Foxy Property Chat

Cara Bergmann joins us on today's episode of the pod.Cara is the owner and founder of Cara Bergmann Properties - one of the highest performing real estate agencies in South East Queensland. Cara and her team pride themselves on excellent quality and consistency, selling 150 properties a year. Whilst doing that she has built a reputation of exceptional customer service and high standards. Cara is also a multi award winner, including the 2005 REIQ Award for Residential Sale Person in SEQ for Settled Transactions.In today's chat we cover; What it takes to be such a high performing agentHow she built a long term and very loyal teamAnd how to continue to reach these impressive performances, year after year.

On this episode, Jake sits down with Brisbane real estate agent Will Torres from Torres Property for a really honest conversation about what it takes to build a high performing career and business. From discipline, routine and rejection, to leadership, culture and the reality of managing a growing team, Will shares the mindset that has shaped his approach over the years. He talks about why there’s “no reset button” for him, the standards he sets for himself and his team, and why he believes success often comes back to doing the simple things consistently. It’s a high energy conversation around ambition, pressure, people, and learning from everyone around you - whether you’re leading a business, growing a team, or just trying to lift your game.

This episode is a straight up chat about what happens when you go from being a gun selling agent to running the whole show.Josh Sherwood is the Director of Freedom Property. He moved to Australia at 15, got into real estate young, and has spent about 22 years in the industry. These days he wears a lot of hats across a multi location brand and still sells, but what really stands out is how much he backs building people from the ground up through systems, structure, and proper training rather than just trying to recruit ready made “stars”. In the conversation, we talk about; - Delegation and time management - How to set up a team so it does not fall apart when someone leaves- Why cross training and clear roles matter. - Josh and his personality being more action than planning- Taking opportunities when they pop up- The biggest lesson he would give his younger self, getting help earlier, checking the ego, and not trying to carry everything alone.

In this episode of Foxy Property Chat we sit down with Steve Song of McGrath Bulimba. Steve services areas such as Mackenzie, Cannon Hill, Carindale and surround regions. Before real estate, Steve built his career in the fitness industry, which reflects on his business mindset and work ethic. Over the last decade Steve has become one of the most high-performing and consistent agents in the Brisbane area. He attributes a lot of this to his high standards, ability to surround himself around a good team and a strong environment. We get into: - Steve's road to real estate and where he started.- How Steve built his mindset as he has grown in the industry for 10 years. - His standards and what it means to be a real leader amongst his team- Team culture and what is involved in creating a not only healthy but uplifting environment. - What motivates Steve? What systems and processes Steve has in place that helps him get the most out of his work If you are a real estate agent, a business owner or anyone who is ambi

In this episode of Foxy Property Chat, we sit down with Remy Durieux, founder of Remy’s Real Estate, servicing Brisbane’s Southern Suburbs like Carina, Camp Hill and surrounding suburbs.Remy’s path into real estate is anything but standard. Born in France, raised in Tahiti, and shaped by high-end hospitality, he’s built a boutique agency with a small, tight team and a clear point of difference.We get into:Why so many great homes still go live with no video, no story, no hook, and what that’s costing sellersHow Remy built a brand and pipeline with zero network when he first arrived in BrisbaneThe real challenge of keeping a small team happy, motivated, and actually sticking aroundHis approach to renovations and pre-sale transformations as a repeatable edgeWhy breaks aren’t a luxury, they’re part of the plan (especially when you’re “100% on”)The emotional side of business: riding the highs and lows without letting it derail youIf you’re a seller, an agent, or anyone building a service business in 2026, this one

Yesterday we staged 14 homes in one day - our biggest day ever. In this episode, we unpack how it actually unfolded: the late confirmations, the missed booking, the scheduling rebuild, the stock reshuffle, and how the team made it all happen without dropping a ball.We walk through the three-day prep cycle, our logistics process, how we allocate trucks and stylists, and the behind-the-scenes problem-solving that keeps a day like this running smoothly.If you’re in staging, logistics, real estate or running a growing business, this episode is a real look at what it takes to execute big days without sacrificing quality.

The Foxy Property Chat is back after a 6–7 month break, and we’ve come in hot - October is our peak season and it shows. In the first 16 days we’ve completed ~110 installs, set a new “homes out” record (then broke it again… and again), and clocked 93 installs in just two weeks. We talk market pace (everything from prestige to entry units is moving), how we’re handling the surge, and what’s changed since acquiring a Sunshine Coast/Noosa staging business four months ago.We also cover where staging is heading (service areas pushing further from the CBD, the Olympics knock-on, and the tech wildcard), how we gear up for peak without leaving stock idle, and our approach to integrated installs for clients living at home. Then: advice for new stagers (hint: it’s more logistics than styling), an update on the Australian Home Staging Conference (postponed in 2026; back Feb 2027), a rapid-fire fun round, reacting to spicy social comments, and a quick “Guess the Price” game from recent Foxy projects.0:00 – Back from hiat

Here are the hard lessons from nine years of building Foxy Home Staging, straight from Jake. This is not theory, it’s the messy, real work of growing a service business and leading a large team while staying client focused.What you will learn• Build leaders, not followers. Culture scales when others set the standard in your absence.• Assume the best in your people. Coach first, then decide.• Some days are just hard. Do the work and move forward.• Cash is king. Growth needs planning, discipline and runway.• Focus wins. Stick to what you are great at.• Work on the business. Step out of the day to day to let the team grow.• Every key role needs a backup. Do not single point your operation.• No one is indispensable. Protect the team and the business.• Hire fast and fire faster when the fit is wrong.• Do not promote too early. Great performers need leadership training and time.• Repetition builds culture. Say the important things again and again.• As a leader you get the worst problems. Own them.• You will make mi

Jake, Phoebe, and Cody sit down for a quick recap of the 2025 Australian Home Staging Conference, held at the InterContinental Sanctuary Cove on the Gold Coast from February 20-22. They discuss:How the event wentCommon challenges attendees sharedFeedback receivedPlans for the 2026 editionLook out for a feedback survey in your email inbox next week as we look to improve for next year. Thanks for listening!

