Disclaimer: The contents of this article are industry best practices which were sourced from StreetEasy data and interviews with our Agent Advisory Board, unless noted otherwise. Any scripts provided are only meant to act as examples and are not required. Nothing in this presentation is intended to be legal advice. For specific questions about any duties or obligations arising out of a real estate transaction, check your local and state licensing laws and regulations, contact your broker, or an attorney.

In this Expert Success Story, learn how Issy Leiter grew his business as a solo agent into a successful team with some good old-fashioned hard work and high-quality lead generation support from StreetEasy® Experts. Plus, get his advice for agents who are ready to scale their business by building a team of their own.

Issy Leiter knew he needed to shift careers. He simply didn’t feel passionate about the work he was doing in the printing industry. But what field should he pursue next?

It didn’t take him long to land on real estate. Originally from Israel, Issy has lived in New York City since 2011, allowing him to get to know the city — especially Manhattan — like the back of his hand. And with his lifelong love of volunteering and doing outreach work, he knew he wanted to do something that allowed him to help people and work-one-on-one with them.

Now, Issy’s a successful agent at SERHANT specializing in commercial and residential real estate in Manhattan. He’s also a StreetEasy Expert and team lead in the program, and has been recognized as a top 10 performing Expert four times.

But he certainly didn’t start there, and launching his career as a new NYC agent was far from easy. Read on to find out how Experts helped him get the experience he needed to create the thriving business he has today.

From new agent to Expert

When Issy first started as an agent, he quickly realized the work came with a demanding schedule and financial uncertainties. Not having a traditional salary each week could’ve led him back to the printing business, but instead, he decided to work harder than ever.

He first heard about the StreetEasy Experts program as a brand new agent, but it was several years before he was ready to take the plunge.

“After a few years in the industry, when I had some sales under my belt, I had the opportunity to join the program and meet more buyers, and I was able to provide the right information and customer service they needed,” he says.

Joining Experts helped Issy streamline his client onboarding process, and generate more leads than he ever had before. With each new client came a new opportunity to learn the NYC market, understand buyer and seller needs, and grow his skills as an agent. “The program … made me the industry expert I am today,” he says.

Growing a team within the Experts program

Joining Experts gave Issy the momentum he needed to win more clients and close more deals. But as his business grew, he realized he couldn’t juggle the incoming leads by himself anymore.

“I brought in some team members to help with my clientele and keep up the same level of service. And I’m glad to say that our clients feel the difference,” he says. “The platform is very easy to use and operate, and it’s easy to teach new members and clients how to use it to maximize results.”

As a team lead, Issy’s priorities have had to shift. Instead of focusing solely on where to find his next client, he now spends more time on broader business-building strategies, like training team members in excellent customer care. “The responsibility of the team becomes shared, and it’s everyone’s job to make sure our clients get the same high level of service,” he explains.

Advice for Experts looking to grow a team

If you’re thinking of building a team within the program, Issy recommends taking time to make sure each team member is aligned with your core business values. “Choose like-minded partners with a similar level of dedication to customers,” he advises. 

He also urges agents not to sacrifice customer service or attention to detail on the altar of efficiency. Instead, focus on making every client feel like your only client — Issy’s favorite way to maintain long-term relationships and earn referrals.

Lastly, he encourages agents to treat every deal they come across as an opportunity to expand their knowledge and skill set. “Willingness to learn is essential in our business, even when the immediate return seems low,” he says. “Treat a $300K deal the same as you’d treat a $30M deal, because every deal provides priceless education.”

Despite the obstacles he’s faced over the years, Issy doesn’t regret making the switch to real estate. When asked what he loves about his current career, he replied, “What makes it so challenging is what makes it so rewarding: I see my own success firsthand and how far I’ve come, feeling achievements and accomplishments every day.”

Ready to grow your career as an NYC agent? Join the StreetEasy Experts program to meet buyers and sellers looking for your exact expertise.

StreetEasy is an assumed name of Zillow, Inc. which has a real estate brokerage license in all 50 states and D.C. See real estate licenses. StreetEasy Concierge team members are real estate licensees, however they are not your agents or providing real estate brokerage services on your behalf. StreetEasy does not intend to interfere with any agency agreement you may have with a real estate professional or solicit your business if you are already under contract to purchase or sell property.