SUCCESS
BREEDS SUCCESS
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.