After a bit of a hiatus, we're back with a massive Foxy update! Join Jake and Phoebe as they dive into everything that’s been happening behind the scenes—from the excitement of moving into a brand-new warehouse to launching a second business, Arctic Interiors. We also chat about our plans for the 2025 Australian Home Staging Conference, our thoughts on the current Brisbane market, and reflections on what we've learned this spring. As always, if you have a questions you'd like answered, shoot us a message. Thanks for listening!

In Episode 3 of the Foxy Business Chat podcast, we're diving into the nitty-gritty of what makes a business thrive. Join us as we catch up with Jake on a fine Monday morning to talk about the whirlwind of activity at Foxy Home Staging over the past few months.  We also delve into some thought-provoking quotes and insights, discussing everything from the importance of trust and team culture to the value of skill stacking and trusting your gut. Jake shares his perspectives on why hiring for personality over skills can make or break a team and how balancing day-to-day speed with long-term patience can lead to lasting success.

In this episode of the podcast we’re doing something a little different! Tori Toth recently travelled from the USA to Australia for the Australian Home Staging Conference and while here visited the Foxy Home Staging Warehouse. If you missed it, Tori presented on how to integrate video into your marketing plan. After a little warehouse tour she sat down and interviewed Jake on the beginnings of Foxy, and much more. Let’s give ChatGPT a go at summarising the topics discussed: - Origins of Foxy Homes: From corporate finance and cancer care to launching a home staging empire. - Growth Trajectory: Scaling to 1000+ installations a year and the pivotal decisions along the way. - Marketing Mastery: Leveraging authentic content to connect with clients and build a brand. - Team and Culture: Cultivating a workplace where passion, empathy, and hard work drive success. - Overcoming Challenges: Adapting to logistical hurdles and the importance of community in industry growth. --- Thank you to Tori for speaking at the inau

Welcome to episode 2 of the new podcast format! In this new series join Jake and Cody as they discuss business, leadership and marketing topics as it pertains to the Home Staging industry. In this episode they discuss: Making mistakes Patience Culture Curiosity The ultimate formula for success We hope you enjoy the new podcast format. Get in touch via the Foxy Home Staging Instagram or Facebook page to let us know your thoughts!

Welcome to a new podcast format! In this new series join Jake and Cody as they discuss business, leadership and marketing topics as it pertains to the Home Staging industry. In this episode they discuss: Common challenges they heard from business owners at the Australian Home Staging Conference Some key quotes and takeaways from the AHSC Productivity Competition Motivating factors at work (for employees) The art of decisiveness We hope you enjoy the new podcast format. Get in touch via the Foxy Home Staging Instagram or Facebook page to let us know your thoughts!

We're back for another short episode of the podcast! On today's episode Jake and Phoebe cover the following topics/questions: A general update on the businses and market What to expect for the rest of 2023 and the start of 2024? Phoebe's recent presentation Do we pay our staff when they are driving their own vehicles between jobs? Do we give any free staging weeks over the Christmas holidays? How do we transport glass? Thanks to those who asked questions and to everyone for listening!

On this super short episode Cody speaks to Phoebe and Jake individually and asks them a bunch of questions, including: How was their week in Fiji (and what was your cocktail of choice?) What’s top of mind for business and what are you expecting for the remainder of 2023? Can you please give me advice on how to start a home staging business? What systems do you have in place to ensure smooth installs and nothing is forgotten? Thanks for listening. Catch you in the next episode.

Is it worth paying for advertising space in agents welcome packs? How do you respond to agents when they say that they already have a property stylist? Is it worth sending out a hard copy of a portfolio to Agents? What sort of paid advertising do you do? Do you use RP Data for property statistics? When starting out, should I buy all of my furniture wholesale and how to go about it?

How much can you earn running a home staging business? Jake, co-owner of Foxy Home Staging is going to do his best to answer that question. In the process of doing so he’s going to go into a fair bit of detail around things like how much of every dollar that comes in is spent on wages, new stock and rent. Not only does he answer that from what it looks like today, 6 years into the business, he breaks it down at the different stages or lifecycles so no matter where you are at in your home staging journey, hopefully you’ll find something relevant to you. Now it’s all well and good that we have a warehouse, a team, our own trucks, but what about the solo or smaller staging businesses out there who rent their furniture from a third party and pay contract logistics teams - well you’re in luck because Jake touches on this too. Jake finishes the episode by talking about when you should hire your first or next employee and what sort of hire is most important. Questions? Let us know! Thanks for listening.

Welcome back to the Foxy Property Chat Podcast (Cody got there eventually!). On this episode: Jake and Phoebe attend a Gary Vee event and a Gala Fundraiser Why we set out an apartment a certain way How many jobs a week was Foxy getting when it became a full time gig? When Jake decided to leave his full time position? What do your team use to wrap furniture? We finish the episode with a speed round of under and overrated.

On this episode of the podcast we discuss: What is a Hackathon and how did the Foxy Hackathon go? Who creates our daily schedule Do we style for photo shoots and if so how would we quote such jobs? How many staff are involved in selection and installations? We then finish the podcast with a quick over and underrated!