2010

With 2010 approaching rapidly many of us have been evaluating changes for the new year to help grow our business. I am doing the same thing. My goals might be slightly different than yours in that I strive to get the message out about the opportunity here at the office.


The most important part of that message that I would like to convey to you is that it is not about the money for me. It never has been. It’s about you and providing a great environment to assist in your opportunity for success. My success and happiness comes when the agents here are successful.

I’ve been doing this for almost 9 years now and leading up to opening this office I always felt that things could be done where everybody could win under fair terms. I strive to provide the opportunity for agents to continue to be successful, provide broker support, the notoriety of a nationally branded company, the tools and technology that you would expect from a national franchise and the opportunity to save thousands every year. I don’t think I can state it any clearer than that. The point of this is NOT to say that my office is better than yours or my franchise is better than yours. We all work for brands that have notoriety…are well known the world over. I believe that it comes down to a few important points. We are all meeting the state requirement to work under a broker, we have a recognizable brand name behind us, we have a broker and staff to support us, help us, educate us, we get leads and we have tools available to help us sell real estate. Obviously some do it better than others and not all offices are created equal. I think you’ll agree that in general we have a lot available working under a branded franchise system and that all of this is important for our success.

Is one great office that provides everything you need worth thousands more per year than another great office that can do the same thing for you?

I understand that liking your broker, having a friend at the office or perhaps a favorite secretary and liking the place you work at is very important. Trust me; I went through all of the emotion when I made the decision to leave an office in the past. It’s difficult but I had to keep in mind that when it comes down to it, what is really important is….providing for my family and making improvements that will allow me to further succeed in my job as a REALTOR and continue to provide great service to my clients.

Give me a call anytime 734-634-2065. The best way for me to show you the savings is to compare your 2009 production and what you paid at your current office to what you would have paid here. It’s simple; it’s private and will only take a few moments of your time.

Whether you decide to come here or not, I’ll put it in writing and you can take our program to your current broker to re-negotiate your current contract. Again, this is not about me…it’s about you and pulling the reigns in on what it costs you to run your business as a REALTOR.

I’d of course like nothing more than to start 2010 with you! Here’s to your success in the coming new year.

David Keith
Broker/Owner
RE/MAX Gallery

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45-Agent Keller Firm Converts

BIG ANNOUNCEMENT: Annette Norton discusses the conversion with her agents.

IT'S OFFICIAL: Norton (center left) meets with representatives of RE/MAX of New England and RE/MAX Ontario-Atlantic.
By Deborah Ball, RE/MAX Times Online Associate Editor

A 45-agent Keller Williams office in Framingham, Mass., converted to RE/MAX in October, giving the network a huge market share boost with the creation of RE/MAX Best Choice Real Estate.
New Broker/Owner Annette Norton, who had been with Keller Williams for five years, most recently as the office manager, chose RE/MAX because of its powerful brand name and the tools, culture and support offered by the network. Fiona Beecy, Regional Director of Operations for RE/MAX of New England, worked with Norton to convert the office and attract the new agents to RE/MAX.
"As much as I believed in the Keller Williams model, I wanted to look at my options and see what other opportunities were out there," Norton says. "I finally decided RE/MAX was the way to go. RE/MAX of New England's support totally blew me away through this transition. We are very fortunate to have incredible agents who accounted for more than 96 percent of the business at the former office join us over at RE/MAX. Everyone is happy with the transition."
One of those happy top producers is Jim Coady. The Sales Associate with RE/MAX Best Choice was drawn to the network because of its reputation for having top producers. Coady is already seeing a boost in business, he says.
"The RE/MAX name is synonymous with top producers, and it's a well-known fact that RE/MAX agents do more business than Keller Williams agents," Coady says. "Nothing compares to the support and technology RE/MAX offers, such as Imprev, Mainstreet and LeadStreet."
Broker Associate Faye Winer, who was one of the first Keller Williams agents in New England, couldn't agree more. The real estate veteran of more than 30 years says that although change is never easy, she's up for the challenge. And with guidance from the region and Norton, Winer is already hard at work to turn her business around.
"RE/MAX of New England and our fellow Associates have been so warm and welcoming," Winer says. "I’m looking forward to turning what has been a dismal economic year into a better 2010 with RE/MAX."
The addition of the new agents and rebranding of the office represents an $86 million market swing in the Framingham area, says RE/MAX of New England Regional Director Jay Hummer. The region held a kickoff day to welcome the new office and its agents by flying in Broker/Owner Deb Stevens of RE/MAX Results Realty in Maple Ridge, British Columbia. Stevens, who had been with Keller Williams for seven years, converted her 145-agent brokerage to RE/MAX earlier this year. RE/MAX of New England also invited the new agents to its fall sales rally in Providence, R.I., which included technology training, speakers and plenty of educational sessions.
"This is a great group of agents who are led by an incredible Broker/Owner," Hummer says. "One of the new agents said that the sales rally was unlike anything they had on the regional level at Keller Williams. We've worked hard to help the new agents see the value of the RE/MAX brand through our regional efforts."
© 2009 RE/MAX International, Inc. RE/MAX Affiliates may share this article, provided they do not charge for it and this notice is included. All other rights reserved.

Comment on this story

E-mail your comments to editor@remax.net. Please include your full name, RE/MAX office, city and state or province. Comments, slightly edited for length, flow and punctuation, will appear below.

Comments (4)

I know a couple of agents in that office that I never thought I would see in Red, White and Blue, and I am really happy they decided to stay and join the #1 Real Estate company in the world! Congratulations to everyone who made this happen and paved the way for others to follow.

