While still relatively young, Terence Tan utilised his talents and collaborations with many well-known Malaysian developers to build an actual empire within the real estate industry.

Real Empire is one of the most preferred marketing organisations among developers in property industry – and its exceptionally photogenic founder, Terence Tan, has also earned the title of "All-Star Negotiator" at the StarProperty.my Real Estate Awards in 2018.

You look so young, how long have you been in this industry?

Terence Tan apparently has no issue with letting his humour show, “It has been 5 years and still counting,” he says, allowing himself a chuckle at the expense of people who have trouble reconciling the appearance of this real estate negotiator with his soaring successes in the property industry.

It certainly seems as though nearly everyone is aware that you completed a master's programme at a university in the United Kingdom, why did you choose to enter the property line after completing the master's degree in engineering?

It was my passion since I was in secondary school. I wanted to be an entrepreneur rather than working for others. This drove me to be stronger and more independent in my life – and this industry was where I could explore and learn new things everyday.

As the founder of Real Empire, what do you think are your advantages in sales and marketing?

Since my background is in engineering, I always liked to venture into technology. In terms of marketing, we are not only doing the traditional way of marketing, but we also into the modern ways of marketing – which is digital marketing. We have built a team that never fails to provide the best possible information – I really believe professionalism is the key to success in every industry.

How does your team support you and your company?

They are very supportive, I am glad that I have a young and talented team. They always provide creative ideas on sales and marketing. Besides, they are so energetic and passionate in executing every task. I am so grateful that they able to achieve every target of the company and provide success – nearly every time.

You've probably been asked this a lot – but how did you achieve so many awards at such a young age?

I always believe every single step in a career counts as a success. I break down my career goals into smaller tasks for myself and my team – and between myself and my team members, we always aim to complete the execution plan.

Being a negotiator does not seem to be an easy job and you always seem to need to pull something extra, how does being a negotiator affect you personally?

As a negotiator, I need to meet many different people such as agents, clients, and developers. My skills in dealing with people improved very well along the way. I am really happy that I not only gained wealth in this industry, but also many friends who helped to broaden my network.

How have you approached difficulties in the course of your career?

The real estate industry evolves at a fast pace – especially when it is affected by government-led policies. I always need to work out new strategies from time to time in order to adapt to market movements. I believe in working hard – but also in working smart. Both are important steps towards success of all kinds.

How are your family members supporting you and your career?

My family members never doubted my decisions – but they have always been there to give their support and advise me on my work.

How do you manage your time between working and spending time with your family?

Family is the most important thing in my life. Work is important – but family comes first. No matter how busy I may be, I always allocate family days every month. I also arrange a few leisure trips for my family every year. Those would be among the most pleasurable times in my life.

What is your experience of working with first-time home buyers?

It is not easy to handle first-home buyers. Most first-time home buyers are not well versed with property and often lack the knowledge required to source the house that they want. Thus, we cannot only promote the project – we also need to educate buyers on how to buy the right property to match their needs.

What sort of things should first-time home buyers consider?

There are many factors that first-time home buyers need to consider. However, I think the first and most important factor to be considered is the loan amount that they can get from the bank. By knowing this, they can source the house based on their budget.

What do you think makes you a success in this industry?

I am grateful that I get to meet great people in this industry. I am so fortunate that I had a great team in GS Realty. We have a great culture where everyone is so dedicated to work. In Real Empire, our slogan is "We Care, We Share". We become successful together because we share our knowledge and help each other to achieve our life goals.

What could you say to those who want to invest in property?

Investors should be able to exit with profit. Thus, I think the key to success in investment is not only knowing how to buy a property but also how and when to let go of a property.

What advice would you give to the younger generation of home buyers?

Real estate is one of the best platforms to transform your life. Property is still a necessity and it will never be outdated. Commitment is the key to be successful in real estate. Never try, never know.

How are agents coping with the current economic climate?

The economy nowadays is unpredictable, agents must be very innovative in sales and marketing. As more disruptive technologies arise, I encourage agents utilise these technologies to boost sales and to get to a wonderful future ahead.

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