We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Kaley Tuning. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Kaley below.

Kaley, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. When you were first starting out, did you join a firm or start your own?

Prior to joining Native Realty, I was already well-versed in the real estate industry, with nearly fifteen years of experience under my belt. During this time, I also took over my mom’s Massage Envy franchise after her passing, putting my real estate career on hold for two years. I focused on establishing the business, learning its intricacies, and building a rockstar management team to handle daily operations.

A pivotal moment came in 2019 when I stumbled upon a video of my current broker, Jaime Sturgis, discussing the commercial market. His passion and insight into the impending changes in the area were truly inspiring. At the time, I was primarily focused on residential deals and wasn’t fully aware of the rapid development happening right in my backyard. Jaime’s words about the influx of new retail spaces and the overall growth potential ignited a spark within me. I felt a strong urge to reach out to him and explore opportunities at his firm, knowing that I thrive on new challenges and was eager to dive into the commercial real estate scene.

After reaching out to Jaime, we sat down to discuss the market and my desire to transition from residential to commercial real estate. His enthusiasm and vision for the area’s future resonated with me, and I knew this was the right move for my career.

Once I joined Native Realty, I dove in headfirst, eager to learn and expand my horizons. I pushed myself into uncomfortable situations, such as prospecting and cold calling, to grow my skills. I also prioritized connecting with locals, understanding what businesses they wanted to see in the area, meeting with local business owners, and learning what they needed to be successful.

At Native Realty, we have an amazing culture. Being intentionally small and boutique allows us to hand-select individuals who share the same passion and drive for the industry that Jaime and I do. We are all friends outside of work; we hang out on the weekends, know each other’s families, and even vacation together. I can’t stress enough how much of a difference it makes when you truly connect with your colleagues and work together instead of feeling like everyone is competing against one another.

I believe my success comes from genuinely connecting with my clients. It’s important for me to understand who I am working with, what drives them, who their families are, and what they do for fun. How can I effectively do my job if I don’t know who I’m working with? Being relatable to my clients offers a unique perspective and empathy, enabling me to identify with them, many of whom are small business owners themselves. Building these relationships has been incredibly rewarding, and I look forward to continuing to foster strong connections with my clients and community.

Fast forward to today, I’m more passionate about my career than ever before. I’m incredibly grateful for my colleagues and clients, and I’m excited about the continued growth and future of commercial real estate. I could not be more happy that I took that leap of faith in 2019 to join Native Realty.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I got into real estate technically in 2002 while I was still in high school. I worked at a local REMAX office nights and weekends. I had planned to go to school for television production and editing, but after spending my last two years of high school working at that office, I saw how successful the agents were and how much they loved what they did. That really resonated with me.

Before graduating, my boss offered me a full-time position managing another REMAX office nearby once I finished high school. After thinking long and hard, I decided to put my film production dreams on hold and test the waters by managing the real estate office. It turned out I loved it. From there, I opened another real estate office, obtained my real estate license, and began working with another agent who took me under his wing to learn the sales side of the business. I did that for several years before being recruited to work with a local developer. Learning all the different aspects of this industry has definitely helped me get to where I am today.

Today, as COO at Native Realty, I lead a team of associates and closely collaborate with sellers and landlords. I manage a portfolio of more than 60 listings, in addition to representing tenants ranging from mom-and-pop companies to franchisors in growth mode, expanding not only throughout the tri-county area but also across the US.

What’s worked well for you in terms of a source for new clients?

The best source of new clients for me has been referrals from past clients and residential brokers. Reputation is everything—if you do a good job, follow through on your promises, and are honest, people will want to work with you. I conduct business by the motto “curation over compensation,” and I mean it.

As a fourth-generation South Florida native, I love where I live and where I’m from. I am passionate about playing a part in shaping the way our neighborhood looks, and I think others can see that and enjoy working with someone who feels that way.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I make it a priority to stay connected with my clients by frequently visiting their locations as a patron, providing market updates on current trends, and engaging in as many forms of communication as possible. Thanks to our strong reputation in the community, I’m often able to present off-market opportunities, which adds significant value for my clients. When clients are looking to grow, they know they can count on me for honest feedback based on the latest market trends.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://nativerealty.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kaleytuning/?hl=en
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kaleytuning4
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/kaley-tuning-82b61523/