Embracing AI in Real Estate | Lucy Edwards | The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast

In Episode 6 of The Brainiac Blueprint Podcast by Left Brain AI, we sit down with Lucy Edwards, a real estate expert with 25 years of experience, known for pioneering floor plans in New Jersey and Long Island.

Lucy breaks down why AI is a “love, hate relationship” you have to embrace to stay relevant. She shares how tools like Matterport and virtual staging help buyers visualize properties, even remotely, and why it’s essential to watermark digitally altered images to avoid legal pitfalls.

Lucy also reveals how persistence helped her master new tools through webinars and practice, and how virtual assistants like OPY handle follow-ups, freeing up agents for higher-value work. She uses ChatGPT daily to refine social posts and messages so they’re concise and personal, and recommends starting with foundational CRMs like Go-High-Level before layering on advanced features.

She dives into powerful AI-driven marketing tools like Trust Scout and Listrack, which surface migration and demographic data to reach the right buyers effectively. And at every turn, she reminds us, passion for what you do and the willingness to grow are what will make you indispensable. No tech can replace that.

Full transcript below.

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⏱ In this episode, we discuss:

 00:00 – Intro and “fall in love with AI” mindset

 00:54 – Pioneering floor plans in NY and NJ

 07:01 – Using Matterport and virtual staging

 12:12 – Ethical virtual staging and watermarking

 07:35 – Learning AI tools through persistence

 20:35 – Virtual assistants (OPY) for follow-ups

 24:14 – ChatGPT for social media and messaging

 35:43 – Real estate CRM essentials (Go High Level)

 30:08 – Trust Scout and Listrack for predictive targeting

 52:16 – Final reflection, passion and adaptability as your edge

🔗 Lucy Edwards

LinkedIn → https://www.linkedin.com/in/ledwardsny/

📲 Connect with Left Brain AI

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LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/left-brain-ai

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Episode Full Transcript:

Kyle: Okay, welcome everybody back to another episode of The Brainiac Blueprint, where we discuss the intersection of AI with our esteemed guests.

Today's guest has a true wealth of knowledge to share - so much so that we have two episodes we’ll be doing with her.

With that being said, welcome Lucy Edwards to the show.

Lucy: Thank you so much. I'm very excited to be here, and I think we have an amazing subject and topic to talk about. It’s on everyone’s mind, so I just can’t wait to get started.

Kyle: Same - absolutely. With that, let’s jump right in.

Just so everybody knows, Lucy and I first met in October 2024 at the New York City Real Estate Expo.

I knew we were going to be fast friends when we were standing there - you just came right up to us and said, “Let’s do an interview.” And I was like, all right, perfect. Let’s just talk and have some fun here.

Since then, we’ve stayed connected in a variety of ways, and I’m excited to have you on here.

But Lucy, please tell everybody about yourself - you’re so knowledgeable in real estate, AI, and podcasting. You’ve built a reputation in all of it. So, set the stage for everyone so they know who you are.

Lucy: Thank you. I started 25 years ago in real estate.

I always believed that if you start any kind of business - whether you work for yourself or someone else - it doesn’t matter. You have to treat it as your own business.

You have to do it with passion and love and give 100% of yourself to whatever you’re doing - and then you will be successful.

A quick story: my husband and I, 25 years ago, found a really cool Victorian house on a lake - if anyone is familiar with New York, it’s around the Catskills.

We wanted to open a bed and breakfast.

Peter, my husband, did the photos and learned how to edit them. I learned how to create floor plans - I used $30 software and made a full floor plan of the Victorian.

Then we redid everything for the zoning committee, showing how we envisioned it as a bed and breakfast.

Thank God it didn’t go through - because I cannot see myself living in the middle of nowhere, 24/7, 12 months a year.

It didn’t work out because it was a commercial property, and everyone on that lake voted no.

Thank you very much!

However, that project actually brought us to Sotheby’s. My niece worked there and said, “I love the way you do your floor plans - it’s completely different software!”

Of course, it was different - it was only $30 - but it looked great.

That’s how we got started.

Back then, in 2000 or 2001, floor plans were only available in New York City. So, we brought them to New Jersey, Long Island, and Westchester County - kind of pioneering the whole industry.

We built a reputation there.

We were a one-stop shop - we did floor plans, photos, and even brochures on an inkjet printer.

I did the copywriting - and yes, I came from Russia, but I still did the copywriting!

