Make Yourself at Home

Deana Brummett
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Step into real estate with a host who truly knows it. With 18 years of experience since 2008 and millions in sales, she brings real-world insight to every episode. From Keller Williams to REMAX and now Coldwell Banker, Make Yourself at Home is a consumer-focused podcast offering clarity and confidence for buyers, investors, and the curious. Featuring nationwide experts, the show covers markets, legislation, investing strategies, and life in Charlotte—helping you make smarter decisions and maximize ROI.

  1. 2d ago

    Why Cleaning Won't Sell Your House | Tonia Bendickson Blooms, Bee Organized

    ‼️ Your house can be spotless and still sit on the market. What stops the sale is how much of you is still standing in the room. 📈 Deana Brummett has spent 18 years in Charlotte real estate across Keller Williams, RE/MAX and Coldwell Banker, and she has watched immaculate homes fail to move. One client's house looked like it came out of Architectural Digest. Every buyer said they loved it. Not one of them could picture their own life inside it. 🏡 Tonia Bendickson Blooms owns Bee Organized South Charlotte, and her fix starts before the cleaning does. Sort, purge, then pare back another 30 to 50 percent, because a buyer needs space to imagine themselves there. She also runs the harder conversation, the one about why paring back hurts. Clutter, in her experience, is a sign of grief nobody got around to processing. She held onto 1990s TV news suits for years because letting them go meant admitting that version of her was over. And she does not say downsize. She says right-size, because the couple who swore off 5,000 square feet, bought 1,500, and came back inside two years taught her the difference. 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett | Make Yourself at Home Podcast 👤 GUEST: Tonia Bendickson Blooms, Owner | Bee Organized South Charlotte Tonia Bendickson Blooms is the Owner of Bee Organized South Charlotte, leading a team of professional organizers who help clients simplify their homes. Drawing on her unique background as a former TV news anchor and ordained pastor, she brings a compassionate perspective to creating practical, sustainable organizing systems that reduce stress and support clients through life transitions. 🎙 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✔️ Getting a spotless house to actually sell by clearing what buyers cannot see past ✔️ Deciding what comes with you before the movers arrive instead of after ✔️ Right-sizing into a smaller home without regretting the number in two years ✔️ Keeping the memory while the object leaves the house ✔️ Capping decades of saved keepsakes at one bin per person ✔️ Staying organized on three rules instead of a system you quit in March ✔️ Unpacking with a purpose set for each room rather than by triage ✔️ Starting the project you have been avoiding with one drawer 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH TONIA BENDICKSON BLOOMS Website: https://beeorganized.com/pages/south-charlotte Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/toniablyon/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/toniablooms/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toniabendickson/ 👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT – Make Yourself at Home Podcast Website: https://athomeinthecarolinas.com/ Email: dee.brummett@cbcarolinas.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deebrummett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don't forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/ #MakeYourselfAtHome #DeanaBrummett #ToniaBendicksonBlooms #BeeOrganized #CharlotteRealEstate #CarolinasRealEstate #CharlotteRealtor #NorthCarolinaHomes #SouthCarolinaHomes #HomeBuyingTips #RealEstatePodcast #CLTRealEstate #HomeOrganization #Decluttering #RightSizing #SeniorMove

