Assist-2-Sell Franchise

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New Westminster, BC

Written by: Marcie Geffner freelance real estate reporter, writer and blogger 

Lyle and Sandy Longridge were no different from countless other real estate agents who sell property across Canada. That is, until last August, when the dynamic husband-and-wife duo decided to open up the country's newest Assist-2-Sell® franchise. Their new company,  in New Westminster, B.C., opened for business in October, and today, Sandy Longridge calls the couple's choice "the most exciting and fulfilling" decision of their careers.

"We wanted to run our own show and be our own boss," she says. "We wanted to do something that we could believe in."

The Longridges settled on Assist-2-Sell after almost a year of research because they admired the company's business model, which is built around giving home sellers and buyers exactly what they want in today's housing markets: Flexible commissions and superior service.

"Real estate is changing," says Lyle Longridge. "The traditional model is not going to survive in the same form as it is now. Assist-2-Sell is a great way for us to position ourselves for that future and those changes."

Assist-2-Sell's mission is to provide home sellers substantial savings and professional reliable representation throughout the home-selling process. Owning a franchise offers real estate professionals an opportunity to start and run their own business, effectively manage a significant volume of transactions and still provide the full service that sellers and buyers want and need.

Assist-2-Sell: "Best Model in the Business"

Many brokers are understandably leery of discount companies that offer home sellers lower costs and less service. But the Longridges discovered that Assist-2-Sell takes a radically different—and far superior—approach to the conundrum of lower commissions and better service.

"The Assist-2-Sell full-service, low-fee commission structure is a big deal," Sandy Longridge explains. "It opens up options for home sellers. They're impressed because they have choices and love that it is not do-it-yourself."

The Longridges both liked the fact that Assist-2-Sell isn't just about low commissions: It's also about good service. While the company's commission model can attract more business and assure significant discounts for home sellers, full service is still the key to the company's success.

"For example, sellers like being kept in the loop," his wife adds. "Assist-2-Sell has a million and one great ways to keep people up-to-date, and it's not just at the beginning of the transaction and the end, but all the way through the entire process."

Assist-2-Sell Begins With Fresh Approach

Assist-2-Sell was founded in 1987, when Mary LaMeres and Lyle Martin left a traditional real estate brokerage behind in search of a better way for consumers to sell their homes. They developed an innovative model that gives sellers all of the services they need, along with a low flat fee. They soon discovered that the model also had strong appeal for home buyers, who appreciated the large selection of competitively priced homes offered through Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive home listings database in addition to MLS listings.

The response to this consumer-friendly model was immediate and significant. Since LaMeres and Martin opened the first office in Reno, Nevada, Assist-2-Sell has grown to more than 400 franchise offices in 44 U.S. states and six Canadian provinces. Over the years, Assist-2-Sell has been recognized as one of the fastest-growing and most successful real estate franchises, a testament to the efficacy of the low-fee, full-service real estate service model. The model is even featured in the company's business-winning slogan: "Results with Savings!"®

Their track record of growth and success really impressed Lyle and Sandy Longridge.  "We tried hard to poke holes in the Assist-2-Sell model, but we couldn't find any," Lyle Longridge explains. "We really thought Assist-2-Sell was the best model in the business because it gives people a break on the commission without compromising service."

"We've seen so many problems with other discount agencies," Sandy Longridge adds. "Assist-2-Sell has taken the good qualities of the discount model and the good qualities of the traditional model and put them together. It's a model we believe in and feel really positive about."

Brokers Learn Secrets of Success at Assist-2-Sell

LaMeres and Martin continue to play a vital role in Assist-2-Sell's success and growth. Nearly every month, they personally train new franchise owners who travel to the corporate headquarters in Reno, Nevada. They continue to teach these training classes because they love sharing their ideas, methods and experiences, and they enjoy being part of each new franchisee's success.

Lyle and Sandy Longridge recall their trip to Reno with great enthusiasm.  "We got a ton of tips that we've used in our business," Sandy Longridge says. "We picked up a lot of ideas from Mary and Lyle in the class that you can't get through reading a book. It comes from their experience of what works and what doesn't."

That experience continues to shape LaMeres' and Martin's efforts to make the Assist-2-Sell model even better and even more responsive to the needs of today's home buyers and sellers.  "You can spend thousands of dollars just to find out what doesn't work," Lyle Longridge says. "But they've already adjusted the Assist-2-Sell model, worked out the kinks and shown us what works. We bought into their plan and everything that came with it."

Assist-2-Sell Model Works in Canadian Markets

Assist-2-Sell first came to the Longridges' attention when a franchise office opened in nearby White Rock, BC and quickly won a significant number of listings throughout the area.