So it made things easy. It was all in one place.

To make a long story short, we built everything on trust and reputation.

Our foundation was relationships, trust, and adaptability. We stayed flexible, learned the industry quickly, and made sure whatever we offered was amazing and made everyone happy.

That’s how we got started.

Kyle: That’s great. It’s always good to hear the origin story.

I think anyone who spends even a minute with you can see your passion and integrity. You’ve done a great job building that up.

If anybody would like to get more content from Lucy, you can see her YouTube channel right here on screen.

Lucy, I know you have several different channels - you’ve got Get Real with Lucy, and I think you’re building even more right now.

Lucy: Yes! If you’d like to reach me, it’s Lucy@GetRealWithLucy.com - that’s the best email to contact me.

My talent is that I have vision and strategy, and I love marketing.

So, if you’re struggling with a property that’s not moving fast or needs help, let me know. I’d be more than happy to spend time with you and give suggestions on what’s best for any property - because every property deserves an intelligent marketing strategy.

That’s my tagline.

Kyle: I think that’s a great little teaser - because episode two is going to focus on marketing, content, and podcasting.

But today is about AI and real estate.

We’ll have some crossover into the tools you love, how you use them to build your reputation, and how you’ve used them to establish trust.

Before we jump in - as you know, I ask all of my guests to complete this sentence:

“I think AI is…”

Lucy: Well, AI is something you cannot live without. You have to embrace it - and you have to fall in love with it.

I believe AI is a love-hate relationship - but you have to get over it and fall in love with it.

It’s here to stay.

Kyle: You can either fight it and be unhappy, or embrace it. It’s not going anywhere.

Lucy: It’s not going anywhere.

Kyle: Awesome. All right, let’s jump into everything real estate.

You have such deep knowledge - and when you and I were speaking earlier, we discussed a lot of the tools you use.

You have tons of experience with virtual staging and design.

So from your perspective, how has AI changed the staging game and property design?

What are you doing now to help buyers see themselves in a property?

Lucy: First of all, I believe networking is extremely important.

Go to different conferences. If you can’t fly to Las Vegas, join webinars.

Learn as much as you can - and join the same webinar over and over until you get it.

At least that’s what I do.

I can relate to many agents - I think the average age of a real estate agent in the U.S. is around 57 years old, so I know how difficult it can be.

My solution: do it over until you feel comfortable.

I worked for Matterport, and to tell you the truth - when I had my company doing photos and floor plans, we also offered Matterport… but I didn’t like it.

I didn’t really enjoy it or understand it.

Then COVID came, and we had no choice - especially in New York during lockdown. You had to fall in love with it.

I had to learn it.

I spent hours traveling through properties, jumping from floor to floor, learning to use the measuring tool - you have to do it.

Then I realized - it’s a solution.

No one is moving just from street to street anymore. People are moving from state to state, from country to country.

Right now I’m in Fort Lauderdale, and did you know 50% of new developments are sold to international buyers?

50%!

That’s an incredible number. And no one from Brazil is flying to your open house on Sunday at 2:00 p.m.

So Matterport - or tools like it - are essential.

I don’t even work there anymore, but I recommend exploring these marketing tools that help create vision and understanding.

It’s amazing how you can travel through a home virtually.

What’s so cool is you can record videos inside these tours.

For example, here’s one I made - it’s my voice describing the kitchen, the lighting, the flow.

You can sit on the couch or stand in the middle of the room and talk about how beautiful the view is - or how hot and humid it is in Fort Lauderdale!

Then, you can prepare a script in a Word document and use software to synchronize your voice.

A lot of agents feel uncomfortable on camera - it takes them forever to record three sentences.

So this is a solution. You can record yourself casually, and the software turns it into a polished video.

You can also use text overlays if you prefer less video.

A combination of both - video and text - works best.

If you show something like this to a potential seller, they’ll be thrilled - they’ll think it’s your voice and your video.

Because I have an accent, the system couldn’t perfectly match mine - but if you don’t have an accent, it’ll sound exactly like you.

No one will even notice the difference.

Another great feature - you can use AI staging inside the virtual tour.

Let me show you an example - this is my house, so don’t judge me.

Kyle: One thing I’ll say, Lucy - to your point, for someone coming from a distance, this is so helpful.

It’s more than just seeing it - hearing you talk about it, providing bullet points - it’s an incredible amount of knowledge that helps them understand what the house offers.

Lucy: Absolutely.

