Shows
RealTrendingsimpliHŌM Founder Sean Miku on why his people-first approach allows for fast brokerage growthThis week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt talks with Sean Miku, the founder and CEO of simpliHŌM, a tech- and people-first brokerage that opened its doors in 2018.
Sean shares insights into simpliHŌM unique model, including an 85/15 commission split and free transaction management. He also discusses the current challenges and opportunities in real estate, as well as the company's future vision, which plans for a public offering by 2028.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
How simpliHŌM’s people-first approach has driven its impressive growth
The uniqu...
2025-08-1134 minRealTrendingsimpliHŌM Founder Sean Miku on why his people-first approach allows for fast brokerage growthThis week on RealTrending, Tracey Velt talks with Sean Miku, the founder and CEO of simpliHŌM, a tech- and people-first brokerage that opened its doors in 2018.
Sean shares insights into simpliHŌM unique model, including an 85/15 commission split and free transaction management. He also discusses the current challenges and opportunities in real estate, as well as the company's future vision, which plans for a public offering by 2028.
Here’s a glimpse of what you’ll learn:
How simpliHŌM’s people-first approach has driven its impressive growth
The uniqu...
2025-08-1134 min
The Business of Homes Podcast028 From Acting to Real Estate w/ Shannon SurgenerOn today's episode, Micheal is joined by Shannon Surgener, originally from California with a background in acting, she is now half of the Durham Duo with SimpliHom here in Nashville, Tennessee. Topics covered:Shannon’s transition from acting to real estateA direct connection between acting and salesHow referrals are some of your most valuable currency Finding the balance of what should be delegated What makes social media so hard to beginThe different types of success between full-time and part-timeAnd so much more!A hug...
2024-05-1343 min
Miracles in the MiddleOvercoming MS: Embracing Positivity, Gratitude, and CommunityWelcome to the first episode of the Miracles in the Middle Podcast! We're your hosts Elizabeth Taylor and Jarrod Swanson, and we're thrilled to have you here with us. For this first episode, we wanted to share Elizabeth's personal story that inspired us to create this podcast.
"I was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis, and it was a challenging time in my life. However, it also taught me the importance of finding positivity, gratitude, and community during difficult times. That's why we created this podcast - to celebrate the stories of individuals who have navigated adversity and...
2023-04-2040 min
Making Real Estate SimpleThe Start of Something Great - The History of simpliHOM with Sean MikuWhat is simpliHOM? How is it different? How is it the same? What is it that has so many Realtors joining the ranks of one of the fastest growing real estate brokerages in the country? This week we sit down with Sean Miku, CEO and Founder of simpliHŌM to discuss the journey from inception to 400+ agents and how keeping things simple has positively impacted the company's trajectory. Here are some of the topics covered:
Trademarking lessons: Where did the name “simpliHŌM” come from?
S.O.S. “Shiny Object Syndrome” and how
The number one thing agents request wh...
2022-07-2945 minMaking Real Estate SimpleReframing Reality and Creating a Winning Mentality with Greg PihsWow… That’s all we have to say after watching this podcast with Greg Pihs. Greg is a Marine Veteran, Board Certified NLP Trainer, Timeline Therapy® Trainer and Real Estate Agent. In this episode he sits down with Sean Miku and Kyle Mann to talk about how we can all change our lives for the better (professionally and personally) with some simple tools that we can implement right NOW. When we say that this has been one of the most motivational and valuable pieces of advice for anyone who is struggling to overcome self-limiting beliefs, trauma, or a plateau in bu...
2022-07-1557 minMaking Real Estate SimpleOperating Under Stress - How to identify, prevent, and conquer chaos in real estate and life“By aiming high, we are choosing the route where pressure and stress obligingly come along for the ride.” - Ryan Holiday. Stress is inevitable when we make the conscious decision to take the road to success. It is in these chaotic and stressful situations that we must keep our cool, assess the situation, and make a decision. How you do that and when is ultimately up to you but this week on the simpliHOM Podcast we’re looking to share insights from the simpliHOM team on how they identify and overcome such situations.
