Collaboration assists Realtors in creating a seamless experience for home sellers

 

CINCINNATI, OH, MAY 4, 2016 – EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE (EBTH), the world’s premier online estate sale marketplace, today announces the company has been selected by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) as a preferred estate sale partner for its Solutions Group program. EBTH, which brings the thrill of estate sale shopping online, will work with LeadingRE’s Solutions Group, a collection of carefully-selected business providers to assist real estate professionals with creating a seamless home selling experience for their clients.

The relationship between EBTH and LeadingRE offers real estate agents and firms a unique service to share with their clients who are downsizing or need to sell their personal property. With attention to the often-sensitive nature of the process, EBTH’s expert team works with sellers to evaluate their items, identify hidden gems, and maximize the value of a collection. EBTH does all of the work, from photography and cataloging to managing payments and shipping. Profits from a client’s sale can go toward home renovations to improve the sale value of the property and assist with moving costs.

“We are excited to work with LeadingRE and its network of the best real estate firms in the industry,” said Jon Nielsen, chief revenue officer for EBTH. “LeadingRE consistently raises the bar in a competitive market and we are thrilled to share our commitment to unparalleled customer service with their community.”

“We are thrilled to introduce EBTH to our network of 550 top real estate firms,” said Robin LaSure, vice president of corporate marketing for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®. “The company’s online marketplace for estate sales is yet another way our members can extend their offerings by presenting clients with a convenient way to sell virtually any household item – whether art, furniture or collectables. And, just as our members take a full-service approach, EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE assists home owners from start to finish.”

Founded in 2008, EBTH has grown to 21 cities across the US, over 2 million online visitors per month and an active bidder base from across 100 countries. EBTH currently hosts more than 220 sales a month, which typically generate proceeds 3 to 5 times higher than traditional alternatives such as auctions and yard sales.

EBTH has established partnerships with other LeadingRE members including Long & Foster, John R. Wood Properties, and F.C. Tucker Company.

 

ABOUT EBTH

EVERYTHING BUT THE HOUSE (EBTH) is a revolutionary online marketplace that provides the reach and convenience of an e-commerce platform for estate sales around the world. As a full-service provider, EBTH helps sellers maximize the value of their collections by handling every aspect of the sale from photography and cataloging to payment and delivery. Through its marketplace, EBTH also allows collectors and buyers to discover everything from rare antiques and original art to great deals on everyday needs. With more than 220 estate sales a month and all items starting at just $1, bidders from across the world always have something new to discover at EBTH.com.

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CHICAGO – (3/23/16) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has selected Real Estate Webmasters for its Solutions Group program, a collection of carefully-selected business providers presented to LeadingRE’s global community of more than 500 quality independent real estate companies.

Founded in 2004 by Morgan Carey, Real Estate Webmasters is one of the largest custom technology providers offering end-to-end solutions for real estate firms, teams and agents. The company specializes in custom and semi-custom websites, marketing tools, lead management, customer relationship management (CRM) and consulting services.

“Real Estate Webmasters is ideal for brokerages looking to provide unified, state-of-the-art technology at the company level to improve SEO, brand control and lead generation. We look forward to introducing their solutions to our members across North America and beyond,” comments Robin LaSure, LeadingRE vice president of corporate marketing.

“LeadingRE is an impressive organization with highly professional leadership, and their members are among the best in the industry,” said Michael Audet, vice president enterprise for Real Estate Webmasters. “These are the people we serve and want to serve – who understand the importance of working with great technology – and it is a real honor to work with them.”

To learn more about Real Estate Webmasters, visit RealEstateWebmasters.com and RealEstateWebmasters.com/enterprise. To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, visit LeadingRE.com.

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CHICAGO, IL – (03/11/16) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has named two prominent industry brokers to its board of directors. Carol Bulman, chief executive officer and president of Jack Conway & Company in Norwell, Mass., and Ron Stader, president and co-owner of CIR Realty in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, join the 13-person board. The board of directors provides guidance and leadership for the global community of 500+ market-leading real estate firms, which produce over one million annual home sale transactions.