And let’s say some rooms aren’t ready - like my husband’s office. He’s very creative; he has so many monitors, it’s always a wreck.

Our cleaning lady doesn’t even go in there!

You can use a marketing tool to virtually empty the room.

Right now, I don’t have a perfect solution for refurnishing, because those tools can be expensive - but the industry is evolving so quickly that very soon there’ll be inexpensive ways to decorate empty spaces.

You can also take measurements inside the model.

So if someone is moving from Chicago to Fort Lauderdale and wants to check if their furniture fits, they can do that right inside the tour.

Beyond Matterport, I still think it’s amazing how you can incorporate videos - not just into virtual tours, but into anything.

If you’re uncomfortable on camera, you can use the same AI video approach for other content - talk about market conditions, upcoming listings, or community highlights.

You just record yourself casually - even chatting with someone - then combine it with a script.

Boom: a polished, professional video.

Kyle: And I think to your point earlier - these tools might feel awkward at first. The only way to get past that is to just do it.

You get more comfortable the more you practice - whether it’s watching the webinar again or scripting your videos - it becomes natural.

Lucy: I totally agree. Practice makes perfect.

You have to try different things - and when you do, you feel so much better about yourself.

“Oh my God, I conquered another marketing tool!”

That’s right!

Here’s an example of regular virtual staging. There are lots of companies that offer it.

BoxBrownie is one of the least expensive - the quality is good, and their turnaround can be same-day or next business day.

Shop around and compare, but I can tell you - the statistics are accurate:

Your listing sells much faster with virtual staging if your property needs it.

If you have a messy house, you can declutter and refurnish virtually.

If it’s new construction and buyers can’t visualize it - this helps tremendously.

When I had my company, I’d even print a 17x11 photo at Staples or Office Depot and place it on an easel in an empty room - showing what that room looked like virtually staged.

So even if people didn’t remember seeing it online, they had that visual right there in front of them.

Ten dollars later, and you’ve elevated your presentation and reputation.

One very important thing: always make sure the virtual staging company includes a watermark that says “Virtually Staged.”

I was at a presentation a few months ago - a company got sued.

In Florida, there are telephone poles and wires everywhere. The agent removed them from the photo, and the house sold - but when the buyer arrived for closing, they saw it didn’t match the photos.

It became a lawsuit.

So always label your virtual staging, and never remove permanent structures like poles or wires.

You can adjust skies, grass, or cabinets - that’s fine. But removing physical structures is not.

Be careful and mindful when using virtual staging.

There’s also real staging, of course - it’s expensive, but powerful.

I even have a video about that.

With real staging, you can spend up to $30,000 - but make an extra $500,000.

It’s all relative to how you invest your marketing budget.

And often, the seller will participate - paying for things like painting or new carpet.

So keep that in mind.

Kyle: I find real estate so interesting because you have to blend the digital world and the real world.

As a marketer, most of my work is online - but in real estate, you have to merge that with physical experience.

And, whether it’s showing a telephone pole or a staged kitchen, there are so many layers to consider.

These tools help you show what the real world could look like, even online.

Lucy: Exactly.

And again, participating in different conferences is very important.

Even if you can’t attend in person - like Inman Connect or RISMedia events - you can join virtually.

Yes, San Diego or Vegas conferences are expensive - flights, hotels, tickets - but online events are accessible and filled with AI and marketing knowledge.

Invest in your education.

Kyle: I feel like it’s motivating, too. Hearing people share their ideas and passion - it fires you up to take action.

Lucy: Yes, and your colleagues and clients will respect you so much more when they see the energy you invest in creating something unique for their listing.

You’re not just taking pictures or printing MLS sheets - you’re investing in creating something extraordinary.

And remember - you’ll sell your property faster and for more money if you put in that extra work.

As a matter of fact, during one of my presentations, an agent said, “I don’t spend more than $100 on photography for homes under a million.”

I asked her, “So if the house is $900,000, you’re only spending $100?”

She said yes.

And I thought - since when is a $900,000 home a “cheap” home?

You have to invest.

I strongly believe in that.

Lucy: I would like to jump to virtual assistants.

I just came back from Inman, and I can tell you there were several companies there - all with completely different angles about virtual assistants.

You can do your research, but the one I loved the most is called OPY - because it had more bells and whistles, and it actually won an award for being a startup company that grew so quickly.

What they do - besides having a human-like voice and answering the phone - is so much more.

