Haute Residence continued its "Chat with Haute Residence Leaders" series with a conversation featuring Tomer Fridman, representative of the Haute Residence Network in the Hidden Hills, Holmby Hills, and Trousdale Estates, California area. He was hosted by Haute Media Group Cofounder Seth Semilof.
Watch their conversation below.
The topics included Fridman’s illustrious career from assisting his mother in their family business, his growth of knowledge and expertise in the Los Angeles, California area, and his ascendancy to the top 1% of the luxury real estate market.
With over $3 billion in career sales, and breaking the $500,000,000 mark for closed sales in a single year, Tomer continues to be ranked as one of America’s Best Real Estate Agents by Wall Street Journal/Real Trends. Growing up in Los Angeles in a real estate family, he claims, “there was always real estate talk at the dinner table when I was younger.” He continues, “I really started as my mom’s assistant. I put up signs, learned the business by meeting clients, knowing the inventory, and knowing the product. That is an invaluable tool. It is a great learning experience on site.”
Seth Semilof: Tell us a little about yourself. Where did you grow up? Where were you born?
Tomer Fridman: I was born in Tel Aviv, Israel, but I grew up in L.A. and I grew up in a real estate family. My mom was an agent. She still is. She is my business partner. I came into a premade business and my job was to expand it. It was a double edged sword because when you come into a family owned business, you really have to step it up and you really have to perform, The way I see it is if you do not know how to mop the floor, you cannot be in the corner office.
SS: When was the first time you brought in a deal?
TF: I represented a very, very high-profile singer. I thought, “I’m not even in this caliber to represent someone like this,” but I showed the houses very methodically. You have to know the product. You have to know your stuff. They were impressed enough to start with that and from there, I built a substantial entertainment based clientele, but the first one was Britney Spears.
SS: In your opinion, what makes a successful realtor?
TF: I am just the service provider and my clients are the focal point. I always try to make the client and the property the focal point rather than me. I pride myself in not being a sales person. I am more of an advisor, a consultant, and sometimes a confidant. You are dealing with homes and not just houses. However, you also have to look at return on investment. You have to look at all these contingencies and balance the business and the emotional side.
SS: I would love to hear about where your mom's business was and how you as a team grew it to the next level.
TF: You have to build your brand identity. The most important thing is having the integrity and knowing the product. I was very, very product driven while my mom was more business driven. I took great pride in knowing the product and we are great combination. It is an evolution of honing your skills, so we were very lucky to build a very, very big business out of Calabasas.
SS: How would you want to be regarded as an agent?
TF: Collaborative. None of us are an island on our own. We all rely on one another. Respect your colleagues. There is a certain way to do business. In terms of someone getting a listing over you or losing a listing to someone, at the end of the day, if it is done properly and if it is done with integrity you overcome that and you move on.
SS: What makes you, in your opinion humble opinion, so great at what you do?
TF: You need to know your roots and you need to know where you came from. It is a constant evolution and learning process. I take great pride in learning from my colleagues. I really do think it is an evolution that has led to my success. It is learning every day, honing, and improving. I love co-listings because it is a learning experience. Collaboration is the key to success.
For more information, please contact Tomer Fridman at 310-919-1038 or tomer.fridman@compass.com
Tomer Fridman is the exclusive agent representing the Hidden Hills, Holmby Hills, and Trousdale Estates, California real estate market as a member of the Haute Residence Real Estate Network. View all of his listings here.
