectations, they’re talking through the conversations agents need to be having right now.

Meredith and Jenny share what they’re seeing firsthand in Austin, why the strategies that worked a few years ago don’t always work today, and how agents can tell the difference between a true market challenge and a problem they can actually fix.

They get into what 20 showings with no offers could really mean, why meaningful buyer and agent feedback matters, when marketing can help and when it can’t, how to keep sellers engaged through a longer listing period, and why pricing and condition are still two of the biggest factors buyers are responding to.

Because you can’t control the market. You can control how you respond to it.

The Counter Offer is hosted by Austin real estate agents Meredith Alderson and Jenny Kim, bringing honest conversations about real estate, business, career growth, and what actually happens behind the deals.

Follow Meredith Alderson Instagram: @meredithalderson.heyday

Follow Jenny Kim Instagram: @jennykim_realestate

Produced, written, and edited by Adam Walding Instagram: @adamwalding.heyday

Subscribe to The Counter Offer for new episodes and follow along for more honest conversations about building a real estate business in today’s market.