For the Sarkis Team and its team leader, George Sarkis, finding the humanity in the real estate world is an essential ingredient to success. “Every client receives a highly personalized experience supported by scalable systems and processes,” Sarkis said. “This balance allows us to provide boutique-level service with the efficiency and consistency of a top-performing team.”
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Serving “every market across Massachusetts,” Sarkis’ team offers “depth, network and expertise to deliver at every price point.” By reviewing data and market trends each week, they stay ahead of price, inventory and buyer behavior. “We don’t just know what’s happening,” Sarkis said. “We understand why it’s happening, and we use that insight to guide our clients strategically.”
Find out how this team breaks records year after year and how they’re setting a new standard for excellence across their state.
Name: George Sarkis
Title: CEO and co-founder, The Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Experience: 8 years in real estate
Location: Boston, Massachusetts
Team Name: The Sarkis Team at Douglas Elliman Real Estate
Rankings:
- No. 2 team at Douglas Elliman nationwide
- No. 1 Douglas Elliman team in Massachusetts
- 2025 Real Trends Verified: The Thousand (No. 1 Massachusetts team, No. 1 Massachusetts large team and No. 17 U.S. team)
- Top 10 sales three years in a row
- Top 5 sale in the history of Massachusetts
Team size: Team of 20 with six executive team members and 17 agents
Transaction sides: 1,671 transactions
Sales volume: Nearly $2 billion since 2018
Awards: Pinnacle Award and New Development Award, Douglas Elliman
What do you wish more people knew about working in real estate?
Most people see the success stories, the closings, the luxury listings, the celebrations. What they don’t see is the human side of real estate, the conversations, the relationships and the trust that take years to build.
Real estate isn’t just about selling homes; it’s about connecting with people. The agents who truly succeed understand that this business is personal. It’s about showing up, listening, offering guidance and adding value, even when there’s no immediate deal on the table.
Too often, the focus is on transactions and the next sale. But the real magic happens when you prioritize relationships over commissions. Pick up the phone. Have a genuine conversation. Check in, share advice or simply be there for someone. That’s how trust is built, and trust is what sustains a lasting business.
Social media is a powerful tool, but it can’t replace real human connection. The foundation of real estate has always been and will always be people. At the end of the day, clients don’t remember a post you made; they remember how you made them feel.
What’s something you know now that you wish you knew when you started?
If there is one thing I wish I knew when I started in real estate, it is not to get so caught up in immediate results. Early in my career, I was laser-focused on the next deal and the next yes. If someone said they were not ready to sell, I would simply move on without realizing how important it was to nurture that relationship over time.
Looking back, developers, builders and clients who initially worked with other agents were opportunities I sometimes overlooked. Instead of staying present and showing genuine interest, I assumed there was no path forward. What I have learned is that circumstances change. Agents move, deals fall through, and people remember who consistently showed up for them.
Real estate is a long game. Success comes from cultivating relationships, offering value, following up and staying consistent. You cannot force results; they grow over time through trust, persistence and genuine connection.
It is like boiling water. You do not see it happen the second you turn on the heat. It takes patience, consistency and attention. The same goes for building a lasting career in this business. Focus on relationships, not just immediate results, and the success will follow.
Tell us about an epic fail you’ve experienced as a team lead
I don’t really see it as a failure, but one of the biggest lessons I’ve learned since starting my team was hiring the wrong people and not doing enough due diligence early on.
When you are building something, it is easy to think growth means adding more people, but that is not true. You do not need an army to grow; you need the right people on the bus in the right seats.
Early on, I brought on agents who were strong producers but did not align with our vision, values or culture. They could sell, but they were not the right fit for what we were trying to build. That experience taught me that skill alone is not enough.
Mindset, character and alignment with the team’s mission matter even more.
At the end of the day, a team is only as strong as the people who are part of it. Hiring the wrong people was painful at the time, but it became one of the most important lessons I have learned as a leader. It forced me to slow down, get intentional and focus on building a culture, not just a roster.
What’s your top tip for newly formed teams?
If I had to give one piece of advice to new or growing real estate teams, it would be this: Do not grow too fast.
Take the time to bring on the right people, not just anyone with a license. Have a clear vision, business plan and identity before expanding. Know what your brand stands for, what your mission is and where you want the team to go. Build your systems and processes early, because they are what allow you to scale successfully later.
Too many teams try to grow before they are ready. Real growth does not come from adding more people; it comes from building the right foundation.
Another important tip is to not start a team if you are not ready to lead. Once you build a team, you are no longer just an agent. You are a coach, mentor and culture-setter. That means being willing to grow others, guide them and have the patience to help them find their footing.
In short, build slow, build smart, and build with purpose. Teams that last are built on vision, structure and leadership, not speed.
What makes a good leader?
A good leader is someone who is not afraid to be vulnerable, to be real, and to lead with both heart and credibility. You cannot just talk the talk. You have to walk the walk. In real estate, that means backing up what you teach with real experience. Too many people try to lead without ever having done the work themselves. True leadership comes from experience, not ego.
A good leader earns buy-in by being authentic and patient, by recognizing that everyone is different. Each person has their own strengths, weaknesses and motivations. The best leaders take the time to identify those strengths and help people grow into their potential.
Leadership is not about control. It is about creating opportunities. Great leaders take chances on people. They give them room to learn, to fail and to evolve. They invest time and energy into coaching and educating the people around them.
Most importantly, good leaders never stop learning. They understand that perfection does not exist, but improvement does. The best leaders stay students, constantly looking for ways to get better. That mindset sharpens their own skills and inspires everyone around them to keep growing.
