To many, Andrew Flachner is a real estate icon. To me, he’s not only one of the most impactful people in my life, but he was also my wedding officiant. Yep, I’m serious.
Andrew is on the leading edge of just about anything that matters in real estate and has this innate ability to uncomplicate the complicated and help you understand really why you care about data with something fun like jellybeans. Yep, still serious.
He’s humble and loving, goofy and serious, and so incredibly intelligent yet never making you feel less than. He’s the proud Co-Founder/President of RealScout, the real estate industry’s #1 Collaborative Home Search. It is his personable way (along with a kick-ass team) that we believe has been the secret to RealScout’s success. His ability to engage and empower individuals has extended into RealScout’s product and just makes sense. Get to know our dear friend Andrew a bit better here…
With a million things happening at any one moment, how do you manage your time?
I’m a big believer in setting a vision, be it for your life or for your company, and working backwards: What major milestones are required to achieve your vision? What are the annual achievements that tie into those milestones? Quarterly accomplishments? Monthly priorities? Daily tasks? It’s okay to deviate occasionally, but I find that too many distractions (emails, meetings, etc.) masquerade as priorities. It’s important to make difficult trade-offs to achieve your long-term goals.
Who has had the greatest impact on your life?
I’m closest to my mom. I learned a lot from her: empathy, being in touch with my emotions, and what it means to have an entrepreneurial spirit. Fun fact: she started a lactation consulting business that delivered educational content with a healthy dose of humor. She made people comfortable with a challenging part of life that remains -- at least in some circles -- hard to discuss. Above all else, my mom has always been supportive of my wild ideas.
With a new “smart” something coming out almost every day, what products amaze and astound you?
Living in Silicon Valley, it’s easy to get distracted by bleeding-edge innovation. However, when it comes to smart gadgets, I don’t want amazement and astonishment; I want something that works. When it comes to digital assistants, Alexa--for its ability to answer simple questions, start timers, and adjust our lights--is the most reliable and useful smart technology we have today. Siri, on the other hand, is frustratingly unintelligent.
What did you want to be when you were a kid?
I’ve always wanted to start businesses. From lemonade stands and car washes to dating apps and a real estate tech startup, I’ve always been drawn to entrepreneurship.
What’s something cool you’re working on right now?
It took seven-and-a-half years for RealScout to become the real estate industry’s number one collaborative (agent + client) home search platform. Thanks to that, we’re now able to reveal insights about what homebuyers want, at which price points, and how serious they are. In 2020, we expect this data to help agents stand out during listing presentations and enable clients to sell faster and more profitably.
What kind of projects would you like to do more of?
I’m making a concerted effort to do fewer projects. I’ve been reading Gary Keller’s The One Thing and building conviction that outsized results require extreme focus.
What’s the most interesting thing you’ve read/seen this week?
In order to help curb the housing shortage in San Francisco, a developer is considering building subterranean sleeping pods in my neighborhood. These pods would be grouped in bunk-bed configurations with common areas. I have a ton of questions (and some skepticism) about this proposal, but I’m a big proponent of cohabitation. I think we’ll only be able to tackle major challenges if we keep an open mind to even the most unusual ideas.
What job would you be terrible at?
CPA. I was in public accounting for all of 90 days before deciding that attention to detail is not my strong suit.
How do you relax?
Because I’m on the road so much, I enjoy taking an occasional break to experience local treasures. Although it doesn’t happen nearly enough, when it does, these solo explorations lend me a fresh perspective. In a new city, enjoying a restaurant, going to the theater, or touring a museum feels different compared to leisure at home. More time for introspection.
What gets you fired up/energized?
I’m the kind of person who likes getting things done. That may sound like a given for an entrepreneur, but I can always tell I’ve got a little more to give when I know I’m making a difference--whether it’s for a customer, for a colleague or for the industry. I love being part of a dynamic environment, which means trying to give more than I take.
Want to know more about Andrew? Check out RealScout or find him rushing through an airport somewhere on the road to talk to customers or headed home to his lovely wife, Julie.