Hoppler’s Broker of the Month: Raymond Atencio

To know is to understand. More so, you will never know if something is for you unless you take a leap of faith. Raymond Atencio, Hoppler’s Broker of the Month, knows and understands that learning should be a constant part of life and that knowledge is a tool that everyone can maximize to achieve a lot in life. Driven to learn and be successful, he knows that success can at times happen in sudden transitions that might impact future endeavors yet bring incredible rewards.

Tell us something about yourself.

I was in the corporate world doing accounts management and works that are related to IT prior to entering the real estate industry to be a full-time broker.

How did your career as a real estate broker start?

When you work in the corporate world, you tend to follow a schedule. Before I got married last year, I really wanted to have control over my schedule. I have real estate broker friends who encouraged me to try the industry. Hence, I passed the licensure examination for brokers in February 2016.

What do you love most about being a real estate broker?

Being a real estate broker allows me to meet new people and learn new things. For a decade, I was confined to an office; now, I get to do field work which I really want to do. I get to meet different types of people and learn things about real estate. As a broker, I am learning how to adapt to situations and challenges.

If you are not a real estate broker, what do you think is your career?

Perhaps I will still be in the corporate world climbing the corporate ladder or in the Training and Development field. But nonetheless, it is certain that my main goal is to become a businessman and be able to put up my own business.

How would you describe your work ethic?

I work with integrity, I have a sense of responsibility, and I work with quality.

“In the sales industry, credibility is important.”

That is why when I commit to working on a deal or transaction, I ensure that I work clean and I am excellent.

How do you handle difficult clients?

I value clients regardless of who they are. It does not matter if they are difficult or not. I make it a point that at the end of the day, clients get the assistance they need.

How would you describe your work style?

I am not too aggressive. More than selling a property, I help the clients understand what they really need and if they really have the need to buy. I try to educate them to make deals easier and transactions efficient. As a real estate broker, I do not stop learning. I am in a constant pursuit of new knowledge about the industry.

What are your top 3 strengths as a real estate broker?

I know how to communicate well with clients. My years of dealing with clients in the corporate world have enabled me to learn how to relate to people.

I am willing to learn. It is not bad to focus on just one aspect of real estate, but personally, I want to learn everything about the industry. I believe that a person has to learn more to be able to share more.

I have a network of trusted brokers that I constantly connect with for any questions, clarifications or discussions relating to the industry.

Do you have fears as a real estate broker?

When clients entrust their property to you, there are expectations. I fear not meeting the expectations of my clients and commit costly mistakes that would negatively affect my reputation as a broker.

What inspires or motivates you in this line of work?

I see a lot of properties and it inspires me to have my own for my family. It does not necessarily have to be expensive, but it motivates me to have something similar especially now that I recently got married.

What is the most significant learning you have gained as a real estate broker?

I have learned how to adapt to different situations to be able to solve challenges effectively. When I was still in the corporate world, it is as if I have already learned and mastered everything there is to know about my job since I do it day in, day out. When I entered real estate, it helped me realize that learning should be constant, that I should stay hungry for knowledge for me to be able to adapt to any situation.

What advice can you give to aspiring real estate brokers?

Learn as much as you can about the industry. It is never just about the deals you handle; you need to familiarize yourself with the trends to be able to keep up with this dynamic industry. Learn how to expand your network and do not shy away from opportunities.

What advice can you give to home buyers?

Before buying a house, be sure with what you want. Know your budget and your kind of house. Moreover, if you can get a real estate broker, that is better. A broker will help you every step of the way, even after your move in.

At the end of the day, it is never about how much we know, but how well we use our knowledge to help people. Raymond’s dedication to learning more to be able to help more is a quality that every broker should truly have.