BP: How are you recruiting and retaining your top agents?
BT: Well, you know all this cutting-edge technology helps, but in our company, the truth is that we take good care of our agents, and they appreciate the way we do business. We provide more support for our agents than our competitors do. Whether it’s general training or personal, hands-on support from our IT or marketing department, our whole purpose is to make sure each agent achieves his or her own individual level of success. When people look at who’s got the best total package, many decide to come to us. We have a real estate school, and our managers are always looking for promising new licensees and the like—and our agents bring us good candidates. I’d say we have a pretty good mix at the moment, about 50-50 new and experienced agents.
BP: In your opinion, what is most critical to your firm’s success going forward?
BT: We’ve made a number of good acquisitions, and we’ll always be open to more. But mostly, what’s critical is that we never lose sight of our values—the homespun family environment we’ve created and our commitment to work together for the good of everyone, including the communities we serve. As you may know, ERA has been a corporate real estate sponsor for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) since 1977. In that time, the network has raised nearly $35 million for Jerry’s Kids and MDA research, and our agents are proud to support that with MDA Walks and by donating a portion of their commission to the fund at every closing. We even ask our customers if they would like to contribute the interest from their escrow accounts. Last year, we contributed $60,000 to help food pantries, Habitat for Humanity, MDA and other local organizations that help the people who live and work in our communities. Our customers know and appreciate that commitment, and I know it contributes to our success.
BP: What’s in store for the future of ERA Key?
BT: Frankly, I’m looking toward a gradual transition in ownership to my wife and son. Cheryl does a fabulous job, and Jeff is already a rising star in the Young Leadership Network at ERA, so I’m thinking it’s time for me to ease back and do a little more sailing—maybe take the catamaran to St. Thomas. It won’t happen overnight…we’re just getting prepared, as it were—and the fact that we all work so well together will make the transition easier. Every day is a new day. This company has a rosy future.
For more information, visit www.erakey.com.
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