With more than 25 years of experience in mortgage banking and real estate, Bulman is the daughter of her company’s founder, the late Jack Conway. She leads the company’s real estate operations and oversees its banking relationships and its insurance arm. Jack Conway & Company is the largest privately-owned real estate firm in Massachusetts, with 32 offices and more than 700 sales associates.

As broker and general manager of CIR Realty, Stader heads Alberta’s largest independent real estate brokerage with over 700 realtors and staff in 14 offices. The company is also among the top 10 brokerage firms in Canada. Stader, who is also the second generation to lead his family’s firm, is currently the chairman of LeadingRE’s global advisory board and thus represents the network’s members from outside the U.S. on the LeadingRE board of directors.

“We are incredibly fortunate to welcome Carol and Ron to our board of directors. Both bring unique talents and energy, and they complement our already-impressive board,” said Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Having such engaged, successful brokers guide our strategic initiatives has created remarkable growth in both the scope of our programs and the global reach of our network.”

Bulman and Stader join an accomplished group of brokers on the board, including Chairman Pat Riley (Allen Tate Company, Charlotte, N.C.); Immediate Past Chairman Robert Sibcy (Sibcy Cline REALTORS^®, Cincinnati, Ohio); Vice Chairman Joe Horning (Shorewest REALTORS^®, Brookfield, Wis.); Secretary Dan Elsea (Real Estate One, Southfield, Mich.); and Treasurer Harold Crye (CRYE-LEIKE, REALTORS^®, Memphis, Tenn.); Jeffrey S. Detwiler (Long & Foster Real Estate, Chantilly, Va.); Howard W. (Hoby) Hanna IV (Howard Hanna Real Estate Services, Cleveland, Ohio); Chris Meyers (Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate, Armonk, N.Y.); Ron Peltier (HomeServices of America, Minneapolis, Minn.); Diane Ramirez, New York, N.Y.) and William Watson, Jr. (Watson Realty Corp., Jacksonville, Fla.).

Bulman and Stader succeed 18-year board veterans and long-time contributors Michael T. Robinson (Weichert, REALTORS^®, Morris Plains, N.J.) and Michael Saunders (Michael Saunders & Company, Sarasota, Fla.).

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (www.LeadingRE.com) is the largest network of premier locally-branded firms producing over one million annual home sale transactions. LeadingRE provides its affiliates with an extensive range of brokerage services, which include lead generation, cross-market referrals, branding support, luxury marketing, online exposure, technology systems, professional development and unique events.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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CHICAGO, IL – (03/09/16) – Luxury Portfolio International^® President Paul Boomsma addressed the Private Banking Asia Conference in Singapore on March 3. Boomsma, who also services as COO for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, shared insights on the luxury real estate market with the 200+ private bankers in attendance from the APAC region, Europe, the Middle East and Latin America.

Also in attendance at the event was Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Vice President of International Operations Chris Dietz, who oversees the organization’s global growth.

“The event gave us the opportunity to meet with private bankers and wealth managers to familiarize them with the global luxury real estate services we offer,” Boomsma said. “With 500 market-leading real estate firms in 55 countries, we are able to assist high-net-worth individuals looking to invest in real estate in virtually any location around the world.”

Luxury Portfolio International® is participating in two other events this spring as part of its outreach in the region. The organization is sponsoring the Kuala Lumpur International Property Awards APAC Region April 7-8 and will participate in the Luxury Property Show in Beijing April 22-24.

Affiliates of Luxury Portfolio International^® market high-end homes to affluent consumers worldwide through the network’s strategic marketing program, including the award-winning website LuxuryPortfolio.com, which markets over 50,000 luxury homes to over three million high-net-worth visitors annually and features a total inventory of available properties exceeding $48 billion US dollars.

