The Barely Balanced Agent

Back-to-school season sounds so organized until you’re actually in it. Alarms are going off, lunches need to be packed, kids need to get dressed, someone can’t find their shoes, and somehow you’re also supposed to start your own workday.

Sarah and Larissa are officially back in the school-year hustle, and as usual, they could not be more opposite in how they handle their mornings. They’re sharing what mornings actually look like in their houses, what works for their kids, and why the “best” routine might just be the one that works for your family.

Larissa got fired by a seller for not communicating enough. Except she was communicating twice a week, which is already more than the typical cadence. So… what do you do with that?

In this episode, we’re talking about the part of real estate that doesn’t get discussed enough: sometimes you can be doing your job well and still not be the right Realtor for a particular client.

We get into what happened with this listing, the weird mix of emotions that comes with being released by a seller, and why sometimes there’s actually...

One minute we're swapping our favorite coffee and caffeine hacks, and the next we're talking about one of the biggest moments in real estate... when a buyer walks into a house and just knows.

This conversation takes a fun turn when Larissa admits she almost bought a house herself. It leads to a bigger discussion about why finding the right home is so emotional and what Realtor moms and real estate agents experience alongside their clients during that process.

If you've ever watched a client fall in love with a home, or you've been surprised...

Money isn't just about budgeting. It's about communication, trust, and figuring out what works for your family.

In Part 2 of our Relationship With Money series, we're getting personal about how we manage money with our husbands. We share why we've chosen to combine our finances, how that decision works in our marriages, and why we've never personally navigated separate accounts.

This isn't a conversation about the "right" way to handle money. It's an honest look at what's worked for us and how our money systems reflect our values, communication, and partnership.

If you're...

Larissa and Sarah are diving into one of the biggest topics they've ever tackled: our relationship with money. And they quickly realized this conversation couldn't fit into just one episode.

In Part 1, they share the money messages they grew up with and how those experiences quietly shaped the way they think, spend, save, and stress about money today.

For Larissa, that meant growing up around debt and learning to juggle financial pressure. For Sarah, it meant hearing that "money is the root of all evil," a belief that took years to recognize and unpack.

Burnout doesn't always look like falling apart. Sometimes it looks like snapping at your kids, feeling exhausted even after sleeping, forgetting everything, or wondering why you don't feel like yourself anymore.

If you're a Realtor mom trying to balance clients, motherhood, a household, and everyone else's needs, this conversation is for you. We're talking about the physical signs of burnout, why so many women ignore them for too long, and small, realistic ways to start taking care of yourself without adding more to your already full plate.

This isn't about bubble baths or perfect morning...

We've all done it. You scroll social media, see another agent closing deals, taking vacations, or somehow doing it all, and suddenly you're questioning everything you're doing.

Comparison doesn't just affect your business. It shows up in motherhood, relationships, friendships, and the expectations we put on ourselves every single day.

In this episode, we're talking honestly about why comparison is so easy to fall into, how it steals your confidence, and the simple mindset shifts that help you get back to focusing on your own life and business.

If you're a Realtor mom...

You know that feeling when you'll spend money on your business without hesitation, but suddenly freeze when it's something for yourself?

This episode started with a simple question about grocery store outfits, professional appearances, and business write-offs. But it turned into a bigger conversation about self-care, confidence, and why so many women are comfortable investing in their business while struggling to invest in themselves.

We're talking about the difference between showing up professionally and showing up authentically, why some expenses feel justified while others feel indulgent, and what we can learn from the way other...

There's a unique dynamic in many entrepreneurial families: one person provides the stability, and the other chases the possibility.

In this episode, we're talking about the contrast between a traditional W2 career and entrepreneurship, especially in households where a spouse's steady paycheck creates a safety net while the business owner takes on more uncertainty.

But this conversation isn't really about jobs. It's about choices.

The choices we make as moms. The choices we make as business owners. The moments when family needs us one way and our goals pull us another. And the...

Some clients make you question everything, especially when they start acting shady and trying to sell the house out from under you.

This episode is about scammy seller behavior, protecting yourself as a Realtor, and learning how to hold your ground without spiraling, people-pleasing, or feeling like you have to beg for basic respect.

For Realtor moms and women in real estate who are trying to build a solid business while also not letting difficult clients run the show.

A lot of people are using AI like a hype machine. Ask a question, get validation, move on.

But the real power of AI is building systems that actually think with you, challenge bad ideas, help you make decisions, and take things off your plate in a real way.

This episode is about agentic AI bots, how to start building workflows that actually support your business, and why your AI shouldn’t just exist to agree with you all day long.

We’re talking about realistic ways Realtors and business owners can start usin...

Spring break has a way of exposing everything. The attitudes, the nonstop messes, the guilt, the overwhelm, and the impossible feeling of trying to be a good mom while still running a real estate business.

This episode is an honest conversation about what happens when your kids are home all week, your work doesn’t stop, and you realize you can’t keep carrying the entire household on your own.

