Special Feature

Julianto Cahyadi: What it takes to be a champion tagger

May 10, 2024 3:15 PM SGT

In just over three years as a full-time realtor, Julianto Cahyadi has risen from a regular project tagger to a champion, inspiring others at PropNex.

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"It’s very satisfying to see my fellow taggers and agents succeed in closing deals." — Julianto Cahyadi

In just over three years as a full-time realtor, Julianto Cahyadi has vaulted from a regular project tagger to a champion tagger. He is now an inspiration to other tagger-wannabes at PropNex.

”A project tagger represents the developer at a project launch,” says Cahyadi. “We are product specialists. When other real estate agents bring their potential clients to a sales gallery, the tagger is the one who presents the project attributes to the buyer, identifies their needs and helps the agent close the deal.”

Cahyadi achieved the Top Tagger and Top Producer Awards at the recent PropNex Annual Convention 2024. (Picture: Julianto Cahyadi)

Transitioning from a design manager at a global marine and offshore engineering company to a real estate agent was not easy. When he first applied to be a project tagger at the launch of the 592-unit Amber Park in 2019, PropNex’s chief-in-charge hesitated about selecting him as he lacked experience and had not closed any deals yet.

However, Cahyadi proved that his 13 years of work experience gave him an edge over rookie agents who were fresh graduates. In his previous role, he was part of an emergency response team clients contacted when they encountered problems offshore. “I proved to the chief-in-charge that I have the maturity to handle problems on the spot,” he says.

Cahyadi was also part of the marketing team that made presentations to convince global clients to purchase the company’s jack-up oil rigs, which cost upwards of US$250 million. His self-confidence and tenacity convinced the chief-in-charge to give him a chance to prove himself as a project tagger.

Cahyadi and his PropNex team achieved the Outstanding Project Sales Award for the Hillock Green project. (Picture: Julianto Cahyadi)

Rising star

Within 1½ years, Cahyadi had closed 22 units at Amber Park. Impressed by his success, the chief-in-charge selected Cahyadi to share his story to inspire other agents at Amber Park. However, he ended up sharing his story with the entire PropNex team, the largest real estate agency with 12,419 agents as at May 6.

From thereon, Cahyadi achieved further success and recognition among his fellow agents. He was promoted to cluster tagger for new projects in many regions across Singapore.

At the launch weekend of the 816-unit The Continuum on Thiam Siew Avenue last year, Cahyadi was ranked “Champion Tagger” after closing eight deals. The chief-in-charge of The Continuum likewise singled him out to share his success story with other agents.

He stood out at the launch of the 474-unit Hillock Green last year, too.

Given his string of achievements last year, Cahyadi received three awards at the PropNex Annual Convention 2024: “Top Tagger”, “Top Producer” and “Outstanding Project Sales” as PropNex sold the most units at Hillock Green.

Cahyadi with his family at the PropNex Annual Convention 2023. (Picture: Julianto Cahyadi)

Paying it forward

Other taggers began to ask him for tips and advice. He even became a mentor to new taggers, showing them how to reach out to agents or co-broke agents and giving them pointers on closing deals. “When I was a new tagger, I received pointers from my seniors,” says Cahyadi. “Now, I’m paying it forward by helping the new taggers who are inspired by my story.”

Wishing to challenge himself further, he applied to be a project-in-charge at The Continuum and Hillock Green. Again, he had to be interviewed by the lead-in-charge and chief-in-charge of the two projects. “There is a selection process to see if I’m a good fit for the team and if I’m what they are looking for,” he recounts. He got the green light for both.

As a project-in-charge of not just one but two projects, Cahyadi has added responsibilities, including rallying agents and taggers to sign up to bolster the sales effort. He has to lead his recruits in roadshows, and door-knocking and telemarketing activities, to garner interest in the projects. Instead of focusing on his own deals, he has to assist agents and taggers who need help resolving issues or addressing concerns. When a deal is closed, the project-in-charge has to ensure that the closing documentation is done correctly and submitted to the developer.

The responsibilities of a project-in-charge include training and power project sharing. Given Cahyadi’s forte, he is expected to show the new taggers the ropes. “It’s very satisfying to see my fellow taggers and agents succeed in closing deals, knowing that you played a role in helping them,” he says.

Cahyadi conducting training for his fellow RES colleagues, sharing tips on how to be a successful tagger. (Picture: Julianto Cahyadi)

Continued success

Cahyadi reckons his success stems from taking every project presentation seriously. “Whether the buyer is ready to make a purchase or not, I will present the project,” he says. “Some taggers will tell the agent not to waste their time if the buyer is not ready. But I see every appointment as an opportunity to present.”

Being self-employed, you need to be disciplined, he adds. “You set your own targets: you can work hard, or lay in bed all day if you’re lazy.”

Cahyadi does not drive. “I have to run around from one project to another,” he says. “If I drive, I have to waste my time parking, and I won’t have time to respond to messages. If I ‘grab’ or take the train, I can read and respond to messages.”

He works with the attitude that he should not take every opportunity for granted. “Which agent would look for me when I joined as a new tagger? At PropNex, there are many experienced and senior taggers,” he says. “That’s why I treasure every appointment request and treat each request with the same attitude, regardless of which division the agent is from.”

Cahyadi consistently achieves excellent results within PropNex. (Picture: Julianto Cahyadi)

It is tough to be a tagger these days, according to Cahyadi. “Each project has 200 to 300 taggers today, which is very competitive. When I first started, there were only about 50 to 100 taggers in a project.”

However, Cahyadi has already clocked 16 deals at new project launches in the first quarter of this year, double the figure over the same period last year. He attributes it to the support and trust of his clients and fellow agents, both internal and external co-brokers, especially those who gave him a chance when he was a newbie tagger.

In March, Cahyadi was promoted to senior tagger, and he is now an active tagger in many new projects across Singapore. On top of that, he is project-in-charge at Hillock Green and The Continuum, not to mention an adviser and mentor to new taggers and agents.

He also believes his faith and support from his family have been instrumental to his success. “I really thank God; and also my dear wife, my two sons and my parents for their love, prayers and care,” he says. “I look forward to serving many more clients and home buyers in the coming years and beyond.”