Real Estate Re-Defined

Will Grimes and Eli Schmidt

Real Estate Re-Defined is the podcast where we cut through the noise and show you what it really takes to win in real estate today. Hosted by Eli Schmidt and Will Grimes — a Marine Corps veteran who brings a no-BS leadership approach — we share the strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that have helped us and countless other agents grow real, sustainable businesses. This isn’t about cold calling scripts or outdated tactics. We’re talking modern branding, social media, YouTube, automation, and the tools that actually get you in more conversations and help you close more deals. On top of that

  1. 07/02/2025

    Gene Volpe on AI, Real Estate, and Building a Business That Lasts

    In this episode of Re-Define, Will and Eli catch up with marketing pro Gene Volpe for a real, unfiltered conversation about how the business landscape has shifted post-COVID. Gene talks about why the pandemic forced him to double down on essentials, how AI is changing the game (but not replacing real strategy), and why most people still don’t understand how to use it. They break down what it takes to actually scale, what’s working in marketing today, and how Roof Max became a high-margin, low-maintenance business opportunity worth watching. 03:10 – Catching Up With Gene Vulpe A friendship forged in marketing and past episodes. 06:45 – COVID's Business Impact: The Silver Lining How the pandemic unexpectedly boosted Gene’s business and changed his focus. 14:20 – Real Estate Shut Down: PA vs. CO State-by-state chaos and the essential vs. non-essential debate. 21:00 – Post-COVID Mindset & Psychological Impact on Kids Gene opens up about family life during lockdown. 27:40 – Real Estate, Interest Rates & Artificial Inflation How rates and demand changed the game—and fooled some agents. 33:30 – Zoom Culture & The Remote Revolution Less windshield time, more productivity—and why Zoom dominates. 36:20 – The AI Explosion: Tools vs. Talk Gene breaks down how to actually use AI, not just talk about it. 44:05 – Real Estate + AI: The Human Advantage How Eli and Will are using AI to better serve clients without losing the human element. 51:30 – AI Prompting: Garbage In, Garbage Out Why quality questions matter more than ever with AI. 57:00 – AI in Real Estate Systems & Marketing Detailed look at embedding AI into CRMs, calls, emails, and campaigns. 1:04:00 – Trades Are the Future: A Message to Young Entrepreneurs Why HVAC and plumbing might just be the next tech wave. 1:09:10 – Roof Max: A Real Solution for Real Estate Gene explains his roof rejuvenation business and how it helps homeowners and agents. 1:19:45 – Real Estate Deals, Inspections, and the Roof Fix Gap How Roof Max fits into real-world deal-making and client satisfaction. 1:25:30 – 2025 Goals & the AI Marketing Overhaul Gene’s focus on AI, rebranding his agency, and making real passive income. 1:30:10 – Phillies, Football, and the “Brotherly Shove” Sports trash talk, Bryce Harper’s tears, and the love/hate with Philly fans. 1:37:00 – Where to Find Gene + Final Thoughts Gene shares how to connect and what’s next for him in business and life.

    56 min
  2. 05/07/2025

    Why we moved to LPT and Aperture

    In this episode, we break down why we made the move—one of us to LPT, the other to Aperture—and why we think it’s the best move for agents right now. We talk honestly about what wasn’t working at EXP, what LPT and Aperture are doing differently, and why leadership—not comp plans—is what actually matters most. We dive into everything from luxury branding, revenue share models, and marketing tech. We also talk about the kind of support agents actually need—and why most brokerages just aren’t providing it. If you're an agent who's been wondering whether to make a change, this episode’s for you. ⏱️ Chapter Timestamps 00:00 – Water company shoutout & intro banter 03:10 – Making the move: Who joined what brokerage 07:00 – The real difference between LPT & Aperture 10:40 – Revenue share meets luxury? Finally. 13:30 – Why leadership is non-negotiable 19:45 – The EXP struggle: Cool platform, no real support 25:00 – Real talk about marketing support for listings 32:00 – Flat-fee vs rev share models – pick what fits you 39:00 – “We’re not for everyone” – stop saying that 46:00 – Robert Palmer & why ownership matters 54:30 – The gatekeeper problem in EXP 1:03:00 – Integrity, trust, and putting agents first 1:09:00 – What’s next for Legit Agents and final thoughts Takeaways Leadership trumps comp plans. Every. Time. LPT gives agents options that don’t exist anywhere else. Aperture finally gives luxury agents a place to grow AND earn rev share. If you’re still doing everything yourself at your brokerage… why? Stop holding on to what’s familiar if it’s no longer serving you.

    43 min
4.8
out of 5
82 Ratings

About

Real Estate Re-Defined is the podcast where we cut through the noise and show you what it really takes to win in real estate today. Hosted by Eli Schmidt and Will Grimes — a Marine Corps veteran who brings a no-BS leadership approach — we share the strategies, systems, and mindset shifts that have helped us and countless other agents grow real, sustainable businesses. This isn’t about cold calling scripts or outdated tactics. We’re talking modern branding, social media, YouTube, automation, and the tools that actually get you in more conversations and help you close more deals. On top of that