The Keller Story

 

About Our Company

 

Despite a two-year decline in the national real estate market, Keller Williams continues to be one of the fastest growing franchises in North America, growing some 330% from 16,866 agents in 2003 to 72,594 in 2007.  The company’s Profit Sharing Program has also maintained a strong growth pattern from $11.7 million in 2003 to $48.4 million for 2007.

 

At Keller Williams it’s not all just about profits, systems and strategies.  In regional retreats called Culture Summits, agent “culture icons” gather with KW leaders.  The purpose of which is to discuss, vision and share learned experiences about culture and, specifically, how the Keller Williams culture can impact market centers and regions.

 

As for best practices, Keller Williams has itself implemented various productivity-enhancing programs such as: Operation Heart to Heart – a $1 million program providing productivity and profitability tools to help agents manage the shifting market; Keller Williams Listing System – a company-wide database allowing agents full control of the accuracy, timeliness and depth of their listing information and which is promoted on a selective list of eight of the most powerful real estate Internet sites.  Keller Williams has also made available to its agents resources such as the Market Trajectory Research and Regional Graphs – a reporting system that helps agents identify shifts in the real estate market three to four months in advance of shifts being noticed in local markets

Practicing good seller's etiquette

Let's face it: When your house goes on the market, you're not only opening the door to prospective buyers, but also sometimes to unknown vendors and naïve or unqualified buyers. As with any business transaction, there is an expected protocol to how sellers, buyers and their respective agents interact. Should you find yourself in a sticky situation, alert your agent so he or she can address and remedy the problem.

The aggressive agent
 When your agent puts your house on the market, typically all promotional materials state clearly that your agent is the primary contact for buyers and buyers' agents. However, sometimes a buyer's agent will contact a seller directly to try to either win over their business or cut the seller's agent out of the deal. This is not reputable behavior and you should report it to your agent immediately if it happens to you.

The unscrupulous vendor
 Have you ever started a business or moved into a new house and suddenly found your mailbox full of junk mail? Unfortunately, this also can happen when you put your house on the market. When you sell your home, it necessitates all kinds of new purchasing decisions and less-than-ethical vendors are keenly aware of this. Though MLS organizations enforce rules on how posted information is used, some companies have found ways to cull information from various sources to produce mass mailing lists. If you find yourself regularly emptying your mailbox of junk, let your agent know. He or she can tap the appropriate sources to prompt an investigation into the matter.

The naïve buyer
 Yard signs, Internet listings and other advertisements can generate a lot of buzz for your home. Some prospective buyers - particularly first-timers - will be so buzzed to see your home that they'll simply drop by. If this happens, no matter how nice these unexpected visitors are, it's best not to humor their enthusiasm by discussing your home or giving an impromptu tour. Instead, politely let them know that your real estate agent is in charge of scheduling tours and provide them with the agent's contact information. If you attempt to handle these surprise visits on your own, you might inadvertently disclose information that could hurt you during negotiations down the road.