    Why Cleaning Won't Sell Your House | Tonia Bendickson Blooms, Bee Organized

  2. Aug 27

    Why Landlords Never Get a Day Off | Liat Arama, Keasy

    ‼️ There is no day off for a landlord. The only escape anyone sells you is a contract that takes your keys, your cash flow, and your decisions with it. 🏡 Liat Arama managed her own portfolio for 14 years before building the alternative. Keasy is a landlord concierge that answers tenant calls, handles repair coordination, and chases collections, while rent goes straight to the owner's bank and never touches Keasy's. More than 500 doors in the first year and a half. Her four-word operating rule: we execute, we don't decide. 📈 Deana Brummett brings 18 years of residential real estate across Keller Williams, RE/MAX, and Coldwell Banker, and pushes the conversation toward what she has watched happen in Charlotte real estate, where hedge funds buy entire communities and build neighborhoods of nothing but rentals. Liat's counter is that ownership only works when the person holding the keys keeps the decisions too. And that the asset was never the property. It was the tenant. 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett | Make Yourself at Home Podcast 👤 GUEST: Liat Arama, CEO & Co-Founder | Keasy Liat Arama is the CEO and co-founder of Keasy, a property management technology company. She brings over 14 years of hands-on property management experience and founded Keasy after firsthand experience as a landlord highlighted inefficiencies in traditional property management models. 🎙 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✔️ Keeping rent and expenses in separate lanes so cash flow stays yours ✔️ Recognizing the fee structure that pays your manager more when your bill climbs ✔️ Holding the tenant approval decision instead of handing it to a third party ✔️ Scaling past a handful of doors without signing a full-service contract ✔️ Reducing compliance exposure with address-level regulation checks ✔️ Cutting turnover through low-cost tenant relationships that actually work ✔️ Reading 2026 correctly, when costs rise and units sit longer before renting ✔️ Starting with real estate education instead of surrendering control 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH LIAT ARAMA Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/people/Keasyai/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keasy.ai/ LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/liat-arama 👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT – Make Yourself at Home Podcast Website: https://athomeinthecarolinas.com/ Email: dee.brummett@cbcarolinas.com LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deebrummett/ Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don't forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/ #MakeYourselfAtHome #DeanaBrummett #LiatArama #Keasy #CharlotteRealEstate #CarolinasRealEstate #CharlotteRealtor #NorthCarolinaHomes #SouthCarolinaHomes #HomeBuyingTips #RealEstatePodcast #CLTRealEstate #PropertyManagement #RentalProperty #RealEstateInvesting

    Why Landlords Never Get a Day Off | Liat Arama, Keasy

  3. Aug 19

    How to Scale a Real Estate Team & Win More Deals | Mark Ryan

    ‼️ Are you caught in the solo agent trap of doing everything yourself? 📈 Mark Ryan, Broker & Owner of The Mark Ryan Group, breaks down the blueprint for scaling a specialized real estate team. Learn how dividing client roles, conducting live transparent appraisals with sellers, and partnering with a dedicated lender can eliminate operational bottlenecks and net your clients higher returns. 🎙 WHAT YOU'LL LEARN: ✔️ Why specialized team roles deliver far better client experiences than solo practice ✔️ A collaborative pricing method that eliminates seller friction and sets realistic expectations ✔️ Weekend listing launch tactics designed to drive competitive offer situations ✔️ How single lender partnerships improve closing speeds and deal terms ✔️ Upfront buyer consultation frameworks that guarantee signed representation agreements 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett | Make Yourself at Home Podcast 👤 GUEST: Mark Ryan – Broker, Owner & Team Leader | The Mark Ryan Group (RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates) Mark Ryan is the Broker/Owner and Team Leader of The Mark Ryan Group at RE/MAX Victory + Affiliates, serving the Dayton and Cincinnati markets. A multi-year "Best of Dayton" winner, he leads a top-producing, family-driven real estate team specializing in residential sales, innovative marketing, and specialized client care. He also coaches agents and teams nationally on building scalable businesses and elevating their service. _____________ 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH MARK RYAN • Website: https://www.markryangroup.com/ • Email: mark@markryangroup.com • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/markryangroup/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/markryangroup • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/markryangroup/ 👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT – Make Yourself at Home Podcast • Website: https://athomeinthecarolinas.com/ • Email: dee.brummett@cbcarolinas.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deebrummett/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬 below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/

