Dealing with the wide range of emotions people experience as they transition in and out of homes sometimes leaves Lynn Reecer feeling more like a social worker than a REALTOR®. But real estate is a business she loves, and one that she’s prospered in since making the decision to enter the industry.
“I had a family member who was a REALTOR®, and after the market crash of 2008, I decided to help him get his business back on track,” says Reecer. “Eventually, I started my own company because I like to do things from scratch, and it’s been a great experience.”
Today, she runs Reecer Properties, Inc., based in Fort Wayne, Ind. Looking at business in 2017 so far, Reecer notes that it’s the “best market I’ve seen since I got into the business.
“One of the real telling reasons is that I’m very active in the Northern Lakes—we have 400 lakes in Northern Indiana, and while it’s a secondary market, it’s a really strong focus for our business,” explains Reecer. “Since the beginning of January, we’ve had nine sales there, and in seven out of nine, we’ve had both sides. And these are nicely priced homes. That’s a good indicator that the market is so much better than it has been in a long time.”
A small boutique firm of about 17 agents, the company recently opened its fifth office. Reecer has added an executive vice president to the mix to help run marketing and operations, in addition to an in-house graphic designer and social media expert.
Looking ahead to the rest of 2017, Reecer feels that the way to continued growth is to concentrate on first-time homebuyers, and hiring younger agents is helping that cause.
“We’re purely local, not a part of any major franchise, and that sets us apart,” says Reecer. “We’re all about quality over quantity in order to maintain our brand. The whole office operates as a team, and the advantage to the client is that they have an expert in each level of the transaction they go through.”
Attracted to the collaborative approach, Reecer often hears how much new agents appreciate the team aspect, with fellow agents cheering one another on. Plus, having an expert in each area allows agents to learn different parts of the job and become better representatives of their clients.
“We train on-the-job, with lots of traveling together and discussing all things about the market,” says Reecer. “We read a lot of books, not just about real estate, but other types of business books that can help teach sales techniques. Anything to make our agents the best they can be.”
Vitals: Reecer Properties, Inc.
Years in Business: 7
Size: 5 offices; 16 agents
Region Served: Northeast Indiana
2016 Sales Volume: $92 million
2016 Transactions: 333
www.reecerproperties.com
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