Unlocking Real Estate Success: Ted Guarnero's Journey from Property Manager to Entrepreneurial Realtor
Real estate is a multifaceted industry comprising many different sectors and career opportunities, each with unique characteristics and necessary skill sets. From real estate agents and brokers to property managers and investors, there are several career paths those interested in the industry can explore.
Ted Guarnero, licensed Realtor and founder of the Guarnero Group, has been in the real estate game for nearly 30 years. While he currently caters to the beautiful coastal areas of Southern Florida, the journey to where he is today wasn’t always so glamorous.
Both of Guarnero’s parents had entrepreneurial spirits, holding highly demanding careers. His mother was in the restaurant catering business, and his father owned car dealerships, and did real estate development. Guarnero attributes his hard work, dedication, and affinity toward real estate to his parents.
“Growing up, 14-hour days were just our norm,” Guarnero explains. “Hard work and making the next deal has always been in my blood.”
Guarnero started in the property management end of the business, which he admits held its fair share of challenges — and grumbling tenants. He then got into the leasing and marketing side of real estate, which he favored due to its opportunity for creativity. However, he soon realized there was one branch of real estate that equated to higher compensation and flexibility.
“As I started to work with more Realtors, I was seeing their commission checks,” says Guarnero. “I realized that I didn’t have to sit behind the desk. I could be out showing people homes and making this type of money.”
Influenced by his passion for real estate and longing to help others find the home of their dreams, Guarnero became a realtor and had immediate success. He placed in the top three agents of his company that first year and every year since. Following his parent’s entrepreneurial footsteps, Guarnero eventually created his real estate Team, Guarnero Group.
“Real estate takes a lot of pivoting and thinking outside the box. Whatever the issue is, there is a way to resolve it,” he explains. “If this home is too small, let me show you a larger one. You can’t afford this home? Let’s look at another neighborhood. I love helping people through the process.”
More recently, Guarnero’s role in real estate has expanded to building real estate websites. The company has had so much success that it’s been averaging 20,000 visitors a month. Because business is booming, Guarnero has hired an impressive real estate team to cater to clients’ needs. He teaches his team the same lessons he’s learned to get where he is today.
“I try to teach my team to be good mentors and make sure they understand they’re not here to be a salesperson,” Guarnero explains. “They’re here to build a relationship. Sales will happen organically if you help people rather than trying to close them on a home today.”
Additionally, Guarnero’s ultimate business goal is to expand throughout Florida. How does he plan to do this? By getting the referral from his clients.
“My number one goal is to get the client referral,” he explains. “I want to give my clients such an unbelievable experience they go and tell everybody that these people looked out for my best interest. This is a unique mindset in the real estate game these days.”
Ted Guarnero’s journey from property manager to successful Realtor and entrepreneur exemplifies the diverse array of career opportunities that exist in real estate — an industry that has unlimited potential for growth and personal fulfillment. His dedication, commitment to personalized service, and unique approach to real estate reflect his long-term success in the industry.
