Rachelle Peters
Rachelle Peters – The $85K Pop-By Strategy
Welcome to the very first episode of Outside the Box, the podcast that explores creative, relationship-driven strategies to help real estate professionals grow their businesses through referrals and repeat business, not cold leads.
For our debut episode, we’re sitting down with Rachelle Peters, a top-producing agent who built her real estate business on authenticity, consistency, and client appreciation marketing. Rachelle shares how a simple pop-by—delivering cinnamon rolls to a nurse on Nurses Day—turned into $85,000 in commission and why realtors should rethink the way they approach real estate referral marketing.
Listen Now:
What You’ll Learn in This Episode:
- How a thoughtful pop-by led to an $85K referral chain (and why this wasn’t even a past client!)
- The power of creative and unexpected client touchpoints—finding fresh reasons to connect beyond the usual holidays
- Why small, thoughtful gestures beat big, expensive marketing strategies every time
- How to systemize pop-bys so they feel natural and easy (not like a chore!)
- The long-term impact of client appreciation on repeat and referral business
Key Lessons & Blog Posts from This Episode
We’ve broken down the best insights from Rachelle’s episode into actionable blog posts focused on real estate referral marketing and client appreciation strategies. Check them out below:
- The Cinnamon Roll Strategy: How a Simple Pop-By Led to $85K in GCI
- Make Pop-Bys Easier: 3 Simple Tips for Realtors
- Turn One Client Into a Lifetime of Referrals
- Help Your Clients Avoid This Common Moving Mistake
- How to Host a Client Appreciation Event That Stands Out
- The Fastest Way to Kill Your Referral Business
- Get Out & Get Social: Why Your Next Deal Won’t Come from Your Desk
Want to dig deeper? Listen to the full episode and start applying these real estate marketing strategies today!
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March 12, 2025
Your Next Transaction Is Right in Front of You: How to Turn One Client Into a Lifetime of Referrals
Most agents are so focused on their next lead that they overlook the goldmine right in front of them—the client they’re working with today. Every transaction is an opportunity to create a lifelong referral source, but only if you go above and beyond to make the experience unforgettable.
The Biggest Mistake Agents Make: Not Communicating the Process
In the first episode of Outside the Box, top Realtor Rachelle Peters shares a crucial insight: most agents don’t help their clients through the transaction from beginning to end because they assume there’s nothing to report. But here’s the problem—your client doesn’t know what’s going on.
Buying or selling a home is an emotional, often stressful process, and when clients feel left in the dark, it creates unnecessary anxiety.
How to Deliver an Unforgettable Client Experience
- Keep Clients in the Loop: Clients don’t know what’s happening unless you
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March 11, 2025
Make Pop-Bys Easier: 3 Simple Tips for Realtors
These pop-by tips come straight from Rachelle Peters, a top real estate agent who has mastered the art of staying connected with past clients. In Episode #1 of Outside the Box, Rachelle shares her best strategies for making pop-bys more natural, efficient, and effective.
One of the things that makes Rachelle so successful is that she finds creative and timely reasons to do pop-bys. Instead of just dropping by randomly, she ties them into fun, relevant moments that give her a natural reason to visit. the ideas are endless but here are a few themes:
- National Teacher’s Day – Delivering small gifts to clients who are teachers or have school-age kids.
- Big Game for Sports Team – Bringing by game-day snacks or Team-themed gifts to sports fans.
- First Day of Summer – Handing out ice cream gift cards to celebrate the season.
- Halloween Treat Drop – Delivering festive candy bags for families with kids.
- New Year’s Motivation – Gifting small planners
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March 10, 2025
The Fastest Way to Kill Your Referral Business
Justin said it best—agents love to soft flex about how busy they are. But what if that humblebrag is actually costing you referrals?
Picture this: A client asks how things are going, and you casually drop, “Oh man, I’m swamped right now—so many deals in the pipeline!” Seems harmless, right? Maybe even a little impressive?
Not to your client.
