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Bye-Bye-Bye! Prudential...

By
Real Estate Agent with ERA Herman Group Real Estate

News Flash! Prudential Professional, REALTORS(r) is no more!

At our quarterly sales meeting this afternoon, we were told effective immediately that we, my brokerage, has broken with Prudential!

We are now part of a new brokerage that's going nationwide. Our CEO opened, last month, three new brokerages in Florida. That and the ones he already owns in Arizona, Colorado, and Wyoming constitute our new brokerage: Herman Group Real Estate. There are over 1000 agents, nationwide. Plus, our CEO is planning to open up new offices in Aspen, Boulder, and Pueblo, Colorado, immediately!

Whoo! Change can happen in a New York minute. If you don't like what's happening now, stick around, just like the weather, change is coming.

How do you feel about working for a brand new brokerage? A non-established brand? I really want to hear what you think. Should I hang in there to see how it goes, or run to another brokerage?

I don't have the new logo yet...but will up load it tomorrow. It actually eyecatching.

Posted by

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Marianne Snygg, GRI, ABR, ASP
Broker Associate
ERA Herman Group Real Estate

ERA Logo 

Colorado Springs and Monument Real Estate

Comments (21)

Vickie Nagy
Coldwell Banker Residential Real Estate - Palm Springs, CA
Vickie Jean the Palm Springs Condo Queen

Good luck in the new business. This could be a good thing. Just keep an open mind and keep on prospecting!

Mar 17, 2009 02:23 PM
Linsey Ehle
M Realty - Rancho Santa Margarita, CA

I have worked for big brokers and now work as an independant.  Honestly, it's about the people.  You will win or lose the business on your own but if you like the people you work with, you find synergy with them - I'd stay.  If you trust them and the direction they are headed,  stick around.  The business will be there for you if you show up for it either way.

My 2 cents....good luck.

Mar 17, 2009 02:25 PM
Kate Bourland
Marketing with Kate - Redding, CA
Onlilne Marketing Mobile Marketing

Marianne - change can be frightening.  My gut tells me that anyone with the moxy to open up a new brokerage in this economy is here for the long haul.  He probalby understands the new reality of Real Estate.  Good Luck and keep us posted.

Mar 17, 2009 02:26 PM
Michael Lee
Frog Realty - Tallahassee, FL

I work for an independant broker and really enjoy it.  Now about those national leads...

Mar 17, 2009 02:35 PM
Norma Brandsberg
Marks Realty Co. Inc., Lynchburg, VA, 540-586-9496 - Forest, VA

I work for an independent as well, more like a family which is helpful in stressful times. I wouldn't jump yet if you are happy there.

Mar 17, 2009 02:37 PM
Suzanne McLaughlin
Sabinske & Associates, Inc. (Albertville, St. Michael) - Saint Michael, MN
Sabinske & Associates, Realtor

Marianne,  My personal opinion is, that after leaving the nuturing wing of the big box, I have spread my wings.  The idea has always been to get their training, expensive and perhaps not worth it, but it got me here.  Now, all business is referal and bank business...keeps the bills paid.  But, wish you well. 

Mar 17, 2009 02:40 PM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Wow! What wonderful encouragement from Vicky, Linsey, Kate, Michael, and Norma. Thank you all so much. I'm still a little unsteady with it...but will probably hang in there to see what happens.

Mar 17, 2009 02:41 PM
Vickie McCartney
Maverick Realty - Owensboro, KY
Broker, Real Estate Agent Owensboro KY

Marianne~ Nothing like dropping a bombshell on you!  But, hey sometimes change is so good.  I would stay right there and see the direction they are moving in.  You always have the option to leave if it isn't what you are looking for!

Mar 17, 2009 02:41 PM
Lou Ludwig
Ludwig & Associates - Boca Raton, FL
Designations Earned CRB, CRS, CIPS, GRI, SRES, TRC

Hi Marianne

It looks like the door of new opportunity has just opened.

Good luck and success

Lou Ludwig

Mar 17, 2009 02:41 PM
Larry Story ALC
Total Care Realty - Greensboro, NC
Beneath it all is the Land, Covering all of NC

Cool,  I actually think that would be exciting.  Just need to get all new cards, signs, stationary, and so forth.  Hey take all that excitment go out and kick butt.

Mar 17, 2009 02:55 PM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Vickie: you made me laugh. Thanks!

Lou: Thank you very much.

