An Amazing Story of Lost and Found...A Real Estate Conversion

Hi Liz... this is proof that the strength of the Keller Williams culture is more than just words and ideas to KW agents... we embrace and live it!  And we would be hard pressed to give it up without a fight.

Interesting post - We have seen this happen at a couple brokerages here in St. Louis.  Overnight announcements with very little planning and with very little consultation with the agent is a terrible idea.  Nice to hear about the active KW support.

LIz,

Really good blog on this; glad I was there for it. I actually gave some other stuff up to be there-it was important! And it's really good for the others out there to see how we stick together in this family.

Port Coquitlam... I love the sound of that.  That's my new word for today.

It happened to me here too. Not with KW but with Remax. All the signs were changed, new cards. I sat and bawled through the meeting. It was sneaky and underhanded. The original broker didn't want to renew so he sold us and our listings.

Hummmm you don't sell people.

It happened in July, our busiest time of the year.

38 of us said no way, had we wanted to be with _________local company we would have already been there.

It was devistating to both companies. Remax is now closed in Ann Arbor, hense I am at KW and all the agents that stayed with the local company except for 5 are gone, out of 120 agents.

Rarely do these things work. Kris Wales joined KW in Shelby Township because Remax did the same thing there. Left to go independant and the agents said no.

Congratulations to KW Elite. That is a great beginning and I'm sure more will be over in a few weeks. There are always the early adapters and then the ones who follow a few weeks later.

Liz --- glad that all this worked out the way it did. My hat is off to those that made it successful. This can be extremely difficult. I agree with Missy -- you cannot sell people.

Hi Liz,

Very well written post,

The old saying is so true that out of something negative there is something positive if we look for it.   May keller Williams get tighter and stronger during these times of change.   Those who work together grow together.

Louise Henry

Pair Home Design, Home Staging & Redesign

HI Liz.  I love the pictures of you guys all throughout.  However did you do that?  KM

Keller Williams runs an impressive company. My daughter in Atlanta is on their team. I'm sure I'll be there too, one day. Thanks for sharing your story.

Definitely a big decision that shouldn't be made without consultation with the agents and customers - I'm curious how many customers stayed behind and how many followed the agent... When I was in-house counsel with a developer, the listing agent left national franchised brokerage to go independent.  We were his biggest and almost only listing with $28 mil of property to sell and he didn't even consult us.  He said months prior that he would like to have his own brokerage.  It was a passing comment and never mentioned again.  He made the decision almost overnight and mentioned it in passing at a social event after it was fait complete.  We ended up sticking with him - but it was touch and go for a bit.

Hi Liz - Since the agents and the clients ARE the business, one would think consulting them would be something the company's buyer would want to see take place. How do they know what they are buying, if their "inventory" of agents all jump ship after learning they've been sold?

Liz, you are amidst an awesome bunch and a leader yourself. I am so happy for you.

Sounds like a tight bunch!  What a great way of rallying to keep a good group together.

Wow what a journey!  I have only today had a few moments to get back in the Rain and seriously catch up.  As one of the dipossessed souls that sat arms folded unable to crack a smile during 'the announcement' I am so happy and thankful for the emergency help given to us by KW Valley Realty.

The end result of this unfolding will be a Reniassance of sorts, those that stood in the way of expansion and growth are now gone.  Look for KW offices to open like mushrooms in Greater Vancouver over the next few months & years!

Wow Liz...interesting.  It happens with corporations of course, but agents are independent contractors and aside from that, what about trust?

Nice support system you guys provided.

BTW, I have been asked before if I have read the shift, apparently something I said.  No I never read the Shift but have heard enough now about KW and Mr. Gary Keller himself that I did order The Millionare Real Estate Agent as it seems we are on the same page.