Let’s inspire each other! Ho...
2022-07-0846 min
Making Real Estate SimpleConversations with a CEO- Grassroots marketing and work life balance with Isam AzizWhat’s up HŌMies? This week on the pod we have one of our own simpliHŌM agents, Isam Aziz chatting with our CEO, Sean Miku. Isam was fired from his job in 2016 and became a real estate agent to better serve his family and create a legacy for generations to come. But, after nine months of grinding with no return, Isam was ready to give it up. Fortunately, in 2017 he sold $6M in houses and maintained his success all the way to today (2022) where he has sold 8.77M in real estate this year so far (as of 6/28/22). What...
2022-07-0246 minMaking Real Estate SimpleHow to Turn Bad Advice Into Good Advice: A discussion about reframing well-intentioned advice in life and businessJoin the HŌMies as they reflect on the worst advice they’ve ever received in life and business… or is it truly bad advice? Expect to hear plenty of laughs from the crew while also receiving insights into the advice our CEO has taken… and rejected. If hanging out is your thing and you want to learn something along the way, this is your new HŌM. Here’s what we cover this week:
Brett broke a rib.
Hilarity ensues as Swy forces everyone to compliment the person to their right.
Shots fired at Dave Ramsay.
Who should you...
2022-06-2551 minMaking Real Estate SimpleLanding Real Estate Leads from YouTube with Brenna FosterEvery real estate agent knows the importance of creating video content online. What few agents realize is that when done intentionally, platforms like YouTube can be a lead generating machine for your business. This week Sean Miku, our CEO and founder sits down with Brenna Foster, a HOMie who without any previous experience in creating content, and dive in on how she has turned her YouTube channel “Moving to Tennessee” into a recurring source of leads. Here are some of the topics they cover:
Where Brenna learned how to set up her YouTube channel
Do you need experience with...
2022-06-1844 minMaking Real Estate SimplePersonal Branding for Real Estate Agents - Authenticity, timing, and setting the right expectations - with Derek TrainerThis week on the simpliHOM podcast we have Derek Trainer (contact linked below) joining us to talk about how he closed $20.7 million in volume in 2021 (with $24mil projected for 2022 as of June) and how his personal branding contributed to that growth. Derek shares his wisdom on when he started to think about branding himself for his business, how you can start building yours, and how setting the right expectations could be the key to it all. Here are some of the things we covered:
Who is Derek Trainer?
Why Derek’s mission is to “Change the way people view...
2022-06-101h 03Making Real Estate SimpleAdvice for Real Estate Agents: A practical guide on how to build deeper rapport with your clients by telling your storyThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast we’re helping real estate professionals how to better tell their story using the oldest framework for creating the top producing movies, TV shows, books, and branding the world has ever seen. Really. We’re giving you a process to better communicate your story to your potential and existing clients so you can build rapport by relating at the most human level possible. Don’t fall into the trap of being one-dimensional in your business. You are MORE than what you do.
Brett is missing but we show him some love
How Sean l...
2022-06-0348 minMaking Real Estate Simple"Cinco De Hangout" - challenges with video, scaling culture in a real estate brokerage, and bad behaviorThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast the HOMies spend some time reminiscing about the good (and bad) at the simpliHOM annual awards ceremony and the challenges that come along with scaling culture in a real estate brokerage. We hope you enjoy this raucous crew’s recount of one of real estate’s fastest growing brokerages. Here are some of the topics:
Caffeine and protein
How much did you drink during quarantine?
How to get your significant other to work out with you
Swy confronts the boys about their behavior at the awards ceremony
The challenges of creating video cont...
