For over 15 years, 4M Immobilien in Vienna has been writing a success story that cannot be reduced to square meter prices and sales figures. It is a story of people, visions – and a clear promise. A company portrait.
When Zoran Kalabic moved from the tourism industry to the booming Viennese real estate world in the early 2000s, he had no idea that a few years later he would found a company that would shake up the domestic market. His experience with international clients and his flair for people gave rise to the vision of an estate agent network that emphasizes diversity, openness and personal responsibility.
“Real estate,” says Kalabic, as we sit in the garden of a current property for sale – a dream villa in Vienna’s 21st district, not far from the Old Danube – “has always fascinated me.” The Serbian-born entrepreneur gained his first experience working for large franchise businesses. But he wanted to set up his own business differently. Completely different.
The name 4M is no coincidence – and neither is the company slogan: My estate agent with more… More experience, more awards, more recognition, more performance. The company lives up to this claim every day. With over 30,000 registered buyers and a team that speaks more than 30 languages, 4M is not only geographically but also culturally diversified.
“There are a lot of foreign people looking for accommodation in Vienna – immigrants, expats, students. It’s not just about speaking their language, but also understanding their culture,” says Erich Schuller. The Viennese returned in 2019 after a lengthy interlude in Berlin and now acts as a partner, visionary and committed service provider in the company. What particularly attracted him was not only the wide range of properties, but above all the corporate culture.
“No rigid territorial restrictions, free development opportunities, an international clientele – that’s what convinced me,” says Schuller. Today, his signature can be felt in many structures: from mentoring programs and quality standards to a clear focus on recommendation and service excellence.
Dip.OeC Zoran Kalabic, MBA
Every property, every customer is unique – and that’s exactly how treat them.
Service that goes beyond the sale
What sets 4M apart from many of its competitors is its comprehensive service promise. Buyers and sellers not only receive support with viewings and contract negotiations – the team also organizes financing, notary appointments, tradesmen and accompanies them until the keys are handed over.
“People are at the heart of everything we do,” emphasizes Kalabic. “We help others to get what they want – then we get what we want too.”
This philosophy is also reflected in the figures: up to 1,000 new prospective customers are added every month. “Every customer is saved with their specific search request,” explains Kalabic. “Our estate agents can access this, respond immediately and offer suitable properties – this saves time and increases the success rate.”
Erich Schuller
It’s not just about speaking the customer’s language, but also understanding their culture
Training instead of competition
Although every broker at 4M works as an independent partner, there is a family spirit. New members – often career changers – receive intensive training and are free to choose their place of work. “But everyone has a desk with a computer in our office,” says Kalabic. The team meets once a week.
“We promote exchange, create trust and ensure fairness and transparency with clear commission models,” says Schuller. This cooperation avoids conflicts and strengthens identification with the company.
Five years, five awards, one promise
The high level of customer satisfaction is not only reflected in recommendations, but also in awards. FINDMYHOME.AT has voted 4M one of the best estate agents in Austria five times in a row – a verdict directly from the customers. “This is the best form of recognition,” says Kalabic proudly. And it is also an incentive for more.
Between 2009 and 2019, 4M was also the ERA Group company with the highest turnover in Austria. Kalabic regularly traveled to conferences in the USA and brought international best practices back to Vienna. “Many of our current structures are based on these experiences,” he says. “Training, customer orientation, internal programs – we developed many of these back then and have continued to do so ever since.”
Courage for change – and for the future
The challenges facing the industry – high construction costs, rising interest rates, geopolitical uncertainties – are not a stumbling block for 4M, but a call to action. The company adapted early on, relying on advice rather than scaremongering and making efficient use of digital tools.
“Anyone who stops improving has stopped being good,” is how Schuller sums up the company philosophy.
Kalabic and Schuller from 4M Immobilien in front of one of their top projects, a modern garden villa near the Danube in Vienna’s 21st district.
Tailor-made solutions for individual needs
Whether an apartment building, building plot or apartment in need of renovation – 4M focuses on diversity in its portfolio and individuality in its approach. International buyers receive advice in their native language, and the company can handle the entire process on request.
“Every property, every customer is unique – and that’s exactly how we treat them,” emphasizes Kalabic.
An impressive example of the effectiveness of the 4M approach: a hard-to-market property that had previously been listed for six months without success found a buyer within three weeks thanks to 4M.
“Thanks to our database, we knew immediately who was eligible,” says Schuller. “That was a typical case of customer proximity in action.”
The next steps: quality & growth
What’s next? Kalabic and Schuller agree: 4M should continue to grow – but never at the expense of quality. New brokers are to be integrated, existing structures strengthened and the range of services further expanded. “We want to stay at the top,” concludes Kalabic. “With expertise, innovative strength and, above all, humanity.”
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