New RE/MAX Accord Office Emphasizes Confidence in the Housing Market

Real Estate Veterans Triple Square Footage in New Offices, Look to Triple Agent Count as Well

There may be turmoil in the housing market, but it has hardly put a halt to real estate activity. The new RE/MAX Accord office that opened in Hacienda in October is ample evidence of the vitality of the business. Broker Owner Jerry Stadtler and his wife Stephanie, long-time industry veterans, expressed their confidence in the future when they tripled the square footage of the firm's Pleasanton site, moving from a nearby location to 5950 Stoneridge Drive.

"We would like to triple our agent count," Stadtler remarks. "The immediate goal is to get to 150 agents here."

While admitting that the market "has been affected," the Stadtlers opine that opportunity is abundant. "Our theory is that good Realtors sell homes in all markets. People always want to buy and sell. The key is learning what you need to know in today's market to service clients and achieve success."

In his eyes, the essential principles start with "a passion": "you have to love what you do," he advises. "You have to set goals and be disciplined and work on the right things." That includes avoiding unproductive activities, such as transactions that are unlikely to close.

"Everyone has the same amount of time," he continues. "It's what you do with it that counts. If you do not prioritize by focusing on things that enhance your business, you could be making a mistake."

This philosophy has been a cornerstone of RE/MAX Accord's success over the past 15 years. The Stadtlers opened their first office in 1995, in Walnut Creek, "a small location designed before we had visions of growing into a larger company," he recalls. The couple's own passion and conviction propelled the fledgling enterprise into today's network of eight offices throughout the East Bay.

One of the advantages of the Hacienda site is its expanded capacity for training, another company pillar. The training center in the new 14,500 square facility accommodates up to 80 agents at a time. In addition to programs for their local agents, the Stadtlers often take the lead in hosting nationally known industry speakers in sessions that are open to the entire agent community. The open events not only reach a wider audience; they also demonstrate RE/MAX's commitment to equipping agents with the tools they need for success, he reasons.

Technology also has a place in the tool box. Parent company RE/MAX LLC periodically releases three- to five-minute "how-to" videos on ways to deal with current market conditions. A hot topic now is the plethora of distressed properties, an area of the business that requires special expertise. The firm has also adopted a mobile property search application, Voicepad, that allows cell phone access to information about any property in the Multiple Listing Service. "It's proven to be a handy tool for buyers, sellers, and agents," Stadtler comments.

After about a month of tenant improvements, the new RE/MAX Accord office celebrated its Grand Opening on October 12. A "great mix" of industry professionals, including representatives from title, warranty, and lending companies, as well as outside agents, attended. "We are all so energized," Stadtler enthuses. "The building is marvelous inside and out. It's wonderful to be able to take advantage of this opportunity."

For more information, visit www.remaxaccord.com.

Photo: Broker Owner Jerry Stadtler wants to triple headcount at his firm's new Hacienda offices.

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