2022-05-2757 minMaking Real Estate SimpleLanding Listings in a Chaotic Real Estate Market with Brett RatkowskiThis week on the simpliHOM podcast, our COO and marketing guru Brett Ratkowski is going to show you how to find more seller leads in your market. This is a practical podcast which means you’re going to want to take notes and take action NOW. If you find the info in this podcast helpful, let us know by following and liking :)
Big changes in the simpliHŌM ecosystem
The challenges of the Nashville,TN real estate market
Is it advantageous to market that you support local buyers?
The effects of hedge fund buyers on your neighbors
The top...
2022-05-2053 minMaking Real Estate SimpleCreate 1,000+ videos for your real estate business - A chat with Austin Gardner with Loft RealtyThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast we’re bringing in Austin Gardner (linktr.ee here) , a content creating machine and real estate agent from north of the Mason-Dixon line. As an agent at Loft Realty in Milford, Delaware Austin splits his time between selling real estate, working as a first responder, and getting his time in at the gym. In this episode however, we take a peak at Austin’s formula for creating over 1,000 pieces of content a year and how you can apply it to your business.
As a real estate agent, how do you get started crea...
2022-05-1050 minMaking Real Estate SimpleAdvice for real estate agents: Interest rates and delivering exceptional service from a senior loan officerThis week on the simpliHOM podcast we’re bringing in David Lippe, a senior loan officer from SWBC that’s been in the business for over 20 years. David sits down with our CEO Sean Miku to talk about how interest rates are and will affect Nashville, Tennessee and surrounding areas and how you can gain a competitive advantage by creatively solving your client’s financial situations. David is a wealth of knowledge so pull out your note taking method of choice and get ready to grow. Here are some of topics covered:
Are high interest rates here to stay?
...
2022-04-3059 minMaking Real Estate SimpleAre you going to die or push back? - Inspiration and Real Estate with Elizabeth TaylorToday we bring on special guest Elizabeth Taylor (@theelizabethtaylor on Instagram), an award-winning Realtor at Compass, wife mom, and MS survivor who has been CRUSHING real estate and life. In 2020 she sold 60 houses in the Nashville, Tennessee area and this year she’s on track to do the same all while battling not only the pulls of normal life but the complications that come along with being diagnosed with MS at 24 years old. In this episode, Elizabeth talks about the effects of growing up in a cult, removing limiting beliefs, the value of authenticity, and so much more! Here’s so...
2022-04-1553 minMaking Real Estate SimpleHOMie Hangout - Raising Millions of Dollars, Tiny Doors, and the Nashville Real Estate MarketThis week on the simpliHŌM Podcast, the crew digs into the current real estate market and why Sean is wearing a suit again (trust us, the answer involves MILLIONS of dollars). The HŌMies also journey through what immersive technology means for the future of real estate and how simpliHŌM is preparing for the shift into the Metaverse. Here are some other things they cover:
The mindset behind Sean wearing suits
Swy’s tiny doors and new refrigerator
Brett’s refrigerator debacle
The science behind why wood floors cup and crown from water and humidity
Fundraising million...
2022-04-0842 minMaking Real Estate SimpleMore Money and More Time - How to Turn Your Real Estate Career into a "Real" Real Estate BusinessThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast Sean Miku, our CEO and Brett Ratkowski, our COO dig into how you can convert your real estate business as an agent, into a business that operates without YOU! How do you identify where to start first? How do you build a process that works every time? How do you free up your time and grow your income to get closer to the life you’re working so hard to achieve? Well of course, this process takes longer than a 45 minute podcast but what you learn today will bring you one step closer. He...
2022-04-0149 minMaking Real Estate SimpleConversations with a CEO - Hedge Fund Investors, Housing Bubbles, and the future of New Construction with Sean Miku and David BalfourSupport. It is hands down the number one thing agents indicate they need when joining simpliHŌM. This week simpliHŌM’s CEO Sean Miku sits down with David Balfour, one of our Principal Brokers and valuable support staff to talk about the economy and housing market in Nashville and beyond.
