Growth Drivers

Mike & Rachael Novak
  • 5.0 (12)
  • BUSINESS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Mike & Rachael Novak run the #1 real estate team in Everrett, WA. They mentor hundreds of agents & have sold 1,000+ homes in their career.  Join Mike & Rachael as they discuss how to drive GROWTH in business, relationships, fitness & more 📈

  1. 12/23/2025

    What Kills a Listing Before it Hits The Market

    Most sellers think the listing starts when it goes live. Wrong. Your listing is either winning or dying months before it ever hits the MLS. Because buyers don’t “tour” your home. They hunt for reasons to disqualify it. And the second your house feels sketchy, messy, or slapped together… They’re out. This episode is the no-BS walkthrough of what silently murders your sale before it starts. WHAT WE COVER THE “LIPSTICK ON A PIG” PROBLEM Random paint blotches. Bad patches. Weird texture. If you touch up paint like an amateur, you just told buyers you’re hiding something. Paint the whole wall. Corner to corner. Top to bottom. YOUR NOSE KNOWS If you get smacked by air fresheners the second you walk in… That’s not “fresh.” That’s a cover-up. Cat, smoke, mildew, mold, soaked carpet padding. You don’t mask it. You remediate it. THE SMALL CLUES THAT SIGNAL BIG PROBLEMS Doors that stick. Doors that don’t latch. One door? Settling. Multiple doors? Now we’re talking foundation, movement, and real money. THE “PATCHWORK HOUSE” TURN-OFF New flooring in one random spot. Four different floors in one hallway. Mulch stacked up against siding. Painted-over caulking. These aren’t always deal breakers. But stacked together? It screams: neglected house. THE STUFF THAT LOW-KEY DESTROYS SHOWINGS Personal photos everywhere. Trendy word decor. Religious or polarizing displays. Countertops packed with gadgets. Oversized furniture crammed into rooms. Souvenir collections and magnet-covered fridges. Here’s the truth. Buyers can’t picture themselves in your home when your home feels like your life. Your job is to remove distractions so the house becomes the hero. THE ACTION PLAN THAT ACTUALLY WORKS Remove 30–50% of your stuff. Clear horizontal surfaces. Neutralize the entire vibe. Stop hiding issues with cheap shortcuts. And if you’re smart… Get a seller inspection months before you list. Build the handyman list early. Walk into the market with receipts, not excuses. THIS IS THE CORE MESSAGE A well-maintained home sells faster. Sells smoother. And sells for more. Because buyers pay for peace of mind. They want turnkey. Not your unfinished DIY projects and hidden problems. If you’re planning to sell in Snohomish County in the next 3–9 months… This episode can literally be worth tens of thousands. Don’t wing it. Don’t guess. Don’t “hope” it works. Fix it before the market punishes you. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    29 min

