Outside the Box Podcast
Grow Your Real Estate Business Through Referrals & Repeat Clients – Outside The Box Podcast
Successful realtors know that the key to long-term growth isn’t constantly chasing new leads—it’s about referral marketing, strengthening your sphere of influence, and keeping past clients coming back. A referral-based real estate business is not only more sustainable but also more profitable in the long run.
That’s why we created the Outside The Box podcast—your go-to resource for mastering referral marketing strategies, building relationships, and creating a real estate brand that generates consistent repeat business.
Why Outside The Box is a Must-Listen for Realtors
At BizBox, we’ve worked with thousands of realtors who have built thriving businesses by focusing on referrals. The most successful agents don’t rely on cold calling or expensive ads—they leverage their sphere of influence to create a steady stream of repeat clients and referrals.
This podcast is dedicated to helping you do the same by sharing real-world success stories, actionable marketing strategies, and insights from top-producing realtors.
What You’ll Learn in Every Episode
- How to expand your sphere of influence and become the go-to agent in your market
- Proven referral marketing techniques to generate more real estate leads
- How to deliver an unforgettable client experience that leads to repeat business
- Creative follow-up strategies to keep past clients engaged and referring you
Why a Referral-Based Business Model Works
Clients trust referrals more than any advertisement. That’s why top realtors invest in relationship-building and staying top-of-mind with their past clients. A well-nurtured network leads to:
- More high-quality leads from word-of-mouth referrals
- Increased client loyalty and lifetime value
- Less reliance on costly lead-generation tactics
- Stronger credibility in your local real estate market
Featured Episode – The Foundation of a Referral-Driven Real Estate Business
Our first episode is live! Learn the fundamental steps for shifting from transactional real estate to a referral-based business. We’ll cover:
- How to build authentic relationships that lead to repeat and referral business
- The psychology behind why clients refer realtors to friends and family
- Essential marketing strategies for maintaining long-term client connections
Don’t miss this deep dive into the mindset, habits, and marketing techniques that separate high-earning realtors from the rest.
Ready to grow your referral business? Listen now and start building a real estate career that thrives on repeat clients and word-of-mouth marketing.
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June 27, 2025
The Secret Marketing Weapon with a 100% Open Rate? Amanda Furman Swears By It
Forget open rates and email funnels—Amanda Furman has a simpler, more powerful strategy. And it’s working.
Handwritten notes.
Not fancy. Not automated. But deeply personal—and wildly effective.
“The only requirement to be on my team is to come to our team meetings and to write five handwritten note cards every week, and they can't be anything business related.”
That’s not just a policy—it’s a philosophy. And it’s helped Amanda build a thriving 98% referral-based real estate business in the Fox Cities area of Wisconsin.
Amanda’s Handwritten Note Strategy
Amanda’s system is deceptively simple:
1. Look for “Pain, Pleasure, and Celebration”
“If I’m struggling to find five [people to write], I go to social media and I look for pain, pleasure, and celebration and I just write people.”
2. Keep it Personal, Not Promotional
No logos. No listings. Just connection.
“I have cards for losing a pet, celebratory cards, welcoming
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June 20, 2025
How Amanda Furman Became the Mayor of Her Market
Amanda Furman doesn’t chase leads. She doesn’t cold call. She doesn’t buy billboards.
98% of her business comes through referrals.
But it’s not magic—it’s a method.
“I kind of like to think of myself as the mayor of my area.” — Amanda Furman
In this episode of Outside the Box, Amanda walks us through how she built a nearly all-referral business by becoming the go-to name in her neighborhood—not with hard sells, but with heart.
Step One: Show Up Like You’re on the Ballot
Amanda isn’t just active in her community—she’s visible. She volunteers, sits on local boards, supports school fundraisers, and shows up at the farmers market.
“I'm like the cheerleader for our area, because I love it here and I want everybody to love it as much as me.”
She didn’t force it. She started with the groups her family was already involved with—and built from there. It’s what makes it sustainable and authentic.
Step Two: Be Present, Personal, and Proactive
In
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June 10, 2025
How Pamela Bull Uses WOW Moments to Create Referral Magic
There are a lot of ways to give BizBoxes.
But in our conversation with veteran Realtor Pamela Bull, she shared one approach that sets her apart: she doesn’t ask if her clients need moving boxes. She just sends them.
“They catch them off guard because I don’t tell them ahead of time they’re going to get them.”
And that surprise? It creates the kind of client experience people talk about.
It’s Not About the Boxes—It’s About the Surprise
Pamela doesn’t send boxes just for convenience. She sends them to create a feeling.
“Well, you might need a little help getting things packed up to move. And so it’s just an additional gift I want to give.”
By skipping the question and leading with generosity, she transforms a branded moving box into something far more powerful: a moment of care.
And when those boxes arrive? Clients call. They text. They thank her.
“It’s just an additional gift I want to give.”
This moment of surprise becomes more than
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June 06, 2025
Loving On Your People: How Pamela Bull Built an 85% Referral Business
Everyone in real estate talks about “great service.” But when Pamela Bull said it on the podcast, it didn’t sound like a buzzword—it sounded like a promise.
“I don’t really think of it as marketing. I just love on my people.”
That mindset has helped Pamela generate 85% of her business through referrals. Not with funnels or follow-up sequences. But through consistent care, genuine relationships, and thoughtful gestures that speak louder than any campaign ever could.
A Care Strategy—Not a CRM Strategy
Pamela’s approach isn’t about flashy ads or automation. She’s focused on one thing: staying in touch.
“You have to build those relationships… it’s not just about helping someone buy or sell a house, and then we’re done.”