You know how sometimes you get a recording that says, “Hi, may I speak to Lucy?” and then it pauses, and keeps talking even if you say, “Well, I’m not Lucy”?

This system is different.

It really understands when you have a question - what kind of question you have - it knows when to stop, it thinks, and it answers properly.

So AI today is absolutely amazing.

But what they also offer is follow-up.

So, it’s not really a CRM - it’s still a virtual assistant - but it keeps track of all your conversations, what has to be done, what has to be scheduled.

It reminds the agent - “Hey, you had a great talk today, the seller was excited, you have to call them at 3:00 in the afternoon.”

All of that is organized properly, and it makes your life easier.

So, I believe virtual assistants are very important.

Another one is Lofty. That’s also a great solution - a little different, but they also handle follow-ups, phone calls, and emails.

There are tons of email templates you can create - and they’ll even help you write them.

All you have to do is organize everything properly, and the rest of the work is done for you.

I’d also like to mention ChatGPT - my favorite. I use it every day.

For example, when I do my social media - here’s my LinkedIn - when I want to connect with somebody, I always send a note.

Here’s an example: I connected with someone, introduced myself, explained who I am, what I do, and why I want to connect.

That personal message makes a big difference - someone like that is much more likely to accept your connection, and then you can start building a relationship.

You can’t imagine how many relationships I’ve built through LinkedIn - but we’ll talk more about that next week.

So, with ChatGPT, I’ll go in and paste something that’s way too long - like War and Peace! - and I’ll tell it, “Make it 300 characters.”

And boom - I get 287.

ChatGPT is amazing.

I think you should incorporate it into your everyday life. You don’t have to overthink, write, and rewrite.

You can tweak what it gives you - actually, you should tweak it, so it doesn’t sound too AI-like - and add your personality.

For social media, it’s great. For some emails, it’s great.

If you’re writing an email and struggling because you want it to be professional but still personal - not too long but expressive - ChatGPT will help you.

The only thing is, like any AI tool, it needs your input.

You have to give it homework.

Like I did - I gave it a long message and said, “Give me 300 characters,” and it delivered.

Kyle: You took the words out of my mouth.

I have so many custom GPTs now - I’ve uploaded knowledge, trained them, and given them workflows. It’s great for this kind of stuff.

I’m curious, Lucy - for the people you connect with, are they people you meet at events and networking, or are you just reaching out cold - like, “This person is in my space, let me message them”? Or a combination?

Lucy: A combination of both.

On LinkedIn, for example, when I was at VHT, I used to interview leaders in the real estate industry.

I was fascinated by Hoby Hanna - he’s the third generation of Howard Hanna.

They operate in about seven states with roughly 15,000 agents.

It’s a great company - very personal, very successful.

I saw Hoby on stage and thought, “That’s someone I’d be so proud to sit down with for fifteen minutes and interview.”

Actually, I ended up spending two days at his office!

But you know how I met him?

Through LinkedIn.

I messaged him samples of my work, told him what I wanted to learn about his company, why I was fascinated by his success story, and why I wanted to share it - because it’s so unique and different.

He said yes.

Next thing I know, I flew to Cleveland, Ohio, interviewed him, and we had a great time.

He truly has an amazing story - nothing came easy, he works very hard - but that’s an example of how powerful LinkedIn can be.

You just have to be persistent.

I’ll be honest - it took more than one message.

It took a few follow-ups before he agreed to meet.

But if you’re persistent, and you believe in what you’re doing, and you’re not obnoxious - which I can be sometimes, but in a good way - then it works.

I think social media is great.

I prefer LinkedIn first, and then Instagram, because it can be both personal and business.

That’s important - to share a little personal side too, which you don’t do much on LinkedIn.

Facebook is okay, but I never really fell in love with it.

But we’ll talk about social media next week.

Kyle: That’s right.

And to your original point, it shows the power of just trying new things - using the tools available, sending messages, customizing them a little bit.

It’s a relationship-based industry - so get some messages out there.

You never know who’s going to say yes.

Lucy: Of course. Being persistent is everything.

Persistence in learning AI, persistence in marketing tools - it all pays off.

If you’re struggling but stay consistent, you’ll eventually learn it.

I’d really like to talk about some new tools I discovered at Inman.

It was one of the best two days of my life - I learned so much.

There are different companies, and one of them is called TrustScout.

It’s amazing - it collects so much data and uses it intelligently.

