David Ong
David Ong, 55, was recently awarded Man of the Year 2009/2010 at the MIEA (Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents) National Real Estate Awards. Ong founded the company 25 years ago and his expertise lies in building the business through recruitment, training and development – which forms a big part of Reapfield’s business model. To date, Reapfield has 13 offices and 750 agents. He credits his success to his great team.
Congratulations on winning Man of the Year 2009/2010! Would you like to say anything with regards to your win, and also your agency's win in many of the categories? The awards are a testimony of the commitment from each member of the Reapfield family. It would not have been possible without the whole group’s drive and support. We feel honoured and humbled by these wins. We hope that through the awards and recognition by the real estate industry, we are able to contribute positively to the industry and share what we have learnt over the last 25 years with humility with the intention of lifting the whole industry to a new level. The real estate industry is huge.
We want to continuously learn and positively help the industry in unison to move it to a new level so that the industry flourishes. The industry is still at its infancy as compared to many parts of the developed world. We have to drive the industry through visible, quantifiable results. Only with this are we able to convince more consumers to use our services and see our services not as part of their cost, but a profitable exercise.
We believe that in whatever we do, we need to perform the best we can in varying market conditions through adaptation and applying cutting edge wisdom. We are in the people development business and we need to know that we are able to develop our people to the best possible standards and entering awards is one way of making sure that we remain the best in the industry.
Results don’t lie and awards are surely a fair yardstick or a measure of success for the specified categories.
How do you differentiate Reapfield’s agents from the rest? We see our agents as an asset that has not been shaped to their full potential yet and it is our responsibility to discover their fullest potential so that these agents are able to fulfil their dreams. Our leaders have a genuine interest in the agent’s welfare, both at work and at home. Because of the way we conduct our business and the values we subscribe to, we will inevitably attract agents who are attracted to those values. Our responsibility is to continue to build on this culture which we have done so for the last 25 years. We focus on the importance of continuous growth and conducting business with utmost integrity and excellence.
What is your immediate vision for the company? The immediate vision of the company is to continue to attract agents who subscribe to similar business values. That is one of the immediate goals of the company. This is because successful agents attract potential candidates who also ascribe to this success. This vision will be accomplished by maximising the potential of our existing agents and enhancing their productivity.
What are your hobbies and passion (apart from the real estate)? What do you do to relax? Swimming, walking and travelling.
You have three daughters. Do you see them taking over the business? There are many successful corporations who are run very successfully by siblings and there are equally many others which started off as family businesses and continued to flourish under the leadership of quality leaders. Keeping an open mind on this issue, while assessing the needs of the times, will determine the most appropriate decision when it requires one.
You started Reapfield with your wife in year 1984. How did you start from then, into building the brand into what it is today? I was not in real estate prior to 1984. It came about because one of my parent’s neighbours needed an agent to sell their property. I took on that task and was amazed by the results, on what was achieved through what seemed like simple work.
The real estate industry involves the provision of a basic necessity in life. Building on this universal need seemed like a wise way to build my future. Property has proven itself to be one of the best investment instruments.
Reapfield has gone through many different life cycles. In the last 25 years, we built on the basic premise that we are here to equip and develop our key stakeholders, our agents, to serve our customers. These agents needed to have a platform where they could grow and we wanted to be that platform. Building a brand such as Reapfield was not an overnight process but a continuous process where it required united team work from all involved, most importantly, the leaders, the agents themselves and all the supporting staff. We are genuine and clear about our intentions and that, coupled with great financial success stories of our key agents, Reapfield is now a Superbrand and consumers recognise Reapfield as Malaysia’s number one choice for their real estate agency, based on a survey conducted by the Nielsen group.