David Balfour has been a Principal Broker since 2005, has taken over 360 hours in specialized education and certifications, and currently sits on the Board of Directors for the Middle TN Association of Realtors. With over 750 successful real estate transactions, David is a valued fount of information and wisd...
2022-03-2551 minMaking Real Estate Simple22 Rules for 2022 Part 2: Practical Advice for Making 2022 a Year for GROWTHThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast, we wrap up our two part series on our 22 Rules for 2022. This episode is PACKED with practical advice on finishing this year strong. Let us know on our socials @simplihom what your rules are for 2022. Do you agree with ours? What would you change? Here’s what we cover on this episode:
Kyle is proud of his kids, Brett is proud of his abs, Swy is proud of adulting, Sean is proud of time away
The importance of pushing one more step
Mental health and "me time"
The sign that you've lost co...
2022-03-1853 minMaking Real Estate Simple22 Rules for 2022 Part 1: Practical Advice for Making 2022 A Year for GROWTHThis week on The simpliHOM Podcast, Swy puts “the boys” in their places after they (kind of) fail to prepare for this practical and philosophical topic: “What are your ‘rules for life’ this year and moving forward?”. What about you? What are some of your rules for 2022 and beyond? Let us know on our socials!
“The Boys” are in the dog house
Highs and lows
When “setting expectations” goes horribly wrong
75 hard
Integrate “play” into your life
The simpliHŌM Podcast is a new entrepreneurial podcast that tracks the challenges and changes every human and businessperson faces. Our host and Marketing Sp...
2022-03-0942 minMaking Real Estate SimplePoor vs. Broke: Firing friends, financial literacy, abundance vs. scarcity, and overcoming "poor"“Poor vs. Broke”… There’s a lifetime’s worth of difference between these two concepts but the HŌMies are going to try to break it down in this week’s episode. Our number one priority is to educate and inspire real estate professionals and hopefully if you’ve found yourself in a position where you are “broke” or if you’ve been stuck in a “poor” environment for a while, we hope this episode will help.
Scarcity vs. Abundance
How the team’s past experiences shape mindset
The difference between poor and broke
Financial literacy can become your protection from being...
2022-02-2642 minMaking Real Estate SimpleHOMie Hangout - Horror stories from running a businessHorror stories… When you’ve been in business long enough, the chances that things go from “Good” to “Things are definitely not good” very quickly is inevitable. This week we ask the HOMies what time in their careers they experienced things going catastrophically wrong.
Have a story you want to tell? Let us know on our socials.
How wire fraud cost Brett’s client over $200k dollars
How AOL email signatures fell from glory
Kyle was held at gunpoint in Chad
Something about homeless guys taking Kyle to a bar in Jamaica
Who doesn’t want “FU” money?
Sean...
2022-02-1928 minMaking Real Estate SimpleThe Great DebateOn this episode of the simpliHOM Podcast, we dive deep into the minds of members of our leadership team on what they would do if presented the following scenario: 10 million dollars cash today or relive your life from the age of six with all of the knowledge you have today. This turns into a heated philosophical debate that split the table in two with discussions on regret and how it motivates us, our deepest fears, and the struggles of childhoods.
So, which would you choose? Let us know on our socials!
The simpliHŌM Podcast i...
2022-02-1240 minMaking Real Estate SimpleHŌMie Hangout - How to hire, fire, and a story about wiresWhat does it take to work for a great company? What does it take to hire great people? The crew tackles these challenges as well as enjoying a few laughs as they reminisce about their first cars and mechanical woes. Grab a drink, your favorite snack, and get ready to have a great time hanging with these HŌMies. Here’s the breakdown:
Swy makes an offer on a house and buys a puppy
Should you buy the first house you see when looking for a home?
The team shares their first car horror stories
What do you loo...
