Press release -
Research paints new picture of success brokers as driven by warm relationships
A common prejudice against real estate brokers is that money is their only incentive. New research from University of Gävle shows that this notion is incorrect. “Successful brokers stand out because of their strong emotional investment in forming customer relationships built on trust,” says Martin Ahlenius, a former real estate broker who is now conducting research on real estate brokers at University of Gävle.
After having interviewed nine of the most successful real estate brokers in a major, nation-wide organisation in Sweden, Martin Ahlenius and his colleagues were struck by how important customer relations were for the well-being of these brokers.
“What surprised us, and to a certain extent some of the broker we interviewed, was that building customer relations was an important emotional incentive. Building a warm relationship with their customer was a motivational factor in itself,” Martin Ahlenius says.
Trust gained from customers a motivational factor in itself
According to Martin Ahlenius, it makes perfect sense when we think about it. Real estate brokers meet individuals who trust them and who want their help in what is probably the biggest deal of their life.
“For most people, our home is associated with a lot of emotions, because our home is so important to us as individuals. To gain such a trust was felt to be one of the most valuable things in the profession,” he says.
Financial success confirms who you are
High-performing brokers stated that in brokering they were driven by the urge to help people. A few mentioned getting kicks out of gaining deep trust.
“Since trust is an outcome in a relationship between people, the financial dimension also becomes a confirmation of who you are as an individual. Being a person who inspires trust creates well-being,” Martin Ahlenius explains.
A long-term perspective
Quick wins will not build those long-term positive customers relations that can eventually enable the broker to live on recommendations alone, according to Martin Ahlenius. The star brokers have a long-term perspective in which forming relationship with customers is a central dimension, so they must genuinely enjoy working with people.
“You can’t learn to really like people. You may tolerate people, but to really like working with people with all that such work entails is much more of a personality trait.”
“Another new study from University of Gävle shows that the brokers whose well-being was the highest did not work in big cities, but in smaller towns. The reason why they feel better may be that in getting to know local people, brokers gain the opportunity to build long-term relationships that enhance their well-being,” Martin Ahlenius concludes.
Text: Douglas Öhrbom
Martin Ahlenius, researcher in business administration at University of Gävle
Phone: 070-782 00 71
E-mail: martin.ahlenius@hig.se
Topics
- Business enterprise
Categories
- business administration
- university of gävle
- research
- estate brokers
- martin ahlenius
Education and Research at a Scenic Campus.
The University of Gävle has approximately 17 000 students, more than 50 study programmes and second-cycle programmes, about 1 000 courses in humanities, social and natural sciences and technology.
Research Profiles
Built Environment and Health-promoting Working Life are the general research profiles of the higher education institution. Important parts included are Spatial Planning with a specialisation in Sustainable Built Environment and Musculoskeletal Disorders with the purpose to prevent work-related injuries. In 2010, the higher education institution received permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in the profile area of Built Environment.
The higher education institution has applied for permission to carry out third-cycle programmes in technology, humanities and social sciences.
