What was your first job in the realty industry? My first job was as a leasing agent at Boardwalk Properties in Mission Hill. I worked there for seven years in a variety of roles, most notably managing the office. I learned everything there was to know about leasing, and transitioned into a leasing/sales combo position after a couple of years. I worked and did business with some incredible people in all aspects of the company and industry.
Growing up, what did you want to be? I never really gave that much thought until I started college. I applied to a job ad through Northeastern University. One thing led to another, and I ended up loving the real estate business.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? Double down and work harder.
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? Kevin O’Leary. He’s had an incredibly successful career and much of it is based on hard work, which would be fascinating to learn about in person.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? If I’m in the city, Fenway is easily my favorite area. If I want to get away for a weekend, Eastham on Cape Cod is my favorite place to go.
What do you love most about the industry? I genuinely love helping the people I meet and learning from them. The most satisfying part of this job is when someone moves in to their new apartment or home, and reaches out to tell you how genuinely happy they are. I’m incredibly lucky to work with a great group of people and phenomenal clients all the time.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? Giving customers my full attention and effort is always my No. 1 goal. If I can’t fully serve someone for whatever reason — whether it be my schedule or the area might not be my specialty — I will always refer to an agent I know and trust. I will always be candid with clients and am typically fairly conservative when recommending properties to clients. At the end of the day, while it’s not my money on the line, it is my reputation. Integrity, honesty and work ethic are the most important factors when choosing an agent. There are many great agents in the city that I am privileged to know and work with.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Easily the most difficult part of this and many other industries is the inaccuracy of information on the internet. Sometimes there are legitimate mistakes by other agents or websites, but there are also technologically “advanced” websites which repeatedly provide quotes on properties that are just flat-out wrong. For example, the CEO of Zillow sold his own home for much less than his own website’s Zestimate!
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? The majority of my clients at this point come from personal referrals and repeats. Whether it be college friends, people from my hometown or old rental clients, I am lucky enough to not need to start a business from scratch. When it comes to brand-new clients, social media is typically my go-to. I try to be very active on Facebook and LinkedIn, as well as pretty much any sort of real estate website out there.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? Consistently being a top producer year to year in the Greater Boston real estate industry.
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent” by Gary Keller was a fantastic book. It provides a great foundation for people looking to build their real estate career and stay in this business for the long haul.
What is your favorite restaurant? Grill 23 in Back Bay for a fancy dinner, or Not Your Average Joe’s for something more casual!
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Boston? Boston Convention & Exhibition Center.
What kind of car do you drive? Black BMW
Smartphone or paper? Smartphone for the most part, unless I’m meeting a client for an initial consultation, at which point there is nothing better than a pen and paper.
What is your favorite city after Boston? New York City.
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? Commit long-term and full-time or quit now!
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? KeyMe, an absolutely incredible app which allows you to take a picture of a key and go to a kiosk to have one cut. It revolutionizes lock-outs and lost keys.
Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? Tom Brady, David Ortiz and anyone talking about real estate!