As an entrepreneur and business professional, it is important to build relationships with other industry professionals. Some people feel that they do not want to get to know their “competitors,” but in our opinion, knowing other industry professionals allows for collaboration. It will also help you exchange ideas, learn new things, grow your business, or operate your coop or condo more efficiently. Here are our top tips on building great relationships with other real estate and construction industry professionals.

1. One way to build great relationships with other industry professionals is to attend industry events. This will allow you to meet new people and also learn about the latest trends. In the coop/ condo and real estate industry, there are many industry events including, but by no means limited to, the semi-annual Cooperator EXPO and TheRealDeal’s TRD’s New York City Real Estate Showcase + Forum.

2. Another way to build great relationships is to join an industry association. This will give you access to resources and networking opportunities. There are many associations available for the various trades including anything from the National Association of Elevator Contractors to the New York Pest Management Association; there are supers’ clubs, The Council of New York Cooperatives & Condominiums, to name just a few.

3. Additionally, you can build great relationships by volunteering your time and expertise to industry organizations. This is a great way to give back and make new contacts!

4. When it comes to energy efficiency, there are a great number of resources and training opportunities held by NYSERDA, NYC Accelerator, and Urban Green Council to name a few. These are also great to meet other energy efficiency experts, property managers, as well as coop and condo board members.

5. Other real estate and construction professionals can introduce you to new contacts and opportunities, so it’s important to nurture these relationships.

6. Finally, you can build great relationships by staying in touch with your contacts and keeping them updated on what you’re working on or what’s going on in your life.

To top all of these off, the best way to build great relationships is to offer help without expecting anything in return. This can be something as simple as offering advice or connecting someone with a resource they need. You can also build relationships by being a good listener. Really take the time to hear what the other person is saying and look for ways to help them. Additionally, try to be positive and helpful even if you don’t have all the answers. People will appreciate your willingness to lend a hand. By following these tips, you will be well on your way to building great relationships with other real estate professionals. These relationships will help you exchange ideas, learn new things, and grow your business.

We hope you found this valuable.

At The Folson Group, our goal is to inspire you to run your building like a business. We enable and inspire coop or condo board engagements to be filled with a feeling of accomplishment, excitement, meaning, happiness, and increased probability of success. Contact us to find out how we can help you run your coop or condo like a business.