David: I'm not sure about exciting in the long run, but for now everyone's a twitter! That's kind of exciting. LOL

Larry: Thanks. But, here's the great part...our CEO is going to trade our old signs for new ones, buy us 250 cards, and provide a lot of other materials that we would normally have to purchase. What a deal! AND, our franchise fee drop 1%. I like what Vickie said, "You always have the option to leave if it isn't what you are looking for!"

Mar 17, 2009 03:34 PM
Sandy Childs
Keller Williams Realty - Spartanburg, SC
Realtor - Spartanburg, SC

Wow! I would not know what to think! Let us know how it turns out.

Mar 17, 2009 04:10 PM
Pamela Orr
Herman Group Real Estate - Colorado Springs, CO

Who Moved My Cheese?  I'm accepting of change, just not sure of the details yet to determine if this is the change I want. The thing about dropping the affiliation with Prudential is a bit hard to get used to for some. At what point is branding in marketing no longer important? Is there risk in re-branding?  I just recently had a client tell me that he went with me because I called him back right away, and "we have Prudential in our town too". Name recognition does happen. humm <thinking>

Mar 17, 2009 06:09 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

Marianne,

What a bombshell, eh? I think that many who attended the meeting are still in shock today. I am glad to find your words and additional support from AR members.

To brand or not to brand as a nationally recognized brand? or as many of the REALTORS above have expressed, are we paying too much for the National branding with the new trends in internet marketing?

 

Mar 18, 2009 09:11 AM
c m
Colorado Springs, CO

Though not with a Real Estate co, I have been through several situations where my "rug was pulled out, and new tile laid" with numerous HUGE named retailers.  I say stick with it, you MAY end up happier!  If you are not, you can always change later...my 2 cents.  I agree with Kate, risky thing for the CEO to do, and to be moving forward so confidently, he obviously has a plan!

Mar 19, 2009 10:12 AM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Sandy: I will post here if things go badly with this new "arrangement." But, I'm doing pretty good with this change. Right now, it's exciting...I'll see how exciting it is when I hear if I get or don't get the listing I went on the night before the announcement.

Pam: I read Who Moved My Cheese. And I realized from the book that I need to be looking in more places for my business. But, I don't think it has anything to do with my brokerage, but with me specifically.

I appreciate your feelings about loosing the brand name. But, just like when I left a couple of years ago, you hated to see me leave, well...I'd hate to see you leave now. Give it some time before you decide. See what your clients think. You might have gotten that client because you had the Pru brand, but you kept him because of the REALTOR(r) you are!

Sabrina: Nice to make contact with you. Next time you're down this way, let's do a "meet-up!" I've heard Cheryl talk about you a lot. It's time we all got together...as soon as Cheryl's fast is over.

How do you feel about the brokerage change? You just became part of The Herman Group, and now you're part of Herman Group Real Estate! Big changes for you all!

Cheryl: I've heard of the expression, "who pulled the rug out," but NOT "laid new tile!" You're too funny! I'm pretty much ok with this change. I'm just waiting to see if my clients are.

Mar 19, 2009 01:26 PM
Sabrina Kelley
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Woodland Park, CO
Woodland Park Colorado Mountain Homes and Land

Marianne it is good to hear from you. Wow, what a week. I think I have decided to stay at this point.

Maybe our wild wild west attitude can assist with launching us into, "The Next Generation in Real Estate".

If this new model doesn't work then the old ones will still be in existence for us to run to if all else fails.

I am starting to get excited instead of nauseous.

Mar 20, 2009 07:53 AM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Sabrina: I'm thinking that Roger's going to change the entire industry. Brokers are looking at him to see if his model fails...if not...there'll be others following soon! Then we'll have options galore!

Mar 22, 2009 07:22 AM
Patricia Beck
RE/MAX Properties, Inc., ABR, GRI, SRES - Colorado Springs, CO
Colorado Springs Realty

Marianne it will be interesting how this change affects us, I think losing the Prudential branding will have somewhat of an impact but when it comes down to it, it is about the agent. 

Mar 23, 2009 05:49 AM
Marianne Snygg
ERA Herman Group Real Estate - Monument, CO
ABR, ASP, GRI, SFR

Patricia: It's been a couple of weeks now, and I'm wondering if you've seen anything negative about loosing the Pru brand? My newest clients, THANK YOU, told me right off the battle that they didn't like the signs. At my expense, I've had printed a black logo on a white background. Ug. And have you seen the open house signs? There's good points and bad about them.

Apr 04, 2009 10:52 AM