Business has never been better at
Five Star Real Estate. The firm, which was founded in 1996, has endured several ups and downs in the housing market, but thanks to a rebranding exercise, an increased emphasis on training and a surging marketplace, the firm has been able to grow from 155 agents to 250 in the last two years and is expanding its Grand Rapids office and adding two additional offices in Muskegon and Kalamazoo.
"Last year and this spring we experienced a screaming fast market," says Paul Carlson of Five Star Real Estate. But, he says, the hot market is only one factor in their growth.
Carlson says their firm's decision to focus on a comprehensive training and educational program for their agents has been key to creating a more stable team. By reducing turnover and investing in a rebranding effort that updated an "old school, 1996 look," the strategy has allowed Five Star to bounce back from the "horrible market" of 2009. "A decision to rebrand the firm two years ago has been a tremendous help, plus we now offer five to six educational sessions per week for our agents."
Carlson also says that there is no better time to look to real estate as a career and income option. "The key to a career is to understand the cost to get into business," says Carlson. "Interview a bunch of companies. Ask them what their training is. Get a map of the educational program." He says many times training is only given lip service and new agents find themselves without the tools needed to be successful.
"It is an awesome time to get into the business," he says. "There is no limit on income and there is always an opportunity."
To learn more about Five Star Real Estate you can visit their site
here.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor.
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