Relationships Before Transactions: How Chris Whitley Built a Thriving Gulf Coast Business

In this episode of Agent Brew, host Eric Zollinger sits down with Chris Whitley, our first agent from REMAX. He is an associate from REMAX on the Coast based on Alabama's beautiful Gulf Coast. Chris specializes in beachfront condos and beach houses across the 25-mile stretch of Gulf Shores and Orange Beach.Now in his third year of real estate, Chris shares his unconventional journey from working in his family's fencing business at 14, to knocking on doors for a pressure washing side hustle, to building a thriving real estate practice. He credits much of his success to mentor Ricky Carruth, whose coaching program he joined in March 2024 after attending an in-person workshop. (Ricky is a partner of RLTYco!)Chris talks about why relationships always come before transactions, why he stays focused on buying and selling rather than property management, and how a simple system of phone calls, weekly emails, weekly texts, and direct mail keeps his pipeline strong. He also opens up about the power of defining your "why" — a turning point that brought clarity and fuel to his daily work, with a goal of building a business that allows his wife to join him full-time.Tune in for honest insights on scaling, staying disciplined, working in-office for accountability, and why showing up beats almost everything else.Favorite quote: "It's not about the goal — it's about growing to become the person who can accomplish that goal."#AgentBrew #RealEstate #Remax #GulfCoast #RickyCarruth