"We were nervous about a discounter coming into our market and taking our business," Lyle Longridge recalls. "But then we looked at the model, and we couldn't find any flaws in it."

"If you can't beat 'em, join 'em," Sandy Longridge chimes in with a laugh. "The owners of the White Rock franchise have been generous with their support and advice on how to apply the Assist-2-Sell model to the Canadian market," she adds. "We talked to other Assist-2-Sell brokers in the U.S. and Canada," she says. "They are all very supportive. You really are part of a team!"

The Longridges say they weren't concerned about the fact that Assist-2-Sell is based in the U.S. The company is well-established and has offices in Canada that are doing well.

The Longridges are so committed to Assist-2-Sell that they've purchased the building that houses their new office, he adds. "We plan to be here for a long time."

For information on franchise opportunities, call 800-528-7816 or visit BuyAssist2Sell.com.

 



ASSIST-2-SELL AND REALTYTRAC ENTER PARTNERSHIP

Agreement Brings RealtyTrac Foreclosure Data to Assist-2-Sell

IRVINE, Calif. RealtyTrac™ (www.realtytrac.com), the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, and Assist-2-Sell (www.assist2sell.com), North America’s leading discount real estate company, announced a new agreement and strategic partnership that will allow Assist-2-Sell visitors to search nationwide for foreclosure properties, supplied in real time from RealtyTrac’s comprehensive database of defaults, auctions and bank-owned homes.

“Assist-2-Sell is an exciting new addition to our ever-growing network of valued partners,” said Rick Sharga, senior vice president at RealtyTrac. “We are committed to providing Assist-2-Sell and its visitors the most comprehensive set of foreclosure properties, and pertinent foreclosure-related editorial content, written to help consumers understand the foreclosure process and the steps involved with buying a home in foreclosure.”

With real estate in a downturn in most markets nationwide, the foreclosure marketplace is one of the few growing areas in real estate. More than 750,000 homes received a foreclosure notice in the third quarter of 2008, up 71 percent from the third quarter of 2007, according to the RealtyTrac U.S. Foreclosure Market Report.

“We are delighted to announce this new partnership with RealtyTrac, one of the strongest and most trusted real estate brands on the Web,” said Mary LaMeres-Pomin, co-founder and co-chief executive officer of Assist-2-Sell. “This new alliance between Assist-2-Sell and RealtyTrac will add value to our customers and extend the reach of both companies on the Internet.”

About RealtyTrac Inc.

Ranked as the third largest real estate site by MediaMetrix and No. 53 on Inc. magazine’s 2006 Inc. 500 list of the nation’s fastest-growing private companies, RealtyTrac Inc. (www.realtytrac.com), is the leading online marketplace for foreclosure properties, providing all the resources that home seekers, investors and real estate agents need to locate, evaluate and buy properties below market value.

Founded in 1996, RealtyTrac publishes the largest and most comprehensive national database of pre-foreclosure, foreclosure, For Sale By Owner, resale and new construction properties, with more than 1 million properties across the country, property reports, productivity tools and extensive professional resources. RealtyTrac hosts 3 million unique visitors monthly and has been chosen to supply foreclosure data to MSN Real Estate, Yahoo! Real Estate and The Wall Street Journal’s Real Estate Journal. For more information, visit www.realtytrac.com.

About Assist-2-Sell

Based in Reno, Nev., Assist-2-Sell was founded by Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin in 1987. Their full-service discount business model caught on with consumers who were tired of paying high commissions. Today, there are more than 400 Assist-2-Sell offices throughout the United States and Canada. These offices provide home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers nationwide more than $800 million in commission.* Home buyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®. On the Net: www.assist2sell.com and www.a2stalk.com.

*Savings based on statistics since January 1, 2000, for all Assist-2-Sell® offices in North America, compared to paying six percent commission. Six percent used for comparison purposes only. Commissions may be negotiable and are not fixed by law.

Co-Founders of Assist-2-Sell Recognized Fourth Consecutive Year

In a recent report released by Inman News Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin, co-founders of Assist-2-Sell®, were recognized as two of the 100 most influential leaders in the real estate industry. This is the fourth consecutive year Martin and Pomin have been recognized.

100 MOST INFLUENTIAL REAL ESTATE LEADERS

Inman News has compiled a list of the 100 most influential people in real estate, reflecting the industry’s best and brightest, as well as outside figures whose actions influence the home buying and selling business. The people on the list embody words like leadership, innovation, ingenuity, power and persistence. Before compiling this year’s list, we gathered nominations from readers and pared down hundreds of names to these 100 with these words in mind.