Her routine is refreshingly personal:
- She delivers homemade cookies at closings and for pop-bys.
- She sends BizBoxes to clients without even telling them in advance.
- She hosts an annual Thanksgiving pie giveaway
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May 29, 2025
How Greg Anderson Turns Clients into Lifelong Referrals
Most Realtors fade from their clients’ lives once the deal is done. Not Greg Anderson.
He’s built a referral-driven business by showing up—year after year—with personal touches, thoughtful services, and creative follow-up events that genuinely serve his clients. As Greg puts it, “I treat them as trusted friends… even the ones who aren’t warm and fuzzy—I stay in their life like a friend.”
7 Ways Greg Builds Relationships that Keep Referring
This episode of Outside the Box unpacks Greg’s repeat and referral system, revealing client appreciation strategies you probably haven’t tried yet. Listen to the full interview here: Episode #7 with Greg Anderson.
1. Home Anniversary Cards
Yes, every year. Greg sends a personalized card to celebrate each client’s home purchase anniversary. It’s simple, thoughtful, and creates an annual moment of reconnection.
2. Thanksgiving Pie Parties
Greg and his team host an epic pie giveaway in a decorated
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May 23, 2025
How 700 Pies and a Bank Vault Created the Ultimate Thanksgiving Client Event
What if your next referral didn’t come from a postcard—but from a pumpkin pie?
Every Thanksgiving, veteran Realtor Greg Anderson helps transform an old bank vault into the most buzzed-about pie pickup spot in town. With over 700 pies, apple cider, music, and a warm “welcome back” for every guest, his client appreciation event has become a beloved tradition that keeps referrals rolling year after year.
As Greg says, “It’s a team event and then it’s an individual event because once the party starts... it’s the power of leveraging... so that the overall outcome is beneficial to all.”
Step 1: Start Planning Early
Greg begins organizing his pie giveaway in early October. He locks in the date, the venue, and his Costco pie order well ahead of time. That early prep prevents last-minute stress and ensures a smooth, welcoming experience.
“Our whole office gave out over 700 pies,” Greg shared. “It’s like the place to be.”
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May 16, 2025
Why Good Service Isn’t Good Enough: Lessons from Kelley Decowski on Earning Referrals That Last
What does it really take to turn a one-time client into a lifelong referral source? For Kelley Decowski, the answer is simple—but not easy: great service. Not good. Not okay. Great.
“You get repeat business and referrals by doing a great job, going above and beyond. Doing a good job is just doing what you were hired and paid to do.”
In Episode #6 of the Outside the Box podcast, Kelley breaks down exactly what that kind of service looks like—and why it matters more than ever in today’s competitive real estate market.
The Power of Experience: Why It’s Not About Perfection
Kelley doesn’t just aim for satisfied clients. She designs her entire client journey around one goal: creating an amazing experience that clients want to talk about.
“If you go to a bad restaurant, you tell 500 people and you post it on Facebook. If you have a good restaurant experience… you're probably not going to tell anybody.”
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May 09, 2025
Overcoming Shiny Object Syndrome: Why Kelley Decowski Doubled Down on Consistency
In a world full of real estate tools, CRMs, templates, and trends, it’s easy to feel like you’re always one app behind. But Kelley Decowski doesn’t chase the next big thing. She doubled down on what actually works: handwritten notes, personal calls, and staying visible to the people who already know and trust her.
“People get shiny object syndrome. Sometimes the things that are right in front of you—that your coworker has been doing for the past 10 years—there’s a reason they work. You just have to do them consistently.”
The Simplicity of a Proven System
Kelley has used the same CRM for over a decade—Referral Maker. Not because it's flashy, but because it’s focused. It supports the exact actions she knows generate repeat and referral business: handwritten notes, regular calls, and monthly value-driven touchpoints.
“I’ve used the same CRM for 10 years. It’s simple, and it works.”
The Secret? Rhythmic, Reliable
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May 02, 2025
The Sweetest Referral Strategy: Why Tim Langhauser Sends Brownies to Kids
What if the key to building a powerful referral-based business wasn’t just great service or clever marketing… but birthday brownies?
In Episode #5 of Outside the Box, Tim Langhauser shares the thoughtful, personal touches behind his wildly successful real estate business. At the heart of it all? A simple philosophy:
Referrals don’t happen by accident—they happen on purpose.
Tim doesn’t wait for referrals to happen. He creates them—through intentional systems, meaningful gifts, and staying top of mind with the people who matter most.
Why Kid-Focused Gifts Make a Big Impact
Tim and his wife run Compass Home Group in Maryland. Early in their careers, they made a decision: they weren’t just going to sell homes—they were going to build community.
“We mapped out our entire business… Once they become our client, how do we never let them go?”
Instead of focusing on transactions, they built systems to stay connected with
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April 25, 2025
How Tim Langhauser Turned His Sphere Into a Community with the Big Mouth Club
What if your real estate database didn’t just feel like a list of leads—but like a community that grew with you?
That’s exactly what Tim Langhauser, leader of the Compass Home Group in Bel Air, Maryland, has built. In this episode of Outside the Box, Tim shared how his “Big Mouth Club” became a referral-generating machine rooted in connection, creativity, and celebration.
“Watching the evolution of our Big Mouths grow up with us and us growing up with them is the most rewarding thing in the business.”
A Club That’s More Than Just a Name
The Big Mouth Club isn’t some secret code Tim uses behind the scenes. It’s a real identity embraced by his clients.
“We have a specific logo for our Big Mouths. It’s on the hood of the car that our team drives around… When we do some of our events throughout the year, we actually have Big Mouth t-shirts.”
The club includes anyone who buys, sells, or refers business to Tim’s team.
