"Real results come in when people move in with their belongings and they have a pleasant journey inside their homes as well. To me, customer service is of the utmost importance. Selling is great, but getting good reviews is what I look for,” says Charan SethiI: Founder, President, and Chief Visionary Officer, Tien Sher Group
Founder, President, and Chief Visionary Officer of Tien Sher Group, Charan Sethi, has been making his mark in the real estate arena for over 37 years. Over the years, Sethi has mastered the art and science of developing and building single-family homes, townhouses, apartment buildings, high rises, and mix-use commercial and residential communities. With the goal of transforming the Whalley area into Surrey’s downtown, Sethi is the man behind Flamingo, Canada’s first 15-minute city.
When he just set foot into the Whalley area, Sethi recalls having gotten pushback and questions from his peers, who doubted his judgment. However, the forward-looking businessman saw potential in his decision-making and now, a decade later, he can see his visions taking shape in reality. Value is at the epicenter of Sethi’s ideologies, as he truly believes in prioritizing knowledge and service over sales. It is of no surprise that in this pursuit of excellence, Sethi challenges his entire team to build homes and communities that showcase pride, but more importantly deliver a product that Tien Sher Group too would call home.
For Sethi, self-discipline and hard work have been the key to his upwards trajectory in the real estate business. He acknowledges that motivation and discipline are must-haves to achieve success, alongside unwavering dedication, and commitment to honing one’s craft. Without a doubt, these values are what Tien Sher Group has earned a reputation for. Repeat buyers are a common occurrence for the company, thanks to Sethi’s trustworthiness and promise of good quality products.
Sethi elaborates that although his company may be in the bricks-and-mortar industry, at the end of the day, his business is about people, first and foremost. With service at the core of its presence, Tien Sher Group also supports local community charities and host events because Sethi genuinely cares about the communities that he builds in. As he makes waves with his new upcoming project, Whalley Station High Rise, Sethi will bring forth one of Surrey’s most iconic developments.
Boasting 54 stories and over 470 residential units, Whalley Station will be the hub for retail, commercial spaces, restaurants, outdoor music venues, amenities, and services.
For his accomplishments and a strong foothold in the real estate industry, Sethi thanks his wife for her endless support throughout the years. Besides being a loving father of two sons and a daughter, Sethi now is also a proud grandfather of four! With his combination of business acumen, and a philanthropic heart, Sethi has truly become a name synonymous with real estate success.
DARPAN’s Super Seven
1. Tell us about yourself and your journey into real estate.
The journey to real estate is a long one! 37 years ago, I started off in sales and then gradually ventured off into the construction of single-family homes, townhouses, and multi-family, multi-story projects. Now, we are into high rises. It has been a pleasant, fast-paced journey.
2. What does your company stand for?
The name, Tien Sher, translates to three lions, alluding to myself and my two sons. It is derived from my middle name, Singh. As far as the company, it stands for delivering first-class products to the average Canadian. We don’t aim at the higher price points of the marketplace. I think it’s important for developers to aim at the local market. I open the door to everybody, and a vast variety of people come and buy.
3. What can buyers expect when buying from you?
They can expect really good quality for sure and after-sales customer service, too. It’s great to build homes and then hand over the key. However, real results come in when people move in with their belongings and they have a pleasant journey inside their homes as well. To me, customer service is of the utmost importance. Selling is great, but getting good reviews is what I look for.
4. What is your advice for someone venturing into real estate?
If you want to get into sales, be prepared to work hard. You need self-discipline and motivation to succeed. You are your own boss. You’ll need to genuinely love people and care about what they need. As far as construction is concerned, you better know what you are doing and be a risk-taker. There is a lot of money involved.
5. What is your mantra for success?
For me, it is definitely discipline. You need to be disciplined with time management. Everybody only gets 24 hours in a day, and you must make the maximum use of that time. Be sharp.
6. What are your hobbies?
What I enjoy most is studying real estate, about local communities and also the world. Another passion of mine is the gym. If your body is not fit, it can’t carry the mind. I make sure that I stay fit. At the age of 70, I think I can outmaneuver a lot of the younger guys!
7. In your opinion, what is driving the price jumps in the Lower Mainland?
The real reason is supply and demand. We are not building enough homes. However, there are steps being taken to improve long approval processes, especially by the City of Surrey. There are now deadlines in place, leading to increased speed and predictability. That said, the supply chain is nevertheless broken, and the cost of raw materials is going up. Skilled labor shortage is also a factor. The central point, again, is that we are simply not building enough homes