For example, let’s say you’re a broker or manager recruiting agents.

You can use MLS tools to screen agents by zip code or area, but TrustScout goes deeper.

It provides so much detail it’s almost scary.

They can tell you an agent’s name, email, company, phone number, how many children they have, how many dogs, whether they live on a corner lot - the data is incredible.

Kyle: That’s a little intense!

Lucy: It is! But if you’re recruiting, or if you’re trying to understand buyers and sellers, it’s a great tool.

It also shows who looked at Realtor.com or Zillow, showed interest, but dropped off - maybe they changed their mind or weren’t ready.

If you want to follow up, that information is available.

So I encourage everyone to look into it - just book a 15-minute presentation and decide for yourself.

I’m not representing any of these companies; I just appreciate their proactive vision.

Another one I loved was Listtrac.

They provide statistics and data on who’s moving from where to where.

Demographics, families, young professionals, how many children - all that insight.

So, for example, if you have a property in Fort Lauderdale and see that people from Chicago and New York are moving there the fastest, you focus your advertising on those zip codes.

You can target directly.

There are other AI products that integrate with this too.

And I still believe in print marketing - you can send mailers to those zip codes, but now you can back it with data-driven insights.

If you have a buyer looking for a home, Listtrac helps you not just find listings but understand where to look, psychologically and geographically.

It’s great for buyers, sellers, and agents - even if you don’t have a listing, you can still introduce yourself to that zip code.

Then when they’re ready, they’ll call you.

The goal is to be proactive - find products and services that help you grow your business.

That’s the main point.

Kyle: So if I’m hearing you right - almost any challenge an agent faces, they’re not alone.

There’s probably a solution out there - whether that’s targeting a new audience, reaching a new geography, or adding speed to your process.

Like you said with virtual assistants - there’s a way to make things more efficient.

Lucy: I totally agree with you.

But one of the foundations of success is having a good CRM system.

You have to remember - my very old boss used to say, “If it’s not on the calendar, it doesn’t exist.”

It’s the same thing: if it’s not in your CRM, it’s not in your head.

You might remember today, but in a week you’ll forget details - and sometimes those details make all the difference.

A good CRM helps you remember not just names, but when to follow up.

And combined with AI or a virtual assistant, you can automate follow-ups - say, on the 20th of each month, a specific message goes out automatically.

You can create different messages, and between your CRM and assistant, everything is sent on time to the right audience.

That’s the foundation.

Your CRM is great for contacts, follow-ups, and notes.

You can record personal details too - birthdays, pets, kids - and your client will appreciate it when you remember.

You’re not calling to say, “Hey, are you ready to sell?” - you’re sending a card saying, “Hey, your kid just turned three - hope you’re enjoying this time!”

It builds real relationships.

Kyle: Yeah - that human element goes a long way in building trust and reputation.

I know plenty of people who say, “I just use a spreadsheet,” and while that might work, it’s limiting.

It’s like saying, “Yeah, I can run barefoot,” - sure, but wouldn’t you rather have shoes?

Use the tools that make life easier.

You don’t need a super-sophisticated CRM right away - just one with a good foundation that helps you build trust and communicate.

Then you grow from there.You don’t need to figure everything out at once.

Lucy: And you also have CRM and your action hero, it creates leads. 

Let’s talk about that for a second - what your CRM offers that others don’t.

Kyle: We like to offer something that isn’t as massive as Salesforce or HubSpot, but still gives you the core tools to grow.

The platform we use is called Go High Level.

It aggregates tools, white-labels integrations, and provides a lot of functionality for the price.

You can manage pipelines, contacts, calendars, send emails and SMS, create automations, landing pages, and workflows.

It’s not as complex as Salesforce - but also not nearly as expensive.

It’s a great foundational CRM that gives you what you need to grow, engage customers, and level up.

And once you outgrow it - if ever - you can move on.

I love it so far. I feel like I’ve only scratched the surface - I’ve been experimenting with workflows, automation, and AI.

We even offer it to our customers to help them stay organized and on top of leads.

Lucy: Well, I’m looking for a new CRM, so I’ll be reaching out to you!

I’ve always used Salesforce in my previous jobs - that’s what large companies use.

But I only used the basics - the most sophisticated thing I ever did was run a report once.

Kyle: Well, one nice thing about Go High Level and similar tools is they have dashboards built in - so you can see everything at a glance.

You don’t need to worry about running tons of reports.

