Life & Work with Conor Soop of Greater Denver Metro Area

Today we’d like to introduce you to Conor Soop

C0nor, we appreciate you taking the time to share your story with us today. Where does your story begin?
I spent the first 23 years of my life in Maryland where I attended the University of Maryland (go Terps!) to become a teacher. I became a leasing agent for my apartment complex to help with housing costs as I put myself through school, and that is where I discovered my passion for real estate.
I worked the next 10 years- including my time in school- in the property management industry, including a 5 year stint in Philadelphia. But then the global pandemic of 2020 hit- which caused many to pause and take inventory of their lives, myself included.

While I loved helping people find homes to love and thrive in, I did not like many of the limitations or policies that came hand-in-hand with working for a large company. As an Eagle Scout, I spent most of my formative years in nature and to this day am a wildlife enthusiast- yet I found myself living and working in a concrete jungle.

Getting my real estate license and moving to Denver- a beautiful city surrounded by endless natural wonders- was the only answer that made sense. I’ve been here 3.5 years now helping people find their dream homes as an independent- untethered by the motives or restrictions of a corporation- and I could not be happier…and naturally, neither could my clients!

I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
It has not been a smooth road by any means. Building a real estate business is no different than any other kind of entrepreneurial endeavor- you are quite literally starting with nothing and attempting to build an operation that’s sustainable and profitable long term.

One unique challenge that I elected to take on from Day 1 was building my business model around strictly organic relationships and interactions. Rather than paying for leads, making cold calls, knocking on doors, etc.- I knew I wanted clients that would choose me as their trusted advisor, rather than attempting to convince strangers with a sales pitch.
I knew this would be an uphill battle- starting a brand new career in a brand new city with limited contacts was no small task. But rather than focusing on “networking” with numbers top of mind, my perspective has been to focus on building a ~community~ with genuine relationships between likeminded people. While this approach has undoubtedly been far more time consuming and less predictable to get off the ground, it has been extremely fulfilling and resulted in finding not just clients- but friends.

Many people claim that they don’t like to mix personal relationships with business. While I respect that view point and admit that blurring those lines is not right for everyone, I find that working with friends or family can actually result in even better results than working with a stranger.
When I am representing a client in a transaction, my goal is not just to preserve our business relationship, but our personal relationship too. While many part ways with their broker after closing, both my clients and I understand that I’ll be there for them each and every day between that closing and their next. Simply put- the stakes are higher, and my investment in them achieving their goals transcends a one-time commission check. It may seem daunting, but all it takes is mutual respect and high level communication. Personally, I know I would feel better if one of the biggest decisions of my life was in the hands of someone who genuinely cares about my well being (and possesses the professional skillsets to match that, of course.)

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
I take pride in my ability to navigate and make the best of difficult, tense situations- at no expense of humility or kindness.

This is an extremely important quality to possess during real estate negotiations, where successfully reaching closing day hinges upon finding a middle ground between an unstoppable force and an immovable object (the buyer and seller.) At the core of every real estate deal are people- people with drastically different goals, viewpoints, backgrounds and above all else- personalities (agents and clients alike.) Being able to adjust your communication style and tailor your strategy differently for each encounter is crucial for reaching your client’s goals.

An example that has stayed with me through the years- during my time as a property manager, one of my unfortunate responsibilities was rent collection, In some cases- if a balance went unpaid for an extended period of time- this led to me representing the property in court, seeking to reclaim possession via eviction. Hopefully it goes without saying that this was not a glamorous job…I felt guilty for my role in the process, despite performing exactly as I was instructed.

I’ll never forget the day that the sheriffs arrived to carry out an eviction and the resident- sobbing- embraced me in a giant hug and thanked me. It was heart breaking. But it was at that moment I found some semblance of peace. I realized- my role would be filled, and the same process would play out regardless of my involvement. If I left, I would simply be replaced…and there was no guarantee that my successor would perform their duties with the same level of care I did.
So I made it my mission to continue fulfilling my duties in the most empathetic way possible. I used my power to try and help these residents secure rental assistance. I over communicated information rather than do the bare minimum required by law. When possible, I leveraged my influence in the courtroom to get residents another chance.

All that is to say- I bring that outlook to every transaction. There does not have to be a “winner” or a “loser.” Someone achieving their goals does not equate to the other side failing. A real estate transaction ~can~ involve both parties working together to land a plane together, in a way that is mutually beneficial. I have found that to be possible by approaching negotiations with humility and care- a standard that is unfortunately not as widespread in the industry as one would hope.

Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
If only I had a crystal ball…*laughs* its hard enough to know what it’ll look like 6 months out, or a year from now. In a general sense, interest rates and home prices will continue to change in response to current events and our country’s economy.

But I think the biggest factor to keep an eye on- like most industries- would be AI, how it continues to evolve and how it is utilized in real estate. Personally, I feel that AI is a fantastic tool for homeowners/buyers and industry professionals alike with endless possibilities. But it is only that…a tool. There have been conversations about AI replacing real estate agents or leasing professionals entirely, but I do not see that happening anytime soon. There is a personal element that is extremely valuable- and important to consumers, whether they recognize it now or not- that simply cannot be replicated by AI.
So while I can’t subscribe to that doom and gloom narrative, I’m excited to see the ways in which AI will continue to help us streamline/build upon our existing processes to provide our clients with an even more efficient, personally tailored experience than what we offer today.

Pricing:

• If you mention you found me through Voyage Denver and utilize me as your real estate agent, I’ll donate 5% of proceeds from the transaction to a charity of your choice

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.xlvcollective.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/whatsthesoop/