| It was a classic case of improving your golf
game by playing with better golfers. The RE/MAX approach had a profound
impact on the industry, and today there are many imitators. But
none has yet been able to match the level of professionalism held
by RE/MAX agents.
Indeed, both consumers and others in the industry continue to perceive
RE/MAX as the ultimate organization with which top real estate professionals
affiliate. RE/MAX agents average 12 years of experience, far exceeding
the industry average. They also surpass their peers in professional
designations - a sign of advanced education in real estate sales
and marketing.
Continuous Growth ..............................................................
Although RE/MAX growth in the early years wasn't
exactly stellar, the company has grown every month since its founding.
The concept that seemed so logical and powerful to Dave Liniger,
was extremely threatening to the industry status quo. Concerted
efforts were made to impede the company's growth. At the close of
1973, there were just 21 agents and eight offices. By 1976 there
were 100 agents and by 1977, with 480 agents in the system, RE/MAX
gained No. 1 market share in its headquarters city of Denver. That
same year, the company expanded into Canada. In 1978, RE/MAX added
its 100th office and 1,000th agent - and the hot air balloon became
the company's official corporate logo. By 1980, the organization
had 3,000 agents.
No. 1 in Canada ..............................................................
By 1984, there were 5,000 agents. In the following
year, nearly 3,000 agents joined the system. By 1986, RE/MAX was
at 1,000 offices and 10,000 agents. By 1987, there was just one
larger real estate company in the United States. In 1988, RE/MAX
became the largest real estate company in Canada; and there were
20,000 RE/MAX agents across North America.In 1990, RE/MAX agents
closed 636,366 transactions, representing .96 billion in sales.
The following year, RE/MAX expanded into the Caribbean, where today
it's the region's largest real estate operation. In 1992, RE/MAX
expanded into Mexico. In 1994, the RE/MAX Satellite Network was
launched, broadcasting continuing education programming six hours
a day to RE/MAX offices across North America. No other real estate
company operates an equivalent system of advanced training.
Pioneering buyer representation ..............................................................
Also in 1994, RE/MAX endorsed the Accredited Buyer
Representative professional designation, conferred by the Real Estate
Buyer's Agent Council. The designation confirms an agent's expertise
in the emerging field of buyer representation - yet another radical
change to the status quo championed by RE/MAX. Today, out of the
3,510 agents with ABR designations, 1,983 are RE/MAX Associates.
RE/MAX agents also dominate the ranks of Certified Relocation Professionals.
That designation, conferred by the Employee Relocation Council,
is considered one of the toughest designations to earn in residential
real estate. It confirms an agent's experience and expertise in
working with relocating corporate employees. Nearly 70 percent of
all Certified Relocation Professionals are with RE/MAX.
International expansion ..............................................................
In 1995, RE/MAX expanded into Southern Africa, Spain,
Israel, Italy, Greece and Germany, and the 40,000-agent milestone
was passed. In 1996, first Franchise Relations Award, based on superior
support, training, and communications services was provided to franchisees.
Expansion continued with offices opening in Central America and
Australia - and by the end of the year RE/MAX had offices in 20
countries and spanned five continents. In February 1997, the network
passed the 45,000-agent mark. In 1998 RE/MAX was recognized as the
largest, most successful real estate organization in the world.
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