Episode 175-Sharjil Salim and Souqh.ca Talk Real Estate Marketplace
In this episode of The Prospecting Show, Dr Connor Robertson connects with Sharjil Salim, co-founder of Souqh.ca, to discuss how digital transformation is reshaping the real estate experience in Canada and beyond. The conversation explores how technology can bring transparency, trust, and simplicity to property transactions while empowering both professionals and consumers.
Reinventing the Real Estate Experience
Dr Robertson begins the discussion by noting, “The real estate industry has long needed a digital overhaul. There are dozens of apps for listings, but few that actually streamline the process.”
Sharjil agrees. “That’s exactly why we built Souqh. The marketplace isn’t just about listings—it’s about connecting every piece of the home-buying and selling journey in one place.”
Souqh acts as a centralized ecosystem for real estate professionals, homeowners, and service providers. “From finding a mortgage broker to booking a home inspector, Souqh integrates it all. It’s a unified marketplace for the entire property lifecycle.”
The Problem: Fragmented Real Estate Ecosystems
Dr Robertson observes that real estate is filled with siloed services. “Buyers use one site for listings, another for financing, another for lawyers—it’s fragmented and frustrating.”
Sharjil elaborates: “Exactly. Fragmentation leads to friction. Every time you switch between platforms, you lose data, trust, and time. Souqh solves that by connecting stakeholders in one verified network.”
He explains that Souqh was built on the principle of connection and credibility. “Users can see reviews, profiles, and verified credentials before engaging any professional. It’s about informed decision-making, not guesswork.”
Technology and Transparency
Dr Robertson asks how Souqh approaches the challenge of trust in online marketplaces. Sharjil responds, “Trust is earned through transparency. Our platform verifies every service provider and transaction, ensuring that data is accurate and relationships are safe.”
He continues, “We’re not just digitizing real estate—we’re humanizing it through technology.”
Dr Robertson relates it to entrepreneurship: “The best tech simplifies the human experience, not replaces it. Souqh does that beautifully.”
Empowering Professionals
One of Souqh’s main goals is to empower real estate agents, mortgage advisors, and contractors by giving them tools to manage relationships digitally.
“Professionals get their own storefront inside Souqh,” Sharjil explains. “They can showcase services, collect reviews, and connect with clients directly.”
Dr Robertson notes that this model supports small business owners. “It’s like Shopify for real estate professionals—you’re giving people ownership of their brand inside a trusted ecosystem.”
Sharjil smiles. “That’s exactly the idea. We’re decentralizing opportunity while centralizing trust.”
Simplifying the Customer Journey
Souqh’s design philosophy centers around ease of use. “Buying or selling a home shouldn’t require a dozen logins,” Sharjil says. “With Souqh, the user experience is unified from discovery to closing.”
He explains that the platform integrates with lenders, insurance companies, and service providers. “Our users don’t need to be tech experts. They just need to know what they want, and we handle the rest.”
Dr Robertson comments, “That kind of seamless user flow is what turns complexity into confidence. Every great marketplace works that way.”
The Power of Verified Data
Sharjil shares that Souqh’s verification model is built on three principles:
- Authenticity: Verified professional credentials.
- Accuracy: Real-time listing and service data.
- Accountability: Transparent reviews and transactions.
“Every data point in Souqh is traceable and verifiable,” he explains. “That’s how we build confidence in a digital-first real estate world.”
Dr Robertson relates it to modern business. “That same verification mindset applies everywhere—from finance to recruiting. People want proof, not promises.”
Creating a Fair Digital Marketplace
Sharjil emphasizes that Souqh was built with fairness in mind. “Many tech platforms charge high referral fees or restrict access to data. We built Souqh to empower, not extract. Professionals own their data and relationships.”
He adds, “Our business model is sustainable because it’s built on mutual value creation.”
Dr Robertson agrees. “That’s the right kind of disruption—the kind that respects the ecosystem while improving it.”
Lessons from Building a Marketplace
Dr Robertson asks Sharjil about the hardest part of building a platform like Souqh. He replies, “Trust and adoption. You can build the best technology in the world, but if users don’t trust it or understand it, it won’t scale.”
Sharjil explains that much of Souqh’s success comes from community education. “We spend a lot of time teaching users how to digitize their workflows. Once they see how easy it is, the network effect kicks in.”
Dr Robertson adds, “Education drives adoption—that’s true across every industry.”
The Future of Real Estate Tech
Sharjil predicts that the future of real estate will be fully integrated, data-driven, and experience-focused. “Consumers will expect everything—from financing to moving—to happen inside one digital ecosystem.”
He also believes AI will play a growing role in personalization. “AI can match buyers with the right properties and professionals faster than ever before.”
Dr Robertson concludes, “The platforms that win will be those that blend data, trust, and empathy. Souqh is doing all three.”
Key Takeaways
- The real estate industry’s biggest challenge is fragmentation—Souqh unites it.
- Verified data builds trust between professionals and consumers.
- Digital ecosystems can empower local professionals, not replace them.
- Technology should simplify, not overcomplicate, the property journey.
- Education and transparency drive adoption and long-term success.
Sharjil sums it up: “At Souqh, our mission is to make real estate simple, transparent, and trustworthy—for everyone.”
Dr Robertson closes, “That’s the kind of innovation that moves entire industries forward.”
Listen and Learn More
Listen to the full episode here: Sharjil Salim and Souqh.ca Talk Real Estate Marketplace