– Elias Papadopoulos, RE/MAX Unlimited, Brookline, Mass.

Welcome aboard! This is terrific news. I know that Debbie Stevens from our region was very happy to assist in the conversion. I look forward to meeting personally at the RE/MAX International Convewntion in Orlando.

– Elton Ash, Regional Executive Vice President, RE/MAX of Western Canada, Kelowna, B.C.

I would like to welcome Annette Norton, the agents and the RE/MAX Best Choice Real Estate office to RE/MAX. As a former Owner/Broker of a KW office in Waynesville, North Carolina, I will tell you this: You will not regret this move. I have been with RE/MAX Mountain Realty for over a year. This move has helped me through these rough real estate times. Having this franchise brand, you will see the immediate results. The franchise I work for has 3 times the production as the number two office in our county. And you and your agents may have experienced what I did: the "Keller who" thing. You won't get that now being with RE/MAX.

– George Irvin, RE/MAX Mountain Realty, Waynesville, N.C.

As a former Keller Williams agent myself, those agents are so lucky to be associated with a company that cares so much for its Associates. They now have the best tools available to help them bring their business to the next level. Congratulations!

– Joshua Holt, RE/MAX Coast to Coast, Portsmouth, N.H.



Posted on 11/9/2009

RE/MAX Gallery Internet Cafe

Ever though that it would be nice to put your office to use for you? Social networking events, client appreciation nights, Buyer/Seller seminars….can you think of a few uses? Here at the RE/MAX Gallery Internet Café all this is possible. As viewed below, there is space for 25+ people quite comfortably. There’s a 40” hidef LCD TV in which a laptop can be hooked up to for presentations, a DVD system, WIFI…anything you need to make a professional, quality presentation in a relaxing environment. I’m sure we’ll probably have a few movie nights, and sporting events too. As I sit writing this the Tigers are in the bottom of the 10th inning up by one. I look forward to playoff games and potlucks at the office this winter. This space is also very comfortable and inviting for our agents to stop in, meet with clients, sit with a laptop and do some surfing while sipping on a hot cup of java. We’ve created an awesome environment to do all of the above and more….best of all…it’s available to RE/MAX Gallery agents free of charge 24/7 to use as they please. I invite you to stop by and have a cup of java with me and let me show you how I can save you as much as 50% off of the traditional REALTOR office contract….guaranteed. I’m truly here to save you some money….a lot of it without sacrificing any of the services you expect from a full service global realty franchise! Hey, if you don’t think you’re ready to make a move yet, that’s no problem. If you’re in the area and need to get on the net, send a fax, scan a document, get a charge on your cell…stop on in. We’ll even offer you a cold drink or a hot cup of java….all at no charge or hassle to you. We look forward to seeing you :D

Sincerely,
David Keith
Broker/Owner of the RE/MAX Gallery Internet Café
Cellular 734-634-2065

Please click on the photo below to view a full size image.

Debra Drummond Makes the Move To RE/MAX Gallery....Welcome!

RE/MAX Gallery is pleased to announce that REALTOR Debra Drummond has joined our team. We are very excited to have Debra on board. Debra is an Associate Broker, specializes in 1st Time Homebuyers, Military Veterans, and Internet-Savvy Buyers & Sellers. You can visit her on the web at MichiganMoves.com read her blog at MichiganMoves.info or view her photo blog at Mobile.MichiganMoves.info.

RE/MAX 365

Did You Know?

• 3,036 sq. ft., 2 1/2 bath, 4 bdrm 2 story "Colonial" - MLS® $299,900

Trotters Pointe, South Lyon - Wow! Talk about updates this Toll Brothers Trotter’s Point 4bdrm 2.5 bth has it all. Truly “move in condition” too many upgrades to list all. New granite in maple kitchen, premium appliances, hardwood floors, new carpet, fresh paint in whole house, HUGE master suite with bonus room, professionally landscaped, sprinklers, brick paver patio and walk, take a look at the rest and come see the best. This home has it all!

NOT an REO or Shortsale.

Here is a list of some of the major updates:Carpet throughout and Hardwood in Den - June 2007Granite Counter in Kitchen May 2007 Repaint throughout - May 2007 Water Softener - 2003 Landscaping, lighting, brick paver walks and patio 2004 - Upgrades at time of build - Bonus Room in Master Suite, Gourmet Kitchen, R30 insulation (Energy Package), CATV cable and distribution center, Ceiling fan mounts in 3 upstairs bedrooms (not master suite)
Property information

Safety Matters

With so many bank properties and others in utter disrepair, I believe we are forgetting some basics, e.g. the safety of those walking through these properties and that of the public in general. I understand everyone likes listings, and if you are doing REO's they may be plentiful, but how effective can you be if your listing is 2 hours away and you never visit the place? Collapsing ceilings, open in-ground pools filled with water and unsecured (both at a showing this past weekend), and other such tidbits should be pointed out in the agent comments or, at the very least, when setting up appointments. Yes it's a pain. But it beats getting a call saying the ceiling in your listing just fell on someone's client and they're on the way to the hospital or some neighbor's kid just drowned in the pool that was left uncovered, full of water with no gate to keep out the curious child. Let's use some common sense and common decency, folks.

Who's Minding the Store?

You might want to try calling your own office sometimes to evaluate the job your receptionists are doing. Some are most pleasant and some are, well . . . let's just say some sound like they'd rather be doing anything BUT answering your call. Sit in and listen while you have a friend call. Your receptionist may be costing you prospective agents and clients!