Get The Best Real Estate Services And Solutions With Guillory Real Estate Group: Keith Guillory

We recently had the privilege of interviewing Keith Guillory, Owner and Broker of Guillory Real Estate Group. Keith has been associated with the real estate industry for 23 years and is well-acquainted with the commercial real estate market. His company Guillory Real Estate Group is committed to helping its clients by managing their marketing and contract negotiations, analyzing and selecting future development sites, and much more. Besides that, as a real estate consultant, Keith offers investment strategies and advice on short and long term purchasing as part of financial portfolios. Let’s learn more about Keith Guillory and his journey through this interview below.

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Start Of The Journey

We started the interview by asking, “Which career path led you to where you are today?”

Keith Guillory shared, “My parents owned several rental houses. Though the houses were nothing extraordinary, I watched my father, Carlton Guillory, repair them and keep them in good condition. Moreover, I worked for ExxonMobil Chemical Company for almost 18 years before the merger with Mobil, and no better teacher in economics and investing exists. I learned a great deal about their investing strategies in a down economy and a strong economy.

Inspiration Behind This Company

We were interested to learn what inspired Keith to develop the brand. We asked, “What inspired you to develop the idea for your company?”

Keith Guillory shared, “I saw the enormous growth in the real estate market in Houston. There were many opportunities in the 1990s, and still are in 2023. I chose Guillory Real Estate Group because Guillory is my last name, and there was no harder working man than my father, Carlton Guillory.”

Evolving Priorities

Over the years, as businesses take their functions forward, they tend to change their goals and priorities. So we asked, “How have your priorities in terms of business evolved since you first started?”

Keith Guillory replied, “When I started a business, I handled all of my real estate transactions independently, and I did not have employees or independent Realtors working for me. My priorities have evolved into cultivating professionals capable of growing my business in niche areas of expertise. I have expanded my company’s Commercial Real Estate aspect while increasing the geography of clients I can reach.

Texas has become a mecca for commercial real estate development, and investment in this state has become a priority for large entities as they capitalize on land affordability and favorable tax laws in this hot spot of the United States. Real estate priorities vary by region, economy, and cultural context, leading to unique trends in different parts of the world. My concentration is in Austin, Houston, and San Antonio, TX.”

Overcoming Obstacles

Challenges are an inevitable part of any business, and overcoming them matters most. We asked, “What are the most challenging situations your company overcomes?”

Keith Guillory shared, “Market fluctuations: Real estate markets can experience significant shifts in demand, prices, and inventory. Companies must constantly adapt to changing market conditions and adjust their strategies accordingly.

Economic downturns: During economic recessions or downturns, the real estate sector often suffers, leading to decreased property values, demand, and financing challenges. Companies must find ways to navigate these challenging times and maintain their business operations. Below are two issues in recent years:

The 2007-08 Financial Crisis. That was a terrible time in the real estate market. It wreaked havoc with our financial markets, financial institutions, and financing for projects, and consumer confidence dwindled. The recovery package was less than it should have been because of the division in Washington, D.C., and the residual effect was our economy did not reach its full potential.

The COVID crisis only a few years ago virtually shut down the US economy and is still having lingering effects. Our government was forced to inject cheap money into the economy, which fueled inflation as some factories and raw goods were coming back online, and the cost of housing, one of our benchmarks, soared.

Another effect we will see is the possible default on loans taken out to fuel the massive office building growth in many major cities. The Covid Crisis has pushed young Americans to work from home, and many corporations realize there is no need for ample office space anymore. In many cases, remote workers’ productivity is up, and their quality of life is better because they no longer have to commute everyday.”

“What are the key strengths to overcome it?”

He replied, “It’s simple! My key strength is understanding the macro and microeconomics of the markets I serve. Again, I had a great teacher many years ago at ExxonMobil. Also, my son Grant, a Mathematical Economics UPenn grad, serves as an outside consultant to my business.”

Stand-Out Factors

To stand out amidst the crowd in the industry, businesses need to fix their focus on developing unique features. We asked, “What makes your company stand out from all the other businesses in your industry?”

Keith Guillory shared, “We are a small boutique firm and selective with whom we do business. We have expertise in site selection, manufacturing, and the petrochemical industry background. We have agents with up to 40 years in the real estate industry and care enough about our customers to provide superior customer service. My firm has a reputation for being great negotiators and creative.

Overall, a combination of excellent customer service, expertise, innovative marketing, local market knowledge, a strong network, transparency, adaptability, and client satisfaction makes a real estate business stand out and thrive in a competitive market.”

KPIs For Measuring Business Success

What KPIs do you use to measure your business success?

Keith Guillory shared, “The types of KPIs that are important to monitor our business success are – Financial and Sales KPIs.

Financial KPIs

A financial KPI measures the value of a business’s financial results and performance. Every company should be monitoring financial KPIs such as profit margins. Profit is essential to trade; businesses need profit to grow and scale.

Sales KPIs

Just as essential as profit, companies need sales to survive in business. Sales metrics should be monitored, from sales quotas to new lead generation. Average cost per lead, number of onboarding calls, and customer acquisition costs are popular sales KPIs to monitor. Though we have made it a point to be selective and work with a small group of quality clients.”

Available Services

We were intrigued to learn more about the available services of Keith Guillory’s company. So we asked, “Tell us something about your services. What are you working on now?”

Keith Guillory shared, “Guillory Real Estate Group provides Professional Real Estate services to commercial and residential customers in Texas, concentrating in the Greater Houston, Austin, and San Antonio markets.

Over 30 years of negotiations in the Real Estate industry. Commercial transactions up to 200 million. Service as Commissioner in Eminent Domain hearings for the City of Houston, Harris County Flood Control District, and the State of Texas. Project Management Professional protocol literate for working with large organizations and the City of Houston. Licensed Broker and Realtor representation. Property and Small Business Management.

We just recently completed a commercial transaction in Houston where my investors purchased some rural acreage several years ago and recently sold it to the city at a significant profit to build a solar farm. Currently, I am representing a trust disbursing some of its holdings in the Austin, TX, area and has some large tracts under contract being bought by developers. Also working with clients to replace a significant plot of land in NE Houston to develop some single-family homes.”

Effective Teamwork

Having a solid team is a prerequisite for the success of any business. We asked, “How do you build trust with your employees and boost productivity without causing burnout?”

Keith Guillory shared, “My leadership style is consistent and transparent. My greatest attribute is that I am a coach and make myself available to my employees. My knowledge of economics and my willingness to share it with my employees helps them trust me and lets them know I am trying to ensure they have a full toolbox to work from.”

Advice To Beginners

Starting in a similar field will be inspiring and helpful to hear from an expert like Keith Guillory. We asked, “What advice would you give to starting entrepreneurs?”

Keith Guillory replied, “Put together a sound business and financial plan. Do your homework. Attend Conferences that are in that field. It will give you a sound starting point. That means spending money upfront to help you decide your career path.”

Adapting To The Latest Technologies

Another major factor that determines the success of any business is adapting to the latest trends and technologies. We asked, “How do you stay on top of new technologies and trends in your industry?”

Keith Guillory shared, “To stay current in my field, I slot time for continuing education in the following areas:

I attend conferences, meetings, and business education and networking events. I enjoy participating on non-profit boards and in philanthropic and cultural endeavors. I read internet news, periodicals, and books on current events, leadership, and continuous improvement. i.e., Houston Business Journal, Harvard Business Review, Economist, Wall Street Journal, NY Times, Bloomberg.com, Business Week, etc.”