  2. 12/09/2025

    The Leadership Season Most People Waste

    December separates leaders from drifters. When the world coasts, you compound. Keep it simple, stay ruthlessly consistent, and you’ll start January already moving. Core Idea Q1 is built now. Real estate runs on ~90-day cycles. What you do in Nov/Dec becomes your Feb/March checks.Don’t launch new projects. Double down on the few moves that already work. Business — Market-Share Grab Your December play: Daily (60–90 min): CRM follow-ups, speed-to-lead, appointment setting. No skipping.Weekly: Pipeline audit, listing prep checklists, offer/escrow negotiations, refresh ad copy and action plans (not platforms).Absolutely not: Changing CRMs, “going dark,” starting shiny new initiatives.Micro-targets (per weekday): 30+ outbound conversations2+ nurtures moved forward (appt set / LO intro / CMA delivered)1 new face-to-face set (buyer consult or listing appt)Scoreboard (track daily): Conversations | Appts Set | Appts Held | New Escrows | New Listings Body — Discipline Through Holidays Rules of engagement: Non-negotiables: Train, steps, protein, water, sleep.Indulgence window: Enjoy the holiday meal, not the weekend. Back on plan next meal.Party protocol: Eat a clean meal beforehand, pick 1–2 “treat” items, keep alcohol low, hydrate.Weekly checklist: 4–6 training sessions | 8–10k+ steps/day | 7+ hrs sleep | log intake 5+ days Balance — Presence Over Presents Lead at home: Schedule weekly date night (do not cancel).Block two device-free family windows each week.Say no to low-value events so your people don’t get the leftovers version of you. Simple wins: One family ritual (game, walk, cocoa & lights) | One 1:1 with each kid Being — Anchor Your Spirit Daily 10–15 minutes: Gratitude (3 specifics), short prayer/meditation, 3 lines of reflection.Keep your identity and standards intact while the calendar gets noisy.14-Day December Sprint (repeat to New Year) Mon–Fri: 60–90 min power hour (CRM + dials), train, log food, family block.Sat: 30–45 min pipeline clean-up + active clients; light cardio; date night.Sun: 20-min weekly plan, meals/gym times set, gratitude stack.Success criteria (per 14 days): 10+ set appts | 2+ signed (listing or buyer) | All actives touched twice weekly | Training hit 10–12 sessions | 2 date nights | 14 being blocksDon’t Do List (non-negotiable) Don’t switch systems/platforms in Q4.Don’t “wait for January” to start habits.Don’t ghost your phone/clients.Don’t let one off-plan meal become a 4-day slide. Lead now. Keep it simple. Stack small wins daily. You’ll roll into January fresh, funded, and already ahead. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    19 min

  3. 12/09/2025

    The Proven Buyer Consultation Responsible for a 95% Signing Rate

    Core Idea Most agents used to “wing it” with buyers. No clear expectations. No defined process. No value explained. The consultation fixes that. It establishes you as the professional, sets agency + compensation expectations early, and creates a clean, repeatable path from first call → signed agreement → showings → offer. Why Agents Freaked Out in 2024 Buyers were used to the idea that “the buyer doesn’t pay the agent,” so agents never built the muscle of explaining value.Buyer agency became formal, and agents suddenly had to articulate: what they do, how they protect the buyer, and how they get paid.The 5 Moves That Make This Consultation Work 1) Explain the Point of the Meeting (So They Show Up) You must clearly answer: “Why are we meeting?”Your 3-point script: “I’m going to walk you through the home-buying process.”“I’m going to explain what’s happening in the market so you know what to expect.”“We’re going to get crystal clear on what you want—must-haves, nice-to-haves, and location—so we don’t waste time.”“Does 4:00 or 5:00 tomorrow work better?”  Not: “How does that sound?” or “Would you find value in that?”2) Build Trust and Authority Before You Even Meet Send two short videos immediately after booking  Video 1: The buying process overview (so they hear it twice and feel prepared).Video 2: “Why work with me?” (your differentiation in plain language).Differentiators to highlight (even if you’re solo, you can “duct tape” this with partners): Showings covered even when you’re unavailable (coverage partners).A client home-search system/app + alerts.Transaction coordination support (TC or partner TC).Strong lender + vendor relationships.7-days-a-week availability via leverage.3) Dial In a Buyer Guide That Drives the Close The key pages: Buying roadmap (phase-by-phase).Agency explained (buyer agent vs listing agent, and how representation works).Why not to go to open houses alone (listing agent leverage).Closing costs (what buyer pays vs what seller pays).“Next Steps” page (this is your bridge to signing).Your close is simple: “The next step is deciding to work together. Would you like me to be your agent?” 4) Follow a Tight Timeline (Structure Prevents Rambling) A clean structure keeps it professional and repeatable: First 5–10 minutes: connect, ask questions, learn their story (don’t open the packet yet).Next 20–30 minutes: buyer guide (go deepest on the roadmap and immediate next steps).Last 5 minutes: sign + next steps.5) Move Fast After the Consultation (Momentum = Commitment) The consult isn’t the finish line. It’s the launch. Set up search + add them to your “active buyer” list.Connect them with a lender (or confirm pre-approval).Start sending listings multiple times per week.For hot buyers: get BCC’d on their alerts so you see homes the second they hit and can text instantly.Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    22 min

