Elena Styles competes amongst the best in the commercial property world.
She single-handedly averages two deals a week, has outstanding relationships with landlords throughout the Auckland CBD and city fringe and is well known for her tenacity and ability to close a deal.
She also speaks with a Russian accent, is a solo mother of twins and has only been in the commercial property game for just over two years.
Elena admits she may not always be what people expect, but she has a natural ability when it comes to commercial property and is winning the accolades to prove it.
Last year Elena was named NAI Harcourts’ Rising Star for the entire country, an award for outperforming all other newcomers in deal volume and earnings.
In addition she is the top performer at her Harcourts Auckland Central office and is the go-to person for many landlords wanting to lease or sell their properties, including New Zealand’s largest landlord.
Harcourts Auckland Central owner George Erdos says Elena is one of the most hardworking people you are likely to come across in real estate.
His is a multi-cultural office, encompassing residential, commercial and property management.
“We are multi-cultural because that is what Auckland is. We are catering to different demographics and needs, and it’s essential to have a team that encompasses everything that Aucklanders require in terms of real estate. In a diverse and capable group, Elena is our top performer and her work ethic is incredible.”
This work ethic is evident when Elena explains how she got into commercial real estate.
After relocating from Uzbekistan to New Zealand, Elena’s marriage broke down and she was faced with the prospect of raising her two children alone.
Wanting to be a success for herself and her children, Elena joined a real estate company as a data entry clerk and was inspired by the success she saw around her. Elena was so enthusiastic she was given the opportunity to start cold calling potential clients.
“I made it a goal that I wouldn’t go home until I had at least 10 solid leads each day. I would sometimes work until 2am and be back at the office at 8am.”
She then tried her hand at residential real estate, however decided commercial was a better fit for her. She joined NAI Harcourts and hasn’t looked back.
“Residential real estate is based on emotions. Commercial is all about facts, figures, square metres, yields. It’s exciting putting the deals together and seeing both sides leave negotiations happy.”
Elena often brings buyers and sellers, tenants and landlords together face-to-face when a deal is on the table, believing people are more likely to sort through sticking points when they are in the same room.
However, to get to this stage, Elena works hard to match clients to find the right fit for both parties. It’s not easy. For example Elena has been known to carry out 16 viewings in a single day to find appropriate premises for a client.
“I never want the client to come away thinking they haven’t seen all the possibilities open to them. I want to remove that doubt from their mind so they can be confident in their decision.”
George Erdos says Elena is a great example of what it is possible to achieve in real estate if you have the work ethic and the ambition.
“In my office there are only three rules. What you do must be: Legal; Honest; and Ethical. Outside of that there are no limitations on what you can achieve.”