PROPERTYSPARK INTERVIEWS: Harveer Singh, Real Estate Agent

In a real estate market that is rapidly changing, Harveer differentiates himself by focusing on social media and Guerrilla marketing!

 Hoboken, NJ

Howard Hanna Rand Realty

  Harveer Singh – NY/NJ Realtor |    realestatesingh |  realestatesingh.com

What inspired you to start in real estate and how did you motivate yourself to keep going?

I actually started my career off as a CPA, working at one of the Big 4 accounting firms in Manhattan. People are always puzzled when I tell them I went from a CPA to a realtor, but it was the best decision of my life. As you can tell from my social media, I am a people person and there weren’t many opportunities to chat with others in accounting unless I was yelling at my computer screen. Therefore, when real estate became an option, it intrigued me.

I always had a passion for real estate. I started investing in properties from a young age and slowly my whole family started. Me becoming a realtor at first was a business decision. Why give away commission? Let’s increase the profit margin! But little did I know, that business decision would turn into a whole new career for me.

My first deal was with a family who lost their father the year before and they never thought buying a property would be an option. I fought to get the deal done and they started crying at the closing out of happiness. I was hooked.

I found myself starting to help family and friends and as time went along, I found I had little time for anything else. This transition was because I loved helping people. I am a true believer that if you enjoy what you do, you will thrive. Why? Because, when you love what you do, going the extra mile isn’t something to complain about, but something you enjoy!

Comparing your business from back then to now, what has been the main thing that allowed you to expand your business?

I think anyone in the game would agree that if you are consistently getting your name out there, your business will grow. Being a realtor is a lifestyle and not a job. Everything changes! People think, “Yes! I can make my own hours, I am my own boss!” but that is the type of mentality that crushes new agents.

Your clients make your hours and you are working 24/7. What allows you to expand your business? Loving what you are doing and finding different ways to get your name out there. Of the two, I cannot say which is more important, but when marketing, if you love what you do, people will see that in the way you do business as well as your marketing.

What should other real estate entrepreneurs reading this be focusing on to expand their own business?

Color outside of the lines. This goes for all industries and careers. Do things differently and set yourself apart from the pack. You may be thinking, “thanks Harveer, ‘be creative’ is great advise, but HOW?”

Emulate and mirror other people who are successful in your field. See what others are doing, read books, follow successful agents and entrepreneurs on social media, etc. Get ideas from them and make them your own. I am not telling you to copy what they are doing exactly, but look to them for inspiration.

Did You Experience Failures? If So, What Did You Learn From Them?

Failure is a prerequisite to success. Yes, I have experienced failures, but I feel the only real failure is when you didn’t learn from that experience. How do you think any of the great leaders of our world go to where they are. Do you think that they just did everything perfectly on the first shot? No chance.

It was their ability to learn from their mistakes, pick themselves up and consistently move forward that got them to where they were.

Specifically, for any entrepreneur, I believe that consistency and a positive attitude will get you to the front of the line. Running your own business is hard and you don’t usually have a “boss” to fall on. No one is telling you what to do; you have to be proactive. This is why consistency is important. Positivity is important, because it will be your driving force. It will allow you to pick yourself up and put the pieces back together. Look for the silver linings in every situation, even the bad ones. You will then slowly start teaching your subconscious mind to look for the positive automatically without telling yourself to.

What’s Your Approach To Marketing?

I use a mixture of social media and Guerrilla marketing.

Firstly, I noticed that on social media, most agents put up photos of their listings, quotes, and rarely a photo of themselves. There is rarely any human interaction. I started making content that would teach people about real estate in a fun way. This meant photos and videos that would also increase engagement. I commented on other people’s posts and engaged with them as well. This helped me create a page that people felt comfortable coming to share their opinions on.

Secondly, I started creating stickers and pins of my face but putting a quote on it. “We will thrive again” is what I went with during the pandemic as people were scared of what was to happen in the future. I love to spread positivity and during a time of so much fear and uncertainty, I thought that was very important. This had become my new slogan and still is today.