In her 17 years as a real estate broker, Christine Teo has forged a successful business focusing on the luxury real estate market, serving an exclusive clientele within the elite community. These include multi-million-dollar properties, ranging from luxury condominium units to landed homes and shophouses.
Her dedication has resulted in numerous accolades, culminating in the top 1% of ERA’s agents, and a 10-time ERA Asia Pacific Award winner. Notably, she was also honoured at the Singapore Real Estate Agents Excellence Awards 2023 with the Salespersons Achievement Award (Platinum).
“My philosophy is to always put my clients’ interests before mine,” says Christine. Over the years, Christine had cultivated a reputation as a dedicated and client-focused real estate professional. Her commitment to prioritizing her clients’ needs had not only earned her trust but had also translated into tangible success.
To focus on team building, recently Christine joined Huttons, Singapore’s largest private real estate agency, where she is consistently recognised as a top sales achiever and leader.
Triumphs, Challenges, and Passion in Real Estate
The classic extrovert, Christine thrives on interacting with people. Little did she know that real estate would be the field that she would flourish in. A straight-A student in school, Christine landed a coveted spot in the NTU Communications Studies program, chasing her childhood dream of being a journalist. After graduation, she worked wrote for several publications and went on to be a public communications specialist for an MNC. However, the deskbound 9-5 job soon drove the outgoing individual to seek other challenges.
Christine took a leap of faith and joined the real estate industry full-time, only to charge straight into the financial crisis of 2008. She had to grasp the ropes of the trade quickly as opportunities were scarce in those days. Starting out, she faced many obstacles and objections and realized that being a realtor was not just about showing apartments. “There is much value that we add to our clients, from financial planning, portfolio building, negotiations, right down to the tips and tricks during open houses to seize the closing opportunities.
During this period, she dedicated herself to thoroughly exploring different property sectors, including HDB, private condominiums, landed properties, and shophouses. Her goal was to understand the complexities of each segment, enabling her to provide more informed advice to her clients.
When the market made the dramatic V-shaped recovery, Christine doubled down on her efforts and saw results beyond her expectations. By 2009, she was ranked as the Top 50 Achievers in ERA, no mean feat for a newcomer in an intensely competitive industry.
Over the past decade, it is evident that Christine has blossomed in her profession. Her client-first mentality and efficient strategies were keystones in her success. More importantly, Christine has found work that she loves enthusiastically. “It’s fulfilling and something I truly enjoy doing,” she adds.
Client-centric focus
During the dark days of the pandemic, Christine received caring messages from her clients, asking how she was doing, as many thought the real estate industry would come to a standstill. “I was very grateful that they recommended their friends and relatives who had difficulties selling their properties, and that kept my momentum going,” recalled Christine.
One of the most poignant moments in Christine’s real estate journey came when a client remarked, ‘If I had a daughter, I wish she would be like you.’ After successfully selling the client’s property at an exceptional price, Christine found herself sheltered from the pouring rain by her appreciative client as they made their way to her car.
Reflecting on this heartfelt encounter, Christine shares, “It was a truly defining moment. I could sense the immense gratitude from my client. Over the years, I’d served as their real estate consultant, managing their properties, and ultimately closing the deal on their last one for their retirement.” The seasoned realtor feels that the relationships she had cultivated, and the lives that she had changed had been the most rewarding moments in her 16-year career.
Navigating Complexity with Passion and Service
Christine has encountered comments that real estate might seem like a straightforward job, she feels that but it involves a delicate balance of serving multiple parties’ needs while ensuring everyone involved is content. “It’s a demanding challenge that requires constant attention to various interests. To excel, you must have a deep passion and a service-oriented mindset,” added Christine.
Balancing the responsibilities of providing top-notch service and dedicating time to her two young children is undoubtably challenging. Nevertheless, Christine’s efficient approach enables her to maintain a harmonious balance between her professional duties and family life, even amidst hectic schedules.
“Seeing the joy in my clients’ faces when they find their dream home brings me immense satisfaction,” she reveals. Fueled by this sense of achievement, she channels unwavering effort into wholeheartedly serving her clients.
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