Broker/Owners Reveal Benefits of RE/MAX Affiliation

When Charlie Orden set out to start a real estate business, he didn’t want to simply purchase rights to a logo. He wanted a franchise company that would support him every step of the way – and empower him and his agents to run their businesses on their own terms. Signing a franchise agreement was just the beginning.

“I’m a very creative person, and RE/MAX lets me do things my way,” said Orden, the Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Town Centre in Orlando. “It’s the same for agents. As a member of a RE/MAX office, my agents can make their own choices on how to brand and market their business while using the strength of a brand that has been in business for decades.”

After 18 years with RE/MAX, Orden can attest that the brand has helped his business in good times and in bad. From the 2008 recession to the uncertainty of the current pandemic, he said RE/MAX has always offered support.

“RE/MAX Headquarters has been there to help us with leading technologies and systems that kept our businesses going.”

One of the tools for advancing business is the RE/MAX commitment to building valuable industry partnerships, which was on display when the company was present during the virtual conferences of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP), the National Association of Gay and Lesbian Real Estate Professionals (NAGLREP), and the Asian Real Estate Association of America (AREAA).

On the virtual stage of each conference, brokers shared how the RE/MAX brand helps them grow their businesses and their agents thrive. Here’s what they said are the key benefits of RE/MAX affiliation.

1. A system built on experience

Brandon Prewitt, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Metro Plus in Columbus, Ohio, said he considered his business goals and looked for a franchisor with demonstrated success in those areas.

“It’s important to ask, ‘What franchise system has the tools to get me to the next level?'” Prewitt said during the NAGLREP conference. “Don’t reinvent the wheel – you’re going to get there much faster working with people who have been there before.”

Joe Castillo, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Mi Casa in Chicago, told attendees of the NAHREP conference that joining a company with a roadmap and support in place was a huge advantage when converting his brokerage to RE/MAX. He was able to pass those benefits on to his agents.

“The greatest benefit of joining a franchise is that it can be a turnkey operation,” Castillo said. “You already have the processes and technology in place, so you can add value to your agents from day one.”

2. Proprietary tools and technology

Today’s agents run a business on the go. According to Daisy Lopez-Cid, her agents are able to stay ahead of the competition with the cutting-edge technology offered by RE/MAX. With everything from automated marketing to a lead generation app fueled by artificial intelligence, RE/MAX technology is intuitive, customizable and works together.

“RE/MAX technology keeps growing,” said Lopez-Cid, Broker/Owner of RE/MAX Premier Properties in Kissimmee, Florida, to the NAHREP conference audience. “Everything my agents need to build their personal brand is at their fingertips and easy to use, from advertising to marketing support.”

Ishaq Ismail, Managing Broker of RE/MAX Blueprint Realty in Surrey, British Columbia, said technology offered by RE/MAX ensures his agents have the right resources available to them.

“RE/MAX is very different with respect to technology offerings,” Ismail said during a session at the AREAA conference. “By providing the right training and technology, we’re able to make sure that everyone is winning – the agents, the clients and our brokerage.

3. Strong brand identity

RE/MAX brand recognition is one of the most powerful assets brokers say they’re able to offer their agents.

During the NAGLREP conference, Orden spoke about his previous experience with a locally branded company. He said his agents spent “half their time” explaining to customers who they were – the exact opposite of what he and his agents currently experience.

“Now we just say we’re with RE/MAX and no one even questions it,” Orden said. “The brand recognition allowed me to recruit the best, seasoned agents and make it easier for them.”

Castillo said affiliating with the RE/MAX brand added a new esteem to his office that helped him grow his business in many ways.

“Once we joined RE/MAX, it brought our brand recognition to another level,” said Castillo, who converted his brokerage from another global brand. “People started looking at us as more professional and top level. Having the RE/MAX franchise backing helped us break into markets where we weren’t before.”

Ismail said he has leveraged the global awareness of RE/MAX to make new connections with home developers in his region, another avenue for business growth.

“It is really through RE/MAX that we’re able to have the interconnectivity to build relationships and make global connections,” he said.

4. Initial and ongoing training and support

The free flow of ideas and best practices among affiliates is a hallmark of the RE/MAX brand. Prewitt said he chose RE/MAX because he knew he would find mentors to learn from.

“I wanted to surround myself with other leaders and be with the best of the best,” Prewitt said. “After joining the RE/MAX franchise network, the systems and support I received from my fellow Broker/Owners was tremendous.”

He added, “RE/MAX University, our digital learning platform, is awesome for whatever career path you’re on and whether you’re new to the industry or a seasoned agent. RE/MAX training gives my agents a bigger perspective of what’s happening in the market.”

5. An inclusive culture that advocates for positive change

“When I started my business, I wanted to set an example,” Orden said. “I wanted to feel at home with the brand I affiliated with, I wanted to feel comfortable and never feel that I was with a company that didn’t support me.

“I love that RE/MAX embraces all walks of life, whether you’re a certain ethnicity or identify as LGBT or whatever your background is.”

Not only does the RE/MAX culture create a welcoming environment, the company helps its agents create positive change, according to Prewitt.

“From an advocacy level, the collective voice roars louder, and having the power of the RE/MAX network behind initiatives such as fair housing has been critical in getting these issues noticed at a national level,” Prewitt said. “As a brand, we advocate for kindness and that everyone deserves the same rights. We are inclusive and promote diversity – we’re moving the needle!”

This is not an offer of a franchise.  Any franchise offer is made only after a Franchise Disclosure Document has been delivered to you before the sale in compliance with applicable law. RE/MAX, LLC, 5075 S. Syracuse Street, Denver, CO 80237, 1.303.770-5531. 

Each Office is Independently Owned and Operated.