    How to Scale a Real Estate Team & Win More Deals | Mark Ryan

  4. Aug 13

    What Fire Captains See in Home Inspections That Most Miss

    ⚠️ Are you relying on a basic flashlight inspection to protect your home purchase? Charlotte Fire Captain and home inspector Jordan Steward joins host Deana Brummett to explain how emergency services training changes the way properties are evaluated. 🧯 In this episode, Jordan details why thermal imaging and drones are essential tools for finding hidden leaks, how to handle structural defects on new construction builds, and why proper moisture management stops mold before it starts. Get the insider perspective on protecting your property from the two biggest home destroyers: fire and water. 🎙 What you'll learn: ✔️ Why first-responder experience changes how inspectors evaluate property risks ✔️ How thermal imaging catches hidden plumbing leaks before drywall damage occurs ✔️ Common framing, electrical, and fire blocking mistakes in new builds ✔️ Practical hazmat insights for controlling moisture, mold, and indoor air quality ✔️ How clear inspection reports reduce buyer stress during negotiations 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett 👤 GUEST: Jordan Steward – Founder & Owner, Fireline Home Inspections Jordan Steward is a full-time Charlotte Fire Captain and the Owner of Fireline Home Inspections. Licensed in North and South Carolina, he leverages his background in emergency services and building construction to provide comprehensive residential and commercial inspections. _____________ 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH JORDAN STEWARD – Fireline Home Inspections • Website: http://firelinehi.com/ • Facebook: http://facebook.com/Fireline-Home-Inspections • LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/in/jordan-steward-021623163 • LinkedIn: http://linkedin.com/company/fireline-home-inspections 👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT – Make Yourself at Home Podcast • Website: https://athomeinthecarolinas.com/ • Email: dee.brummett@cbcarolinas.com • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deebrummett/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/

    What Fire Captains See in Home Inspections That Most Miss

  5. Aug 6

    Real Estate Scaling & High-Stakes Deals: Lessons from Pro Golf | Joey Lamielle

    ⛳ Former pro golfer and U.S. Open competitor Joey Lamielle breaks down how elite athletic discipline drives success in high-stakes real estate. In this episode, host Deana Brummett talks with Joey about the reality of flipping houses while on tour, why golf pressure pales in comparison to client conversations, and how turning down a bad deal generated an $11 million real estate portfolio. 🎙 What you will hear in this episode: ✔️ Transitioning from competitive sports to high-volume real estate ✔️ Protecting client interests over closing short-term commissions ✔️ Hidden valuation metrics inside private vs. public golf communities ✔️ Operational infrastructure needed to scale your investment portfolio ✔️ Leveraging land deals, AI, and creative financing in modern markets _____________ 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett 👤 GUEST: Joey Lamielle: Real Estate Advisor & Team Lead | Former Professional Golfer & Two-Time U.S. Open Competitor Joey Lamielle is a real estate advisor and team lead of The Lamielle Group at RE/MAX Alliance Group in Sarasota, Florida. A former professional golfer and two-time US Open competitor, he brings competitive discipline to his real estate practice. As a long-time Sarasota resident holding GRI, ABR, and SRS designations, he specializes in luxury, waterfront, and investment properties. _____________ 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH Joey Lamielle • Website: https://joeyl.remax.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/joeylamiellesarasotarealestate • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/joeylamiellerealestate/ 👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/

    Real Estate Scaling & High-Stakes Deals: Lessons from Pro Golf | Joey Lamielle

  6. Jul 30

    How to Sit in Your Dark, Rewire Your Brain, and Reclaim Your Life | Craig Sotkovsky

    💪 What if your greatest struggle became the reason you found your purpose? 🔑 Craig Sotkovsky returns to the show to share how surviving cancer transformed not only his health, but also his mindset, relationships, and approach to entrepreneurship. Through deeply personal stories, Craig explains why healing starts from within, how limiting beliefs keep us stuck, and why becoming the person you want to be is more powerful than simply chasing success. 🎙 In this episode, you'll learn: ✔️How cancer changed Craig's perspective on life and business ✔️Why healing your inner world changes your outer results ✔️The mindset shifts that help overcome limiting beliefs ✔️Daily habits that build resilience and gratitude ✔️Why true wealth is about who you become, not what you own 🎧 HOSTED BY: Deana Brummett 👤 GUEST: Craig Sotkovsky: Mindset Coach & Real Estate Investor | International Speaker & Author Craig Sotkovsky is an international speaker, mindset coach, and real estate investor with three decades of experience helping entrepreneurs reclaim their purpose. He inspires clients to break free from limiting beliefs and achieve authentic success, while also mentoring them in real estate investing as a pathway to financial freedom and legacy building. _____________ 👉🏻 CONNECT WITH CRAIG SOTKOVSKY • Website: https://www.craigsotkovsky.com/ • LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/craig-sotkovsky-001/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/myyucatan/ • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/craigsotkovsky/  👉🏻 FOLLOW DEANA BRUMMETT • Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ • Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas Don’t forget to LIKE 👍 SUBSCRIBE 🔔 COMMENT 💬below! 💎 Produced by Icons of Real Estate https://iconsofrealestate.com/

    How to Sit in Your Dark, Rewire Your Brain, and Reclaim Your Life | Craig Sotkovsky

