RE/MAX Holdings CEO Shares His Vision With Inman Connect Audience

What does Erik Carlson, CEO of RE/MAX Holdings, see when he looks at the real estate industry and its future – especially in this time of great change?

“I see a ton of opportunity,” Carlson told a crowded main hall at Inman Connect New York on January 23. “It’s amazing how much opportunity exists – and [how much] of it is right up our alley.”

As the leader of RE/MAX – one of three brands under the RE/MAX Holdings umbrella, along with Motto Mortgage and wemlo – Carlson is constantly seeking bold new ways to help agents and Broker/Owners convert that opportunity into closed transactions and increased market share.

Amid the current environment of “chaos and change,” Carlson knows his global network of “strong, productive entrepreneurs” is up to the task.

“[RE/MAX] is an outstanding brand worldwide – [more than 140,000] agents we support and do our best for every single day,” he said. “The [brand] awareness is awesome and the network has so much passion – they’re trusted, professional and productive.”

Fortunately, those agents have a competitive advantage that opens doors to potential new business – especially today.

“RE/MAX has a very strong brand, and it stands for something customers need right now. You want an agent you can trust – one who can see you through the transaction and help you manage all the complexity that happens with buying or selling a home. [You want to know] who’s next to you to make sure the inspection goes right and [your] mortgage is correct – and that [you’re] getting the house [you] want.”

“Our network is awesome at providing that professionalism. We get more swings of the bat; we’ve done it more.”

The recent additions of two well-known industry insiders to the RE/MAX leadership team – RE/MAX EVP and Chief Growth Officer Chris Lim, the former President of Christie’s International Real Estate; and RE/MAX Holdings EVP of Strategy Travis Saxton, a former senior executive with T3 Sixty and RealTrends – illustrate Carlson’s drive to deliver new ideas, perspectives and innovations to RE/MAX affiliates around the globe.

It’s all part, he said, of helping RE/MAX Broker/Owners “recruit, train and educate” their agents while offering world-class technology and other competitive advantages.

“The brokerage business is really, really hard,” said Carlson, adding that a primary goal is helping brokerages grow and become more profitable. “We [work] to help them be successful.”

One major push at RE/MAX is delivering world-class technology – especially through a strategic partnership with Inside Real Estate and the MAX/Tech^SM powered by BoldTrail platform, which is provided to affiliates in company-owned regions in the U.S. and Canada at no additional cost.

“[This is] a people-focused business that can be technology-enabled to help [agents] win more listings, make more money and save more time,” he said. “It all starts with people, process and technology.”

With a big vision for RE/MAX – and big plans to get there – Carlson is excited about what’s ahead.

“There’s not a better brand out there for real estate, and not a better opportunity if you want to get into the franchise business. [Our] team is leaning in and drastically improving our value proposition,” he said.

“I need people who want to raise the bar – and the standard of what it means to be in the real estate profession.”

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