Changing something that took years to build takes time and effort. For Dan O'neil and his team, a bit of creativity has made the process of changing the real estate landscape in Long Island faster. Armed with their cameras and enthusiasm, they have embarked on an adventure that is already changing people's mindsets about real estate agents and the industry at large.
When Dan began his journey in the industry three years ago, he knew he had to be unique to succeed. He was a newcomer with no experience pitting himself against older men who'd been doing things a certain way for over 30 years. Not only did he have to earn their respect, but he also had to think fast and find something that would give him an edge.
Dan's first step was creating a unique marketing strategy. He set out to show that real estate could be both fun and respectable, something that was totally against the norm. He went on to create unique, funny, and entertaining marketing videos and posted them on different social media platforms. Nobody had done that before, and it attracted the attention of both the public and other players in the industry.
The videos were so effective that other agents joined Dan's team within no time. Other agents in the industry were also learning that they didn't have to take themselves too seriously to sell property, contributing to an industry-wide change. Meanwhile, Dan's brand kept growing and redefining what an agent was supposed to be and how they behaved.
Dan's earliest successes came before he'd been in the business for long. He had the opportunity to share the stage with big names like Grant Cardone, Tim Grover, and Brad Lea. He's also podcasted with Million Dollar Listings' Ryan Serhant. Another win included making cameos on Netflix's Million Dollar Beach House.
Dan and his team are also heavily involved in their community through philanthropy. They highlight this through their YouTube vlog series, where they showcase some of the things they do. When Covid-19 first struck, for instance, they donated $25,000 to help. They later raised an additional $25,000 and also delivered meals to their city's frontline workers.
The team's efforts didn't stop there. They have participated in the LLS man and woman of the year campaign two years in a row and raised vital funds to cure children's blood cancer. They also donated thousands of dollars to local dog shelters and host weekly Instagram giveaways for families in need.
During holidays, the team intensified its efforts. They rented out a hotel for Thanksgiving and cooked for 200 people who had nowhere to go and the homeless. On Christmas, they have identified and helped 5 families that have fallen on tough times.
Three years in, Dan has touched the lives of not only customers but others agents and the community at large. That, for him, beats any monetary gains he could have made, and he plans to continue doing what he's been doing and more. Dan and the team are currently expanding their brand to more parts of the country. The brand will soon be in LA, the Carolinas, and Florida before extending to other areas.
