Coldwell Banker Previews International broker Roh Habibi — also a “Million Dollar Listing San Francisco” star — will be speaking at Inman Connect San Francisco 2015 about millennial agents, buyers and sellers.
He answered three questions from Inman about his real estate philosophy.
1. What’s something about the real estate industry you believe that others don’t?
Despite all of the advancements in technology and website and app creation within the real estate sector, I do not think real estate agents will be obsolete, which has been a concern for many agents and companies over the past two years.
At the end of the day, this is a business of relationships, interpersonal skills and the art of getting a transaction done. We welcome and thank tech companies for making buyers’ and sellers’ lives easier with search engines and getting a better idea on the market, but there is no substitute for what an agent truly does.
We are financial planners, geologists, economists and psychologists who can see into the future — and we walk dogs! No technology will be able to do all of that to complete a transaction done.
2. What connection have you made — business or personal — that changed the course of your life?
A personal connection I have made that completely changed the focus and direction of my life has been with my spiritual master and guide. He taught me the value of time, relationships, being in the service of mankind, and what my end goal is to be in this life and how to attain it.
Working as a high-level broker, I would get lost in the deals, money, ego and this lifestyle. The Islamic science of Sufism taught me balance and moderation is the key to everything. In essence, to be the best but also to have the correct intention.
3. What’s your No. 1 tip for building out a network of valuable connections?
“Be where they are”… This is the best way to build a network around clientele whom you want to ideally work with. The concept is simple and difficult at the same time. For example, if you want to work with high net worth clients, you have to find out how they spend their time, what clubs and organizations they belong to, and then join them, frequent them and genuinely get to know the other people there.
This will make you a friend and colleague and that will lead to business generation. The hard part is these events, clubs and organizations take financial investment; if you are a new agent, it may be difficult to shell out $2,000 for an opera gala or $10,000 to join a social club!
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