Competitors or Cooperators?

If there is one thing I love about the real estate industry, it’s the camaraderie and cooperation we have with our competitors. This might surprise you — understandably so. After all, we compete for the same clients. The same business. So, how can professionals who are constantly vying for your business in such a competitive industry, be so willing to share knowledge and experiences with each other?

Success Depends on Relationships & Reputation

There isn’t a single answer to that question. Suffice it to say that there are benefits to being on good terms with your competitors. Success in real estate depends on building and maintaining a good reputation. A good reputation carries over to interactions with our fellow agents. Agents who we will be in transaction with. Our clients benefit when our relationships with other agents are good. We all can learn from one another, and when we do, we become better agents. When we share our experiences, ideas, and knowledge with each other, we improve. And, when we improve, our service to our clients and customers improves. So does our industry.

Cooperating with Competitors

Recently, I served on a panel of top producers with some of Oahu‘s best — Tracy Allen with Coldwell Banker, Scott Carvill with Sotheby’s International, and Tony Kawaguchi with Exp Realty. It was great sharing our experiences and knowledge. Though we all have different backgrounds, years of experience, and levels of production, we all share a common love of the industry and the values of hard work, service, and integrity. We also share the gift of humor and are willing to get silly and share in some fun. Giving back to our industry and helping other agents is a given. An honor.

I love authentic people who are willing to be transparent. Who share their failures and triumphs, and who continue to grow through their experiences. My competitors are some of the most authentic, hardworking people I know and that is why I love cooperating with them!