Daniel Naurato

Article by Robbyn Moore

Photos by Sasha Marceta with Skyview Experts

Photos taken at Cranbrook Custom Homes at Montcaret in Northville

While playing Division I college hockey at the University of Connecticut, Daniel Naurato suffered four concussions in the span of 18 months. After graduating, he was still dealing with severe symptoms, which forced him to take a year and a half off of work to focus solely on his recovery. Daniel’s situation left him nearly out of money and in search of a career that could provide income along with a flexible work schedule to support his ongoing health concerns. Real estate was that answer.

In 2015, Daniel launched his real estate career, and soon after, aligned himself with Keller Williams Advantage. “I saw real estate as a viable option, simply out of necessity and intrigue,” Daniel recalled. “My family has always been involved in construction, development and owning different real estate properties, so it was a natural fit for me.”

As a competitive athlete, Daniel is no stranger to hard work and determination. In his first year of real estate, Daniel earned Rookie of the Year. He has continued to grow his business, and in 2021, he was recognized as a Keller Williams Top 100 individual agent in the Michigan/Northern Ohio region. Daniel has built his business primarily on referrals and has sold nearly $40 million of real estate in his career.

“Right now, I’m really passionate about growing my business while also keeping the client experience at a high level,” Daniel shared. “My business is mostly word of mouth, so building genuine, longterm relationships and taking care of my clients is my top priority. I take the client experience very seriously.”

Daniel contributes much of his success to the many life lessons he learned while playing hockey. Going through adversity, the ups and downs, failure, success and criticism has prepared him for the everyday challenges of growing a business. “My concussions have completely changed my life, and as a result, so has my perspective on it,” Daniel explained. “I see the world from a different lens and don’t take things for granted anymore. I am more compassionate and have a stronger understanding of what others are going through, which has led to positive outcomes within my business.”

If there is one thing Daniel would change early in his career, it would be his fear of the unknown. “I think there were times I missed out on opportunities because I didn’t implement quickly enough or take the risk,” he said. “I would question myself or the strategy rather than just doing it and learning from the results. I think a driving factor in my growth has been having more confidence in myself. My biggest piece of advice for anyone entering the real estate industry is to figure out how you want to generate business, trust your gut, then go all in.”

Beyond seeing his clients happy at closing, the most rewarding aspect of Daniel’s work is helping them navigate through the whole process. “A transaction can have many twists and turns,” he shared. “Being able to guide my clients through all that is very fulfilling — especially when you exceed their expectations.”

In 2019, Daniel donated a portion of his commission from every transaction to a charity called Hockey has Heart, which is a nonprofit organization that helps people in the hockey world who have either suffered a health issue or have been severely injured as a result of playing hockey. “Helping people who have suffered from a sports injury is deeply personal for me,” Daniel said. “Just a few years ago, several people stepped up to help me when I was at my worst, and now, I’ll pay that forward for the rest of my life.”

Daniel and his wife, Kiley, welcomed their first child, Emilia, in May 2021. They love getting together with family and spending time with their nieces and nephews. Daniel and Kiley also enjoy exploring new restaurants and trying new foods.

A hallmark of Daniel’s reputation is putting his clients’ needs before his own. “If something isn’t right for them, we won’t do it,” he said. “We’re in the relationship business, so it’s imperative that my clients trust me and know I have their best interest at heart.”

Whether Daniel is on the ice, in the community, or at the closing table, his passion is what drives him. His competitive nature and desire for helping people are the qualities that allow him to keep pushing the envelope, always looking for new and innovative ways to best serve his clients.

AGENT ON THE RISE Daniel Naurato from Keller Williams Advantage