2022-02-0439 minMaking Real Estate SimpleGoing from 0 to 1 - How to Start in Real Estate (or anything or that matter)Going from 0 to 1… It’s often the hardest step in the journey towards starting something new. It’s a subject that hits the New York Time’s Best Seller list on a regular basis by authors like Peter Thiel, Ben Horowitz and more indicating its prominence in the minds of anyone starting anything, ever. This week, the HŌMies tackle how to get started with the things that matter most to you. Here's the breakdown:
Sean makes a monumental change in his wardrobe
The top three things you need to look for when searching for a brokerage as a new age...
2022-01-2847 minMaking Real Estate SimpleFailing 101: Self-help stigmas, losing family and friends, and how to grow from itWhether you are competitive with others or yourself, if you are someone who aspires for success in business and life, you have experienced failure. The difference between those who reach their goals and those who don’t is simply determined by what you learn from those failures. This week we learn the top three reasons real estate agents fail and discuss how to avoid them. Here’s the rundown:
Boom, Roasted!
The three most common real estate factors that lead to failure
Price, Presentation, Promotion: The 3 P’s that save you from real estate failure
Create a successful busine...
2022-01-2143 minMaking Real Estate SimpleA Year of Reflection and Growth... LOTS of GrowthThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast, we reflect on the year and how it has evolved and the challenges we faced along the way. With simpliHOM being the 3rd fastest company in Tennessee, we have a TON to focus on in 2022 and we absolutely cannot wait to spend it with you guys. Here's the breakdown:
We play “High, Low, Buffalo”
A Swy favorite - We discuss the goals we set at the beginning of 2021 and if we met them.
New Year’s Resolutions - Are they overrated?
“New Year, New Me” and how that affects those of us that already g...
2022-01-1448 minMaking Real Estate SimpleHow to Get Better at Sales (and why you might not need to) - The tips, tricks, and secrets to selling more real estateThis week on the simpliHŌM Podcast, we’re analyzing the behaviors and skills that lead to SALES. Do you need to be a great salesperson to be a great real estate agent? The answer to this question and more this week! Here's some of the breakdown:
Learning how to read body language
Reading the person “type” vs. the person
How to build confidence when selling
Should you use a sales script?
Toolsets that lead to success
Kyle shares a story about losing a quarter million dollar video deal
Do you need to be a good salesperson to be succ...
2022-01-0740 minMaking Real Estate SimpleThe Dichotomy of "Work-Life Balance" and How to Navigate It“Family” is relative to each of us but what remains universal is the balance of trying to pursue career and life goals without leaving our families behind. This week we attempt to tackle this subject while providing some practical advice on how we all can manage this dichotomy. What does “work life balance” mean to you?
The crew talks about their struggles with balancing work and home lives.
Sean talks about the “Mid-kid crisis” and reflecting on where to spend his time
What impression are you leaving your kids when you have no work-life balance?
How to be more present...
2021-12-2739 minMaking Real Estate Simple"The One Where Swy Buys a House" - A Case StudyHey HŌMies! On this episode of the simpliHOM Podcast Swy mentions that she's buying a house soon on a podcast for real estate agents. Let the "I know a good Realtor" comments commence. We discuss being and working with first time homebuyers and how you can carefully craft your expectations to allow for a simple and smooth homebuying process. Finally, we have a very honest conversation about setting personal boundaries with you clients and how to combat "hustle mode" pressures vs. actual productivity. Here's a little more of what we cover:
m&mgate
Weird stories
Swy is l...
2021-12-1752 minMaking Real Estate SimpleGrowth - Where to look for it, how to implement it, how to use the pain of losing it, and celebrating when you accomplish itHey HŌMies! On this episode of the simpliHŌM Podcast we're breaking down growth and how it impacts our lives personally and professionally. We all know that growth is hard but we also know that it is necessary to achieve success in our work and life. So, we as a crew want to scratch the surface of what growth entails and share some laughs in between. Here's what we cover: Growth doesn't always have to be aggressive. Just keep the momentum going. How do you find growth? How the crew incorporates rest and silence to grow Different gr...