Another great feature - you can handle invoicing, contracts, and more right inside the system.

So instead of paying for multiple tools, it handles the essentials for you.

Lucy: Absolutely. Either way, CRM is important.

You have to keep track of everything you do - because it’s also your future.

If you grow and want a partner, sell your business, or downsize - your CRM is part of your business value.

It’s probably 10% of your business right there.

Your character and spirit aren’t tangible - but your CRM is.

Kyle: I’ve gone back and forth on whether your website or your CRM is more important.

Your website is your first sales rep - your window to the world - but your CRM is your long-term backbone.

I’d call it a 1A/1B situation.

I know you like to group things into “must-haves” and “go-getters.”

So if we cap off here - for someone new to real estate or CRM - what do they need to check off?

What are the core must-haves, and then what can they move to once they’re comfortable?

Lucy: I strongly believe that the foundation of any CRM starts with getting all your contacts organized.

Separate them by category.

For me, because my clients are agents, I had the company name, office name, agent’s name - and I took notes for everyone I talked to.

I always emailed and copied my CRM (Salesforce) to keep records of every single email.

If it was a phone call, I’d jot a short note - and always note where you met them.

So next time you see them, you can say, “Hey, we met at Inman - remember me?”

That’s a great start.

And very important - make sure it’s on your mobile device.

So, because if you are on the go - even if you don’t want to insert something on your cell phone - like, I have a hard time typing on it. So, I just make notes on my phone or record something to do later.

But if I need to look something up, it’s available.

So when you’re at a conference or networking event and can’t remember something, you can always check.

I think having it on your mobile device is very, very, very important.

And make sure that you always BCC your CRM in emails, so you have a track record of everything you share.

As for go-getters, I think AI-powered lead generation and predictive analytics are very important.

Let that CRM contribute to your future and your growth.

And because AI has so much data, turn that to your advantage.

You can also create custom smart campaigns - tailored messaging that speaks directly to the buyer or seller. That’s important.

Then, IDX websites and landing pages - as you mentioned earlier - those are great additions too.

And social media and AI integration for your CRM.

For example, I’m so active on LinkedIn, and I should really connect it to my CRM. If I reach out to someone like Hoby Hanna for an interview, I’d like to have that activity recorded in my CRM - all the dates and data in one place.

That’s important.

And now, there’s also video messaging integration.

You can send videos directly from your CRM.

If you’d like to use something like BombBomb, that’s great - although I never really got along with BombBomb. I just make my own videos and send them out.

But you can also save and track those, too.

If we have a few minutes, I’d like to mention predictive analytics and how everything ties together.

Kyle: You read my mind - that’s exactly where I was going.

Lucy: Predictive analytics help you keep track of everything. It’s so important - especially in commercial real estate or property management, where you need to know when equipment needs servicing.

Just like your car reminds you to change the oil - my husband handles that, so I don’t even know how often! - but somewhere, it triggers that it’s time.

It’s the same thing with AI and your equipment.

That’s why it’s important to have triggers and analytics.

And I just want to share a funny story.

My daughter and son-in-law went to Japan and asked us to babysit their cat. They don’t have children, but they have a cat who’s spoiled worse than any child.

They flew us to San Francisco, and we were there for three weeks - had a great time.

Anyway, the litter box that the cat has - it’s like a spaceship. It’s huge. It sits in the shower and is as big as the shower.

So, the tiny cat is very comfortable.

Then we get a text from my son-in-law, Richard, saying, “The litter box is 75% full - you need to change the bag.”

So Peter goes to change the bag, but then he gets a work call - and forgets about the litter box.

Then we get another text: “The litter box hasn’t had a bag for 30 minutes. Is everything okay with the litter box?”

That’s how sensitive things are!

Kyle: You’re getting spied on at this point.

Lucy: Right! It’s crazy - but that sensitivity is also what makes these systems valuable.

And it’s the same for business - especially property management.

You should have triggers for everything that needs to be checked or maintained.

And very quickly - I didn’t mention this earlier when we talked about Matterport - but you can use it for maintenance too.

Let’s say you have a rental property.

In the Matterport model, you can go to specific windows or floors and zoom in to see exact measurements.

So, if a window breaks or you need a screen replaced, you already have all the sizes and information.

You don’t have to send a repairman just to check - it’s already recorded.

That’s incredibly useful.

In commercial real estate, it’s crucial to stay up to date.

If you’re in property management, look at companies heavily involved in predictive maintenance.

