Elizabeth Buller is an established entrepreneur and business person. Buller began her career about 20 years ago after finishing her education, and a short stint in employment, before venturing into real estate. She started with flipping properties and building her capital base before eventually establishing her company. With this company, she now ventured deep into the industry, buying and selling properties, and retaining some rental income. She has since grown her portfolio to the tune of $50 million and continues to grow through hard work and determination.
Business Secrets
Buller has grown her real estate business through sheer determination and hard work. At no one point can she be considered lucky. She has been through her fair share of challenges in the 20 years that she has been growing her business. At some point, she could not sell properties that she had acquired for a considerable amount of money. She stayed with these properties for about seven months, advertising, and marketing vigorously. Since it was still at the onset of her career, she did not have the money to keep on advertising, and social media was not as rife as it is today. Hence, she resulted to cold pitching and presenting herself at trade fairs and other business events. Through sheer will and determination, she eventually moved the properties and got a significant breakthrough. It is such events that give her the strength to keep going. Building from her challenges, she identified the need for her business to have a consistent revenue flow, and that is how she began getting properties for rental income. With such properties, even if sales go down, the business can still sustain itself.
Another aspect of business that she has shown is consistency. Buller has been learning the ropes of real estate for more than two decades. It is this specialization and focusing on one business that has seen her grow her company to its current status. She literally began from the ground and has grown through patience and repetition.
Education
Buller has a rich academic background, an achievement that has contributed fairly well to her career growth and development. She holds a Bachelor’s degree in business management, where she graduated top of her class. It is this knowledge that she has invested well towards the creation and running of her business. Her education, combined with lessons learned while on the job, has seen her grow to a business mogul to reckon with, not only in her State but countrywide. She has not stopped learning and often engages herself in business research, and especially in the real estate industry. Constant research and adding to her knowledge have seen her adapt to very many developments in the industry in the 20 years that she has been in the business.
Hobbies and Likes
Buller is not all about business and making money. She also has an active social life and is involved in various high energy activities. She loves running, swimming, and playing tennis. She also often hit the gym at least two or three times a week for aerobics. She loves exercising and often encourages her staff to follow suit, to stay healthy in both mind and body. She believes that good health is part and parcel of a good life. There is no need to have a lot of wealth and be deficient in health. She also loves traveling and reading. Whenever she gets time off her busy schedule, she travels to exotic destinations like the Philippines, Amazon, and Africa, among others. She loves nature and will often find time to hike and enjoy beautiful sceneries. These activities she regularly does with her family and friends.
Family
Buller is also a family person and has three children. Her husband is an established researcher and businessperson with interests in transport and communication. He also has stakes in real estate thanks to Buller’s involvement. She works closely with her husband, helping him where she can and receiving assistance from him regularly. Her children, two of whom are through with school, have also joined them in the family businesses. Her firstborn son, for instance, is very interested in her line of business. He has recently joined Buller’s company as a manager, having graduated with honors in business administration. Buller intends to nurture him in a few years, hoping to have him run this business when she finally retires. Her two younger children are still at the university.
Philanthropy
Elizabeth is an ardent philanthropist. She has so far given to a lot of charities all over the country. She mainly focuses on charities that support homeless people in her city, other parts of the country, and globally. She is known to build shelters across the country that house street families and has been at the forefront of seeing these families leave the streets and have a meaningful life. In Africa and other third world countries, she began a project to help many rural dwellers living in informal settlements build low-cost houses. Most people in these countries live in rural areas and have limited income sources, thus lacking a way to build lasting shelters. Buller identifies low-cost building materials available in these communities then helps those in need to get them and use their own labor to build. She has been doing this for the last five years, and the project has seen thousands of families get homes in the deep rural areas of Africa and Asia.
Buller is also an environmentalist and is always giving to causes that help conserve the environment. She is one of the leading real estate developers proposing recyclable materials and clean energy in commercial and residential development.
How did you get started in this business?
I always knew that I wanted to go into business. So after completing my studies, I did research on different industries and settled on real estate. That is how Buller Real Estate was born. I started small but through strategic investments, I got to where I am today.
How do you make money?
We make money by renting out property and from selling property. Both revenue streams reinforce each other to sustain the company’s growth.
How long did it take for you to become profitable?
It took about a year to turn profitable. The first few months were tough but once we closed the first deal, it made up for all the hard work.
When you were starting out, was there ever a time you doubted it would work? If so, how did you handle that?
I had done a lot of research before I started the business. This helped me to stay focused even in times when times were tough. To date, I base all my decisions on data and I rarely go wrong.
How did you get your first customer?
I got my first client through a referral from one my friends in college. She loved the deal I gave her when buying her first home, and sent several of her friends for similar deals.
What is one marketing strategy (other than referrals) that you’re using that works really well to generate new business?
I use multiple strategies but google ads have been the most effective. They help me target clients more accurately and make the most out of my ad budget.
What is the toughest decision you’ve had to make in the last few months?
That would be laying off staff due to COVID-19. We didn’t want to, but we had to do it to protect the company’s cash reserves in these tough times.
What do you think it is that makes you successful?
I think it’s my unrelenting nature. Once I set my eyes on a goal, I don’t stop until it’s achieved. I am what you would call a go-getter.
What has been your most satisfying moment in business?
The most satisfying moment was when we landed our 10th client. At that moment, I knew that the business was on the right track and it was a huge morale booster.
What does the future hold for your business? What are you most excited about?
The future looks good. Interest rates are likely to remain low for a while and this could sustain growth in the real estate industry.
What business books have inspired you?
I never get tired of reading trust the process by Steven Covey. It helps me maintain clarity of thought under all circumstances.
What advice would you give to your younger self?
I would tell my younger self to be fearless when it comes to pursuing her dreams. It’s the trick to a successful life.
Are you willing to be a mentor? If so, how should someone contact you?
Yes! Connect me via social media.