Wong Yau Long: The Journey from REN to REA
Celebrating a career milestone leading to winning Real Estate Agent of the Year 2023!
One man stood tall amongst the awardees at NREA 2023, and it was Wong Yau Long, managing director of Cornerstone Xstate, who received the highly acclaimed Real Estate Agent of the Year Award. Mr. Wong is the only person in MIEA’s history that has won both “Real Estate Negotiator of The Year” as well as “Real Estate Agent of the Year.” With an impressive career spanning eighteen years since 2005, Wong has exhibited unbridled passion, unwavering dedication, and unparalleled commitment to the real estate industry. Wong’s exceptional accomplishments throughout his profession serve as a shining example of the highest calibre in this industry. Cornerstone Xstate is truly proud and privileged in taking this opportunity on this auspicious occasion to thank its esteemed and exemplary REAs and RENs as well as everyone involved in making this glam & glitzy gala dinner cum awards ceremony a sparkling & spectacular success!
A Man of Vision on a Mission
Wong Yau Long has brought forth a new level of love, passion, enthusiasm, and inspiration at Cornerstone. They represent his personal battles in overcoming lifelong adversities and professional challenges. CSX is all about being a team player as well as leveraging on one another's strengths and weaknesses. It is having the power to inspire greatness and excellence through awesome acts and amazing accomplishments. Continue to equip and empower oneself with the skills, acumen, and knowledge in embracing the competition. We must be prepared for any uncertainties that might arise. Agents and negotiators must step up their game, and strive for property excellence. It is not just about achieving success, but having fun while working hard and reaping big rewards. Ultimately, Cornerstone Xstate aims to become the top real estate agency in South East Asia and beyond through innovative breakthroughs, impeccable leadership, exemplary teamwork as well as holistic family values.
Smart Collaborations & Strategic Partnerships
In addition to current collaborations with OMG Free Reno and Grand Asia Consulting, our new strategic partner, Express Property Management & Services which hails from Miri, Sarawak, is one of the leading property players in East Malaysia. With this strategic partnership, Cornerstone Xstate seeks to espouse better ties and enhance greater cooperation in complementing and consolidating the diverse business activities of both companies.
We also aspire to provide a platform for CSX agents and negotiators to leverage on the expertise and experience of Express Property toward closing bigger deals and reaping richer rewards. We are excited about the future prospect of this collaboration in creating better opportunities for even greater success for all in 2023 and beyond!
CSX is also proud to showcase its latest strategic partnership with Signature Kitchen and EdgeProp.my, and how these smart collaborations can benefit both companies by providing innovative solutions to our loyal clients and valued customers. It’s time to drive property sales to greater heights!
Innovations in Technology
With the dawn of digitalization in an age of AI technology, having the slight edge is critical in staying ahead of the competition in an ever challenging and constantly evolving industry. The unveiling of the X-Force Connect, a revolutionary software that is set to transform the lives and livelihoods of CSX agents and negotiators, marks a major milestone in the company’s long-term transition towards digital technologies. The official launch of the ‘X-Force’ ushers in a new era in real estate where property leads are now generated online via a dedicated mobile app with data collected and deals transacted all at the comfort and convenience of one’s smartphone. It’s an innovation that is guaranteed to deliver 5 times more productivity hassle-free!
Then there is Cornerstone University (CSXU) which is basically a one-stop resource hub/portal cum online educational database/library with detailed or comprehensive info about:
- Company Projects
- Property Listings
- Professional Courses
- Skills Training
- Marketing Campaigns
- Technology Centre
The Technology Centre comprises key programs for the sole benefit of CSX agents and negotiators. Amongst the key programs for Negotiator Growth are:
- Cornerstone Xccelerator Program
- Revenue Share Model
- Project Xccellence Workshop
- Advanced Skill Training
- 14-Day Agent Boost Challenge
- Real Estate Jargons
- Company Resources
- Marketing Resources
- CSX Technology
- X-Force Connect
- Leaders Board
Cornerstone Xstate has always employed information & technology as an invaluable tool for realizing its aspirations as a tech-enabled company. Cornerstone constantly embraces the latest technologies and innovative methodologies in elevating the lives and livelihoods of its agents, owners, investors, and prospects. With a revolutionary leads-generation mobile platform, CSX agents and negotiators are now working smarter, better, and faster than ever before! CSX truly believes in providing impeccable service and adding value to the local communities as well as real estate fraternity. Its breakthrough success is a true testament of the unbridled commitment of its agents and negotiators towards attaining real estate excellence!
Passion for Property
Real estate is a people-centric business that is built upon trust and trustworthiness. There are essentially seven simple steps to being a successful neighborhood negotiator. In any venture or endeavor, always start small and start simple. Learn the basics or fundamentals about your area or neighborhood, and get to know the people and the communities living within. Promote the products you are selling through targeted advertising and social marketing campaigns to lure or attract prospects. Generating active leads and creating social buzz is quintessential to making more sales and closing bigger deals. A viable or profitable business is developed by establishing rapport and connections as well as forming strategic partnerships and co-broking collaborations. Building long-lasting impressions as well as long-term relationships is key. A token of appreciation goes a long way towards building personal branding and professional credentials. Make your presence felt by leaving your footprint and adding a personal touch.