To learn more about Luxury Portfolio International^®, visit www.LuxuryPortfolio.com. To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® , visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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CHICAGO – (March 2, 2016) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® held its annual Conference Week February 20-26 at the Fontainebleau Miami Beach, drawing 2,500 real estate professionals and guests from 25 countries. The event offered separate conferences for brokers, senior managers and relocation professionals; sales associates; luxury specialists; sales managers; and marketing and technology professionals.

Sessions examined a full range of topics relating to the real estate market, including the economy and the role the upcoming U.S. presidential election may have, changing consumer preferences and lifestyle trends, and the ways evolving technologies are driving demand for “smart homes” and impacting the ways real estate professionals engage consumers and market homes.

Keynote speakers included David Gregory, renowned television journalist and former moderator of NBC’s Meet the Press; George Blankenship, the innovator who master-minded Apple retail stores and later headed worldwide retail for Tesla; William Taylor, co-founding editor of Fast Company magazine; behavioral scientist and author James Kane, known for his research on what makes someone truly loyal; David Bromstad, host of HGTV’s new series Beach Flip; and Erik Stolhanske, actor, writer and producer of major motion pictures. Also featured were an extensive group of industry thought leaders, marketing strategists and technology innovators.

Numerous entertainment and networking events were also on the agenda, including the Awards Gala, where the network’s annual Performance Awards were presented. Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC) received the Diamond Award for the second consecutive year and the sixth time in the award’s 14-year history. The Diamond Award is LeadingRE’s highest honor, acknowledging outstanding performance in all of LeadingRE’s business programs.

The prominent Leadership Award, recognizing a member broker whose leadership skills and achievements have drawn the attention of others, was presented to Pat Shea, Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA).

Marketing awards were announced in a variety of areas, including the Best Overall Website, given to Windermere Real Estate (Seattle, WA), and the Most Innovative Brokerage Award, presented to two companies: Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa) and Kampmeyer Immobilien GmbH (Cologne, Germany).

Also presented were the Crown of Excellence referral awards, given in seven company size categories to Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Beverly-Hanks & Associates (Asheville, NC); John Daugherty Realtors (Houston, TX); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); and Acton Real Estate Company, LLC (Acton, MA).

The Global Alliance Award for Most Outgoing International Referral Closings was presented to Macdonald Realty Ltd. (Vancouver, Canada). The Million Dollar Award for Highest Valued Outgoing Closings went to Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY).

Companies earning honors for having the Top 5 Most Outgoing Closings, in order of volume, were: WEICHERT, REALTORS® (Morris Plains, NJ); Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. (Chantilly, VA); Howard Hanna Real Estate Services (Pittsburgh, PA); Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate (Rye Brook, NY); and Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC).  

Receiving the Pinnacle Award for having the most outgoing revenue-generating referrals were: Long & Foster Real Estate Inc. (Chantilly, VA); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Paragon Real Estate Group (San Francisco, CA); Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); and Cam Taylor Co., LTD., Realtors, Inc. (Columbus, OH).

Additional referral performance awards were presented to Allen Tate Company (Charlotte, NC); Beverly-Hanks & Associates (Asheville, NC); Cam Taylor Co., LTD., Realtors, Inc. (Columbus, OH); Cottingham Chalk Hayes, Realtors (Charlotte, NC); Farrell Smyth, Inc. (San Luis Obispo, CA); Florida Executive Realty (Tampa, FL); Hamner Real Estate Inc. (Tuscaloosa, AL); John Daugherty Realtors (Houston, TX); Kentwood Real Estate (Greenwood Village, CO); Lake Norman Realty, Inc. (Cornelius, NC); Lyon Real Estate (Sacramento, CA); Marx-Bensdorf Realtors (Memphis, TN); Michael Saunders & Company (Sarasota, FL); Paragon Real Estate Group (San Francisco, CA); PARKS Realty (Brentwood, TN); Real Estate One, Inc. (Southfield, MI); Realty Austin (Austin, TX); The Janet Jones Company (Little Rock, AR); Tina Bilazarian, Inc. (Shrewsbury, MA); WEICHERT, REALTORS^® – The Griffin Company (Springdale, AR); WEICHERT, REALTORS^® (Morris Plains, NJ); and Wright Kingdom Real Estate (Boulder, CO).

