by G. Sax, Head of Communications, RESO
This week, we caught up with PropStream CEO Brian Tepfer. We chatted about changing legacies after a long and successful life under another surname, how to stand apart in a crowded field and three things you can do now to be fit like Brian Tepfer. Enjoy!
Q1: You were at Rapattoni for 20 years, eventually leaving that post as EVP and CTO. You were such a steadfast presence for that organization that some people thought your name was Brian Rapattoni. Change is not easy, so why did it feel like the right time to become CEO of a lead-generation service for real estate entrepreneurs?
Brian: After spending so much time growing with one company, it felt like the right time to be open to change. When the PropStream opportunity was presented to me, it was a chance to take the next step in my career.
I really enjoy creating a workplace and culture of bringing people up through recognition and success, allowing positive changes to impact daily efforts. I wanted to be in a position to give my team opportunities to try, whether they succeed or fail.
The measure of success is if we learn from our mistakes, so we can make better decisions. In my current role, I have the opportunity to see people strive, grow and achieve success. I am able to see the direct results of these efforts through our customer growth and new partnerships.
Although the PropStream name may be new to some in RESO circles, the company has been around since 2006, and we are the largest company of our kind in the space. Our growth and success in lead generation with a strong customer base prompted Stewart Title to acquire PropStream in 2021. It was through Stewart Title that I was recommended for this role. Being at PropStream has been the highlight of my career.
Q2: Lead generation and AI might be considered crowded fields. How do you differentiate yourself from other companies, and what role do RESO standards play in your business?
Brian: We work hard on our product differentiation. We achieve this by focusing on what matters to our users, better predictive analytics through our use of AI and data modeling.
We ask how likely something is to happen in various markets, aiding our customers in finding properties to list based on the property profiles, how likely a home is to list, how likely it is to go into foreclosure or other factors that will prompt the transaction of a home.
We take a multitude of data points and analyze trends to provide a lead list of qualified properties. We also provide access to 160 million properties nationwide, allowing our users to search them while utilizing hundreds of filters designed for lead generation.
Many lead-gen companies provide a sort of sameness in their lead lists, and that same list can be resold a thousand times over. It basically becomes a first-to-get-there game.
Conversely, we can get info on home equity, liens, interest rates, etc. Clients can even send postcards and emails through our platform.
As for RESO, we want to be present in order to stay abreast of the standards, and we are using them – getting data from FBS Spark, Bridge Interactive, etc. I want our teams to understand the data structure and to practice what they preach in order to ease their workload. RESO is invaluable in that regard.
Q3: Some people may not know that you are someone that cares deeply about fitness and taking care of your body, often working out for two hours per day. For those of us looking to erase some extra blurble and wubba, what are your personal top three doable tips to start down a path of self-improvement?
Brian: You have to set a goal. That’s number one. You have to make the goal achievable with small, iterative goals. You can’t just say I want to look like Arnold Schwarzenegger.
Two, it takes dedication. You have to say to yourself, “I am going to get up and do this.” Whether that means to walk, lift weights, run, swim, bike – whatever it is – you have to stay dedicated.
Three, diet. That is the most important aspect of fitness. It’s actually 70% of your goals. It’s not what you eat, it’s about how much you eat. I don’t believe in restricting what you can have. You want ice cream, have ice cream. Just have one scoop, not three scoops.
It’s all about moderation. I keep a big bag of gummy bears on my desk – Haribo Goldbears, the good stuff. I don’t restrict, but I do moderate. That bag will last me for a month or two, no problem. It’s not difficult when you have goals, discipline, dedication and a healthy diet based on moderation.
RESO: So no more eating a bag of dill pickle sunflower seeds or a huge bowl of buttery popcorn with shredded cheese every night after midnight?
Brian: It is ill advised.
Three Questions is meant to be a fun interview series that features real estate industry professionals, their businesses and how they interact with real estate standards.
