Paul Turovsky is an esteemed residential and commercial real estate professional who is highly regarded by his clients and peers. He is currently with Emerald Realty International and has over 15 years of experience in real estate acquisition, lease obligations, asset repositioning, and disposition.
Paul prides himself on his diligence in handling real estate transactions, striving to be a professional who others trust to handle complex transactions—and also someone others enjoy working with.
What brought you into real estate?
Ever since I was a child, I have been fascinated with real estate and the opportunities behind it. A home is where a family can make long-lasting memories; a multi-family property allows investors the opportunity to invest in real estate and make money; and a commercial complex has essential businesses that support local economies. There are so many different aspects of real estate, and each one intrigues me.
What’s something unique about the brand that sets you apart from your competition?
My background sets me apart from my competitors. I graduated from Baruch College in NYC with a BBA in Finance and Investments, and I received my Juris Doctorate from the Ave Maria School of Law. I’m well-versed in many areas of real estate and I can represent individuals or investment groups as a residential and commercial real estate agent.
Name the top lessons you learned from your experience as a real estate agent.
Treat every client like they are your only client.
With all the technology available to us, it is more and more difficult to make long-lasting personable relationships and connections. Every single client you work with is equally as important; no client wants to feel like a number waiting for you to respond to them.
You want to make each client feel like you are giving it your all and they have your undivided attention. Take the time to understand your client—talk about their life, their financial goals, and their family, and find a common interest.
Ultimately, by understanding your client on a deeper level and giving them your time, you will not only make your job easier, but you will also potentially have a long-lasting business relationship, helping provide referrals for your entire career.
Delegation is key.
You cannot do everything yourself—there are only 24 hours in a day. There are a lot of talented individuals that are very knowledgeable in many different aspects of real estate. By delegating activities to these individuals, you’ll have more time to focus on working with your clients, continuing education, networking, spending time with your family—and most importantly, working on yourself.
What is something you do regularly that you recommend to other real estate professionals?
I recently started focusing more on myself instead of focusing solely on building my career. I’ve been taking the time to do things that I like and enjoy doing. Personal sanity is extremely important and without it, you’re jeopardizing your stability.
Name a necessary skill that is crucial to be a successful real estate agent.
The ability to negotiate and persuade is one of the most crucial skills you’ll need in the real estate business. You’ll be negotiating the listing price, the selling price, and your commission, in addition to persuading your client why they should work with you instead of another real estate professional.
Share some advice for someone looking to become a residential or commercial real estate agent.
You can become a professional in any field with the right tools. If you’d like to be a successful residential and commercial real estate agent, you must understand the macro- and micro-events affecting your desired real estate market.
You must also be personable and have a great attitude, attention to detail, and the ability to solve problems. Finally, you must have self-motivation and enthusiasm.
If you’re just starting as a real estate agent, you must determine whether you are interested in becoming a commercial or residential agent. Then, once you determine the type of real estate you would like to work with, you’ll want to figure out whether you’d like to focus on working with buyers or sellers. Define measurable and realistic goals.
After understanding your personal niche, it is extremely important to network with organizations and groups of individuals that are affiliated with your area of real estate. Networking is key to getting your name out there and building a client base.
What are the pros and cons of having a career in real estate?
A real estate career allows for flexibility in choosing your own schedule and provides you with unlimited income potential. However, you may have to work irregular hours and have irregular income.
As a real estate agent, you are not working a typical 9-5 job. Your schedule will revolve mostly around the clients that you work with or your desire to network. To some, this is a plus, as they can maintain other jobs, attend alternative schooling or continuing education, or spend time with their family.
A real estate agent’s income is not capped, as you are not earning a salary or receiving a paycheck based on the number of hours you have worked. This may be frightening to some, as there’s no certainty of how much money you will make at any given period. To others, the tradeoff is making a significant amount of money on one or more transactions that will allow you to cover your lifestyle for a period of time.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
If I could rewind time, I would tell my younger self to slow down and enjoy every single day as a child, a teenager, a college student, a graduate student, and a professional. I would tell myself to take the time to listen more to those who have experienced life for a longer period and ask more questions.
Eddie Cantor once said, “Slow down and enjoy life. It’s not only scenery you miss by going too fast, you also miss the sense of where you are going and why.” Nanette Mathews once said, “If you’re always racing to the next moment, what happens to the one you’re in? Slow down and enjoy the moment you’re in and live your life to the fullest.”
I fully agree with Mr. Cantor and Mrs. Mathews. Life is precious and we don’t truly know how many days we have left, so we should all slow down, look around, appreciate what we have, and enjoy the moments rather than focus on what may or may not happen.
What motivates you to continue doing what you do?
I absolutely love what I do and believe that I help families and investors achieve their financial goals by acquiring, renovating, and/or selling residential or commercial real estate. The positive feedback from my clients and their referrals helps me realize the good that I do and allows me to continue to strive for success.
What are some key takeaways you would like to share?
Real estate is not a profession for everyone, but with the right tools, the right support, and the right mindset, you can become very successful. Take each day one day at a time and continue to learn and grow.
To learn more about Paul Turovsky, visit his website:
