Real estate is a fast-paced, competitive industry, especially in a city like New York. Strong professional and
"You can go anywhere in real estate, and we all know there's a company on every corner in New York City," Guzman says. "What sets us apart is our culture — that's made it really hard for agents to think about leaving. Everyone loves it. It is what people talk the most about."
Guzman shares the programs, events and communication practices that make the culture at Coldwell Banker Warburg stand out, and the trickledown effects to its clients.
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Bringing company and community together
Coldwell Banker Warburg sponsors multiple types of gatherings that bring their full-time staff, agents, clients and community together throughout the year. In addition to an annual Halloween event and advocacy and supply collections for the homeless population in the area, Guzman hosts a program called "What Moves Her," a quarterly event focused on women's empowerment and development.
The importance of self care was the topic at one of these recent meetings. Attendees shared things they consider important for their well-being, and what actions and resources they could put in place to better look after themselves.
"Now more than ever, it is important for women to come together, being there for each other in ways that people weren't thinking about before," she says. "And I've opened it up to men as well. We want them to learn what challenges women have, so we include them as part of this process."
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Lifting each other up
The firm holds monthly meetings, where collaboration is the main objective, Guzman says. It is typical for one meeting to include opportunities for questions and shared insight among agents, as well as company-wide strategies for success and an overview of market trends.
"We always use the word collaboration, because that's how we move as a company," says Guzman. "Sometimes people have questions on how to deal with a particular client, or what to do next for their listing. People say, 'I want to do something for my community. What do you guys do?' Everybody is sharing ideas. It's really just connecting with other agents and sharing what they have found to be best practices for them."
Guzman makes it a point to stay connected to people by having an open-door policy, attending agents' open houses to show support and encouraging agents to share their successes. She keeps a gong in her office for agents to ring when they have good news.
"While I'm [in the office], my door is always open," Guzman says. "When something great happens, everyone is always eager to share. It excites me and excites them — it's a win for everyone."
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Connecting with clients
Building strong connections in the office impacts how agents view their interactions with clients too, Guzman says. And in real estate, relationships rooted in understanding and care can make all the difference for one's career.
"It's more than just helping [a client] get to the closing table," she says. "[A client is] connecting with this person who is helping with what may be the largest business deal of their life. That's why we're connecting with people beyond just the transaction."