A variety of awards were presented to brokers in recognition of expertise in the luxury market. John R. Wood Properties (Naples, FL) received the Top Luxury Portfolio Brokerage Award, and Chas Everitt International Property Group (Johannesburg, South Africa) earned recognition as the Top Global Luxury Portfolio Brokerage. Alain Pinel Realtors (San Ramon, CA) earned the Spirit Award, while Barfoot & Thompson Ltd. (Auckland, New Zealand) was named Best Newcomer.  

“Throughout the event, we explored themes that are at the core of our network: ‘quality, connected, independence,’” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “Only 20% of the companies that inquire about affiliating with our network are accepted into our community, affording them incredible global connections, resources and reach, while allowing them to retain their independence as a brand.”

Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® is a selective global community of the highest quality independent real estate companies. LeadingRE exists to make its members better by connecting them to opportunities and people around the globe, supporting them with a global referral network, professional development programs and unique events. Members will gather again for LeadingRE’s International Symposium, taking place in Amsterdam, October 23-25. The 2017 Conference Week will return to the Fontainebleau Miami, February 27-March 5.

For more information on the network, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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CHICAGO – (February 16, 2016) – Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® has expanded its executive team with the addition of Barbara Wichman as vice president, talent development. In this role, Wichman will oversee learning policies and programs and the talent development strategy for Leading Real Estate Companies of the World^® (LeadingRE), the world’s largest community of high-quality, independent real estate companies.

With a focus on fostering a learning environment resulting in high performance, Wichman’s audience extends from the company’s 100+-person staff to its 525 member brokerages around the world. Programs include a full range of learning opportunities, including online education through LeadingRE Institute, which offers over 250 exclusive courses; in-person meetings like the upcoming Conference Week, which has attracted nearly 2,500 attendees from 25 countries; and robust programs like the MAESTRO™ Leadership Certification.

“In recent years, we have expanded our educational offerings considerably, with the goal of providing superior opportunities that lead the industry and compete with world-class programs from other businesses,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “We wanted to build on this momentum, and Barbara’s energy, expertise and focus on results make her the ideal person to lead the effort, working with the excellent team we have in place.”

With more than 20 years of learning and development experience in a cross-section of industries including telecommunications, consumer goods and retail, Barbara brings a deep understanding of global talent management through the building and implementation of integrated talent systems, change acceleration, succession planning and learning and development.

“I am thrilled to join a company as focused on developing its stakeholders as LeadingRE,” Wichman said, “and I look forward to accelerating our efforts to be a world-class learning organization that produces outstanding customer experiences and significant personal and professional growth opportunities for all of our constituents.”

Wichman is based in the company’s Chicago headquarters and can be reached at bwichman@LeadingRE.com or (312) 447-5929.  Learn more about LeadingRE at www.LeadingRE.com.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® has introduced a new designation for relocation professionals affiliated with the international real estate network. The Global Relocation Professional (GRP) designation was created by Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (LeadingRE) to provide comprehensive professional development in the area of referrals and relocation, supporting the network’s 30,000+ affiliate-to-affiliate client referrals each year.

Nearly 100 people have earned the designation since it was introduced in August, after completing a series of online courses on topics including managing international referrals, implementing relocation guidelines, understanding referral policies and successfully serving relocating clients.

“We continually strive to help our members set the standard for excellence, whether they are assisting clients who are new to their area or those moving across the country or around the world. The GRP is yet another way to support our robust referral network,” said LeadingRE Director, Member Services Brent Williams.

