Stay Paid Podcast Summary: "From Zero to 120 Deals: How This New Agent Took Over His Market"
Episode Overview
In the May 26, 2025 episode of the Stay Paid Podcast, hosts Luke Acrey and Josh Stike delve into the remarkable journey of Tim Bushnell from the Acre Brothers Realty Team. Starting his real estate career in May 2023, Tim achieved an impressive milestone of closing 120 deals within two years, even amid what many consider the worst real estate market in decades. This episode unpacks Tim's strategies, mindset, and the support system that propelled his success.
1. Guest Introduction and Background (00:00 - 03:45)
Tim Bushnell joins the Acre Brothers Realty Team in Lynchburg, Virginia, becoming a top performer by closing over 120 transactions. Despite entering the market during challenging times—characterized by rising interest rates and economic uncertainty—Tim's performance defies the bleak industry trends.
Notable Quote:
"I've sold 120 homes in the last two years, achieving 17.5 million in volume. Being part of the best team in Lynchburg and leveraging top-notch marketing tools has been pivotal."
— Tim Bushnell [06:54]
2. Why Real Estate? Tim’s Motivation and Decision (03:45 - 06:54)
Tim shares his longstanding aspiration to work in real estate, influenced by his early career at Reminder Media, where he first encountered successful realtors who thrived even in downturns like 2008-2009. This exposure cemented his belief that entering a tough market early would build resilience and expertise.
Notable Quote:
"If you work, it works. That's the key point."
— Tim Bushnell [06:54]
3. Onboarding and Overcoming Initial Challenges (06:54 - 10:29)
Despite initial setbacks—failing interviews for senior roles at Reminder Media—Tim's perseverance led him to real estate. Support from team members like Luke and strategizing supplemental income through real estate sales bridged his transition from a corporate paycheck to a self-employed career.
Notable Quote:
"I bombed every interview. But through prayer and perseverance, I found my path into real estate."
— Tim Bushnell [05:50]
4. Mindset and Discipline: The Foundation of Success (10:29 - 18:51)
Tim attributes his success to a disciplined approach and unwavering commitment. By treating the first 90 days as critical, akin to his leadership experience at GoDaddy, he emphasized consistent action and sustained effort despite market downturns.
Notable Quotes:
"Success is showing up, doing what you know you need to do, especially when you don't want to do it."
— Luke Acrey [24:23]
"The hardest day is the day after failure. It's harder to restart than to start."
— Tim Bushnell [18:51]
5. Strategies and Tactics: How Tim Closed 120 Deals (18:51 - 24:49)
Tim employed a multi-faceted approach to lead generation and client engagement:
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Prospecting Calls: Initiating 50 unique dials daily, often doubling to 100 calls using tools like Follow Up Boss to track and score interactions.
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Open Houses: Hosting weekly open houses, learning to identify and prioritize serious buyers, and effectively converting leads into appointments.
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Digital Marketing: Leveraging Facebook leads and circle prospecting to maintain a steady influx of potential clients.
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Investor Relations: Building strong relationships with local investors, contributing significantly to his transaction volume.
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Personal Engagement: Conducting coffee and lunch meetings with homeowners to foster trust and network effectively.
Notable Quote:
"You have to make your plan, commit to your plan, and then whatever it takes, take action on the plan and do the work."
— Tim Bushnell [27:15]
6. Conversion Techniques and Client Engagement (24:49 - 27:56)
A pivotal moment in Tim's approach was refining his ability to convert open house attendees into active clients. By focusing on understanding clients' goals and timelines, he effectively prioritized high-potential leads, thus maximizing his conversion rates.
Notable Quote:
"You cannot be afraid of what they think about you because that person walked into an open house because they want to buy a house."
— Tim Bushnell [13:24]
7. Tracking and Consistency: The Backbone of Tim’s Success (27:56 - 30:13)
Tim meticulously tracked his activities using tools like Follow Up Boss and maintained Excel spreadsheets for deeper analytics. This rigorous tracking ensured accountability and allowed for continuous refinement of his strategies, reinforcing the importance of consistency in achieving long-term goals.
Notable Quote:
"Success is built on small changes, not big changes."
— Steven [22:54]
8. Importance of Coaching and Team Support (25:12 - 27:56)
Tim emphasizes the value of coaching and being part of a supportive team. Joining the Acre Brothers Realty Team provided him access to mentorship, structured lead sources, and a collaborative environment that further accelerated his growth.
Notable Quote:
"I would tell them to go get a coach. Go get a coach. That was the reason I joined the team."
— Tim Bushnell [25:12]
9. Overcoming Adversity and Maintaining Momentum (18:51 - 30:13)
Facing setbacks and occasional failures, Tim's resilience shone through. By adopting a forward-thinking mindset and focusing on incremental improvements, he consistently bounced back, ensuring that short-term failures did not derail his long-term objectives.
Notable Quote:
"I'm trying to set him up for success today. That's my mindset."
— Tim Bushnell [18:51]
10. Final Takeaways and Actionable Insights (28:11 - 30:13)
The episode concludes with actionable advice for aspiring real estate agents:
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Set Clear Goals: Reverse engineer from your desired outcome to daily actions.
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Consistent Action: Regular prospecting, follow-ups, and client engagements are non-negotiable.
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Leverage Coaching: Seek mentorship and be part of a team that supports your growth.
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Track Your Progress: Utilize tools and maintain meticulous records to monitor and refine your strategies.
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Stay Resilient: Embrace failures as learning opportunities and maintain unwavering commitment to your goals.
Notable Quote:
"The difference between top producers and mediocre producers is top producers take action."
— Luke Acrey [30:13]
11. Connecting with Tim Bushnell (28:11 - End)
Listeners are encouraged to follow Tim's journey through his social media profiles:
- Instagram: Tim.Bushnell
- Facebook: Tim Bushnell
- Other Platforms: Search "Tim Bushnell" to find his active profiles.
Final Quote:
"Your action item from this episode is really, really clear, right? You have to put down on paper what your action plan is."
— Luke Acrey [29:10]
Conclusion
Tim Bushnell's rapid ascent in the real estate market is a testament to discipline, strategic planning, and unwavering commitment. His journey underscores the importance of consistent action, effective leveraging of multiple lead sources, and the invaluable support of a dedicated team. Aspiring agents can draw inspiration from Tim's methods, adopting his disciplined approach to achieve similar success in their real estate careers.
Connect with Stay Paid Podcast:
- Website: staypaidpodcast.com
- YouTube: Reminder Media
- Email: us@staypaidpodcast.com
- Social Media: @staypaidpodcast