Great Offices: Quebec Firm Thrives for 25+ Years

“Have a candy,” Anne Beaumier offers as she sits down for her interview. “They’re sugar-free,” she adds, motioning to the bowl of red, white and blue candies – RE/MAX colours – on her desk.

The symbolism of the gesture isn’t lost. It’s indicative of both the warmth and the attention to detail the RE/MAX de Francheville Broker/Owner is known for. Qualities like these have made the brokerage a top seller in Québec’s Mauricie region and Beaumier one of the most distinguished RE/MAX Broker/Owners in Canada.

Beaumier exudes the quiet confidence of someone who, in the 25 years since she purchased the office, has grown from eight agents to 67 Associates and nine administrative assistants. In addition to the Trois-Rivières office, she also has acquired two smaller offices in neighbouring Shawinigan and La Tuque, which collectively support an additional 17 Associates.

“I was only 29 years old when I purchased the brokerage; it was faltering and I took a huge gamble by acquiring such a huge loan,” Beaumier says. “Even though the bank had faith in me, I was stressed and overwhelmed with worry. My mom told me: ‘I can’t help you financially, but I can come and work at the office and help out.’ And she did. She didn’t let me wallow in self-pity or doubt. She showed me how to fight. Having tenacity has served me well over the years.”

That tenacity also extends to the entire RE/MAX de Francheville team. The latest statistics from the Québec Federation of Real Estate Boards indicate that, despite a recent downward slump in area sales, Trois-Rivières was the only metropolitan city in Québec to register gains during the first trimester of 2014 – a 17 percent increase compared to the first trimester of 2013. RE/MAX de Francheville holds the vast majority of that business, with 52 percent of the market, compared to 20 percent for Via Capitale Mauricie and 15 percent for Royal LePage Mauricie.

Associate Germain Labrosse, who has been with the office since 1993, knows why RE/MAX de Francheville has thrived when others have faltered.

“A lot of it has to do with the credibility of the RE/MAX name,” he explains. “I left the company for about four-and-a-half years, and I came back because I always felt like a second choice to prospective clients. RE/MAX has incredible market penetration in this area.

“It also has a lot to do with Anne – she’s the motor of this enterprise. She’s put together a dynamic team and knows how to keep her Associates happy and productive. Her administrative assistant has been with her since the day she purchased this brokerage, and that tells you something. The support we get from the office is incredible, and it makes all the difference when the market occasionally goes into a slump.”

Chantal Landry, a Sales Associate for the past 13 years, agrees.

“I realized very quickly in my career that support around me was the most important element,” she says. “Real estate is a complicated and delicate profession, and we have both support and experience at RE/MAX de Francheville. It’s why many real estate agents from other brokerages eventually end up working here.”

IDEALLY SITUATED
Trois-Rivières is located at the confluence of the Saint-Maurice and Saint Lawrence Rivers. Halfway between Montreal and Québec City, this small yet bustling university town of about 150,000 full-time residents is a hot spot for weekend getaways, thanks to its waterfront location and proximity to other leisure destinations. It’s a convenient place for both federal and provincial offices to set up base, and has the largest hospital in the area.

For all these reasons, Trois-Rivières (or 3R, pronounced “3 air” in French, as it’s affectionately referred to by locals) is a popular residential area. It also has recently become a desirable retirement destination thanks to its location and affordable housing market.

RE/MAX de Francheville is both figuratively and literally well-positioned to serve its diverse clientele, which helps explain its dominance in the local market.

Collectively, the brokerage’s Associates have more experience than any competing brokerage, with an emphasis on continuing education and robust internal collaboration. Also, the brokerage’s new office is located in the heart of the city. After outgrowing the original office, Beaumier purchased land and recently developed a new two-story building on the site.

“It was my birthday gift to myself when I turned 50,” she says.

SERVICE FIRST
Michel Cote, who has been with the brokerage for the past eight years and has served as its office manager for the past two, attributes the brokerage’s success to a number of factors.

“We aim to provide the best service to our clients – and that service and support extends to our Associates as well,” Cote says. “Real estate agents are independent-minded and choose this profession because it enables them to be their own boss. Being surrounded by a great network and impeccable technical and legal support affords them peace of mind and allows them to focus on the task at hand, which is selling homes.”

For example, the high-tech, team-minded brokerage recently installed a new HDR photo system for real estate listings on its website and hired a freelance professional photographer on retainer, who is available to photograph the interior and exterior of clients’ homes.

“It’s offered to clients at no extra cost, and the pictures are added to the MLS site with the listings,” Cote says.

A new fiber-optic telephone and Internet system also makes connecting with all the offices that much easier.

“If we need to call an Associate, we just dial the extension,” Cote says.

Stability, reputation and its high-performance standards top the list of reasons RE/MAX de Francheville continues to do so well, Cote says, but he also cites the supportive environment.

“We’re all independent workers, but we’re also a family,” he says. “When Friday rolls around, we like to have an informal gathering with whomever happens to be at the office. We’ll loosen our ties, open a bottle of wine, and toast the week and our hard work.”

While career success is gratifying for Beaumier, she considers her relationships – family, work and community – to be her most important achievements.

“My family, my kids, the people around me – that’s what matters,” she says. “I feel so fortunate, and that makes me want to give back even more.”

For the past 27 years, RE/MAX de Francheville has been involved with the Operation Enfant Soleil Telethon, a nonprofit organization that raises funds to develop high-quality paediatrics in Québec.

“It’s become my social cause and my source of pride,” Beaumier says. “This office alone contributes 10 percent of all the money raised by RE/MAX in Québec. We raise more than $100,000 a year.”

Suddenly, her tenacious spirit shines boldly through.

“I’m always looking for new ways to be more efficient and make a difference both at work and in my everyday life.

“There’s nothing you can’t do if you put your mind to it.”