We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Sonal Kanodia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Sonal, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Almost every entrepreneur we know has considered donating a portion of their revenue to an organization or cause – how did you make the decision of whether to donate? We’d love to hear the backstory if you’re open to sharing the details
I am proud to say that my business is a cause-driven business. My initiative RAISE A ROOF in partnership with Sangita Ministry offers us a chance to fulfill the dream of a home for the poor widows and orphans in Southern India. I donate every time I sell a house on my client’s behalf to build a house for a destitute widow in Sothern India and they love being a part of it. This small charitable effort brings hope and shelter to the lives of these widows and orphans one hut at a time. My goal is to get more real estate professionals to join this cause. (www.https://sangitahope.org/raise-a-roof/)
Sonal, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?
The core of my business as a Residential Real Estate Specialist is Relationships and Empowerment, and that is what sets me apart. I crave to build a fan base, not a client base. I have a reputation for being approachable which puts people at ease and allows for candor and effective communication, critical to listening and understanding the needs of my home sellers and buyers. Educating my clients about the nuances of the contract and the process while empowering them with support from start to finish and beyond is paramount to my business. I have a deep regard for our community, and I am involved with a number of non-profit organizations. The most recent initiative I have launched is Raise A Roof, through which I donate every time I sell a house on my client’s behalf to build a house for a destitute widow in Sothern India. This really makes my clients happy as they feel they are making a difference through me, and I am so proud of that.
I come with an MBA in Marketing and Business Management background. My interest in homes was ignited when I worked as a Purchasing Director for a Home Accessories company in Manhattan, NY, working with fabrics, sourcing, and distribution for Home Divisions of Nordstrom, Lord & Taylor, Macy’s T.J Maxx, and other department stores. I thrive on being out and about, meeting new people, and making new connections. When we moved to San Diego, being a Real Estate Professional was a natural and easy choice for me.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
The key to building a brand is trust, which comes with genuine Connections and Relationships and that’s what I thrive on. My clients even from almost a decade ago and my community know that they can reach me anytime for advice or professional help. That trust and confidence are pivotal to me and my brand. I hustle every day and bank on every opportunity to get my name out there and meet and connect with new people. Over time, I have built a reputation as someone people can trust. My community, my fan base, sees me as someone who is hard-working and willing to go the extra mile.
Where do you think you get most of your clients from?
Most of my business comes from my fan base. It comes through my community of past clients, friends, and colleagues who see me as a professional they admire, respect, choose and refer to work with. Over time these relationships have resulted in some wonderful friendships, and I am so lucky and grateful for that.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sonalsdrealtor/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SonalSDRealtor
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sonalkanodia/