In addition to its extensive referral network, LeadingRE member companies benefit from a full suite of business-enhancing services, including world-class conferences and networking events, web-based learning, global brand and marketing support, real estate industry advocacy, innovative technology solutions, and a comprehensive luxury marketing program, Luxury Portfolio International®.

To learn more, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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Luxury Portfolio International™ Executive Vice President Stephanie Pfeffer Anton has been named to the Inman Top 101, a list of industry leaders who are recognized for driving industry change through ingenuity, outspokenness, strength, conviction, power and persistence.

A frequent industry speaker and an authority on marketing to the affluent, Pfeffer Anton has been with Luxury Portfolio since its founding in 2005. She is responsible for the program’s day-to-day operations, including its award-winning website, www.LuxuryPortfolio.com, which markets over 35,000 homes to over three million high-net-worth visitors annually.  Luxury Portfolio is the luxury face of Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® (www.LeadingRE.com), a global real estate network comprised of the most powerful independent brokerages.

Previously, Pfeffer Anton served as the vice president of marketing for a large Chicagoland real estate brokerage and as the director of communications and internet for an international real estate franchise. She holds a Bachelor of Science in Communications from Boston University and a Masters in Integrated Marketing Communications from Northwestern University.

To see the complete Inman Top 101 List, visit http://www.inman.com/inman101.

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Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® concluded its inaugural MAESTRO™ Leadership Certification program last week, graduating 25 real estate branch sales managers from top brokerages around the country. The program was created to address the critical industry need to develop talented and highly effective real estate leaders for the future.

Based on proprietary and validated research conducted by LeadingRE with 300 sales managers, the rigorous MAESTRO™ program encompasses three pillars of great office leadership, as determined by the research. It is the first program of its kind in the industry, with the goal of using science and art to establish and practice leadership mastery.

Open only to members of LeadingRE, the program has been designed by a lead faculty comprised of Mike Staver of The Staver Group and practicing real estate leaders Rosey Koberlein, CEO of Long Realty, and Phyllis Brookshire, president of Allen Tate Realtors, along with a number of other subject matter experts from within the industry and beyond it.

Participants, who applied to be accepted into the program, attended three live sessions held at LeadingRE’s Chicago headquarters that included lectures and interactive workshops incorporating ‘real life’ exercises, role-play, case studies and group activities. Ongoing support from staff and fellow participants ensures continued engagement and measurable results from the program.

“We created MAESTRO to develop and enhance the leadership and coaching skills of managers within LeadingRE brokerages to further equip them to take their agents and offices to even higher performance levels with increased confidence and proven methodology,” said LeadingRE President/CEO Pam O’Connor. “The response to our inaugural program was incredibly positive, and we look forward to offering it twice in 2016.”

Inaugural graduates include: Michele Early and Diane Wolfe, Allen Tate Realtors; Thomas Williams and Billy Rodgers, Crye-Leike Realtors; Judd Sampson, Edina Realty; Sara Rotter and Tony Oakley, Halstead Property; Brian Levine, Sandy Strohm, and David H. Haffenreffer, Houlihan Lawrence Real Estate; Julie Frank, Dave Conord and Jackie Sellers, Long & Foster Real Estate; Chris LeBlanc, Max Broock Realtors; Roger Morris, Debbie Judge and Linda Formella, Michael Saunders & Company; Gary DeGrandchamp, Real Estate One; Sha Fister, Rector Hayden Realtors; Barry Kreft and Rick Fedor, Shorewest Realtors; Ben Schreiber and Rob Mahoney, Sibcy Cline Realtors; and Robin Skaggs and Donna Overman, Watson Realty Corp.

Graduates will be recognized at the upcoming Leading Real Estate Companies of the World® Sales Manager SUMMIT taking place February 22-24 at the Fountainebleau Miami Beach.

To learn more about Leading Real Estate Companies of the World®, visit www.LeadingRE.com.

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