What 10 Years in Real Estate Taught Us: Abba 98 Realty way!

As we celebrate a decade of running our Makati office, I want to share the daily routines and hard-earned lessons that helped us grow from a startup to a thriving small property management company.

Our Humble Beginnings

In our first seven months, we worked 6-7 days a week, averaging at least 10 hours a day. We did everything: property sales, developer meetings, and endless paperwork. It wasn’t until December 2015 that we finally paid off our debts and started saving. Here’s what made the difference:

1. Find the Most Attractive Properties. Every Day.

Our daily routine starts with scouting the market for the most appealing listings. We always aim to have three standout options in a condominium development or a subdivision:

**The Cheapest ( for price-conscious buyers)**

**The Unit/ Lot Nearest the Gate/ Condo. near the amenities (for convenience seekers)**

**A Corner unit/ Lot (nothing beats the feeling of one less neighbor beside you)**

2. Talk to 100 Leads a Day. No Excuses.

Our team’s golden rule: connect with 98–100 leads daily. For auspicious reasons, we keep the calls to at least 98 leads. But during the first half of the year, we average our calls up to 200 connections. It’s not easy, but this consistency keeps our pipeline full and our brand top-of-mind. The more conversations, the more opportunities.

3. Respond to Leads. Fast and Faster.

Speed matters! Whenever a lead shows interest, we send them the requested info immediately. Quick responses show professionalism and build trust… often turning curious leads into loyal clients.

4. Make Meals About Relationships

We don’t stick to rigid lunch hours. Instead, we use meal times to bond as a team or connect with clients. In fact, we once closed a deal on a night the client barely remembered… because she was so tipsy!

5. Scrimp, Save, and Invest Wisely

In the early days, we managed our budget tightly… borrowing from family and friends, and promising to pay them back with our first commissions. Thanks to disciplined spending and timely sales, we cleared our debts on Month 7 and started building financial stability right at the start of year 2016.

Discipline, strategic routines, and genuine relationships… these are the habits that fueled our first decade. The real question: Can we keep it up for another 10 years? We’re excited to find out.