|
Wednesday, October 9, 2002 Assist 2 Sell growing fast When long-time local real estate company owner-broker Gary Marshall decided to buy an Assist 2 Sell real estate franchise in May 1999, he expected his business to grow and improve. But nothing prepared him for his unprecedented success. "Business has more than tripled since I opened the doors as an Assist 2 Sell franchise owner. Customers can't believe how much they save with our 'Full Service with Savings' program," said Marshall. "But don't let the name of the business fool you. It's not a do-it-yourself concept. Under the Assist 2 Sell marketing programs, sellers receive the full services of a professional Realtor at a fraction of what they normally expect to pay. Buyers also benefit by receiving 'full service' from qualified real estate agents at no cost to them. No other real estate company offers a larger selection of homes for sale." Marshall loves saving homebuyers money. "Fayette County is still a very busy market," he said. "It's to a home seller's advantage to list with us and only pay a low flat fee. They can save thousands of dollars, and keep more of their hard-earned equity in their pockets. "When people first call us, they are usually thinking that there must be a catch," he continued. "They are sure we can't possibly sell their home for $2,995. They call thinking they'll be able to eliminate us a choice because there must be someting more they have to do when they choose us. They are pleasantly surprised when they find out we do everything other real estate agents do. The big difference is that we charge less." While the lower rates may draw the customers in, it is the subsequent results that leave them satisfied. "You can charge whatever low rate you want, but if you don't get results, people aren't going to care," said Marshall. "We get results. We are selling homes very quickly, and for top dollar. If your home is priced fairly, it's going to sell, regardless of which real estate company you choose. The question is how much do you want to pay to sell it?" Assist 2 Sell was started in 1987 in Reno, Nevada, by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin. The company's "Full Service with Savings" program is somewhat of a unique concept in the real estate industry, born out of frustration. LaMeres-Pomin and Martin were growing increasingly frustrated with the way real estate was being practiced. "Real estate agents spend a majority of their time advertising themselves," said LaMeres-Pomin. "When you see a real estate ad in the newspaper, what do you see? Pictures of agents. We believe in advertising our homes for sale, not our agents." She knew there had to be a better way. Her solution was to lower her commission rates to attract more selers. That decision broke with industry tradition. "We knew in our hearts that the old way just wasn't right," said Martin. "Customers weren't getting the service they deserved, and the fees they were paying were too high. We found by having a highly organized office, trained support personnel, along with the increased volume our lower fee generates, we can operate profitably and still save sellers significantly." Along with changing the pricing system, Assist 2 Sell upgraded the level of service and put a halt to self-promoting advertising. That advertising money would instead be used for the customers to promote homes. "We took out all the fluff, and put our dollars toward selling homes, not ourselves," said LaMeres-Pomin. With this common-sense business approach and a dedicated staff willing to carry out the new philosophy, Assist 2 Sell has fluorished. There are more than 207 offices in 41 states and Canada. Marshall's office is at 1 Bledsoe Road in Newnan. For more information, call 770-487-9195 or visit www.assist2sellrealty.com.
|
||