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.
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Comments (8)
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.
Welcome to the fold, RE/MAX Best Choice Real Estate. We’re glad to add you to our referral network and look forward to meeting many of you at the International Convention this March.
– Jennifer Skuce, RE/MAX Metro-City Realty, Ottawa, Canada
Great move for the Framingham office. Welcome to the #1 company in our industry. When someone asks me why I’m at RE/MAX when that “other company” invites me to join their new group, my reply is simple: I’ve increased my business because I’m at RE/MAX. Stick with #1, and you’ll all be winners. See you in Orlando.
– Janis Urbanek, RE/MAX Landmark, Westwood, Mass.
This is very exciting news! It needs to be shared with every RE/MAX Agent. I am looking to see this on the evening news or at least in the next RE/MAX ad on TV.
– Harry McCarty, RE/MAX Advantage, Yardley, Pa.
Welcome RE/MAX Best Choice!! With the great enthusiasm and talent that you bring to the RE/MAX family, you will rock. There is no coincidence that everything fell into place the way it did. RE/MAX is a perfect fit for the top producers that you are. You have an amazing regional staff for support. My agents have huge increases in production since we switched – It was the absolute BEST move we have ever made!
– Debbie Stevens, RE/MAX Results Realty, Maple Ridge, British Columbia
Posted on 11/9/2009