Brokerage: These luminaries have made waves in the residential real estate brokerage business. Some are renowned industry speakers; some are heads of top brokerage companies, and others are founders of brokerages using alternative business models.

Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin         
Co-Founders
Assist-2-Sell®

Inman News 9/29/08

“One of the oldest real estate discount models, Reno, Nevada-based Assist-2-Sell® was founded in 1987. The company, which now has hundreds of franchise offices in its network, offers full brokerage services for a low flat fee. Co-owners Mary LaMeres-Pomin and Lyle Martin are the driving force behind the business model, proving that “discount” doesn’t have to be a dirty word in real estate.

A flat fee to help sell a house

By SANDRA BRETTING For The Chronicle
Sept. 5, 2008, 11:40PM

Greg and Shannon Stubblefield say they were among the first in the Houston area to offer their kind of discount real estate services.

Seven years ago, while vacationing in New Mexico, Greg and Shannon Stubblefield noticed a sign for Assist-2-Sell, a real estate company that offers services to home buyers and sellers for a flat fee, versus a percentage as normally charged by real estate agents.  When the Houston couple returned the next summer, that lone sign had blossomed into a hundred.

"We were in the discount mortgage business, and we realized this was basically the same concept, but for real estate," Greg Stubblefield said.

The couple contacted the corporate office of Assist-2-Sell and by the end of the year owned franchise No. 615, now in west Houston. Both also obtained their real estate licenses, with Shannon Stubblefield adding a brokerage license along the way.

"At that time, no one was dealing in discount real estate services in this area," Shannon Stubblefield said.

Savings for consumers

Today many people are finding properties themselves without the help of real estate agents, she said.  "With the computer they can look up which houses are for sale, then MapQuest the directions. Real estate is an industry that's benefited tremendously from technology, but hasn't passed those savings on to the consumer," Shannon Stubblefield said.

According to Betsy Gelb, a professor of marketing and entrepreneurship at the Bauer College of Business at the University of Houston, people offering a discounted service shouldn't necessarily compete head to head with full-service companies but should market to people who place savings above other features.  "That's key for anyone offering a discount service, no matter what the industry," Gelb said.  She added that knowing which market will appreciate discounted services is critical.  "You need to divide your market segment into groups and then go after the group that values savings the most," Gelb said.

'The best interest'

According to Greg Stubblefield, his franchise offers much of the same services as traditional real estate brokers but relies on volume to offset the lower fee structure.

Click here for full story

Speak up, home sellers - Those who haggle on commissions often get what they want

By Amy Hoak, MarketWatch

CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- Don't be afraid to ask your real estate agent for a lower commission -- chances are, your wish will be granted without affecting the quality of service, according to a new survey by Consumer Reports.

Forty-six percent of the sellers surveyed by Consumer Reports for its September issue said they attempted to negotiate a lower commission rate, and 71% succeeded in getting one.

Plus, those who paid commission rates of 3% or lower were as satisfied with the performance of their broker as those who paid 6% or more, according to the survey results.

Lots more real estate

Coverage of home buying and selling, housing prices, mortgage information and home improvement.

• Home sleepover 'test drives'
• Surprise cuts in equity lines
• Fed reins in mortgage lenders
• When you have to sell now

   
Because people are so successful, said Amanda Walker, senior project editor for Consumer Reports, "then clearly it should be something that you should try to do." That's especially true in today's challenging markets when sellers may need to cut their price, she added.

The results were based on a survey of 3,753 readers who sold or tried to sell a home, 4,029 readers who bought one and 7,368 readers who did both during the past few years.

Click here for continued story

Flat-fee commissions helping sellers through market

Assist-2-Sell Knoxville
Flat-fee commissions helping sellers through market
by Mitch Moore, Special Publications Correspondent
Friday, May 23, 2008

Knoxville — All the signs indicate that it’s a buyer’s market right now, which may be the first step back on the path to real estate recovery in East Tennessee, says Paul Bass, owner/broker of Assist-2-Sell Knoxville.

“We’ve had more buyers calling in lately, which tells us that things are picking up. Today’s market, in my opinion, is starting to turn, mainly because sellers are becoming more realistic in their pricing,” Bass says, noting that many sellers have had to realign their price points with property values similar to those in late 2006 and early 2007.

In addition to being flexible in pricing, he says sellers should make sure their homes are in tip-top shape in order to compete for attention.

“It’s got to be the best-looking house it can be, in the best condition possible, and the seller needs to be motivated,” Bass adds. “The buyers are there, and we’re doing everything we possibly can to help the sellers.”

