How to Be A Successful Real Estate Agent: NY Agent Moin Siddiqui Speaks

People, Art, and New York City - these are three things that keep Moin Siddiqui ticking. So naturally, he was drawn to a real estate career that encompasses all of these. His relationship-building skills and dedication to the craft have earned him countless awards at top real estate brokerages in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Thanks to his attentiveness, tenacity, and impeccable negotiation skills, Moin can efficiently juggle multiple projects by being a buyer’s agent, listing agent, relocation agent, and more. Read on to learn how to be a successful real estate agent in the New York Metropolitan Area from his experiences.

Moin’s Tips On How to Be A Successful Real Estate Agent

Here are the top tips Moin swears by and advices new agents to follow while building their careers:

1. For the people who don’t know you, who is Moin Siddiqui? Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into real estate.

I started in the mecca of real estate a decade ago. My mentor at the time was the top agent for many years and owned one of the first boutique brokerages in Manhattan that was around for 23 years. He identified all of my powers and strengths before I knew I had them and taught me how to put them into action. Thanks, Jack (Welch)!

‍2. What drives you in this profession?

To find solutions for problems. People are always hiring for things they can not do efficiently.

3. If you were to go back to the beginning of your real estate career, what would you do differently knowing what you do today?

I would've talked to God more, I would've trusted God more, and of course, I would've been a little less harsh on myself.‍

4. What do you think are the top 3 skills an agent needs to have?‍

Honesty, transparency, and relentlessness.‍

5. How much does marketing matter in building a real estate practice? What are your go-to marketing tools?

Marketing only matters when you are building a long-term business. So if you're in it for the long run, put aside at least 40% of your GCI for marketing, branding, virtual staging (thanks, Styldod), Photography, etc.‍

6. How do you stay on top of mind with your existing and former client base? Any engagement tactics you can share?‍

Social media has been a huge help. I keep my customers in the loop on my Instagram stories. All offers, pending deals, approvals, and signings are portrayed day-to-day as they happen.‍

7. Who’s your favorite kind of client? Do you instinctively know who is worth spending your time on?

I remember 6 years ago, I had a gentleman walk into my previous employer with a skateboard, beard, and holes in his t-shirt. My entire office was appalled. When no one stepped up to help, I engaged and went to tour a few places. Shortly after, I ended up leasing one of the biggest deals to ever close in Brooklyn. So yeah, That's my favorite type of customer!‍

8. What are your thoughts on virtual showings, virtual staging, and other incumbent technologies in real estate?

Business is changing. Millennials are starting to play by the rules set by Gen-Z. We are in a huge transition with Crypto, NFT, Virtual staging, Virtual showings, etc. I think the future might be virtual, But a big part of me will always miss that first handshake and smile in person. I’m old-fashioned.‍

9. How has COVID impacted real estate and the way you do your business?

At the beginning of the pandemic, I found homes for about 80% of nurses, doctors, medical staff, surgeons, etc., coming from out of state to work in Brooklyn. It was the best time of my career. It's the first time I ever felt important. It was the first time my occupation was considered " essential workers.” Every deal had to be done efficiently, and there was no time for mistakes.  ‍

10. Real estate isn’t a 9-5 job. How do you balance your personal and professional life?

I don't have a personal life. I live, sleep, eat, breathe real estate. I would drive myself absolutely crazy not working.‍

11. What advice would you give aspiring/ upcoming agents?

Work hard in silence. Let success make the noise.

A planner, Moin anticipates every possible way a deal could go wrong and prevents them through his thorough approach. In addition, he coaches a softball team and is a passionate animal rescue volunteer in his spare time. We hope Moin’s advice on how to be a successful real estate agent helps you in your journey.

Click here to read our interview with real estate agent & influencer Bryan Casella and his tips to taste success. Want to try out Styldod? Click here for a free trial.

Want to know a super agent's 4 tips to selling a house? watch this video:

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Styldod is a design-tech company that aims to simplify real estate marketing and help agents present homes in their most favorable light online by reimagining and automating the listing photography process. Having begun as a virtual staging company, today, Styldod has affordable and best-in-class products and services for every facet of real estate marketing and photography. Styldod’s suite of services include virtual staging, image enhancements, floor plans, virtual renovation, 3D renders, 360 degree virtual tours, and Matterport virtual staging, to name a few. We're trusted by over 10,000 realtors from all over the US and from companies like ReMax, Coldwell Banker, Keller Williams. Know more about us at https://www.styldod.com.