To them, it sounds like: “I don’t have time for you.” Even worse? It might make them hesitate before sending you a referral. After all, why would they introduce their friend to someone who already seems overloaded?
The #1 Reason Clients Don’t Refer Their Agent
It’s not just about what you say—it’s about how you make people feel.
If a client ever feels like they’re adding to your stress or that they’re competing for your attention, they won’t be excited to refer their friends. But when they feel valued, prioritized, and genuinely cared for, they’ll go out of their way to send business your way.
Instead
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March 10, 2025
Quit Hiding Behind Your Screen—Go Build Relationships
One of the best pieces of advice Justin ever received in his real estate career came from a seasoned agent during his conversation with Rachelle Peters on the Outside the Box podcast. This Realtor, who had been in the business for years, told him that the biggest mistake agents make is thinking their next deal is sitting in their inbox. The truth? Business doesn’t happen behind a screen—it happens in the real world, through conversations and relationships.
You’re not going to grow your business sitting behind a computer all day. The best real estate opportunities don’t come from emails, spreadsheets, or social media—they come from face-to-face conversations with real people. If you’re feeling stuck or like business has slowed down, the answer isn’t another CRM update or social media post. The answer is getting out and being social.
Real Estate Happens in the Real World
When was the last time you worked from a coffee shop instead of your
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March 06, 2025
The Small Reminder That Makes a Big Impact on Your Clients' Move
Moving is exciting, but let’s be honest—it’s also a logistical nightmare. Between packing, booking movers, signing endless paperwork, and making sure everything gets from Point A to Point B, some crucial details tend to slip through the cracks.
One of the best client service tips we picked up from Outside the Box guest Rachelle Peters is something most agents (and buyers) don’t even think about—reminding clients to update their Amazon shipping address.
Most people remember to set up their utilities before moving. But Amazon, subscription boxes, and online shopping accounts? Those often get overlooked—until a package ends up at the wrong house.
That’s why this is such a great touchpoint for Realtors. It’s an unexpected but super helpful reminder that shows clients you’re thinking ahead for them. And that’s exactly the kind of thoughtful, proactive service that makes an agent unforgettable.
A Simple Reminder That Sets You
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March 04, 2025
How a Pool Party Strengthened Client Relationships: Insights from Rachelle Peters
What if staying connected with past clients wasn’t about emails and follow-ups—but about creating fun, memorable experiences together?
In this episode of Outside the Box, we dive into one of Rachelle Peters’ favorite ways to keep client relationships strong: hosting unforgettable client events. One event, in particular, made a lasting impact—a summer real estate networking event that brought past clients together in a relaxed, enjoyable setting.
The Power of a Client Appreciation Pool Party
Instead of relying solely on traditional touchpoints, Rachelle found a way to stay connected with past clients in a way that felt natural, fun, and highly effective. Her secret? A summer pool party for past clients and referral partners.
Picture it: A perfect summer afternoon, music playing, kids splashing in the pool, and past clients mingling over cold drinks and BBQ. No business pitch—just a community of people having
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February 27, 2025
The Cinnamon Roll Strategy The Cinnamon Roll Strategy: How a Simple Pop-By Led to $85K in GCI
In the inaugural episode of Outside the Box, Rachelle Peters shared a compelling story that underscores the profound impact of thoughtful gestures in real estate. This narrative highlights not only the effectiveness of personalized pop-bys but also the importance of finding creative opportunities to connect with potential clients in ways that feel authentic and memorable.
How a Dozen Cinnamon Rolls Turned Into $85K in Real Estate Commission
Rachelle recounted how she decided to acknowledge Nurses Day by delivering a dozen cinnamon rolls to a nurse she had recently met. This individual wasn't a past client but a potential prospect she had encountered in the community. Without any sales agenda, Rachelle dropped by the nurse's workplace, offering the pastries as a simple, heartfelt token of appreciation for her service.
That small, thoughtful gesture led to a series of events that resulted in $85,000