  4. 12/02/2025

    The 3 Things That Will Make or Break Your Listing in 2025

    You don’t out-market bad pricing. Nail price first—then these three levers multiply results: staging, elite photos, and a true digital campaign. 1) Staging (or Virtual Staging) Staged homes sell higher; empty rooms feel cold and confusing.Options: soft stage (optimize owner’s furniture + textiles), full stage (vacant key rooms), or virtual stage (minimum for any vacant space).Strategy: set expectations on rental terms (30–60 days). Consider: agent covers initial term; seller covers renewals.Pro tips: keep the heat on; stage primary living, kitchen, owner’s suite; virtual stage secondary bedrooms. 2) Next-Level Photography (not iPhone, not “family photographer”) Hire a real-estate pro: proper lenses, multi-exposure/bracketing so interiors + window views read clean.Camera height ≈ eye level; no low angles that turn counters into walls.Always add aerials for lot/amenities context.Include a floor plan (place as photo #2 or #3 so buyers actually see it). It pre-qualifies showings and reduces tire-kickers.Tested stance: skip Matterport in this market—virtual nitpicking kills showings; emotion happens in person. 3) Digital-First Marketing (paid, not “post and pray”) Build a dedicated property site and drive paid traffic (YouTube, Meta, Google). Organic reach is dead.The formula: more targeted digital eyeballs → more showings → more offers—if price and presentation align.Sync visuals + copy across channels; the first showing happens online.Quick Wins (Seller Checklist) Price with current comps; you can’t fix wrong price with photos.Approve a staging plan (at least virtual for vacant). Heat on during market time.Demand pro photo + drone + floor plan. Review shot list before shoot.Ask where ad dollars will be spent, the audience, and weekly reporting cadence.Agent Ops (Process You Can Steal) Staging SOP: options matrix, cost/term policy, renewal script.Photo SOP: approved shooters, angle/height spec, mandatory drone + floor plan, gallery order (hero → key rooms → yard → floor plan).Marketing SOP: property site build, ad budgets by channel, weekly analytics report to seller. Get price right. Stage the story. Shoot it like a magazine. Pay to put it in front of the right buyers. That’s how you win—consistently. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    22 min

  5. 11/25/2025

    What Moves to Make Now to Smash 2026

    Stop waiting for January. Start now. This episode is your straight-line plan to roll momentum into the new year and keep it there—simple, focused, ruthless execution across Body, Being, Balance, and Business. You’ll learn exactly how to: Set 2026 the right way: three meaningful goals per domain (Body, Being, Balance, Business) that still matter 12 months from now—no softballs, no fantasies. Build process > outcome: convert big targets into weekly boxes (calls, workouts, steps, check-ins, content)—the stuff that makes results inevitable. Keep goals in your face: calendars, time blocks, weekly reviews—no more “file drawer” goals. Run the 80/20 play: kill busywork, double down on the 20% that drives 80% of your closings. Simplicity scales. Make body the anchor: schedule training like an appointment with yourself; discipline here infects every domain—in a good way. Win the holidays without blowing Q1: enjoy the meals, don’t shoot all four tires. Moderate, reset, move. Pre-book recovery & pressure: lock every-90-day trips and every-45-day mini-getaways to create urgency and protect family time. Find and fix skill gaps: measure truth (ratios, conversion, units), upgrade sales language, and train what’s actually weak. Install accountability: coach, peer check-ins, financial stakes—whatever makes you show up. Tighten money now: holiday budget, track spend, cut leaks, start 1/1 clean instead of in a hole. No secrets. No hacks. Just the moves that compound. Listen. Write it down. Start today. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    33 min

