Special Feature

Caring for others as a business: From nurse to real estate maven

October 9, 2024 3:00 PM SGT

Leng and Albert's philosophy focuses on caring for clients, building relationships, and helping them achieve their property investment goals, making real estate about more than just transactions. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

In a world where business often seems impersonal and transactional, real estate consultants like Leng and her partner Albert pride themselves on bringing a unique and caring touch to their work.

As a mid-career professional, Leng stands out with her warm and friendly demeanour, often insisting that clients call her "Aunty Leng" as a sign of closeness and familiarity. Known for her warmth and unwavering dedication to her property clients, Leng has carved a niche for herself, despite her initial struggles.

With Albert, who is similarly people-centric, the duo share a vision of providing exceptional service and care to their clients — not as agents but property consultants.

Leng partnered with Albert, and they became property consultants focused on exceptional client service. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The Edge Singapore)

From nursing to real-estate: finding passion in helping others

Leng's journey into real estate is a story of passion, dedication, and reinvention. Before delving into the world of property, she had a long and fulfilling career as a nurse.

"Nursing is not just a job, it's a vocation," she says, reflecting on her time in the medical field. "I found it exciting and fulfilling to be in the business of saving lives."

Her journey into real estate was incidental, but like her previous vocation, it allowed her to continue to help others in need — in a different capacity. "I've always been a caregiver at heart," Leng explains. "Real estate seemed like a natural extension of that, a way to help people find their dream homes and build their futures."

But she was not convinced that she had the chops to make it. She had been a nurse all her life and was used to being regarded a certain way.

“When I was a nurse, all my patients were so thankful for what I did,” Leng shares. “I wasn’t sure how I’d be valued by clients as a property agent.”

She was also concerned about job qualifications.

“There are exams to pass and I’m not the academic sort,” she explains. “But my husband encouraged me to give it a try.”

One of the biggest challenges Leng faced was the real estate exam. She knew that she could not rely on study methods others used.

Leng says: “I’d read newspapers like The Straits Times and bought an English-Chinese dictionary.” She would painstakingly look up words she did not understand and piece information together.

Her lecturer suggested that she read online property forums and zero in on FAQs on property-related problems, to better understand concepts and issues that she would need to know as a realtor.

Her hard work paid off, and she successfully passed not just one but two of her exam papers at her first try, paving the way for a successful career in real estate.

On the road towards success

Eventually, Leng found a partner in Albert, an ex-sales manager in a local multinational company (MNC) dealing in building and construction materials. The duo soon established themselves as not just agents, but property consultants, to focus on providing exceptional service and care to their clients.

“In my previous role, I was rarely allowed to offer ideas or do things differently,” Albert recalls. He was then a part-time property agent and not yet willing to give up his secure, full-time job. After attending a property training bootcamp with Leng, he became inspired and gained self-belief, realising that he had inadvertently been placing limits on himself due to past work circumstances.

Albert says: “I found a very positive synergy partnering with Leng and so decided to take a leap of faith to become a full-time real estate consultant.”

Their partnership is a testament to the power of collaboration and shared values. While Leng brings her nursing background and deep empathy for clients, Albert contributes his business acumen and industry knowledge, creating a well-rounded team that delivers results.

True enough, with hard work and dedication, the pair soon started to collect accolades such as the Top 3% Producers award from their agency PropNex, as well as Top Managers and many more.

With hard work and dedication, the pair quickly earned accolades, including the Top 3% Producers award from their agency PropNex, along with Top Managers and other recognitions. (Picture: Leng Kar Yee)

Leng and Albert Property: thriving on “discomfort”

Leng and Albert share a philosophy centred around caring for their clients and helping them achieve their property investment goals. For them, real estate is not just about buying and selling properties; it's about building relationships and making a positive impact on people's lives.

"We see ourselves as more than just agents," Leng explains. "We're consultants, advisors, and friends. We're here to guide our clients every step of the way, from finding the right property to securing the best deal."

Sometimes, this may mean going beyond their comfort zone. Taking inspiration from a quote by Canadian businessman and author T Harv Eker — “The only time you’re actually growing is when you’re uncomfortable” — both Leng and Albert relish “discomfort” as they believe that this is what usually drives many “eureka” moments for them in learning new things.

“The only time I started growing in my potential was in my 40s,” reflects Albert. He recalls feeling awkward and uncomfortable being in front of the camera when the duo first started filming videos for their YouTube property channel. However, he now knows clearly that overcoming challenges is the only way to grow.

“In the beginning, I was slow to warm up in front of the camera,” Albert shares. “But I focused on overcoming my fears of making mistakes in order to grow. Thus my confidence grew as well.”

Albert’s confidence also improved as a result of his on-the-ground experiences with Leng.

“Leng’s no-nonsense approach propelled me to take initiative and find new solutions,” says Albert. “It was always this kind of ‘discomfort’ that generated the most fulfilling and meaningful lessons.”

Property investment and wealth creation

One of the key aspects of Leng and Albert's work is helping clients build wealth through property investment. Drawing on their own experiences as investors, they have developed a six-point system to assess clients' appetite and ability for property purchases.

Leng's own breakthrough happened in her early years of joining the sector. Through tests and trials with her own capital, she became a savvy property investor herself, using her new-found real estate knowledge to build wealth for her own family.

“I tested my property strategies on my own family assets, before proposing my system to others,” she explains, sharing that she upgraded from a five-room HDB flat to a four-bedroom condo unit in Riverbank, before buying yet another for investment.

“This is how I’m confident of our strategies before advising others.”

Albert and Leng developed a successful investment strategy focusing on buying properties at the right entry price and providing the best possible exit plans and options.

“By focusing on risk management and long-term sustainability, we have been able to build a portfolio of properties that not only provide financial security but also serve as a retirement plan,” says Leng and Albert.

Through careful planning and strategic investment, Leng and Albert have helped numerous clients achieve financial security and build a portfolio of properties that can serve as a viable retirement and legacy planning. Their clients’ portfolio includes a mix of residential and commercial properties.

“It’s a holistic service that we provide, so this is why we are called ‘consultants’,” says the duo. “It’s not just about bringing people for viewings or selling properties. It’s about changing people’s lives and their future.”

Leng and Albert's journey highlights how their compassion, dedication, and hard work brought them success as property consultants, while also benefiting their clients' lives. (Picture: Samuel Isaac Chua/The E)

Taking the first step towards property investment

For those who are new to property investment, Albert has some valuable words of advice. "Understand the market, be patient, and most importantly, invest in properties after analysing the facts, figures and requirements."

Leng emphasises the importance of having a long-term perspective. "Property investment is not a get-rich-quick scheme," she cautions. "It requires time, effort, and careful planning. But if done right, it can be a rewarding and profitable venture."

Leng and Albert's story is a testament to the power of compassion, dedication, and hard work. Through their work as property consultants, they have not only achieved success in their own right but have also made a positive impact on the lives of their clients.

In a world that often values profits over people, they stand out as a shining example of how business can be both profitable and caring.

For more information,

Contact LENG KAR YEE (LENG) | 96454005

Associate Group Director (R048556C)

PROPNEX REALTY PTE. LTD.