THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Saturday, February 4, 1995 TAG: 9502020283
SECTION: REAL ESTATE WEEKLY PAGE: 06 EDITION: FINAL
COLUMN: ON THE MOVE
LENGTH: Long : 119 lines
RealtySmart, a local firm that offers a new concept in sales commissions, has opened an office at Pembroke 5 in Virginia Beach. Company president Jim Des Roches says he hopes to franchise the idea, starting in Hampton Roads but eventually spreading beyond the area.
Des Roches, who grew up in Northern Virginia and was recently president of a realty firm in Reno, Nev., notes that most realty firms offer the sales staff one of two pay plans: the traditional commission split between agent and firm or an arrangement whereby the agent keeps 100 percent of the commission but pays the realty firm a monthly fee.
``RealtySmart was developed as a hybrid between the two types of firm,'' Des Roches says in a press release. ``We offer agents 80 to 100 percent commission plans without the high cost to the agent.
``If you read about the business trends of the '90s, you will see that the trend is in eliminating huge, profit-draining office spaces in favor of smaller, more lush and professional quarters where agents can meet clients and come for computer and technical support and restock their supplies.
``The majority of our work is outside the office. With the advent of notebook computers and cellular phones, a lot of real estate firms don't see their agents daily; yet they continue to pay for the added space which ultimately comes out of the agent's pocket. We substantially eliminate that cost and pass the savings along to our agents.''
Vanessa Dallas, a Hampton Roads native and graduate of Old Dominion University, is vice president of RealtySmart.
Roy V. Ward, of RE/MAX Central Realty in Virginia Beach, has successfully completed all the requirements for earning the Certified Real Estate Brokerage Manager from the Real Estate Brokers Management Council of the National Association of Realtors.
Ward has been a Realtor for 20 years.
The Crumley Group of Virginia Beach was named Builder of the Month for January by the Virginia Edition of Builder/Architect magazine. Headed by Scott and Judy Crumley, a son and mother combo, the firm is celebrating its 10th year as a custom-home builder in Hampton Roads.
Read about them on page 7 of the January issue.
Linda Fox-Jarvis, a sales associate with RE/MAX Central Realty in Virginia Beach, has been awarded the Certified Residential Specialist Designation by the Residential Sales Council of the Realtors National Marketing Institute.
Fox-Jarvis is a Circle of Excellence and Gold Award winner and has been a multimillion-dollar producer since 1983.
Priscilla LeMoine of Rose & Krueth Realty is the new president of the Board of Directors of the Portsmouth/Chesapeake Association of Realtors. Fred Helm of National REalty is president-elect.
Amy Piland of William E. Wood & Associates will serve as vice president, and Bert Morrison of GSH Real Estate, treasurer. The rest of the board comprises Mary Ann Viola, Reney Olson, Bill Respess, Jerald George, Mary Karen Brady, John Sasser, Gary Crumpler, Minnie Mathias, Delaine Wood and Linda Drelick.
Kathy Wiley has been appointed property manager for Councill Realty & Management in Norfolk. She will oversee the multifamily properties recently acquired from Coldwell Banker Gifford Realty.
Barbara M. Wolcott, vice president of the Prudential Decker Realty in Virginia Beach, was recently installed as president-elect of the Virginia Association of Realtors. She has been in real estate for 24 years, specializing in single-family home sales.
Thomas N. Innes of Richmond is the new president of the state Realtors.
The Tidewater Association of Realtors will hold its Circle of Excellence awards ceremony at 6 p.m. Feb. 25 at the downtown Norfolk Marriott. Formerly the Million Dollar Sales Club, the Circle of Excellence recognizes the top 15 percent of agents in the South Hampton Roads area.
The awards are divided into bronze, silver and gold. In addition, agents who have been in the Circle of Excellence for at least 10 years are given diamond, platinum and emerald awards.
The association will also honor the Realtor of the Year and the Rookie of the Year.
Century 21 At the Mall has instituted weekly seminars for prospective first-time home buyers every Tuesday evening at 7:30 at Pembroke Mall, Virginia Beach. The talks cover everything from HUD homes to past bankruptcies. All questions will be answered.
Phone 497-8733 for reservations or more information.
Mark VanDyke, owner and president of VanDyke Construction, was recently installed as president of the Peninsula Housing & Builders Association. Bill Brown of Brown Builders & Remodelers is the new first vice president and Branch Lawson of Gatling Pointe will serve as second vice president.
Other officers are Cindy McDougal of Inside Design, associate vice president; Chuck Mayer of Virginia Natural Gas, secretary, and Glenn Oder of Harrison & Lear, treasurer. Bobby Williams, owner and president of R.L. Williams Builder, Inc., was named Builder of the Year and Frank Hogge of Hogge Hobbies won Associate of the Year honors. The President's Award went to John Nunes of Thulman Eastern.
The Registered In Apartment Management School, an eight-week program sponsored by the Tidewater Multifamily Housing Council, will be held at the Tidewater Builders Association office at 2117 Smith Ave., Chesapeake, March 6 to May 3. Space is limited to the first 60 students who register.
Classes will be held from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Mondays and Wednesdays. The cost is $200 for TMHC members and $300 for non-members. For more information, call 420-2434. MEMO: On the Move reports management changes, awards, seminars and new
services offered by real estate firms. The events should be generally
open to the public.
Send the information to Real Estate Weekly, The Virginian-Pilot, 150
W. Brambleton Ave., Norfolk Va. 23510, or fax it to 446-2531. Please
include a phone number.
ILLUSTRATION: Ward
Wiley
by CNB