June has been designated as leasing month here at SVN, and to cap it off, this Friday we have a special Five for Friday double header, as we interview both co-chairs of SVN’s Leasing Product Council.
Walt Arnold, CCIM, SIOR, is managing director at SVN | Walt Arnold Commercial Brokerage, Inc., in Albuquerque, New Mexico. There, he specializes in the office market.
What advice would you provide to an aspiring advisor who is new to the industry?
My advice would be to soak up as much information as possible in the quickest amount of time. Literally, be a sponge and absorb everything. At SVN, S4G is an excellent tool to get started in the commercial real estate industry. Read as many periodicals (for example, the CCIM magazine and the SIOR magazine) as you can. Additionally, avail yourself of any other magazine, book, blog or video where you can learn about commercial real estate, and specifically the area of commercial real estate you are interested in. Another strategy is to learn from others who have been in the industry for long time, that is, seek out a mentor who will help you learn and understand the process of leasing or sales. Your mentor’s knowledge and experience will help you shrink the learning curve and create a faster path to success.
What does the SVN Difference mean to you?
The SVN Difference for me is a cultural of collaboration and professionalism created through our Advisors and our Core Covenants. Sharing our fees 50-50 with the brokerage community encourages brokers to bring their buyers and tenants to our properties, which in turn allows our owners and landlords the best opportunity to sell or lease at the highest price and achieve the best deal for them.
What learning tools (book, blog, website, etc.) would you recommend to your colleagues to further their knowledge and enhance their careers?
There are several ways you can learn more. Here are a few suggestions:
- Complete the S4G modules, review the SVN dashboard and look for opportunities to learn within the dashboard.
- Join a Product Council and get involved in a specialty area of commercial real estate.
- Get involved in the local CCIM chapter in the local commercial real estate board.
- Look for newsfeeds, magazines, websites and blogs that are geared commercial real estate.
What inspired you to open an SVN franchise? Or, why did you join SVN?
I had arrived at a point in my career where I felt it was important to be part of a larger organization. I was introduced to SVN and right from beginning, I found that it was a good fit for me. The Core Covenants and the SVN Difference resonated with me and I embraced it and have enjoyed every moment since I joined the company. The corporate officers, staff and Advisors throughout the company are exceptional.
List a fun fact to share about yourself – something that people may not know and that they may be surprised to find out.
I played football and baseball at the University of New Mexico. I went on to play professional football in the NFL for eight years as a tight end, mostly with the Los Angeles Rams and the Kansas City Chiefs.
Interested in pursuing a career in commercial real estate leasing? Learn more at SVN’s Leasing page.