  7. Jul 22

    How to Spot Expensive Home Problems Before You Buy

    🚀 Buying a home is one of the biggest financial decisions you'll ever make—and a home inspection can save you thousands of dollars. In this episode, home inspector Matt Balius, owner of Bolt Certified Home Inspection, shares how his unique background in construction and healthcare helps him uncover hidden defects that others might miss. From structural issues and electrical hazards to radon, thermal imaging, and common problems in brand-new homes, Matt explains what every buyer, seller, and real estate professional should know before closing. 🎧 Hosted by: Deana Brummett 👤 Guest: 🏡 Matt Balius – Owner & Certified Home Inspector, Bolt Certified Home Inspection Matt Balius is the owner of BOLT Certified Home Inspection. Combining a background in construction and medicine, he conducts highly detailed home inspections and provides comprehensive, easy-to-read reports. He holds numerous industry certifications and is actively working toward his Certified Master Inspector designation, prioritizing straightforward, high-quality service over upselling. 💡 What You'll Learn: ✔️ Why even brand-new homes should always have a home inspection ✔️ How thermal imaging and specialized tools uncover hidden problems ✔️ The biggest electrical, plumbing, and structural issues buyers should watch for ✔️ Why radon testing is one of the most important inspections you can order ✔️ How to interpret inspection reports without unnecessary fear or panic 🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights! 💼 Connect with Matt Balius: 🌐 Website → https://www.boltcertifiedhomeinspection.com/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61565865452570# 🎧 Follow Deana Brummett: 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

    How to Spot Expensive Home Problems Before You Buy

  8. Jul 16

    How to Buy a Home in Today's Market Without Overpaying

    🚀 Thinking about buying or selling a home in the Charlotte area? In this episode of Make Yourself at Home, host Deana Brummett sits down with Scott Byerly, a Charlotte native and experienced RE/MAX broker, to discuss the realities of today's housing market. From navigating changing interest rates and understanding buyer psychology to identifying hidden growth markets around Charlotte, Scott shares practical advice that every buyer, seller, and investor should hear. Whether you're purchasing your first home, upgrading to luxury real estate, or planning your next investment, this conversation is packed with valuable insights to help you make smarter real estate decisions. 🎧 Hosted by: Deana Brummett 👤 Guest: 🏡 Scott Byerly – Licensed Real Estate Broker | RE/MAX Executive Scott Byerly is a licensed real estate broker with RE/MAX serving the Charlotte and Harrisburg areas of North Carolina. A former American Red Cross professional, he leverages his deep local market knowledge and relationship-first approach to guide buyers and sellers through residential transactions across all price points. 💡 What You’ll Learn: ✔️ Why Charlotte continues to be one of the strongest real estate markets in the Southeast ✔️ How interest rates affect buyers—and why waiting may cost more than buying today ✔️ The biggest mistakes sellers make when pricing their homes ✔️ Hidden communities around Charlotte offering excellent long-term value ✔️ Why communication and relationships remain the most important part of every real estate transaction 🎵 Whether you're an investor, agent, or homebuyer, this episode offers valuable insights! 💼 Connect with Scott Byerly: 🌐 Website → https://sbyerly.remax.com/ 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/scott.byerly.remax 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/ScottByerlyREMAX 🔗 LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/scott-byerly-8409975/ 🎧 Follow Deana Brummett: 📷 Instagram → https://www.instagram.com/AtHomeintheCarolinas/ 📘 Facebook → https://www.facebook.com/HomeintheCarolinas 📌 Don’t Forget to LIKE 👍, SUBSCRIBE 🔔 & COMMENT 💬 Below!

    How to Buy a Home in Today's Market Without Overpaying
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About

Step into real estate with a host who truly knows it. With 18 years of experience since 2008 and millions in sales, she brings real-world insight to every episode. From Keller Williams to REMAX and now Coldwell Banker, Make Yourself at Home is a consumer-focused podcast offering clarity and confidence for buyers, investors, and the curious. Featuring nationwide experts, the show covers markets, legislation, investing strategies, and life in Charlotte—helping you make smarter decisions and maximize ROI.

Information

  • Creator
    Deana Brummett
  • Years Active
    2026
  • Episodes
    38
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Deana Brummett
  • Show Website
    Make Yourself at Home