Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Michael Byrd. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Michael , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Too often the media represents innovation as something magical that only high-flying tech billionaires and upstarts engage in – but the truth is almost every business owner has to regularly innovate in small and big ways in order for their businesses to survive and thrive. Can you share a story that highlights something innovative you’ve done over the course of your career?

When I started in real estate, I was a Country boy who didn’t know the first thing about running ads or marketing. I barely understood what a PDF was. I’d been a Diesel mechanic, worked construction, and served in the military before getting my real estate license. I started off equipped with a $200 Asus laptop, a love for caffeine, and YouTube. I knew I had to make ends meet after quitting a well-paying job, refinancing my home, and setting aside just enough to cover six months of bills.

I realized homeowners in my area who bought around the same time I did—between 2010 and 2014—were sitting on significant equity, especially those who hadn’t refinanced. Using public data, I targeted 3- to 4-bedroom pool homes via a company called Melissa Data, paying $164 for a list of addresses. With no budget for professional mailers, I bought an inkjet printer from Best Buy and designed a flyer myself. I licensed a stock image of a kid with a bowl cut, mouth gaped open in shock, and wrote a bold pitch: I could help homeowners refinance to pay off debt while keeping their payment the same, or sell their home and move into a new one for the same monthly cost.

I didn’t have a big budget to mail flyers and did not understand EDDM or where to even start—I went door to door, dressed sharp with my Marine Corps tie clasp to connect with veterans (a group I prioritized, knowing their loan details from public records). Knocking on doors in a rural area wasn’t easy. I dodged some aggressive dogs and got colorful phone calls from folks telling me to stay off their property. But I also met incredible people, many of whom invited me in to chat.

The hustle paid off. Within six or seven months and some mentorship from my cousin Ashley Simonelli with Royal Palm Property Management, I landed three or four listings and a few buyers, kickstarting my career. By combining old-school door-knocking with targeted data and a catchy flyer, I turned limited resources into real results—proof that innovation doesn’t always require big budgets or tech wizardry, just creativity and grit.

Michael , love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

I’m a Southwest Florida native, born and raised in Fort Myers, where I learned grit and resilience from my parents. My father, a problem-solver for a citrus harvesting company, built successful businesses, while my mother balanced work with her passion for singing, performing with the Sweet Adelines International Choir and at local venues like Marina 31. Their work ethic shaped me. After high school in 2003, I joined Johnson Engineering as a surveyor, then enlisted in the Marine Corps in 2005, serving two tours in Iraq and stationed in Okinawa and Beaufort, S.C. After my service ended in 2009, I earned an automotive, industrial, and diesel engineering degree from Universal Technical Institute in Phoenix, Arizona. Back in Florida, I worked as a heavy-duty diesel mechanic before returning to surveying. While working in Port Royal, a conversation with an agent about earning a year’s income from one home sale sparked my leap into real estate.

Today, I specialize in helping clients buy and sell homes across Southwest Florida, from Naples to North Port, with a focus on helping sellers navigate a challenging market and getting their home sold stress free. A couple years into my career I partnered with another top-producing agent Kris Pawelczyk, whose expertise in new construction and working with buyers and negotiating deals for them paired perfectly with helping families relocate . Together, we lead a team of dedicated agents who guide clients through the complex process of buying, selling, or leveraging home equity. We help clients upgrade their lifestyle, or secure investment properties and ensure a seamless, stress-free experience—especially for those buying and selling simultaneously.

What sets me apart? My deep local roots, military-honed discipline, and hands-on approach. I’ve knocked on doors, built targeted marketing campaigns using public data, and earned listings through creativity and hustle. Unlike agents reliant on generic emails, we prioritize relationships over transactions, tailoring solutions to each client’s needs. We don’t just list properties—we market them strategically for top dollar, delivering proven results. Our team stays ahead of this ever-changing industry, offering transparency and practical solutions over flashy gimmicks.

How did you build your audience on social media?

I build most of my audience organically through instagram. Every time I was doing a showing, inspection or out and about in a community I would post it! We went through a huge boom with construction and I was also showing features in properties I was showing to clients and get questions or comments on my posts like how much it was going for where it was at and what it took to purchase. I always followed up. I met some great people who became clients and now friends I speak to frequently. The most important thing is consistency for anyone trying to build a brand or online presence. . This was way before AI like you have these days and all the video editing software. In my early days I was always out showing homes and even when wasn’t I was posting like I was and no one knew any different. So all my friends began to associate me with an agent who was getting deals done and a go to source for information.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

One of the most important things that helped me—and all the successful people I’ve met in business—is integrity and showing up when needed, even when it wasn’t expected.

When I was working to get listings, many of the homes were not market-ready, to say the least. Some clients didn’t have the capital to clean up, make drywall repairs, or do landscaping—and I didn’t have much capital either—so I just did it myself. I made it a point to do whatever it took to help get homes sold.

At the time, Snapchat was big, and I was constantly posting there and on Facebook stories every time I got a listing. I showed the work I was willing to do, and I always answered my phone when someone had a question or wanted to see a home. You’d be surprised how many Realtors don’t even answer their phone.

I made it a priority to outwork others and go above and beyond. I learned from every source available—YouTube, association classes, Connect, and Florida Realtor Magazine, which always had great insights from other agents on what worked for them.

By years two and three, I became the go-to person for most of my friends when it came to what was going on in our market and home value info, and getting their homes sold.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://michaelbyrd.savingsspecialistgroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mikereblusmc/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/michael.byrd.9659/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@michaelbyrd3621
• Other: Tik Tok – https://www.tiktok.com/@realtormichaelbyrd?lang=en