Name: Desi C Rodriguez
Job Title: Broker-Owner and Instructor
Company: Strike Realty
What was your first job in the industry? Real Estate Advisor for Avanti Way Realty.
Where did you grow up? Born and Raised in Miami.
Growing up, what did you want to be? A lawyer or psychologist, it was always back and forth between both.
What do you do to relax when you’re stressed? I love to travel, I attempt to take 3-4 trips ever year and that helps keep me balanced.
If you could have lunch with a well-known figure (living or not), who would it be and why? Tupac. As I mention in this article, I consider myself to have great work ethic but Tupac’s work ethic was phenomenal. In 5 short years he recorded over 713 songs and starred in 7 films. He was also always trying to educate himself and was an avid reader, having read over 80 books in that time period as well.
Where is your favorite place to hang out? I would definitely classify myself as a workaholic so my favorite place to hang out is the office. I always find myself bouncing ideas and giving random trainings to my agents and helping them take their business to the next level.
What do you love most about the industry? No two days are the same and there is always something new to do. I am also fortunate to have a diverse clientele from investors, small developers to regular home buyers and sellers that always keep me on my toes.
How do you distinguish yourself from the crowd of agents? Two simple things, education and work ethic. I am a proud 2x alumni from FIU. I have earned a BBA double major in Management and Real Estate. I also earned a Masters Degree in International Real Estate. Besides that, I have earned several designations such as: ABR, E-Pro, PSA, SFR and SRS while currently working on earning the CRS and CHLMS. I have positioned myself to be a true real estate advisor to my customers and I’m always a phone call away.
What is the most difficult aspect of your job? Dealing with the part-time agents. There is always those agents who can’t answer their phone 9-5 because they have another job. It makes getting deals done very difficult when one of those agents is on the other side of the table.
Where do you go to network and meet new clients? Luckily, 90% of my book of business is currently referrals. The rest I just happen to meet in casual conversations at restaurants or bars and a few investors I’ve met while traveling abroad.
What has been your greatest accomplishment? Deciding to go on my own and open a brokerage. We currently have 20 agents and are in the process of renovating our second office, all in under a year!
What was the last good movie you saw or book you read? I just finished “The Millionaire Real Estate Agent” by Gary Keller for the second time. It helped put a lot of things back into perspective and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to scale their business.
What is your favorite restaurant? Hillstones is my favorite by far, the food is always amazing and the service is always impeccable.
Architecturally speaking, what is your favorite building in Miami? I would definitely say the Freedom Tower.
What kind of car do you drive? Infinity Q50 Red Sport. Since I spend a lot of time on the road, a comfortable sports car was essential. It helps me never be late to an appointment. The Nissan GTR is on the coming soon list.
Smartphone or paper? Combination of both depending on the task or occasion. I always have a notebook and iPad with me on the go.
What is your favorite city after Miami? That’s a hard decision since I’ve done a bit of traveling. I would place a tie between Medellin, Colombia and Berlin, Germany.
In 10 words or less, what is your advice for someone new to the industry? This is a business, go learn everything about it.
What’s your favorite real estate iPhone/Android app? RPR, it has all the information I need for any property in a few simple clicks. It also leaves a great impression with clients when I’m able to deliver comprehensive and sophisticated reports within minutes of leaving a house they liked.
Who are your favorite people to follow on Twitter? I do not use twitter but on instagram my favorite account is definitely @thebrokeagent.
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