Assist-2-Sell’s flat commission rates have been beneficial to sellers who have had to bring their asking prices more into line with current market conditions, he notes. Bass emphasizes that the commission is only $2,995 on homes that sell for up to $200,000. Fees are paid at closing, with no upfront costs required of the seller.

The potential savings to sellers can be substantial.

For example, a 6-percent commission on a home that sells for $200,000 could be as much as $12,000, although Bass acknowledges that commissions are negotiable and not set by law.

Assist-2-Sell’s flat fee for a $200,000 home sale would be its standard $2,995. Fees vary for homes over $200,000.

“With Assist-2-Sell, sellers get to work with a full-service real estate company without having to absorb the traditional commission costs,” Bass says. “It’s less painful to drop prices when the commission is lower.”

The company’s full-service approach means that agents do everything traditional real estate agents do, including advertising, showing homes, writing and presenting offers, setting up inspections and appraisals, and representing parties at closing.

“We don’t do less. We just work for less,” Bass says.

Bass and his team have spent much of the past seven years trying to educate the public about the Assist-2-Sell concept. For example, they often have to dispel the myth that cooperating agents from other companies might also make lower commissions when dealing with Assist-2-Sell. The fact is that agents from other companies still receive their typical negotiated fees.

“More and more people are understanding that Assist-2-Sell is the only way to do business around here. Assist-2-Sell is the fastest-growing real estate company in America today,” Bass says. Last year, the agency ranked in the top six of Assist-2-Sell’s 600-plus locations throughout the United States and Canada.

Assist-2-Sell Knoxville has continued to expand since Bass’ father, Marty, opened the office in spring 2001. In 2007, the agency moved into larger offices at 11320 Kingston Pike, Suite 102, and has continued to add new agents over the years.

In fact, Bass, who recently obtained his broker’s license, has brought his daughter, Jessica, onto the sales team, along with new agent Don Bales.

A CLOSER LOOK

It's not about the price

I just read an article by Kris Berg at Inman.com titled “We’re all the same at that’s the problem.” I have just started following her articles and I really enjoy her tell it how it is style. From a marketing perspective, she hit the nail on the head with this article.

I’ve had the privilege of talking to hundreds (if not thousands) of real estate brokers and agents over the years about the challenges they face in this business. Without question the #1 problem is getting the phone to ring and getting to the kitchen table. So the question is how do you get the phone to start ringing?

I learned a long time ago, in marketing, you need to have a unique selling proposition which is a fancy phrase meaning you need to be different from everyone else. Whenever I travel, I pick real estate publications from the area. I like to see what real estate companies and agents are advertising. It never ceases to amaze me, no matter where I go, everyone is advertising the same things. You see the cliché slogans and taglines like, a Realtor you can trust, I get results, top producer, etc.. While there is nothing wrong with these taglines, they’re all the same. Why would a buyer or seller pick up the phone and call you over anyone else? How are you different?

More to come…..

Discount Real Estate Catching on in West Michigan.

PR-CANADA.NET

Written by Editor Choice    
Monday, 16 June 2008 
The West Michigan Assist-2-Sell office competed against more than 550 other franchise offices throughout North America to win this award. Offices are ranked by the total number of homes sold during a given month.

“We’re really excited about Assist-2-Sell’s consistent growth in The West Michigan Area,” says, Doug Yntema. “Our ‘Full-Service with $avings!’® program gives home sellers great service for a low, flat fee of $2,995 paid at close, and this award means people are catching on.” "We saved home sellers an average of $6,400 in April, 2008. In this tough real estate market, we allow people to price their homes to sell."

Assist-2-Sell serves home owners throughout West Michigan. Call 616 299-0222 or e-mail DougY@assist2sell.comThis e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it , or visit www.WeSellWestMichigan.com

The local Assist-2-Sell was opened in June of 2006, and is owned and operated by Doug Yntema. Assist-2-Sell, North America’s Leading Discount Real Estate CompanySM, provides home sellers with full brokerage services for a low, flat fee, saving consumers more than $800 million in commission.[1] Homebuyers also have access to a full range of services, including Assist-2-Sell’s exclusive listings databases. All brokers and agents are fully licensed and REALTORS®. Each office is independently owned and operated.

Click here for full story

Campbells earn sales designation

The Bellingham Herald

Assist2Sell co-owners Robert and Marlene Campbell have earned the Accredited Sellers Representatives designation.

The designation required advanced training in effectively pricing and positioning homes to sell, winning negotiating strategies, and seller protections.

The Campbells operate Assist2Sell Home Buyers & Sellers Advantage in Bellingham, selling one home every six days, on average.

Click here for full story