The day Lehman Brothers filed for Bankruptcy in 2008, Ryan Serhant decided to seek advice from a friend, got his real estate license, and rented an apartment on Craig’s List to pay your own rent. Either that, or moving back to Colorado. A decade later, Ryan is becoming one of the biggest real estate brokers in New York City with his own TV show on BRAVO.
Partners Josh and Sara Golan founded Online Homes, a boutique real estate company in Brooklyn that specialises in real estate sales, development, property management, and rentals. In other words, they do it all. Together, the three became the most powerful real estate moguls in all of New York. But how can they exist?
Ryan met Sara and Josh Golan when they hired him to sell one of their houses, which he did in just one week. Ryan said, “We know one another. They have a brokerage firm called Online Homes and that I mentioned I had just opened an office and was trying to find someone to run it. Why do not I acquire your company and all of your agents and we can do this together? And, that is what we do.”
The key to a successful team? “Communication. The same secret to a successful relationship or a successful marriage. Consistent communication and set expectations,” Ryan told us. Sara agreed that communication was everything and one of the key factors between them.
Partners Sara Golan for the Brooklyn office
Communication also helps the dynamic of the three, according to Sara, who is married to Josh’s partner. “I believe it is a fantastic dynamic that we have. Working with Josh was a continuous learning experience for me as he’s very knowledgeable about the market. He is a really patient man and he keeps me grounded. There is a level of respect between Ryan, Josh and myself.
While all of them agree that communication is key, they each have different drives, fears, and inspirations. Ryan’s driving force is fear of failure and competition. “Competition in New York is both a blessing and a curse. It’s so fierce and so competitive that it’s not healthy, but it’s also what keeps us going. When I asked Sara what drives her, she responds with, “My drive comes from the people I work with and the relationship we build. It’s not just about selling real estate, it’s about building relationships and really caring about the business and the people I work with.”
Ryan advises newcomers to the industry to do the exact opposite of what he is doing. He told us that one of the most significant things you can do to get started in the real estate industry is join a team. “I thought I would advise people not to do what I did, which is to sit at the computer alone posting rental ads on Craig’s List. I will work in a team and learn from them. I would take their information, listen in on their phone calls, be part of discussions and help them with their open houses. You know, be part of the family.” It’s also important to know that real estate is not for everybody. Sara said, “You have to work really hard for that. You have to set realistic goals and you just need to keep learning about what’s going on in the market, the growing environment, the products you sell and most importantly, listen to buyers effectively and care about your clients. Listening is an important quality to have.”
On how to achieve success, Sara inspired us, “Success is not only measured by the amount of money you make, but by the networks and relationships you build and how you can live and truly enjoy life. Pay attention to others and treat people well. Success comes from what you give of yourself to others. Really what you spend you get back.
Team Servant Brooklyn
As far as future plans, Josh, Sara, and Ryan have a lot going on. Sara plans to continue to grow the team and sell all of their listings, in addition to expand further into Brooklyn and possibly the surrounding area as well. Ryan’s book Sell Like Serhant comes out in September and can be pre-ordered at www.sellitlikeserhant.com. This book will focus on how to sell, how to earn more, and how to become the ultimate sales machine. “You already have what it takes to succeed and this book will help you move from mediocrity to extraordinary.” Ryan has a new show on BRAVO entitled Sell Like Serhant airs at 10 p.m. on Wednesday nights. Throughout the show, we’ll see Ryan teaching the other sales reps how to sell anything, not necessarily real estate. After all, “If you can sell real estate, you can sell anything.”
Behind the Scenes Cover Shoot