Building the CSX Brand
Growing and developing a powerful corporate brand has always been a long-term vision and mission of our dearest and beloved managing director Wong Yau Long. With proper branding, we can provide our agents & negotiators with better prospects (and quality referrals) as well as attract greater investment opportunities through closer collaboration with industry leaders such as Express Property Management & Services Miri, Grand Asia Consulting, OMG Free Reno, Signature Kitchen, and EdgeProp.my. We can certainly gain more international exposure or coverage with such strategic partnerships. Apart from adding value and closing deals, we also aim to target higher transactions through projects and sub-sales specifically in luxury properties in the future. Fun fact: Some 70% of all CSX sales originate from Desa ParkCity alone, wow!
During the past year, we have closed in excess of 1,000 deals worth a whopping RM20 million! Our grand global expansion plan covers Britain, Australia, and East Malaysia. It has been a majestic, magical, and memorable moment for everyone at Cornerstone Xstate. Thank you all for your unbridled support, unwavering dedicated, unparalleled commitment, and unequivocal participation. Together, we shall “Think Big, Aim High!”
From REN to PEA to REA
Starting out as a real estate negotiator, Yau Long amassed multiple listings thinking they represent abundant prospects and success opportunities. But without a clear laser-focus and relevant business strategy, one is surely bound to fail. To truly succeed, we need to specialize as well as diversify. To grow one’s business, sometimes to do less is more. But we should never limit ourselves or our abilities. We need to have a big-game mindset, set the right goals, and create key tasks to attain goals. Envision big goals and invest in marketing & leads generation is the 1st step toward thinking like an entrepreneur.
The fundamental pathway to meeting your goals and building strong rapport with your prospects begins with focusing on key task, A1 task and effective activity. Develop a robust relationship with your clients is key to increase your sales. Prioritize your tasks through a series of appointments and presentations. Nurture your leads to obtain more referrals and greater business opportunities. As your business grows and matures, your focus shifts from being a farmer to becoming an owner/proprietor. Learn to maximize money invested versus time spent. A balancing act of engaging customers via productive time management and optimal capital expenditure. The unique selling point of CSX lies in its productivity within 3 core X-factors, namely Marketing (Max), Technology (X-Force) & Academy (CSX University). Through the recruitment of new talents and harnessing the potential of sales personnel, generating quality leads becomes second nature.
As you strive for corporate ownership, raising funds/capital is critical towards attracting great talents. With the right workforce, you can grow your company to support your staff, resources, revenue, and expansion. As Yau Long used to say, “Think Big, Aim High!” Having a grand vision and setting lofty goals provides the necessary drive, impetus or motivation for success not just for yourself as a corporate owner but also for your teams and their respective leaders. Thus, the business career-cycle from farmer (REN) to agency owner (REA) to corporate owner (entrepreneur) is finally complete. Ultimate words of wisdom: Never settle for anything less than par excellence!
An Award-Winning Agency
The much-anticipated NREA Awards 2023 has finally arrived folks! Organized by the Malaysian Institute of Estate Agents (MIEA), this annual extravaganza brings together the bigwigs, stalwarts, property gurus, industry leaders and captains of industries to celebrate the achievements of agents, negotiators as well as practitioners within Malaysian real estate industry and fraternity. Hosted by MIEA’s current-term president, Tan Kian Aun, the gala dinner cum awards presentation ceremony honours winners from various categories including residential, commercial, and industrial. One of the biggest winners of the evening is none other than Cornerstone Xstate!
In 2020, CSX garnered 5 awards in the categories of:
- ‘Residential Real Estate Firm of the Year’
- ‘State Real Estate Firm of the Year’
- ‘MIEA-PropertyGuru Tech Real Estate Firm of the Year’
- ‘Residential Real Estate Negotiator of the Year’
- ‘Rookie Real Estate Negotiator of the Year’.
For Cornerstone, it’s the culmination of years of hard work and due diligence leading to this critical milestone in the tech-enabled agency’s journey towards real estate as well as technological excellence. These awards represent a timely tribute to the much deserving agents and negotiators of Cornerstone who have delivered ground-breaking deals and transactions throughout the past year amidst the countless challenges and uncertainties during the post pandemic.
This year, Cornerstone Xstate is absolutely delighted in winning four key awards at NREA 2023! These awards are:
- Real Estate Agent of the Year (Wong Yau Long)
- Rookie REN of the Year (Berwynn Chia)
- Residential Real Estate Firm of the Year (CSX)
- Federal Territory Residential Real Estate Firm of the Year (CSX).
We owe this huge and breakthrough success to all our agents and negotiators for making this dream possible. Our heartfelt gratitude, appreciation and congratulations also extend to MIEA and the NREA organizing committee for hosting this Awards as well as to all CSX management and staff for their painstaking sacrifices and tireless contributions. Cornerstone shall continue to guide agents, transform people, enrich lives, and espouse property excellence!
To discover more about Cornerstone Xstate, kindly visit cornerstonex.com.my, and to watch the full awards, please click on the following Facebook weblink: www.facebook.com/MIEA.on.fb/videos/314060997726191
About Wong Yau Long
"Nothing is Impossible" - Wong Yau Long, Managing Director of Cornerstone Xstate
Three words that Yau Long truly holds with conviction even before he embarked on his real estate career in 2005. As the Managing Director of Cornerstone Xstate and a seasoned property investor, his portfolio consists of residential, commercial, and industrial property transactions valued over millions every year. Always striving to elevate his standard to reach greater heights, his hard work and perseverance has garnered him numerous prestigious awards such as:
- Top Real Estate Negotiator of the Year
- Million Dollar Real Estate Rooftop Achiever
- Outstanding Leader
- Influential Individual
and many more for multiple consecutive years. At the top of his game, he aspires to cultivate a culture of entrepreneurial thinking and spark innovation at Cornerstone to ensure we are constantly at the forefront of our game.