2021-12-1153 minMaking Real Estate SimpleBeing Creative with Customer Service - Is your "why" as important as your "how" and how under-promising and over-delivering is over-ratedOn this episode of the simpliHOM Podcast we discuss customer service at large and how you can incorporate creativity into your client's experiences. We also share some of our own personal favorite customer service stories and even share an embarrassing story or two. Here are a few of the topics covered in this episode:
Brett talks about transitioning into the COO role and the challenges that he has faced doing so.
Systems and processes - how to double your business
How to use creativity with your customer service experiences
How early success turns to delayed failure when you...
2021-12-0355 minMaking Real Estate Simple“What are you going to do about it?” - How to navigate your life and career through the clouds without losing long term visionOn this episode of the simpliHOM Podcast we get DEEP with some personal stories from the HOMies about how they have used their darkest and most painful moments to leverage success. We also hit on principles and mindset shifts that will help you achieve long term success. Here are the things:
“Moving Target Syndrome” - Honing in on your goals/vision without getting distracted
Kyle talked to Sean’s mom
The crew shares moments where they questioned their goals after repeated failure and how they overcame them.
How to move from “0” to “1” after experiencing a setback
Can putting yourself throu...
2021-11-2743 minMaking Real Estate SimpleTravelling While Running Your Business - How to delegate work, train replacements, and build a better lifeThis episode is PACKED full of business and life advice from simpliHOM's CEO Sean, Marketing Specialist Swy, COO Brett, and Head of Video and Immersive Tech Kyle. We're covering the topic of "Travel" and what it means to integrate it into your business as an entrepreneur and/or real estate agent. The topics covered this week:
Does travel help or hurt your business?
What is the benefit of "talking from experience" when it comes to travel?
The difference between "owner-operated" and "business owner"
Not letting go of tasks is the death of a business.
Transitioning into a new...
2021-11-2050 minMaking Real Estate SimplesimpliHOM Hangout - Time management for real estate agents and entrepreneurs, "busy" vs. productive, and antidotes for anxietyThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast Sean, Kyle, and Swy sit down and have laid-back conversation about life and business. Here's the breakdown:
The woes of vacations with children
How do you dedicate time to more effective tasks when you feel like you don't have any more time to give?
How "discipline through the pain" leads to success in your personal life and business
How to work through creative and productive blocks and maximize your "flow"
The difference between being efficient and being effective in your work
The simpliHŌM Podcast is a new e...
2021-11-1242 minMaking Real Estate SimpleConnecting with People (even if you don't like them) - Practical advice on connecting with others from introverts and extrovertsThis week on the simpliHOM Podcast, we dive into how to connect with others as an entrepreneur, real estate agent, and human being. We cover a lot on this episode so grab a notepad or keyboard and take notes because Sean and crew offer practical advice to implement TODAY. Here's some of the breakdown:
Most books on connecting and networking are written by extroverts for extroverts so how do you succeed in it if you are more introverted?
Advice from our COO Brett on how to optimize time networking and make deeper connections with people...
2021-11-0555 minMaking Real Estate SimpleClarity of Vision - Getting free of distraction, goal setting vs. commitment making, burnout, "Hustle Culture", and daily habits for successIn this inaugural episode of the simpliHOM Podcast, we cover all things "vision" - how to lose it, how to find it again, and how to leverage it. Here's some of the breakdown:
Sean goes to Colorado and get's 100% clarity by creating physical distance from distractions.
We discuss the differences between goal setting and commitment making.
We share our daily habits for success.
Burnout - How to recognize it, how to prevent it, and how to cure it.
We pierce the veil on "hustle culture".
The simpliHŌM Podcast is a new entrepreneurial podcast t...
2021-10-2947 min