You can reduce unplanned repairs, improve energy efficiency, and boost tenant satisfaction.

All of that comes with today’s technology.

Some of the top companies I recommend: LoopNet, HouseCanary, and Reonomy - and I also liked Placer.AI.

There are several others, and I’d be happy to share the full list if anyone’s interested.

Kyle: Perfect - we’ll post some links in the description so it’s all there.

I mean, predictive analytics - I love it. You know me - I’m a data guy.

From a marketing standpoint, predictive analytics is amazing.

Whether it’s for maintenance or understanding trends and market shifts, it’s so powerful.

Even just experimenting with it helps you understand its potential.

Lucy: Absolutely.

Kyle: All right, Lucy - we’re getting toward the end here.

Can you unshare your screen? We’re going to jump into some rapid-fire questions.

I want everyone to see you again - there we go.

Okay, if you could snap your fingers and have any AI solution, workflow, or tool automatically and fully set up for you right now - what would it be?

Lucy: Oh wow - probably a virtual assistant.

Kyle: There you go! All right.

Next question: what’s your plan for when the AI robots officially take over?

Lucy: I believe human beings will never be replaced.

So my plan is to make sure I’m smarter than the robot - and that my clients can’t live without me.

Kyle: I like that. That’s a great answer.

Every time you and I talk - I know you were just at Inman - you go to a lot of different events.

What’s your favorite event to attend?

Lucy: I do like Inman a lot.

I like RISMedia, which is happening in early September in Washington, D.C. - that’s a good one.

Oh, and Real Deal. I love Real Deal.

It’s a very advanced event.

The NYC Expo is great too - last year they had 9,000 agents there!

Real Deal is smaller, but here’s my trick - I buy the VIP ticket, and then I hang out in the area where they serve free champagne and great appetizers.

Kyle: Perfect.

Lucy: That’s where I get to talk to real people - because the expo floor is so crowded with vendors and visitors that you can’t have real conversations.

But in the VIP room, everyone’s more relaxed - they spend more time with you - and that’s where I make valuable connections.

That’s where I’ve landed some of my best interviews.

So Real Deal is definitely a good one.

Kyle: Amazing.

If you could instantly master one skill, what would it be?

Lucy: I’d have a better memory. I want to memorize everything!

Kyle: There you go!

All right, last one - which actress will play you when the Lucy Edwards biopic is made?

Lucy: Scarlett Johansson.

Kyle: Scarlett Johansson - I love that!

All right, before we wrap up, open forum - is there any final thought or advice you’d like to share before part two?

Lucy: I’d just like to repeat how important it is to love what you do.

It’s important to wake up happy that the day is about to start - that you get to do what you love.

In Russia, we have a saying - it doesn’t sound as good in English - but the idea is, “The night is short, and tomorrow you go to work.”

Kyle: That’s inspiring. I love that.

It’s good to have passion and excitement.

I think it was Alex Hormozi who said, “Find your good mood.”

Find that energy and bring it into your work - even if you have to fake it till you make it.

Lucy: Exactly.

Kyle: Well, awesome.

Lucy, thank you again for joining us.

We already have part two scheduled - we’ll dive into marketing, podcasting, and all that good stuff.

That one’s going to hit home for me.

In the meantime, if anyone wants to check you out, they can find you on LinkedIn or YouTube - it’s @LucyEdwardsVHT on YouTube, right?

Lucy: Yes, but that’s going to change because Matterport is taking over.

But find me on LinkedIn - @LucyEdwardsRealEstate.

There’s one thing I didn’t mention, but we’ll talk about it next week - Google Business Pages.

Every business should have one, with testimonials and reviews.

Those are extremely important today - and we’ll go deeper into that in part two.

Kyle: Amazing.

Well, Lucy, thank you so much for joining us - this was great.

Part one of The Brainiac Blueprint.

If you could do me a favor - look into the camera and say, “Stay brilliant, Brainiacs.”

Lucy: Stay brilliant… oh wait - tell me again?

Kyle: Stay brilliant, Brainiacs.

Lucy: Oh! Stay brilliant, Brainiacs.

Kyle: That’s my term for all our listeners - I call them Brainiacs.

Lucy: Okay - Stay brilliant, Brainiacs!

Kyle: Awesome. Thank you so much, Lucy.

Lucy: Thank you, Kyle.

Kyle: Talk soon - all the best.

Cheers, everybody - take care.