  6. 11/11/2025

    Buy Smarter: Slow Down, Structure the Deal, Build Wealth

    Everyone wants to sprint to showings. Pros slow it down. Your job isn’t to open doors—it’s to protect clients from bad decisions and engineer the best long-term outcome. In this episode we hammer five buyer truths: Pump the brakes: read the room (especially couples). If one partner’s “meh,” keep looking. No settling just to end the search.Dollars Off vs. Dollars Back: $10K off price saves ~$70–80/mo. A seller credit can fund closing costs, a rate buydown (2-1 or permanent), or even knock out PMI—often a bigger win.Cash Planning, not Cash Draining: split funds into three buckets—down payment, closing costs, improvements/move—then use seller credits to keep more cash in your pocket day one.Right offer structure beats “deal fever”: full price + big credits can be smarter than a lower price with no credits, especially if it transforms the monthly payment.Stop waiting for a giant down payment: renters—get in the game. Use zero/low-down options, buy a starter, stack equity, then move up. That’s how you reach the dream home without wrecking your cash flow. Agents: coach this process with confidence. Buyers: structure the deal to serve your payment, your runway, your future equity. Listen. Take notes. Execute the plan. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    23 min

  7. 11/04/2025

    5 Mistakes We Made As New Agents

    We did 79 deals our first year—and still screwed up. Today we rip open the playbook and tell you exactly what we’d do differently so you can scale faster, cleaner, and with way more profit. You’ll learn: Paid Leads Trap: why leaning too hard on ads without skills/systems nukes cash flow—and the smarter 50/50 mix (PPC + sphere/open houses).PCSOI Neglect: the cost of not systematizing past clients & sphere—birthdays, home anniversaries, monthly market videos, quarterly mailers, small-but-mighty client events.Hiring Too Late: how delaying an assistant stalls production; when to hire (1–2 deals/month trend + 6 months salary saved) and what to offload first.Team Mirage: big headcount, tiny profit. The “micro-team” model (assistant, showing partner, listing coordinator) that can net 7-figures without the chaos.No Financial Controls: the silent killer. QuickBooks, chart of accounts, daily 10-minute cost-coding, tax buckets (35–40%), true cost per closing, subscription audits.This isn’t theory. It’s scar tissue.  Steal the systems, skip the pain, and build a business that actually pays you. Listen. Implement. Level up. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    17 min

  8. 10/28/2025

    The 5 Systems You Need to Have in Place for Your Active Listing Process

    Listings aren’t “set it and forget it.” Not in this market. If you want fewer cancels, calmer sellers, and faster contracts, you need real systems, not vibes. In this episode, Mike & Rachael lay out the 5 non-negotiables: Showing Feedback System:  Pre-showing texts, tight surveys, weekly compiled reports. Raw, unfiltered feedback your sellers can’t ignore.Marketing Accountability Report:  Prove the push. Views, clicks, watch time, CTR, site traffic, delivered every 1–2 weeks. If buyers see it and don’t show… its price or product.Weekly Comp Analysis:  Same criteria, every week. Track actives, pendings, price drops, and solds so the data tells the story—not your opinion.Expectation Framework:  Set barometers up front: showings per week and average DOM. If you’re not tracking both, you have a pricing problem.Price-Move Protocol:  Know when to cut, how much to cut, and when to wait. Time reductions around seasonality, avoid going stale, and reset strategically when needed.Agents: steal the playbook. Sellers: this is how you stay in control when the market isn’t. Listen. Implement. Stabilize your listings. Want more real talk like this? ✅ Join our Weekly “Wednesday Warrior” Newsletter Get strategies, mindset shifts, and tactical moves that help you win in business without losing your life. Subscribe Now 💪 Want to be Mentored by Rachael and Mike? Lock arms with us at REAL Brokerage 🔥 Step Into the Warrior Agent Coaching Movement Because working 80 hours a week isn’t the flex you think it is. Build the systems. Get the support. Have it all. Join the Movement

    22 min
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5
out of 5
12 Ratings

About

Mike & Rachael Novak run the #1 real estate team in Everrett, WA. They mentor hundreds of agents & have sold 1,000+ homes in their career.  Join Mike & Rachael as they discuss how to drive GROWTH in business, relationships, fitness & more 📈

Information

  • Creator
    Mike & Rachael Novak
  • Years Active
    2024 - 2025
  • Episodes
    50
  • Rating
    Explicit
  • Copyright
    © 2025 Growth Drivers
  • Show Website
    Growth Drivers