The Unfiltered Consumer Experience: Selling, Buying & Trusting the Process

What Consumers REALLY Think About Real Estate Agents

What do consumers actually think about real estate agents when they buy or sell a home? In this episode of Consumed, Lance Pendleton sits down with real consumers for honest, unscripted conversations about their experiences working with agents and the answers are eye-opening. You'll hear what buyers and sellers really care about, why Zillow and online portals dominate the search experience, how consumers evaluate trust, and what separates forgettable agents from truly valuable partners. The conversations also explore commission confusion, communication breakdowns, weak follow-up systems, and the growing expectation that agents should provide more than just access to listings. Most importantly, these consumers explain what made them feel supported, educated, and confident during the process and what made them question the value agents provide altogether. If you want to understand how consumers actually experience the real estate industry instead of just hearing what agents tell each other in sales meetings, this episode is essential listening. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative [https://twobrotherscreative.com/].

What Real Estate Agents Actually Need: The Industry Gap

What do real estate agents actually need to run a successful business and why does it feel like they're not getting it? In this episode of Consumed, Lance Pendleton sits down with three experienced agents from across the country to have an honest, unfiltered conversation about what's missing in today's real estate industry. From communication challenges and lack of meaningful support to misaligned brokerage values and the realities of running a solo business, this discussion pulls back the curtain on what agents are really dealing with day to day. The panel dives into the need for better systems, smarter support, and more alignment between agents and the companies they work under. They also explore the role of assistants, the difficulty of giving up control, and the growing gap between what brokerages promise and what agents actually receive. More than anything, this episode highlights a simple truth: great agents are already doing the hard work. It's the systems around them that need to catch up. Connect with Barbara Benotto: Website: https://barbarabenotto.com/ [https://barbarabenotto.com/] Email: barbara.benotto@compass.com [barbara.benotto@compass.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buywithbarbara/ [https://www.instagram.com/buywithbarbara/] Connect with Kelly Kozlowski: Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/kelly-kozlowski/ [https://www.compass.com/agents/kelly-kozlowski/] Email: kelly.kozlowski@compass.com [kelly.kozlowski@compass.com] Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kellykoz_denver/ [https://www.instagram.com/kellykoz_denver/] Connect with Lisamari Emery: Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/lisamari-emery/ [https://www.compass.com/agents/lisamari-emery/] Email: lisamari.emery@compass.com [lisamari.emery@compass.com] This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative [https://twobrotherscreative.com/].

Why Real Estate Agents Don't Need Their Brokerage Anymore

What if the biggest force shaping the real estate industry right now isn't helping agents, but quietly taking control back from them? In this episode of Consumed, Lance Pendleton pulls back the curtain on a controversial topic: the evolving role of brokerages in modern real estate. From the early days of physical offices and listing binders to today's digital-first, agent-driven world, Lance breaks down how the power dynamic has shifted and why it may be shifting back again. He explores brokerage consolidation, commission structures, and the growing push toward privatized listings, all while challenging the narrative that these changes are in the best interest of agents or consumers. With real-world examples and blunt insights, this episode dives into how brokerages make money today, what agents are actually paying for, and why many may be overestimating the value they receive. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative [https://twobrotherscreative.com/].

A Homebuyer's Honest Take on Agents, Listings & Commissions

What does the real estate process look like through the eyes of someone actively buying and selling right now? In this episode of Consumed, Lance Pendleton sits down with Mike Weiner, a technology sales executive who is currently navigating both sides of the real estate transaction (selling his home while purchasing another). From commuting challenges and family life to navigating listings, portals, and agent relationships, Mike shares his unfiltered perspective as a consumer in today's market. The conversation dives into how buyers actually search for homes, why portals like Zillow and Redfin feel more intuitive than MLS systems, and where agents can create a better experience for modern consumers. Mike also shares candid thoughts on private listings, how agents stay competitive, and what surprised him most about real estate commissions and negotiation. If you want to better understand what consumers expect today, and where the industry still has room to evolve, this episode offers honest insight from someone living the process in real time. This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative [https://twobrotherscreative.com/].

The Unfiltered Consumer Experience: Selling, Buying & Trusting the Process

What does the real estate process actually feel like from the consumer side? In this episode of Consumed, Lance Pendleton sits down with Clare Acosta, an educator, attorney, and recent single homeowner who relocated across the country, to unpack her unfiltered experience selling and buying in two very different markets. From interviewing multiple agents and negotiating commission structures to navigating low inventory, solar panel complications, financing hurdles, and cross-country stress, Clare shares what stood out, what surprised her, and what agents often overlook. The conversation dives into trust, transparency, partnership, pricing strategy, and consumer advocacy, especially in a post-settlement real estate environment where buyers and sellers have more decisions (and more confusion) than ever. If you want to understand how consumers truly experience the process, and what builds trust versus erodes it, this episode offers rare, honest insight straight from someone who just lived it. https://notablehome.com/ [https://notablehome.com/] https://susanvanechproperties.com/agent/carrie-braley [https://susanvanechproperties.com/agent/carrie-braley] This podcast is produced by Two Brothers Creative [https://twobrotherscreative.com/].