We’re talking about balancing motherhood and real estate during chaotic seasons, teaching kids responsibility, weekend chores, and the reality of trying to raise capable humans...

When you’re building a business, raising kids, and trying to keep up with everyday life, it’s easy to feel like nothing counts unless it’s a huge milestone. But the truth is, the small wins are what keep us going.

In this episode, we’re talking about why celebrating the little things matters more than we think. The answered email. The hard conversation. The client follow-up you almost avoided. The day you showed up even when you were exhausted.

This conversation is for Realtor moms and women in business who are constantly chasing the next...

Inspection responses can get a little wild… and if you’ve been in real estate for more than five minutes, you’ve probably seen it.

In this episode, we’re talking about those over-the-top repair requests, the pressure to ask for everything, and how to actually advocate for your client without blowing up the deal.

This is for the Realtor moms who are trying to do right by their people while also keeping transactions together and their sanity intact.

We’re getting honest about what works, what backfires, and how to navigate inspections in a way t...

If we could go back and sit down with ourselves on day one, this is what we’d say.

This episode is an honest look at the things no one really tells you when you start in real estate or step into running your own business. The emotional stuff, the time stuff, the identity shifts… all of it.

We’re sharing the lessons we learned the long way so you don’t have to.

If you’re a Realtor mom or a woman building a business while juggling life, this one will probably hit close...

You booked the trip… but somehow you’re still working, juggling kids, and running on no sleep.

This episode is about that in-between space where “time off” doesn’t really feel like time off. When you’re trying to rest, but your business still needs you. When someone’s sick, the kids need a plan, and you’re just trying to make one healthy choice in the middle of it all.

If you’ve ever brought your laptop on vacation or answered client texts from the sidelines of family time, this one will hit close to home.

Thi...

In this episode of The Barely Balanced Agent, we take a step back from the constant hustle and talk about something we don’t always give ourselves permission to prioritize—rest, self-care, and simply being.

We dive into:

✨ What we’re doing to actually recharge (not just talk about it)

✨ The hobbies and small moments that bring us back to life

✨ The pressure of always needing to be productive

✨ And the mindset shift that stopped us in our tracks—what if we don’t have to create value to be valuable?

In this episode of The Barely Balanced Agent, we’re getting real about business growth—specifically, that moment when you realize you can’t (and shouldn’t) do it all yourself anymore. We also get into our experience on teams - the good, the bad, and the ugly.

We’re diving into:

✨ How to know when it’s time to make your first hire

✨ What to do (and what NOT to do) when building your team

✨ The mistakes that can cost you time, money, and sanity

✨ And how to find someone who act...

In this episode of The Barely Balanced Agent, we’re diving into something that can make or break a listing… photography 👀

We’re talking about why hiring a GOOD photographer is non-negotiable, the biggest staging do’s and don’ts we see in real life, and how AI is starting to change the game in real estate marketing.

From over-editing disasters to empty rooms that just don’t hit, we’ve seen it all—and we’re sharing what actually works (and what doesn’t) if you want your home to stand out and sell.

Plus, of course, a...

Welcome back to The Barely Balanced Agent!

This episode is equal parts you can’t make this up and okay… something has to change. We’re sharing some of our wildest showing experiences—yes, the kind where you’re bending over backwards, rearranging your entire life, and wondering how this became the norm.

But beyond the stories, we’re getting real about the bigger conversation:

✨ When being “a great agent” starts costing you your health

✨ The pressure to always say yes (and why we’ve done it)

✨ Where the line...

In Episode 3 of The Barely Balanced Agent, Larissa and Sarah dive into one of the hardest skills in real estate: setting boundaries.

In a business where clients expect quick responses, constant availability, and nonstop communication, it can feel impossible to protect your time without feeling like you're dropping the ball.

We talk honestly about: • Managing the workload and mental load of being a real estate agent • The pressure to respond to every text immediately • Setting realistic client communication expectations • Creating business hours that actually work • Protecting time for family while still delivering great service

If you'v...

In this episode of The Barely Balanced Agent, we’re diving into the tools and systems helping us keep our businesses running while life is… well… life.

From AI tools and business automations to the little hacks that help us remember all the things, we’re sharing what’s actually helping us stay organized and efficient as busy real estate agents and moms.

Of course, it wouldn’t be Barely Balanced without a few real-life stories — including poop questions, mom moments, and the constant lesson of learning which battles are actually worth fighting.

If you’ve ever...

Welcome to the very first episode of The Barely Balanced Agent!

Hosts Larissa and Sarah introduce themselves and share the stories behind how they each ended up in real estate, what their lives look like outside of work, and why they decided to start this podcast.

In this episode we talk about:

• How we each got started in real estate

• The realities of building a business while raising kids

• The mindset shifts that helped us push through the tough seasons

• Why we created this podcast for agents who feel...