Redfin District Manager Marshall Park could easily be considered a “Redfin original,” having spent the past seven years working in Redfin’s mid-atlantic region. We sat down and talked to Marshall about the first time he heard of Redfin, how Redfin’s technology impacts agents and how he is proud to work for a real estate brokerage that is truly changing the industry.
Where did you work before coming to Redfin?
I was a Remax agent, having previously worked at Weichert. It was 2007 at the time, and I had been talking to my wife about leaving real estate because I really didn’t feel like the sales aspect of the job was for me. Then I saw the “60 Minutes” piece on Redfin. Things changed after that!
What was it about the “60 Minutes” special that changed your mind about real estate?
At the time I remember thinking, “I don’t want to do real estate. I’m not a salesperson. I don’t like pushing things on people.” It wasn’t that I lacked confidence, I just didn’t feel comfortable with the idea of selling myself. Most successful salespeople have to push people so hard, they aren’t able to see that line where people want them to just be transparent and stop selling. For me, I never liked the feeling that I was pushing too hard, or making someone feel uncomfortable. I was honestly looking for a way out of real estate. But, as I was watching Glenn Kelman describe Redfin’s mission and purpose, I realized that there was actually a real estate company out there that would allow me to be my best self and do my best work. I told my wife that this was the company I needed to work for, and I immediately looked to see if there was a local Redfin branch in my area.
What was it about Redfin that really stood out to you and made it so different from other brokerages?
The one thing that really stood out to me was the idea that you aren’t a salesperson; you are a customer advocate. This is such a strong core value at Redfin; our agent bonuses are even paid based on a customer satisfaction survey. You aren’t fighting with other agents for leads, because Redfin is already providing them. I remember telling people that Redfin was the future of real estate. Technology, customer advocacy and a focus on customer service – these are just a few of the things that makes Redfin so different from anyone else in the industry.
Speaking of technology, how does Redfin use technology to help agents succeed?
We have so much technology at our fingertips, it’s actually kind of crazy. Everything Redfin designs makes it easier to not only communicate as a team, but also make sure you are providing the best possible service to the customer – it makes life so much easier! Things that real estate agents used to only DREAM would exist, I now use every day. Maybe I appreciate all this new technology so much, because it just wasn’t around or even being built when I first started in the industry. Redfin created it, and it’s making our agents lives easier and more productive every single day.
You have been at Redfin now for seven (!!!) years – what is it that keeps you here?
It’s the passion of the people and the idea that we are truly redefining real estate. I love working for a company where I believe in everything we are doing. I’m proud of this company, and it’s that sense of pride that makes me want to stay. As we continue to grow and grow, Redfin is going to be the name that people associate with pioneering change in the industry.
Do you have a question for Marshall about why he works at Redfin? Let us know in the comments or on Twitter @Redfin.
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