Still the same...only better

Since LakesEdge Realty was first created in 2001, we've tried to stay one step ahead of the competition.

Some of the innovations we’ve brought to the local real estate market were simple things like using a cell phone to provide easier access to customers, putting out brochure boxes, and adding personality and retentivity to the corporate image by creating The Lake Guys.

Other enhancements required financial investments such as joining the WNC Regional MLS and producing and promoting our website to maximize exposure and sales of our listings.

One investment that was never at doubt was being a visible sponsor of community events, because as local residents we want this community to continue to be a place where we are happy.

Solutions like these plus a strong work ethic have allowed us to not just stay in business, but to grow and dominate the market.

Three years ago when we started analyzing how we could maintain our company, we began our current expansion phase, growing from 4 agents to 16 and this has allowed us to survive the current slump. The companies who haven’t changed have fallen further behind.

When a “national powerhouse” moved into Lake Lure and began touting their credentials, we scoffed, but the seller’s perception was that they were, indeed, better than the local firms. While that national linkage did gain them some listings, it did nothing to improve their success in selling their clients’ properties, so LakesEdge Realty continued to dominate the market, with production levels roughly twice that of any other firm in this market.

Opening our second and third offices was the next logical step to expand our market by duplicating our success in new territories. When we opened the Crossroads office in Polk County, questions increased about the viability of our name, since lakes are not a dominant part of that community. I polled folks and the overwhelming majority said that our identification was so strong we should not toss LakesEdge Realty and The Lake Guys away.

So, we’ll be retaining LakesEdge Realty and plugging in The Lake Guys where appropriate. In addition, we are partnering with ERA to add stronger national recognition to our company. This solution also incorporates many other attributes that will help us in our future growth.

Here are the solutions we have found with ERA.

• A worldwide referral network
• Tools to help agent-client communication
• A large inventory of professional training resources, online, in person and on disk
• Management systems that are helping 3,000 companies effectively compete in a down market
• A strong, centralized marketing department that provides national exposure and integrated materials which we can use locally
• A significant web presence for the firm as well as for each individual agent, both of them enhanced by linkages from the corporate website as well as exposure through Trulia, Google Base, and a recent agreement with Zillow and other online portals frequently used by buyers searching for homes.

That is just the tip of the iceberg, there are many other components.

ERA Real Estate was formed in the mid 1970’s and found success through technology. Their “moving machine” was a simple FAX allowing for faster processing of written documents. They retain a strong commitment to capitalize on technology.

ERA Real Estate also broke new ground with the first nationwide home warranty program.

In 1981, the ERA® system went international, with the opening of ERA Japan. This was the first step in an ongoing expansion that currently embraces ERA® operations in 28 other countries and territories, where, as in Japan now, the ERA® franchise often rises to be the top real estate company.

The 1990s marked the introduction of top training programs and ongoing awards for customer service, which help the company maintain the best-trained Sales Associates, the most satisfied customers, and the greatest business growth. These training programs include the ERA® Top Gun® Academy, a rigorous course designed to take basic sales skills to a higher level, as well as the Beyond Excellence and President's Circle conferences for top-producing sales associates and brokers.

In 1998 introduced ERA® Select ServicesSM. This program gives brokers and sales associates a competitive edge through the opportunity to offer value-added national services and local discount services to customers – from moving companies to neighborhood plumbers – for the lifetime of their homeownership. This represents the ERA® response to studies which show growing consumer demand for a "one-stop shopping" real estate transaction.

The ERA® system is also positioned well to serve new markets, with tools such as its growing Hispanic marketing initiative and the Transitions initiative for the mature market of senior citizens.

At the dawn of a new millennium, the ERA® system is an international neighbor, and to get to know its neighbors even better, the company launched the ERA® International Open Office weekend in 2000. Through this annual event, ERA® companies worldwide open their doors to their local communities, with civic-minded and fun activities that serve their areas and attract new customers.

ERA Online Advertiser Assists firms in producing and placing national advertising materials in our local market.

Services for clients expanded into other crucial areas of the real estate transaction with the launch of ERA Mortgage.

TXT ERA lets Generation Y’s communicate in their preferred mode of communication
Health Insurance benefits are now available through ERA even for independent contractors.

ERA’s One Click Away increases Internet traffic to ERA listings

ERA.com mobile allows cell phones to display listing information, including pictures.

ERA has the Sellers Security® Plan, a unique program giving member brokers and agents a one-of-a-kind edge among national real estate networks. Assisting sellers whose current home needs to be sold to enable their next home purchase, the Plan advances the homeowner up to $100,000 equity for the new home, while guaranteeing that "We Will Sell Your House, or ERA Will Buy It!®"

ERA launched its own Web site in 1995 and TeamERA.com, an information center focused on providing ERA® sales associates and brokers with timely data about the global franchise and the real estate industry. The Intranet site is home to training programs, customizable marketing materials and technology programs.

In 2001 still more frontiers were crossed, as Brenda W. Casserly became ERA® President & COO, the first woman to lead a major real estate franchise network.

There are also a lot more benefits that will come through our affiliation with this “national powerhouse.”

You are probably asking yourself “How will this impact the way LakesEdge Realty does its job?”
We’re still going to be the same company.

ERA is not some 600 pound corporate gorilla who will come in and change our company or our culture. We’ll continue to be a group of real estate specialists who work together as a team and demonstrate our professionalism every day through our successes selling real estate.
We will also be working with ERA’s website tools and our new website developer to better showcase our listings.

So, here’s the short summary of the new era. We’re still the same, only better.