We recently connected with Matthew Lerner and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Matthew, thanks for joining us today. Can you tell us about a time where you or your team really helped a customer get an amazing result?

In addition to my work selling New York City real estate, I deal a lot in the rental market, as well. I am fortunate to have a terrific relationship with a large property management organization in NYC – Clinton Housing Development Company. CHDC is a non-profit that manages several rental buildings throughout Chelsea and Hell’s Kitchen in Manhattan. When availabilities come up, they often turn to me to find tenants quickly and without hassle. I’ve maintained this relationship by communicating efficiently (and often) and working hastily to complete tasks at hand.

While marketing these properties, I’ve been able to generate a great network of potential applicants/tenants. When an apartment becomes vacant, I can easily turn to that network to find a tenant or I’ve listed the properties on various real estate platforms to attract interest. I create eye-catching marketing materials, including quality photos and video that I push out to the world on social media.

Yes, it’s my job to fill these apartments. But at the same time, it’s rewarding (and quite fun!) to meet new people every day and help these people find their homes.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

Prior to Covid, I was not a real estate agent. For nearly a decade, I worked in marketing for Broadway shows and live entertainment experiences. I wanted to work in theater for as long as I can remember – I even wanted to perform at one point. I worked for a few NYC agencies and dealt directly with artists and producers. As a young person working on Broadway, it was a dream come true.

I was fulfilled professionally for a short time, but as I progressed in my life & career, I could sense something was missing; I was constantly striving for more and looking for something different. During the pandemic, the entertainment industry changed quite a bit. And with that, my role as a marketing professional changed, as well. Fortunately, I was able to use my time to explore what it was that I really wanted to do. This ultimately led to a complete career 180.

While continuing with my entertainment marketing job, I used my spare time to study for the New York State real estate exam. I networked with real estate professionals in the city and met with representatives at a number of real estate firms. I fully researched what a career in the field would look like.

I passed the licensing exam and immediately joined a boutique NYC agency where I knew I would learn the nuances of the business. I partnered with other agents and received hands-on training. I stepped in wherever I could to get experience – I handled showings, made social media videos, took on administrative tasks, and networked with other industry professionals (lawyers, bankers, etc.). I dove in head-first and I built the trust of my colleagues quickly.

All the while, I still had my marketing job. After a little under a year straddling two (nearly) full-time jobs, I resigned from my entertainment position and focused all of my efforts on real estate. And as I pivoted, I was sure to retain all of the insight from my earlier career and apply my skills directly to my new endeavors.

As a 30-something starting over, my goal was to advance quickly. In about 4 years, I’ve handled over $40 million in real estate transactions. I’m now a principal agent with Compass in NYC and I am the sole driver of my business. I get to meet new & interesting people every day. I see the most beautiful properties and I help my clients find places to call home. It’s all incredibly rewarding.

Covid completely changed business for me. It allowed me to explore other opportunities and ultimately land on a career path more in-line with my interests and capabilities. My job is non-stop. I work 365 days/year and am “on” 100% of the time. There are good days and there are bad days, crazy clients, and highly stressful situations. However I can say with great certainty that I love what I do.

Where do you think you get most of your clients from?

The best source of business has been my network of not only other industry professionals, but friends, family, and former colleagues.

Everyone participates in the real estate world because everyone needs a place to live! I do my best to ensure everyone I meet knows that I’m a real estate agent. People can always reach out to me for advice on buying, selling or renting. I try my best to offer first rate service to my clients and when I do well for one person, that typically snow balls into more business.

But it doesn’t stop there – I’m always thrilled to connect friends & family with professionals that can help with anything that comes up in a home. Need a plumber? An architect? Landscaper? Interior Designer? Lawyer? Electrician? My business is only as strong as my network and I have great connections that generate new clients, but also allow me to better assist the existing clients with their everyday needs.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

My ability to communicate.

Unfortunately, unresponsiveness seems to be the norm in the NYC real estate market. It’s incredible how often a request to view an apartment does not receive a response or how many agents do not respond with client feedback after a showing.

Effective (and constant) communication is paramount in any business. People just want to know what is happening and I do my very best to keep clients updated and informed. I strive to respond quickly and with as much detail as possible no mater what the situation. Consistent communication has built trust with my colleagues and I believe my availability to speak with my clients and quick response time has further driven my business forward.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.compass.com/agents/matthew-lerner/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thematthewscott/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Matthew.Scott.Lerner
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/matthewslerner/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@TheMslerner

Image Credits

Images by Celeste Godoy & Rise Media.